7-pin adaptor and aftermarket hitch?
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Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1
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From: Central Texas
7-pin adaptor and aftermarket hitch?
I have an 2001 F-150 Supercab 4x2 with the 4.6L V8. This came without the Class III towing group, but I've always had a "Valley Industries" aftermarket hitch (Class IV - 5000 weight bearing/10000 weight distributing). I was wanting to tow some heavier loads (of course within GCVWR/GVWR) and wanted the 7-pin adaptor (for electric brakes). I found a part number for this: YL3Z-13A576-GB and went down to the parts department and ordered it. Trouble is, this is a hitch mount (whereas the stock 4 pin is a bumper mount). I do not want to drill a rather large hole in the hitch (which would weaken it).
Does anyone have any advice? Does the Class III Tow Group hitch (P/N F65Z-17D826-AA or 2L3Z-19D520-AA) come with a mounting hole pre-drilled on the left side? Or, would anybody happen to know the P/N of a mounting plate that bumper mounts instead?
Does anyone have any advice? Does the Class III Tow Group hitch (P/N F65Z-17D826-AA or 2L3Z-19D520-AA) come with a mounting hole pre-drilled on the left side? Or, would anybody happen to know the P/N of a mounting plate that bumper mounts instead?
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 384
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From: TX
cboyd,
I recently installed the same harness on my 1999 Scab; the harness has a bracket that has a predrilled 3/8 hole to bolt onto the bottom of the hitch. To tell the story, I got my hitch off ebay; factory Ford unit that needed paint and had a predrilled 3/8 hole in the bumper for, what I contend, the harness bracket.
You can drill the hole without weakening the hitch; you'll discover that when you start drill the pilot hole. I was starting to think the hitch was Grade 8 steel (I was using a battery-powered drill with slightly discharged batteries). Find a self-tapping bolt to thread the hole or use a tap. Other than needing to drill/enlarge the hole and disconnect the harness, the rest of the install is easy.
Curt
I recently installed the same harness on my 1999 Scab; the harness has a bracket that has a predrilled 3/8 hole to bolt onto the bottom of the hitch. To tell the story, I got my hitch off ebay; factory Ford unit that needed paint and had a predrilled 3/8 hole in the bumper for, what I contend, the harness bracket.
You can drill the hole without weakening the hitch; you'll discover that when you start drill the pilot hole. I was starting to think the hitch was Grade 8 steel (I was using a battery-powered drill with slightly discharged batteries). Find a self-tapping bolt to thread the hole or use a tap. Other than needing to drill/enlarge the hole and disconnect the harness, the rest of the install is easy.
Curt