Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests Towing with the Windstar-Redux

I'm retrofitting my 99 Windstar for light towing duty. I've got the hitch and the ATX oil cooler installed, and now it's on to lights. I called my friendly Ford parts department and they want $113 for a wiring kit!

There is something in the manual about how the brake lights are "electronically controlled" and yada yada.... and how you have to have some special module....

Has anyone else done this? Isn't there a cheaper way to wire up the tail lights?

Check out any auto parts store. They should have the wiring harnesses and directions on what to splice.

I used to work for NAPA a couple of years ago, and we sold the wiring kits. If you buy a universal, you would have to buy the module. If you buy the direct fit, it will cost a bit more then the universal, but no module.

That might be true. Sometimes adding a trailer wiring harness to a van or car will overload the wiring. They generally don't have the HD wiring that pickups or SUV's have.

Plus the Windstar has separate signal/brake lights and most trailers have combined signal/brake lights.

What they might have to do with your Windstar is install a trailer light relay system with a direct lead from the battery/alternator. That way there's no risk of overloading the stock wiring. That's probably why it's so expensive. I might suggest talking to an RV store. They might be able to get the parts cheaper.