2004 Grand Cherokee Question Part2

You can find the answer to all your questions at

. Basically, the dealer is correct. The $360 tow package, available on all except the Overland, includes a 3.73 axle, 7 to 4 pin adapter, Class III hitch and 7-pin wiring harness.

The Class IV towing package, apparently only available on the Overland, includes the Class IV hitch, power steering cooler, and

7-pin harness. The Overland comes standard with the 3.73 axle.

There is also a trailer towing prep package available on all except the Overland. It contains the 3.73 axle and 7-pin harness.

If I were going to tow anything, I would not buy a Jeep without the factory towing package. For one thing, the 3.73 axle could be very important, depending upon the weight towed. Secondly, the 7-pin wiring harness is not a minor addition. On my JGC, the trailer wiring is quite complex, including several relays, etc. It is mounted inside behind the panel on the right-rear wheel well. You can always go the "jury-rig" route with a lamp connector adapter, etc., but you won't be integrated into the Jeep wiring system.

Dick

Dick did pass the time by typing:

I've installed several tow harnesses in ZJs. Plainly put the most difficult thing is pulling off the plastic panels. The wiring package comes with basic instructions and if your comfortable with a screwdriver and zip-ties it is an easy job. Word of caution. Those plastic panels have razor sharp edges. Sliced the crap out of myself twice on those things.

The only thing that can get difficult is wiring for a brake module. Most ZJs and WJs are already wired with a light blue coil of wire up by the drivers left foot. Should be marked E-brake (electronic brake) and then you need to run another wire back to where the harness connects. That of course depends on the trailer your running and how its brakes work.

I'll second your last sentence and add a few more words. The WJs and ZJs are not designed to run a trailers lights directly. If you have a light-outage-module it can be burned up due to excessive current draw.

Hi Dick,

Thanks Doug,

The tow harnesses you installed, where they from Jeep, or someone else?

Thanks for the reminder on sharp plastic, I think I ran in to that myself a couple of times.Who'd thought plastic could be so sharp.and I'm sure I'll remember this post just after I cut myself. :-) ---Greg---

Quoting from the Jeep website, all models except the Overland come with 3.55 as the standard axle ratio. There is no reference to either engines or transmissions.

For accessories, go to

and send them an e-mail concerning the wiring harness adapter. snipped-for-privacy@buymopar.com If a factory kit is available, they will let you know, and also have the best price on the Internet. I have ordered several things from them for my ZJ and have been very happy with their service. You will get an answer from them in 24 to 48 hours (depending upon holidays, etc.)

Dick

Greg did pass the time by typing:

Mostly OEM (Jeep), I believe a few more bucks for something that is guaranteed to fit/work is better than an aftermarket splice kit. Although sometimes you can't get older harnesses and have to build them.

Give the folks at buymopar.com a shot. They are a dealership but they don't price gouge on parts.

:) It usually works that way. (:

Costs $255 if ordered with vehicle.

That matches what you can check for yourself at

See no additional transmission cooler for the 4.7 with the 5 speed auto.

Would it cost you more than the $255 to get the wiring and hitch properly installed aftermarket?

You *do* get a "Trail Rated" badge if this is a 4wd.

Granted this may only be the jeep website, but it looks like with the 5 speed auto and the 4.7, you get the 3.55 rear even with the trailer package.

I don't think Jeep has shipped a 3.55 since 1997. To the best of my knowledge, it comes with a 3.73. Both of my wife's JGCs came with a 3.73 with their towing packages.

Jerry

-- Jerry Bransford To email, remove 'me' from my email address KC6TAY, PP-ASEL See the Geezer Jeep at

Yes it could be either way, I thought I read somewhere that the 4.7 came with the 3.73 axle. but I could be wrong. On the jeep web site, if you look under Grand Cherokee Special Edition, check, the trailer tow group, it lists the cost as $360 w/ 3.73 axle. But if you choose the 4.7 engine first, the price of the tow group drops to $255 and there's no mention of the 3.73 axle.

So whether this means the 4.7 comes with the 3.73 axle or the 4.7 towing package uses the 3.55 axle I'm not sure.

---Greg---

See if you can make the vehicle builder app at

admit this. Select a GC 4x4 with the 4.7 and it appears to set the 3.55 rear with the 5 speed auto. The 4.0 with 4speed will admit to there being a 3.73, but the 4.7 and 5speed are pretty stubborn.

All I can say is that both my wife's 1999 4.7L JGC and her current

2002 4.7L equipped JGC both came with a 3.73 axle ratio and that ratio is what comes standard if you ordered the towing package. I can't help what some website says, I just know what options were available when we bought both of them... and I know for a fact hers were both 3.73 because I crawled underneath to verify the axle ratios on both JGCs before we accepted delivery.

Again... I don't believe Jeep has shipped a 3.55 axle ratio, at least here in the U.S., since the 1997 model year.

Jerry

-- Jerry Bransford To email, remove 'me' from my email address KC6TAY, PP-ASEL See the Geezer Jeep at

That's true IF you order the towing package. The question was what is the axle ratio without the towing package? If you go to

and look at GVWR, Towing, Suspension for the 4X4 it shows clearly that the standard axle ratio for the Laredo, Freedom, Special and Limited is 3.55. The 3.73 comes with the trailer towing package.

However, with that said, I am aware that in earlier years the 3.73 was optional with the I-6, but standard on the V-8. I guess the only way to easily find out is to look at the window sticker on a 2004 V-8 without either the trailer towing package OR the trailer towing prep package and see what it says.

Dick

To put the conjecture to rest:

I own a 2003 Grand Cherokee Laredo 4x4 V-8 with trailer package, the GC version of the Dana 44, and 3.73 gears.

Robert Bills KG6LMV Orange County CA

I don't know about the 2004's, but in 2002 there was an optional Tow Prep Package that came with 3.73:1 axle ratio, and a 7- into 4-way plug adapter. Then there was the Trailer Tow Group that came with the actual hitch.

And in 2002 with the 4.0L and the 4-speed transmission came with 3.55:1 axle ratio. The 3.73:1 came if you got the vari-lok rear axle, trailer tow prep group, Class III Trailer Tow Group, or Quadra-trac II.

All V8's come with 3.73:1 axle.

Sorry, but it doesn't answer the original question. The man wants to buy a 2004 WITHOUT the towing package. What is the axle ratio without the towing package? The Jeep website (the people who build it) states that it is 3.55 in all versions except the Overland.

Dick

Probably true, but we were all wondering why the axle ratio would be a 3.55 for the towing package, whether or not the 4.7 V8 is chosen with the 5 speed. Just seems odd.... or a programming bug.

I don't think anyone ever said that. As far as I know, the towing package has come with the 3.73 since the first JGC in 1993 (actually

1992.)

Dick