2009 Escape XLT - Cable hanging by rear bumper

[damon8albarn]

I am getting a hitch installed on my 2009 Ford Escape XLT and they told me that they needed to install a 'Four way wire kit' on the vehicle.
I noticed that there is a cable already installed by the center of my rear bumper. Is this what I need, or something completely unrelated?

I don't want to pay for something I don't need.

Thanks

[wptski]

To my knowledge, if you don't have the OEM trailer package, you wouldn't have the wiring.

I've asked another person without the trailer package to look for the harness and they found none. Not sure why you'd have one and other don't!

The harness is a flat four wire female connector with a rubber cap just visible below the rear facia(bumper), left of center.

[damon8albarn]

Here are two pictures of the female adaptor I was talking about.







Thanks

[wptski]

I don't have anything like that on mine. What appears to be that location on mine has a ten pin connector wiring harness, not sure what that operates.

A trailer connector is either the four pin flat or the five pin round which has the extra wire for a trailer with brakes.

[oscarandbev1307]

Not sure but I have one too and I was told and I havent really looked into it, is that you need to get an adapter that goes from that plug to a trailer plug. I need to look into too cause I just put on a hitch and need to figure where the wire harness needs to go.

[wptski]

Originally Posted by oscarandbev1307

Not sure but I have one too and I was told and I havent really looked into it, is that you need to get an adapter that goes from that plug to a trailer plug. I need to look into too cause I just put on a hitch and need to figure where the wire harness needs to go.

I have the trailer package, so my four wire connector is in wiring harness along with my backup sensors and appears to go to a larger connector anchored at the same position pictured above.

You'd need more than just a connector, you need three relays that plug in the fuse/relay box in the engine compartment. They come with the trailer in a package but not installed.

[anverc]

Originally Posted by damon8albarn

I am getting a hitch installed on my 2009 Ford Escape XLT and they told me that they needed to install a 'Four way wire kit' on the vehicle.
I noticed that there is a cable already installed by the center of my rear bumper. Is this what I need, or something completely unrelated?

I don't want to pay for something I don't need.

Thanks

Damon, how much did the install end up costing? I'd like to do the same thing and I've just realized by reading these forums that the bumper will probably have to be replaced, so it's not just a hook up and go type of thing. :/

[jzuk]

Went through the same thing. I bought without the trailer package, as I wanted a Class III hitch for piece of mind, accessories, and my 2,400lb camper says so.

I've seen the 4-way wire kits for lights for around $60, they plug into your rear lights.

To use the wire harness at the back you need 3 relays and a 4-way adaptor (the adaptor plugs into the pictured harness and has your trailer plug on the other end). I went to the dealership and checked with the parts department AND my salesman. They wanted $170Cdn for just the relays and similar for the wire harness. (hope they're looking at the wrong part #)

I went to a nearby Mazda dealership for the relays, $2.80 each. I did'nt ask about the 4-way adaptor. I'm splicing into the harness that is there, colours match up to trailer wiring. Now all I have to do is install a brake controler.

So in Cdn $, I've dished out $370 for the hitch and brake controller, $9.80 for the relays, $20 for the 7 blade harness. Add a few bucks for butt conectors and wire for the brake controller and I'm under the $500 option and have what I really wanted!! (The agrivation makes the Grande Vitara look really good with it's factory Class III hitch but less HP and only 3000lb towing, I could of gotten them to install a brake controller)

[09XCAPE]

FWIW I have the connector pictured above in this post. No "factory" hitch but that plug is there.

09 4cyl Escape