have an 04 tribute LX and want to put an aftermarket trailer hitch on it. It didnt come with one and was wondering how hard it is to put a new one on. If anybody has put one on and could give me some tips or explainations of what i will have to do please let me know.........Thanks!!

 

I put a tubular Class II from hidden hitch on. They sent a free wiring harness and the price was right. The only catch was that the lights still wouldnt work. Took it to Mazda dealer where they charge $80 to tell me it did not have a towing module (whatever that is) and then another $150 to put one in. Have no idea if this was appropriate or if they just soldered 2 wires together but thought you should know this may be an added expense if yours was not originally equipped.

T

 

Thanks King, was your hitch pretty much a bolt on type? (where you didnt have to modify the car any) ? I keep looking and it looks like i would have to cut or saw the little tow? hook off underneath the back?

 

Had a Class III hitch put on and the wiring done for $230 at Brad's Trailer Service in Rochester, NY. Can't tell you if it was easy or not to put it on, but it only took them about 1 hour to do everything at the shop.

Advice: Remove the trim pieces around the tailgate, and splice into the wires from the top. This way, you can leave the wiring and harness inside the vehicle, avoiding exposure to weather. This is especially important if you live in an area with lots of snow and road salt (like I do).

 

I believe a towing module is an electronic converter so that turn signals and running lights might be separated or combined electronically.
I have a Draw-Tite class II on my 3HB (professionally installed,) and there is a module box mounted in the rear that also draws power for the trailer lights directly from the battery (power lead running back to front) so that those lights don't draw from and possibly over-tax to factory wiring.

To answer your question, I believe the physical mounting of the hitch would probably be a breeze, but the electrical might be confusing... especially if you are not that well versed w/electricity in the first place.

 

had a class III put on at u-haul for about $250,tow module and wiring and all,still can only tow 3500 ,lbs but the class III was utilized because it fits and looks great.has a 2" receiver that you can put a rhinostep into it when not towing and protects the bumper too from getting bumped

 

Hello!

I just received an after market hitch for my 2001 Tribute. The plug and play wiring module appreared to be not availlable any more, so they sent me a universal one with electronic module. The mechanical part of mounting the hitch looks doable, however I feel a bit worried about the wiring part. Does any of you hve a wiring diagram of the car, or know what colors wirers to use and wher to find them?

Bert

 

hey guys let me bump this thread for a second...

i have an '05 AWD 3.0L, it has the spare underneath outside. has any had experience installing a hitch with this situation? any recommendations on hitches or if any modification is required?

thanks

 

I did just self install an aftermarket trailer hitch and it wasn't that simple. I had to grind the holes in the frame rails to make the bolts fit and then it's a fishing expedition( with kit supplied wire thingies ) to place the bolts on the inside of the frame rail. Electrics weren't physically that hard, just a tedious,multistepped, process... both taillights must come off and that hotwire all the way to the battery are the biggest tasks. But I saved over a hundred bucks... so I got that going for me , which is nice

 

i put on a hitch myself and when it came down to the wireing, i too was having a problem at first as well. however i figured out with the help of the guys at my local uhaul. i didnt need to get a modulator from the dealorship(although thats what the dealor suggested, go figure) with the hitch that i bought from uhaul and the wire harness that came with it. plain and simple, instead of hooking to the wireing that is already there on the vehicle(the one where you need the modulator or what ever it is that they are trying to rip us off with) i simple tapped into the wires that run to each of the lights that i need for the trailer ex. left,right, stop etc.. the wire harness that came with the hitch from uhaul had enough wire with it to run to each of lamps than to the unit and than ofcourse to the wireing that runs your trailer. i have been told that it is not that good of an idea to tap into the wires like that due to the outside elements that can corrode the wires and the tapping connectors, however, on my 06 tribute, the rear lamps are in a caseing and are very secure from the outside elements.