Towbar on the bird?

[007Cruiser]

A trunk rack with a couple of smaller or one large Pelican brand case works very well for extended trips.

So does UPS. Just ship your stuff ahead.

[Fredrik73]

There is only a small Chans now that I get the boat
the owner before maby want to buy it back or maby the engine

[Fredrik73]

A trunk rack with a couple of smaller or one large Pelican brand case works very well for extended trips.

Or a angelgrinder and make a pickup hihihi

[brake shoe]

A hitch for a LS fits great. I have one on my car. Ford Windstar wiring kit is what you need. Most hitch dealers can get the wiring box. Good luck.

[Fredrik73]

A hitch for a LS fits great. I have one on my car. Ford Windstar wiring kit is what you need. Most hitch dealers can get the wiring box. Good luck.

Stephen
Thats perfect information
im not sur if i install it but Will see ho much it cost
have to ask the inspection too what they say about it
thankyou

[HKS]

A hitch for a LS fits great. I have one on my car. Ford Windstar wiring kit is what you need. Most hitch dealers can get the wiring box. Good luck.

Interesting note:
The Ford Windstar uses the same type Front Electronic Module (Lighting Module) as the Lincoln LS and 2002 Thunderbird.
There may be slight differences.
All lights hot. Ground switching.

HKS

[Stexbower]

Today I was able to order a 1 1/4 inch sport towbar from haul. They said they are made to order expect a 6 tp 8 week delivery. Shipped to a local haul in stallion facility cost with labor to install was $332.59 all in.

[007Cruiser]

Good to know. I assume that you mean Uhaul. Last time I checked with them they couldn’t provide one.

[cobrajeff]

I had a 2002 T'Bird in 2010 that I put a hitch on. I tried to order the U-Haul hitch at about four different U-haul locations - most said it was obsolete, and unavailable. Then one day, as if by magic, one showed up at my doorstep. I installed it on the car, and, when I sold the T'Bird, the new owner would not allow me to keep the hitch. I bought another 2002 Thunderbird in 2017, and was unable to find a Thunderbird hitch. I did find a Lincoln LS hitch on an "obsolete parts" website. The Thunderbird hitch has a 1 1/4" receiver box, the Lincoln LS hitch has a 2.0' receiver box. The LS hitch will fit on the Thunderbird, but because the hitch is larger, the rear valence panel will not close properly. I cut the LS hitch up, moving the cross- bar up about an inch, which allowed me to get the pins that retain the rear valence to work in to their original location.

[HKS]

I had a 2002 T'Bird in 2010 that I put a hitch on. I tried to order the U-Haul hitch at about four different U-haul locations - most said it was obsolete, and unavailable. Then one day, as if by magic, one showed up at my doorstep. I installed it on the car, and, when I sold the T'Bird, the new owner would not allow me to keep the hitch. I bought another 2002 Thunderbird in 2017, and was unable to find a Thunderbird hitch. I did find a Lincoln LS hitch on an "obsolete parts" website. The Thunderbird hitch has a 1 1/4" receiver box, the Lincoln LS hitch has a 2.0' receiver box. The LS hitch will fit on the Thunderbird, but because the hitch is larger, the rear valence panel will not close properly. I cut the LS hitch up, moving the cross- bar up about an inch, which allowed me to get the pins that retain the rear valence to work in to their original location.

Jeff,
Interesting project. The 2" hitch could allow one to tow a big trailer but I don't think an equalizer hitch should be used since the Tbird does not have a frame.
I have a 2" hitch on my 2015 Escape and it can tow about 3000 pounds. I don't think Ford had in mind towing a lot of weight for the Tbird.
Maybe we need cast iron X braces.
Hermann

[007Cruiser]

Ford had NO towing in mind yet we know that it can handle a small utility trailer. Page 116 in the 2003 manual:

TRAILER TOWING
Your vehicle is not equipped to tow. No towing packages are available through Ford or Lincoln/Mercury dealers.

[007Cruiser]

I did some Lincoln LS research. It also has a towing capacity of zero. The hitch that Jeff found was likely an aftermarket item.

[cobrajeff]

The 2002 Thunderbird is rated to tow 2,000 pounds. There is even a connector in the 14405 (taillight harness) to mate to a Ford trailer light harness - Ford part number 16WZ-15A416-AA (obsoleted by Ford and about $400 last time I looked, IF you could find one). A $50 “low-side switching” harness from a trailer supply outfit for a Windstar will do the job - just requires a little study and wire-splicing. Curt, Hopkins, and Tekonsha all make a T- harness for the Windstar that can be adapted.

The 2003-2005 Thunderbirds are NOT rated to tow, and do not have the pigtail for the factory trailer wiring harness.

Ford never made or sold hitches for the Retro T’Bird or the Lincoln LS. The hitches are manufactured by outside trailer hitch specialty companies. The 1 1/4” hitch for T’Bird is rated for 2,000 lbs. and was available from DrawTite or U-Haul under part number 24705. The 2.0” hitch for the Lincoln LS was available from Curt as a part number 12253, and from U-Haul under part number 36282.