Parts Needed to Add a Towing Package to a 2016 Ford Flex

Question

Question:

I have a 2016 Ford Flex 3.5 SE, non ecoboost. No factory towing. What is needed to get me setup to tow a 3500 pound travel trailer? I see conflicting notes of the Flex only being able to pull 2000 pounds which I am assuming is what I have, but then I see 4500 pounds if properly equipped with a class III hitch. I would also imagine the Flex does not have 7 pin wiring, so what do we do there? How about brake control and WDH?

asked by: Gerry R

0

Expert Reply:

According to my research you can tow up to 4,500 lbs with your 2016 Ford Flex if you have the Class III Trailer Towing Package (which looks like it includes a 4/7 Way wiring harness, hitch receiver, trailer sway controller, and an engine oil cooler). If you don't have the Class III trailer towing package then you are limited to 2,000 lbs. We have compatible parts to "give" you the Class III trailer towing package but you will need to double check with Ford to make sure that it will still be okay with aftermarket equipment.

I recommend going with the Curt Class III Trailer Hitch # 13551 because it has a 5,000 lb towing capacity which means your Flex is the limiting factor. If you happen to have the dual exhaust then you need the Curt # C13110 instead which is still a Class III trailer hitch but the max towing weight is 4,000 lbs so that will be your limiting factor.

Then for wiring I recommend the Curt T-Connector # C56343 because it tees in behind the tail lights on your Ford Flex and then draws power directly from your battery via the included black wire. Then to finish out the wiring for a brake controller I recommend using the 4-Way/7-Way Upgrade Kit # ETBC7L which connects directly with the T-Connector and then has a power wire for the Curt Echo # C51180 brake controller which is the first controller on the market that can be used with an Apple or Android smart device via Bluetooth connection.

For a sway control (SC) and weight distribution (WD) system I recommend the Equal-i-zer # EQ37060ET which has a tongue weight rating of 200 lbs - 600 lbs (which should be right where you want it) and comes with a 2" hitch ball. It is recommended to use a 1-7/8" thin-walled socket like part # EQ70-00-4800 to install the hitch ball.

And finally for an engine oil cooler I recommend the Derale Engine Oil Cooler Kit # D15602 which is a Class III cooler with the stacked-plate design that is the most efficient out of all the cooler options. Just be sure you have enough room to install the cooler in your engine compartment (see attached photo).

Attached are some videos and multiple links to instructions that you can reference. You will want to verify the weight ratings for your Ford Flex in your owner's manual or with your local Ford dealer as well.

expert reply by: Jon G

0

Answer 1

If your 2011 Ford Flex SEL did not come with a factory installed 7-Way trailer connector then you can either use the T-connector without the converter, #118472, or you could use one with a powered converter, #C56343. Either harness will work. The…

view full answer...

Answer 2

You've got good instincts. I recommend going with a ball mount that has a 2 inch rise for the exact reason you mentioned, the truck will settle a bit with the tongue weight and any cargo weight. The ball mount we offer with a 2 inch rise is the…

view full answer...

Answer 3

Yes, a trailer that is nose up can cause big problems. A level trailer is ideal and worth working toward for safety. The good news is that you can get the trailer almost exactly level with switching ball mounts. This is where an adjustable ball mount…

view full answer...

Answer 4

I looked up the towing capacity of your 2010 Ford Flex and it has a capacity of 4,500 lbs total trailer weight which means you'd pretty easily be able to tow a 2,000 lb boat and trailer. You'll need a few things to do this safely. First is a…

view full answer...

Answer 5

If the trailer is less than 1 inch off of being perfectly level either up or down then it will be perfectly fine. Having it slightly higher would be better because presumably the tongue weight of the trailer will pull it down a little. You could also…

view full answer...

Answer 6

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

view full answer...

Answer 7

I wish there was, but if you look at the difference between the part #13551 that you have and the Curt hitch that does fit the dual exhaust models part #C13110 you can see there's a pretty huge difference (see attached pictures). I wish I had a…

view full answer...

Answer 8

For a 2012 Ford Flex without Ecoboost the correct Curt hitch is #1355 or the etrailer hitch #e95KR. These hitches are very similar and either would be a great choice. The most popular choice is the Curt #13551. I would recommend going with the one…

view full answer...

Answer 9

Both of the trailer hitches available for your 2012 Ford Flex with dual exhaust have the same design and install in the same places on the vehicle so they will all look pretty much the same. The cross tube will be visible beneath the rear bumper but…

view full answer...

Answer 10

As long as you have a trailer hitch installed on your 2015 Ford Flex that is rated for use with WD systems you would want to go with the #RP66082. This system has a tongue weight range of 200 to 600 lbs and features the only sway control on the…

view full answer...

Answer 11

Your picture didn't make it through but the Curt instructions we have show two bolts that attach with existing weld nuts and then two that attach through existing holes that require fish wire to access. We get the instructions directly from…

view full answer...

Parts Needed to Add a Towing Package to a 2016 Ford Flex

Products Referenced in This Question

Product Page this Question was Asked From

Featured Help Information

Instructions

Miscellaneous Media

Continue Researching