Jeep Cherokee

[Frank Acampora]

I just bought a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo. Mainly for my wife but I intend to use it for occasional towing. Dealer wants 750 for Chrysler class 4 hitch and electrical installed. Seems like a lot to me. Anyway, I only need a class 3. Anybody have any comments on aftermarket hitches and trailer light hook-up wiring for this car? Or should I spring for the big bucks?

 

[JUSTINTIME]

Re: Jeep Cherokee

draw tie
i think uhaul is the same
reese

 

[mattwahm]

Re: Jeep Cherokee

$750 seems like a lot. Cost me around $350 to get a class 3 put on my 2000 Grand Cherokee at Uhaul a couple of months ago.

 

[vandy21]

Re: Jeep Cherokee

yeah i don't have a cherokee, but mine only cost $245 at uhaul as well, and it was just put on a couple weeks ago

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Jeep Cherokee

i ordered mine for hiddenhitches.com. took me 20 minutes to install. and wire the lights myself.

 

[eli_lilly]

Re: Jeep Cherokee

i ordered mine for hiddenhitches.com. took me 20 minutes to install. and wire the lights myself.

Same thing here, ordered online and did it myself. I am not auto wrenchy and it only took about 30 mins, way too easy to pay the amounts I am seeing mentioned here.

-E

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Jeep Cherokee

I just did an older Jeep, I think it was about a '98 Cherokee, it took about 15 minutes to mount the hitch, and the wiring was already there, I only had to hook into the factory connector at the rear. The hitch came with the tag nuts and was fairly cheap at the local Advance Auto Parts, it was a Reese class 3 for under $100, the wiring adapter was $18 and change.
It was a buddies truck, he bought a 22' cuddy cabin and needed to take it home to PA about 180 miles away, I was shocked that that truck towed that boat, it had to be over 6000lbs, when he stopped here the boat was loaded way forward and had way too much tongue weight, he was actually grinding the chains and had hit the hitch a few times on the way here. (We moved the boat back a bit and leveled the rig so he could make it home without dragging the bumper all the way there).
For a little 4.0 6cyl, it surprised me, but I am sure the trans was screaming for mercy by the time he got home.

 

[DaveM]

Re: Jeep Cherokee

Check out etrailer.com for a hitch and wiring. Plan on 1 hour of your time.

 

[bowrider]

Re: Jeep Cherokee

I just did an older Jeep, I think it was about a '98 Cherokee, it took about 15 minutes to mount the hitch, and the wiring was already there, I only had to hook into the factory connector at the rear. The hitch came with the tag nuts and was fairly cheap at the local Advance Auto Parts, it was a Reese class 3 for under $100, the wiring adapter was $18 and change.
It was a buddies truck, he bought a 22' cuddy cabin and needed to take it home to PA about 180 miles away, I was shocked that that truck towed that boat, it had to be over 6000lbs, when he stopped here the boat was loaded way forward and had way too much tongue weight, he was actually grinding the chains and had hit the hitch a few times on the way here. (We moved the boat back a bit and leveled the rig so he could make it home without dragging the bumper all the way there).
For a little 4.0 6cyl, it surprised me, but I am sure the trans was screaming for mercy by the time he got home.

Yep, you will be amazed by the torque on that "little" 4.0, I towed my show car in a steel ramp (maybe 5000 lbs alltogether) 750 miles both ways with a 94 cherokee....it has better towing capacity than you 'd think. If you get the sweet spot on the tongue weight, you are set...

 

[mike176]

Re: Jeep Cherokee

when i bought my truck about a year ago i told them i needed a hitch so i could haul my boat and they had it installed, this was after they figured the price and befor I signed the paper. they gave me a voutcher and sent me to a truck place. They installed a hidenhittch and i have to say i like the way it looks, you don't see much of it but its there and when you look under the truck i looks heavy enough for the job.

 

[demsvmejm]

Re: Jeep Cherokee

That sounds like an outrageous price. You have to keep in mind that the dealer is selling you a factory approved part. So that means that Chrysler is buying it from one of th emajor hitch manufacturers, marking it up, sending it to a distribution center, the DC marks it up, the DC sends it to the dealer if not to another DC in between with a mark up at each place. The dealership parts dept sells it to the service dept with a mark up to install for the sales dept., the service dept sells it to the sales dept that sells it to you at a mark up. So you can see where you are really getting raped.
Go to a local accessory store, reputable repair shop, or (I don't like the thought) to U-Haul, but remember you will pay the standard profit mark-up and the franchise fee there. If you can install it yourself great. As for the wiring, MAKE SURE you buy the proper wiring kit. If I'm not mistaken this has a computer controlled lighting circuit and just tapping into the wiring will cause damage. Look for a DrawTite, HiddenHitch or Reese hitch. These are all quality name brands and should come with all the necessary hardware and detailed instructions. Good luck, and you should save enough to make the first months payment if you do it yourself. Also make sure to torque the bolts to the specs in the instructions, just tight isn't good enough. It's not just yourself and your boat you will be safegarding, but potentially the lives of other motorists.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Jeep Cherokee

Thanks guys! I checked out that etrailer site and it looks like they have what I want--cheap too--156 bucks for a class III square tube hitch.
As far as wiring, I'm going to be real careful because the owners manual specifically states that they are computer monitored and the only approved hook-up is a Chrysler part. But that site has recommended wiring modules too, so I will investigate them also before I buy anything.
I'm in no rush because I already have one tow vehicle.

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Jeep Cherokee

The rear lighting is controlled by high-side drivers in the TIPM(under the hood,left fender) if you overload them, they will self-protect(shut off the circuit and set a code) in which case you will have to go to the dealer and pay to get them turned on again. The best way is to use relays to isolate the trailer circuit from the vehicle lighting circuit. I believe some of the modules out there do this for you, but you want to be sure. The module would have to have a separate power and ground of it's own and it would also tap into the lighting circuit, but it only uses them for a signal and thus only draws a few micro-amps from the circuit- not enough to trip the TIPM drivers.

--
Stan