Tow vehicle needs, questions

[utcarsons]

Called the local Trailer Supply and they have informed me I will probably need about $300 in work to get my tow vehicle ready to pull a PU.  Seriously?  We have a 2002 Explorer with the added tow package.  I was thinking $80 for a ball.  What am I missing.  He is talking about wiring, brake control for electric brakes (yes the trailer we are looking at has them, but do we need them?)  I am obviously a newbie here.  Yikes!  Or have I just asked the fox how to guard the hen house so to speak?

Jodie

[wavery]

Called the local Trailer Supply and they have informed me I will probably need about $300 in work to get my tow vehicle ready to pull a PU.  Seriously?  We have a 2002 Explorer with the added tow package.  I was thinking $80 for a ball.  What am I missing.  He is talking about wiring, brake control for electric brakes (yes the trailer we are looking at has them, but do we need them?)  I am obviously a newbie here.  Yikes!  Or have I just asked the fox how to guard the hen house so to speak?

Jodie

Electric brakes are a good (if not required) if your trailer has them. $300 actually sounds like a fair price if that includes the controller.

[NIAGARA05]

I know alot of states its a law that you have to have them just check the state you live and the state you are traveling through.  Each state is different illinois if the trailer weighs over 3000lbs you have to have electric brakes.  They are nice and help save your brakes from wearing alot faster.

Mark '74
Susan '78
Marbles the cat 10yrs old code name missy

05 Explorer 4dr 4x4 4.6L V8
03 Explorer sport Trac 4x4 4.0L V6
05 Fleetwood Niagara w/ sway bar

P.S. check this website out it will help

http://www.roadmasterinc.com/laws.htm

Enjoy the camping experience :!

[brainpause]

What kind of popup?

Larry

[NIAGARA05]

What kind of popup?

Larry

I do no that you got the trailer pack from the factory you would have a class III trailer hitch and a 3.73 rg upgrade plus a 7 pin wiring outlet.  If you have a class II trailer hitch you only get the standard 3.55 rg which is a good highway cruising gear but slow and more work of the line plus you only have a 4 pin connector.

Just thought this help a little more.

Mark '74
Susan '78

[SkipP]

IF your Explorer has a seven-pin connector and a receiver hitch, that price seems a little high to me. A brake controller will cost less that $100...the hitch and ball will run less than $40.

With the seven-pin connector, if you don't feel comfortable installing the controller, paying someone to do it should cost less than one hour's labor. That puts you under $200 (enough for several nights of campground reservations!).
 
If you don't have this, $300 is pretty fair.

[NIAGARA05]

Yes I had our brake controller installed and working for $180.00 the reciever can cost more if you have sway bar added becuse you need to get 2 balls one little one big ( Please do not take that the way its sounds LOL!!!!!!)    :! .  call your local trailer or rv center they should be able to tell how much. (sway bar was extra $100.00 does help keep the trailer from swaying.)

Mark '74
Susan '78

[NIAGARA05]

We had ours installed and working for $180.00 plus Tax.  The reciever and ball can cost more or less than $40.00 depending if you want a sway bar (we got a reese for about $100.00 does help keep the trailer from swaying).  If you go that route the you need a bigger reciever a big ball and a little ball. Try calling the local rv or trailer place for prices.

Mark '74
Susan '78

P.S. for some reason it didn't show my reply so I re did it sorry. ITS ther now.

[utcarsons]

Thanks all!  Just back from the trailer supply, and YEA!  I have the class III/IV hitch with 7 pin wiring.  So, I bought the ball and mount (this terminology is killing me  :yikes: ).  That is enough to get a new trailer home.  We are looking at two tomorrow.  A Coleman Cottonwood with electric brakes and a Jayco 1007 with ??  He said depending on which I wanted, I could do the brake control for $75 to $150.  Seems reasonable.

Thanks to all for the quick responses.  I was starting to get the heebeejeebees with all this outgoing money!  Figured out the local sales tax, registration, etc. today and am feeling a bit wrung out...

Jodie

[ilovecamping]

If you are buying a new camper I would ask them to throw it all in on the deal including installation.  They did it for us when we bought our new pu and then threw in the WD/anti-sway hitch and installation when we bought our HTT.  Just a thought.

[utcarsons]

Thanks Donna.  This is a used trailer through a private party, but you can bet I am gonna ask if he is including the brake control.  

Jodie

[Gone-Camping]

Since no one else has brought it up yet, if you decide to get a brake controller, do yourself a big favor and get the Tekonsha Prodigy ($98 at rvwholesalers.com). Reason for this, it's about the best unit out there, one of a few that have porportional braking (Truck and trailer brake at the same rate). Additionally, the Tekonsha is easy enough to install, you should be able to buy the optional "Ford Plug" and just plug that puppy in...no wiring required...
 
 
What ever you do, stay away from 'time delay' brake controllers, they are next to worthless. You can find a cheaper Tekonsha (like the Voyager) that is also porportional, but the Prodigy is solid state and is 'set & forget' (I have two Voyagers, they work well but not as well as the Prodigy)