Ford Explorer Trailer Hitch Buyer’s Guide (Canada)
A hitch turns your Explorer into the one that takes a bike rack, a cargo carrier, a utility trailer or a small boat. CURT builds five hitches for the Ford Explorer from 1991 to 2026, Class 3, rated 4,000 lb to 6,000 lb, from $262.31 CAD with free shipping anywhere in Canada.
Your year decides the part. Find it in the table, open the year page for the exact hitch, price and wiring, and you're done in a few minutes.
2020 through 2026 Explorer, no factory receiver$312.94 CADSee the hitch →
Which hitch fits your Explorer, by year
| Years | Hitch | Class, receiver, rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
2020 through 2026 Explorer |
CURT 13438 no factory receiver |
Class 3, 2-inch receiver, 6,000 lb / 600 lb tongue | $312.94 CAD |
 |
2011 through 2019 Explorer | CURT 13386 | Class 3, 2-inch receiver, 4,000 lb / 400 lb tongue | $262.31 CAD |
 |
2002 through 2005 Explorer 2002 through 2003 Explorer Sport |
CURT 13550 | Class 3, 2-inch receiver, 5,000 lb / 500 lb tongue | $525.62 CAD |
 |
1991 through 2003 Explorer 2001 through 2003 Explorer Sport |
CURT 13033 | Class 3, 2-inch receiver, 5,000 lb / 500 lb tongue | $471.06 CAD |
 |
1991 through 2001 Explorer 2001 through 2003 Explorer Sport |
CURT 13540 | Class 3, 2-inch receiver, 4,000 lb / 400 lb tongue | $479.14 CAD |
Pick your Explorer year
Each year page has the hitch, the harness and the ball mount that go together, with the price of each.
CURT parts for the Ford Explorer
Watch a Explorer hitch go on
CURT's own install crew, start to finish, so you know what you're in for before the box arrives.
Wiring, ball mount and the rest
A bike rack needs nothing but the hitch. A trailer needs lights, and CURT 55241 ($49.76 CAD) is the four-flat harness that plugs into the Explorer's factory connector for 1995 through 2001. No cutting, no scotch-locks. Other years have their own harness; the year page shows the right one.
Then a ball mount sized to the receiver: CURT 45836 ($41.70 CAD) drops straight into a 2-inch receiver. Pick the drop or rise that keeps the trailer level, and match the ball to the coupler. The ball mount guide covers both in two minutes.
Canadian winters eat hitch hardware. Salt and brine get into the receiver and the trailer plug, so a smear of grease on the pin, a cap on the receiver and a rinse under the bumper in spring keep a CURT hitch looking new for years. The rust and salt care guide has the full routine.
Ford Explorer hitch questions
Which CURT hitch fits my Ford Explorer?
It depends on the year. CURT 13438 is the newest, for 2020 through 2026, and the table above matches every other year to its part. Open your year page and the exact hitch, price and wiring are on it.
Can I put a bike rack on an Explorer with this hitch?
Yes. The 2-inch receiver takes any 2-inch rack, and a loaded rack counts against the hitch's tongue weight (600 lb on CURT 13438), so a four-bike platform rack with bikes on it is well inside the limit.
Can I install the hitch myself?
CURT rates CURT 13438 advanced, about 60 minutes, so expect some trim or drilling work. The main body tucks behind the bumper so only the receiver shows. The install video above is the real job, uncut.
How much can an Explorer tow with a CURT hitch?
The hitch is rated from 4,000 lb to 6,000 lb depending on the part, but the Explorer's own tow rating in the owner's manual is the ceiling. The lower of the two numbers is your limit, every time.
