Trailering my new 190 Sport - Should I upgrade tow bar?

you are correct. once you have the 5 wire connector, you don't have to have the lights on. when they showed you the trick of reversing the connector and turning the lights on. that activated the brake diabling by using the 12v coming from the vehicle lights.

That is about what I had thought, wanted to be sure - thanks for the info.
 
Ok all is set for taking my boat back up to the dealer tomorrow for:

Mounting the spare tire he had agreed to throw in the deal for me.
Mounting that rear trailer light assembly appropriately.
Pick up the manual for the Shoreland'r trailer I have.
Pick up the custom Sea Ray rear tie downs I did not get.
Pick up the lock out bracket for my trailer's disc surge brakes that I did not get.

I know I have had bits and pieces of this information in different threads, if anyone thinks of anything I have missed certainly let me know.

Thanks,
 
Ok I just got back from the dealer.
I have to tip my hat at them, the customer service today was awesome.
They got my spare tire mounted, the rear trailer light mounted properly, and my new Sea Ray tie downs on. They also gave me the lockout bracket for the trailer, and the manual for it I was supposed to have.

Not only that but:
I had U-Haul put the 5 pin wiring harness on last weekend so the disc surge brakes would work properly. Well this morning when I pulled the boat up to the driveway from behind the garage, when I tried to back up the brakes kicked in - until I turned the lights on. I knew that was not supposed to be how they worked, so while I was at the dealer I asked them about it. They tested the 5 pin with a voltmeter, turns out that U-Haul wired it wrong - they wired that 5th pin to the lights, rather than the reverse light. So in order for it to work , would have to have the lights on all the time - but then I would not have disc surge brakes at all!

So the dealer had his guy, go in and wire it properly for me while I was there. I told him not to worry with it, I will take it back to U-Haul and have them fix their mistake - he said not to worry, they can get it done for me while there and save me having to go back - all at no charge. Plus he gave me couple of bimini c clamps, to attach the lower pole to the other pole when it is laying down, to keep those two poles from laying on the fiberglass.

I mentioned a concern on that small rear seat cushion, it had actually blown up and was lying in the floor after the trip, he is ordering a snap for it and is going to install it for me when I bring it up to be de-winterized, at no charge... I may have not had that seat all the way back in like it should have been, as it did not do that on the first trip home from the dealer, but this will ensure it won't blow up again.

I am impressed, I told them they keep this up they will have a customer for life...
Anyway, I was complaining earlier and just wanted to state how well they did for me today.

Man it is a nice day, while can't go out yet as it is still winterized, I sure enjoyed spending some time with it today!

Spare tire mounted and my new tie downs:

photo2-1.jpg

photo1-1.jpg
 
Thanks guys!

Well, regarding my OP on this thread, I have come to a decision after much deliberation. The Class II hitch on my Sport Trac.
While I realize that the only difference on this hitch that Ford provides, between the Class II I have currently, and the Class III they offer, is the size of the receiver tube, and I could probably find a good welder that would agree to cut it off and weld a Class III on , I am just not going to risk it.

Yes, the Class II I have would probably be fine for the most part, but for peace of mind - namely my peace of mind, I am going to just go ahead and bite the bullet and splash the cash to get a Class III from Ford installed to replace the whole Class II unit I currently have.

It bites somewhat, especially as no one offers an aftermarket for this model Sport Trac, I just don't feel good any other way, and I am not going to take that 1 in a 1000 chance or whatever it might be, for liability's sake...

Once that is done, I should be set for a while - and hopefully have a great summer with our new toy.
 
Ok I just got back from the dealer.
I have to tip my hat at them, the customer service today was awesome.
They got my spare tire mounted, the rear trailer light mounted properly, and my new Sea Ray tie downs on. They also gave me the lockout bracket for the trailer, and the manual for it I was supposed to have.

Not only that but:
I had U-Haul put the 5 pin wiring harness on last weekend so the disc surge brakes would work properly. Well this morning when I pulled the boat up to the driveway from behind the garage, when I tried to back up the brakes kicked in - until I turned the lights on. I knew that was not supposed to be how they worked, so while I was at the dealer I asked them about it. They tested the 5 pin with a voltmeter, turns out that U-Haul wired it wrong - they wired that 5th pin to the lights, rather than the reverse light. So in order for it to work , would have to have the lights on all the time - but then I would not have disc surge brakes at all!

So the dealer had his guy, go in and wire it properly for me while I was there. I told him not to worry with it, I will take it back to U-Haul and have them fix their mistake - he said not to worry, they can get it done for me while there and save me having to go back - all at no charge. Plus he gave me couple of bimini c clamps, to attach the lower pole to the other pole when it is laying down, to keep those two poles from laying on the fiberglass.

I mentioned a concern on that small rear seat cushion, it had actually blown up and was lying in the floor after the trip, he is ordering a snap for it and is going to install it for me when I bring it up to be de-winterized, at no charge... I may have not had that seat all the way back in like it should have been, as it did not do that on the first trip home from the dealer, but this will ensure it won't blow up again.

I am impressed, I told them they keep this up they will have a customer for life...
Anyway, I was complaining earlier and just wanted to state how well they did for me today.

Man it is a nice day, while can't go out yet as it is still winterized, I sure enjoyed spending some time with it today!

Spare tire mounted and my new tie downs

That all sounds great. I'm curious though about the de-winterizing. For me that involves installing the battery and starting it. I never have paid a dealer for that.
 
That all sounds great. I'm curious though about the de-winterizing. For me that involves installing the battery and starting it. I never have paid a dealer for that.

Well beats me, but they have it winterized and I understand I need to get it de-winterized, I guess to flush out whatever they put in there to winterize?
I always had the same done with the old 1990 180 BR I had, just something I thought I had to get done...

Typically the cost of having it winterized, also includes having it de-winterized.
 
Well going back to the OP on this thread,

I went by Ford earlier this week, paid for the Class III hitch ( big ouch) so they could order it, and am scheduled to have it installed on the 21st.

At least that will be behind me, and I will have much peace of mind now for when I am towing my new boat.
 
Well going back to the OP on this thread,

I went by Ford earlier this week, paid for the Class III hitch ( big ouch) so they could order it, and am scheduled to have it installed on the 21st.

At least that will be behind me, and I will have much peace of mind now for when I am towing my new boat.

very smart decision IMHO.......good luck with the new boat....

cliff
 
Well going back to the OP on this thread,

I went by Ford earlier this week, paid for the Class III hitch ( big ouch) so they could order it, and am scheduled to have it installed on the 21st.

At least that will be behind me, and I will have much peace of mind now for when I am towing my new boat.

That is a good move. When I ordered my SportTrac, I specified a Class III hitch. It was only 150 more than the Class II. With it I got the electronic brake assembly, and enhanced cooling , HD transmission and Oil cooler. The Dealer questioned me, until he saw the vehicle. The dealership then made the decision that only Class III hitches on any vehicles from then on.
 
That is a good move. When I ordered my SportTrac, I specified a Class III hitch. It was only 150 more than the Class II. With it I got the electronic brake assembly, and enhanced cooling , HD transmission and Oil cooler. The Dealer questioned me, until he saw the vehicle. The dealership then made the decision that only Class III hitches on any vehicles from then on.

Thanks - yeah I wish I had of had the foresight to do the same when we bought the Sport Trac in Jan of 2011, we knew we wanted to get a boat someday but never really thought about it having only a Class II and what it would be rated for. If I had of known, I am sure I would have gotten a much better deal having it upgraded.
I will certainly know the next time we go truck shopping!
 
Well gang I can finally report back, mission accomplished.
The part came in, took the truck early this morning and left it with Ford, and they installed a genuine Ford Class III hitch on my Sport Trac, replacing the Class II that was on there. Stopped off by U-Haul on the way home and got the bar and ball, I have to say this thing makes that Class II that came off seem tiny, I will have much better peace of mind now. My wallet didn't, but we will have the truck a while and I view it as a one time investment/insurance for pulling my new Sport 190...

Thanks to everyone again, who contributed to all the great feedback in this ole thread.
 

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