Curt Class III Hitch Installation

[Mystery]

Hi Everyone,

I figured I would start a new post regarding the installation of the Curt hitch to make it easier for future searches, and since the Hidden Hitch thread was hijacked by us.

Where I ordered it- Fast delivery and great price $115 including shipping.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FORD-EDGE-L...emZ140241765758

 

 

I installed my Curt over the weekend. It took me about 3 hours as I took my time and probably did things the hard way.

 

Things I learned that really helped.

1. Use WD40 on the rubber muffler mounts. That helps significantly for removal. (Another users tip that saved me time.)

2. Take note there are two different size bolts. The larger of the two sizes go into the holes closest to the front of the vehicle, and require a deep socket because of the extra length of the bolt. I used loc-tite and this discovery had me scrambling for a 3/4" wrench because I don' own deep sockets. No worries.

3. Have a set of needle nose vice grips handy. (This helps your retreive your end of the wire easier inside of the frame by reaching up through the bolt hole and and pulling it back out.)

4. When drilling your holes use a new bit. (I did not, and it was a challenge. Others who did said it went through easily.)

5. When fishing the wire through for the drilled holes do the process in reverse. Fish the threaded end up through the drilled hole and out the end of the frame by the bumper. Then attach your bolt and square spacer. Then fish back through. (This helps because the angle of entry by entering from the access hole at the end of the frame sends the wire vertical up towards the vehicles body and is almost impossible to retreive. Once I reversed the process no problem.)

6. Oh yeah. I used my motorcycle jack to hold the hitch in place. It fit perfectly between the two exaust pipes, and helped significantly.

 

Thanks to everyone that has helped and suggested this hitch.

 

Link to other Curt threads:

http://www.fordedgeforum.com/index.php?showtopic=1698

 

http://www.fordedgeforum.com/index.php?showtopic=2586

 

 

Thanks again.

Mark

Edited June 23, 2008 by Mystery

[bob76]

I also installed a Curt hitch over the weekend. It was the one recommended in the first topic indicated below.

 

However, I have a couple of notes:

 

1. Use WD40 on the rubber muffler mounts. That helps significantly for removal. (Another users tip that saved me time.)

Right on! They came off so easily after I used the weasel piss that I was worried about them coming off after I rehung the exhaust.

 

2. Take note there are two different size bolts. The larger of the two sizes go into the holes closest to the front of the vehicle, and require a deep socket because of the extra length of the bolt. I used loc-tite and this discovery had me scrambling for a 3/4" wrench because I don' own deep sockets. No worries.

Not in my kit... all the bolts were the same size.

 

3. Have a set of needle nose vice grips handy. (This helps your retreive your end of the wire easier inside of the frame by reaching up through the bolt hole and and pulling it back out.)

...

5. When fishing the wire through for the drilled holes do the process in reverse. Fish the threaded end up through the drilled hole and out the end of the frame by the bumper. Then attach your bolt and square spacer. Then fish back through. (This helps because the angle of entry by entering from the access hole at the end of the frame sends the wire vertical up towards the vehicles body and is almost impossible to retreive. Once I reversed the process no problem.)

This confused me a bit at first when the instructions talk about fishing these things through the holes in the frame (and it sounds like some are fishing it through the end of the frame. For one thing, my 2007 does not have any "access holes" in it big enough to fish the bolt and spacer through. Second, I guess you could try to fish these bolts through the end of the frame, but I didn't see how that was even possible with the short little fish tool provided. And third, there are a couple of threaded washers welded to the inside of the frame that will totally get in the way of the spacers. I had to reach my hand in and orient them in such a way as to make them lay flat against the frame to accept the bolt. I would actually wager that anyone trying to do this by fishing these things through did not get these installed nice and flat to the bottom of the frame. Any way you figure it, do yourself a favor and take off the bumper. It is easy and makes installing the bolts a breeze.

 

6. Oh yeah. I used my motorcycle jack to hold the hitch in place. It fit perfectly between the two exaust pipes, and helped significantly.

I hired two lackeys to hold it up for me while I hand tightened the first two bolts on! But the motorcycle jack sounds handy if you can't get the help.

 

I did a test haul with my camper and it this thing pulls it like it was nothing... this thing really hauls well. I have actually pulled this with same camper with a Ford F150 and the Edge pulls it just as well. It has a lot of power and drives so smooth although the trailer does have a weight equalization system which may account for the smooth ride.

 

Here is a picture, I don't know if this will work, but:

 

-Bob

Edited June 26, 2008 by bob76

[CopperCarolinaEdge]

Awesome stuff Guys!

 

Bob - Nice Pic!

 

Bob - What is the weight of your camper? Around 2500-2700lbs? May I assume you do not have the transmission/oil coolers installed? How often will you pull the camper and do you foresee any issues (again assuming the above) since the Edge is only rated at 2000 lbs, I think?

 

I'm new here so PLEASE feel free to correct me... Learning as I go! Oh, we have a camper similar to yours and would love to be able to tow it with the Edge.

 

Thanks!

 

Michael

[ixlar8]

What did you use to splice the wiring harness into your Edge??

[bob76]

Awesome stuff Guys!

 

Bob - Nice Pic!

 

Bob - What is the weight of your camper? Around 2500-2700lbs? May I assume you do not have the transmission/oil coolers installed? How often will you pull the camper and do you foresee any issues (again assuming the above) since the Edge is only rated at 2000 lbs, I think?

 

I'm new here so PLEASE feel free to correct me... Learning as I go! Oh, we have a camper similar to yours and would love to be able to tow it with the Edge.

 

Thanks!

 

Michael

 

Thank you... a nice color I think. To answer your questions:

 

Yes, it does have a transmission cooler... if you check out this conversation, it might be that they all have these transmission coolers. The towing package extras are the bigger rad and the oil cooler as well as the 4 pin wiring in the back and the hitch.

 

This may or may not cause a kerfuffle, but that trailer is 4500 lbs. Now before everyone get's excited here is my logic:

1. The vehicle has a tranny cooler which will ensure that it doesn't overheat; to verify this I am thinking of installing a transmission temperature guage so I will know for sure.

2. The owner's manual states that the maximum towing capacity of this vehicle is 3500 lbs, and that 'if you are towing a trailer over 3500 lbs you need a weight equalization system'. I have that system on the trailer which is acting to reduce the tongue weight of the trailer and spread the load over both axles. This dramatically stabilizes the system.

3. I am not worried about the engine overheating and blowing because the vehicle has a temperature guage and I will know immediately if this is happening. If I have an issue in this respect, I will go and get an aftermarket oil cooler installed.

4. I live on the prairies (Saskatchewan) so I don't haul this thing up a bunch of hills. I also don't haul with O/D on.

 

Do I forsee any problems? I am slightly concerned about the tranny, but that will not stop me from towing the trailer. 2700 lbs? This thing could idle up a hill with 2700 lbs behind it. Seriously.

 

I actually haven't installed the brake controller or the wiring, but I have the TOne harness, a 4-7 wire adapter, a brake controller, and a buddy who is an electrician! I don't know if it requires any splicing of the wires for the TOne harness, but I plan on following the directions (which you can see here). Note: it says no splicing required.

 

Anyway, I will definitely post the results of my towing adventure. Luckily my Dad is a veteran towing these things around so I have help.

-Bob

[Mystery]

Thank you... a nice color I think. To answer your questions:

 

Yes, it does have a transmission cooler... if you check out this conversation, it might be that they all have these transmission coolers. The towing package extras are the bigger rad and the oil cooler as well as the 4 pin wiring in the back and the hitch.

 

This may or may not cause a kerfuffle, but that trailer is 4500 lbs. Now before everyone get's excited here is my logic:

1. The vehicle has a tranny cooler which will ensure that it doesn't overheat; to verify this I am thinking of installing a transmission temperature guage so I will know for sure.

2. The owner's manual states that the maximum towing capacity of this vehicle is 3500 lbs, and that 'if you are towing a trailer over 3500 lbs you need a weight equalization system'. I have that system on the trailer which is acting to reduce the tongue weight of the trailer and spread the load over both axles. This dramatically stabilizes the system.

3. I am not worried about the engine overheating and blowing because the vehicle has a temperature guage and I will know immediately if this is happening. If I have an issue in this respect, I will go and get an aftermarket oil cooler installed.

4. I live on the prairies (Saskatchewan) so I don't haul this thing up a bunch of hills. I also don't haul with O/D on.

 

Do I forsee any problems? I am slightly concerned about the tranny, but that will not stop me from towing the trailer. 2700 lbs? This thing could idle up a hill with 2700 lbs behind it. Seriously.

 

I actually haven't installed the brake controller or the wiring, but I have the TOne harness, a 4-7 wire adapter, a brake controller, and a buddy who is an electrician! I don't know if it requires any splicing of the wires for the TOne harness, but I plan on following the directions (which you can see here). Note: it says no splicing required.

 

Anyway, I will definitely post the results of my towing adventure. Luckily my Dad is a veteran towing these things around so I have help.

-Bob

 

Man Bob, that is a good looking ride. I am glad to hear about the towing capabilities and how smooth she went. I plan on looking into the thread you linked to regarding the transmission cooler. That is something I did not know.

 

I had my wiring harness done by the Ford Dealership we bought it at. This is something they offered to do for me to make up for the horrendous experiences throughout our sales process. I took them up on it once I saw the installation instructions.

 

Mark

Edited June 29, 2008 by Mystery

[Stevea26]

You may want to get the oil cooler installed by the dealer. I know it will be a few bucks more but god forbid something goes wrong you will be covering your butt. The last thing you need is a major problem on the road and not be near the shop that put it on and now you have an Edge and trailer that will need to be towed and repaired on your $$$. I have seen it before where a vehicle was up fitted with a tow pkg outside (even more so because your tow pkg is over what they say the car can tow) and something goes wrong it turns into a big big mess. Listen to this one. A guy had a 2004 Freestar van with a class 3 installed out side. He said he was "just going down the road" when BOTH side curain air bags deployed. Well turns out after months of insurance and lawyers and investigating turns out he was towing a larger trailer than the van was rated for (I think it rated for 1000lbs) he was making a maneuver that trailer jerked the van from side to side so violently that the van saw it as a rollover event and dropped the bags!! So guess who got the bill for replacing the headliner both full length curtain bags. And it wasn't exactly cheap if you catch my drift!! That is a horror story and not saying you would ever do that or run into a problem but in the grand scheme of things for an extra few bucks up front you CYA if the thing leaks or something and you damage you motor. Just a suggestion....

Steve

[Mystery]

I went back to the instructions just to confirm on the bolt sizes from the reply above and it does list two bolt sizes. I am attaching it in case anyone is interested.

Mark

Curt_Hitch_Installation.pdf

[zhotster]

I did this install today on my 08 SE. It was pretty easy, the WD40 was very helpful!

 

Great thread. The Curt hitch appears to be rock solid!

[DUCKRACER]

I also installed a Curt hitch over the weekend. It was the one recommended in the first topic indicated below.

 

However, I have a couple of notes:

 

 

Right on! They came off so easily after I used the weasel piss that I was worried about them coming off after I rehung the exhaust.

 

 

Not in my kit... all the bolts were the same size.

 

 

This confused me a bit at first when the instructions talk about fishing these things through the holes in the frame (and it sounds like some are fishing it through the end of the frame. For one thing, my 2007 does not have any "access holes" in it big enough to fish the bolt and spacer through. Second, I guess you could try to fish these bolts through the end of the frame, but I didn't see how that was even possible with the short little fish tool provided. And third, there are a couple of threaded washers welded to the inside of the frame that will totally get in the way of the spacers. I had to reach my hand in and orient them in such a way as to make them lay flat against the frame to accept the bolt. I would actually wager that anyone trying to do this by fishing these things through did not get these installed nice and flat to the bottom of the frame. Any way you figure it, do yourself a favor and take off the bumper. It is easy and makes installing the bolts a breeze.

 

 

I hired two lackeys to hold it up for me while I hand tightened the first two bolts on! But the motorcycle jack sounds handy if you can't get the help.

 

I did a test haul with my camper and it this thing pulls it like it was nothing... this thing really hauls well. I have actually pulled this with same camper with a Ford F150 and the Edge pulls it just as well. It has a lot of power and drives so smooth although the trailer does have a weight equalization system which may account for the smooth ride.

 

Here is a picture, I don't know if this will work, but:

 

-Bob

 

Bob: Where the heck do you live? That picture looks like your Edge and trailer are parked in HEAVEN!

[bob76]

Bob: Where the heck do you live? That picture looks like your Edge and trailer are parked in HEAVEN!

 

Haha... :yup: It is like heaven to me... that is my home town, Lumsden, SK, Canada. It is an acreage just outside of a nice little town in the Qu'appelle Valley. I just wanted to take a picture of the new hitch in action and it just so happened there was a nice rainbow in the background!