Hi all, I just purchased a 2020 ST with factory tow

[Mr Sun City]

Hi everyone, I recently purchased a 2020 ST with the factory tow package and 62,000 miles. I plan to install a button-style brake controller and am looking for part numbers. Are there any other preparations or considerations I should make before towing a 20-foot, fully loaded, 4500-pound camper? The transmission fluid and coolant were replaced at 28,000 miles. It doesn't look like the previous owner towed with it, or perhaps the dealer just painted the inside of the receiver hitch.

 

[Caster]

After you have the brake controller installed and set, the only other thing to consider is tongue weight. Anything beyond 300 pounds and you start seeing the rearend squat. I haul a trailer with nearly 400 lbs. of tongue weight and I installer Airlift brand rear spring airbags. I add around 30 psi of air to them when I tow and I get no squat at all and it handles better since its not squatting. I went above and beyond and plumbed the airline to the inside rear of the vehicle and I added a gauge and schrader valve.

 

[Mr Sun City]

Thanks for the advice, I think I will try them. Did you install them yourself, and if so, did you follow the instructions that came with them? One more question about your vehicle: What is the other red thing I see in the photo?

 

[Caster]

Thanks for the advice, I think I will try them. Did you install them yourself, and if so, did you follow the instructions that came with them? One more question about your vehicle: What is the other red thing I see in the photo?

Yes, I installed the airbags myself and I did follow their instructions. The airbags are a pain in the ass to get them into the inside of the coil springs.. putting dishsoap on them helps them slide in but it also makes them slippery in your hands while working with them.

The other red part in the pic is an AWR differential brace. There are several companies making differential braces for the three bolt style differential on later model Explorers. An example 3-bolt pic is below. My Explores only has the single bushing as the picture shows that I circled in red. These are very problematic and have had recalls. The aftermarket companies came up with many different fixes for the problem since Ford is so incompetent.and plain ignortant as all hell. Anyway, being your Explorer is a 2020, you should have a 4-bolt set up on yours which would have 2-bushings represented by the 2nd red circle. The dual bushing, 4-bolt differential mounting scheme has not been an issue and you will not need any additional aftermarket brace.