rjmespn

I have a 9700 b 04 build. What should be included with the full tow package?

SacKen

Hitch, ball mount and wiring. If the invoice only says tow bracket, then it's not the full package. It doesn't come with any of the other "tow kit" items that some other trucks come with like a transmission cooler, etc.

Black2003

what do u mean it doesnt come with the transmission cooler? are you sure about that?? i have an 04 gx that had the bracket on it and the dealer did the hitch when i looked under the front of the car i saw a mini radiator at the bottom so are you sure

SacKen

I am sure that it was not part of the tow package that was optional equipment as of build 9700c. Whether the GX has one standard or it has been added to the package after 9700c, I don't know.

Capirato

Ken.....

I also have an 04 GX 9700c build. Mine has an Oil Cooler, which is just below the Horns. Truck came with no Hitch.

~ Cap

rkrzyston

I picked up my G model and the tow package including the ball mount , cooler was already installed. I did not see it as an option...

SacKen

Nice to know. My new knowledge for the day... I can go home now.

That must be why, like I said before, that the full tow package does not come with any of that stuff. Now I understand why... because it isn't needed.

Thanks for the info. I learn more and more about this truck every day (for better or worse).

steevr

Did your GX's with the full tow package come with a 7 pin to 4 pin conversion plug ? Mine didn't but our '97 Expedition did. Before I go out and buy one, I just want to make sure the dealer didn't forget about it. Thanks.

SacKen

Nope. Had to go buy one to tow my boat.

BTW, I'm getting ready to tow my boat with the GX for the first time this weekend and I noticed that the ball mount had a notice attached to it that says that it is designed to be used with the mount plate high, which is upside-down from the other ball mounts I have used. See if I can ASCII what I mean...

Typical mount that I have used: ==\___

                                                           ____
Mount that came with the GX: ==/

No biggie, I just had never seen one like this before.

steevr

The ball mounts are meant to be used either way depending on if you need the ball lower or higher than the hitch. When we had the Expedition, we had it mounted the normal way with the ball sitting low. This was necessary because the Expedition sat up pretty high. I haven't towed our boat yet with the GX yet, so I'm going to have to play with it too.

Triplenet

I towed with my GX for the first time last week. Tandem axle 16' trailer with '65MGB, 425 miles each way and never noticed the trailer.

I did think the light plug was awkward to use as it's offset to the left and at an angle. This also required more wire lead on the trailer for manuevers where the trailer was turned to the far right of the truck. The good side is that the plug shouldn't get snagged by anything.

One odd thing was the reducing spacer for the threaded ball shank was taller (thicker) than the thickness of the hitch, so the ball could not be tightened, it would rotate. I think I bought a 1" shank, removing the spacer removed would allow up to 1 1/4" shank (I'm going by memory). A few minutes with the grinder fixed it though.

Bob

Capirato

Bob.....

I have a couple of questions. Did you drive the truck in 4th gear all the time ?? Did you use a Brake Controller ??

~ Cap

Triplenet

Cap,

I didn't have a brake controller, it was a borrowed trailer. It was in 5th most of the entire trip except for a few times that I put in it 4 & 3. I was surprised the trans didn't keep shifting back and forth. It did on occasion shift down on long grades. It was relativly flat thru MO and NE, I'm on the edge of the Ozarks.

This is my first automatic in a long time and I have never towed with anything except a manual trans. It was a pleasant surprise to find how well the GX did.

Next try will be my boat, about 5-6000 lbs with full tank. It has surge brakes. Very steep hills, but only about 5 miles to the launch site.

Bob

Triplenet

This is a delayed followup to my previous post. I put my boat in last week. It was a short hop to the ramp (3-4 miles) but I have about 1/4 mile very steep pull from my house to the main road. The GX did well. I was going slow (15-20) as trailer fenders and gunwals (sp?) are 8.5' and there is one sharp turn at the top where one needs the whole road width.

I estimate boat, trailer and gas load is 5-6K lbs. Almost didn't notice it was behind me!

Piece of cake!

Bob