I would have thought the tow package would have included the drawbar and hitch ball...but mine didn't come with.

Did the dealer screw up or am I wrong?

 

Nope.

 

Youre wrong. The tow package includes the reciver, transmission cooler, heavy duty battery and the wiring.

 

OK - Glad I asked.. I was going to ask the dealer tomorrow.. heh..

Thanks guys.

 

They don't even include the large round plug any more...the one that goes into the flip-up outlet on the bumper. Fortunately, my wife's Explorer came with one and we share it!

 

I always leave the ball and bar on just to add a little more protection when rear ended. So far its kept a CRV and a Tahoe from hitting my bumper.

 

Good thought...

 

Texas- I do the same thing. Saved me last winter when some jack**s hit me from behind. Put a nice softball sized dent in his Toyota truck front bumper. Nothing to my truck though. Like you said, its extra insurance back there.

 

I works nicely for that, but then i have people running into mine and getting grease on their legs or pants, oh well

 

Asinatra- I've managed to run into mine before, giving my girlfriend a good laugh and me a huge bruise.

 

Actually from working in the service department at a ford dealership for 10 years, i saw a lot of trucks rearended that had substantial frame damage that couldnt be repaired due to a ball mount being in the hitch. If your bumper gets rearended, there is bumper, brackets, and the very end of the frame to absorb the inertia. If you have a ball mount that gets hit first, all the force is transferred about 2 feet forward of the rear bumper into the frame. Ive seen the hitch and part of the frame it attches to be bent down almost to the ground, taking the bed floor, and bed sides with it, usually cramming the bed into the cab. The accidents i used to see with no hitch usually crushed the bumper, tailgate, and just a few inches of the frame.

 

I am not going to say anything but... go look at how the hitch and bumper now mount, its not like it used to be. Let me know what you find

 

you dont need to roll your eyes at me. i know what it consists of, i have probably swapped/installed 10 -15 of them since the 04 came out.

trust me, if a ball mount is in there, there is more force transferred further up the frame than without, not as much as before, but still more.

 

Ok, back to the original question asked.........The tow package DOES include the reciever (the square hole below the bumper to put the tow bar)........BUT the question was "does it include the TOW BAR and the ball" (that metal bar/drop hitch, that goes into the reciever) and no it does not. You have to go to a parts place and get that little kit with the bar and ball for about 20 bux.

 

I'm still surprised no one has mentioned it's effectiveness as a reverse sensor.