GC Hitch

Get a full Class III with a 2" receiver hitch. It is bigger than you need but doesn't cost much more. This will give a nice margin of safety as well as the ability to use all sorts of nice accesories like bike rack, cargo platform, tow hook, etc. Not to mention the ability to remove the hitch ball and avoid banging your shins up when NOT towing. And if you decide to rent or buy a bigger trailer, you are all set to go.

I'd go with an aftermarket unit, brand is whatever is available in your area. About the only difference is the quality of the paint job. Get one that has the reciever set into the cross piece rather than hung below the cross piece. The latter style really kills your ground clearance when leaving a steep driveway. Expect to pay around $100 to $125 for a do it yourself version, $175 installed.

M> Looking for advice on a trailer hitch for a 2000 Grand Cherokee

I installed a "Hidden Hitch" on my 99 Cherokee and it's night and day difference between it and the Draw Tite on a 96 I once owned. I got it and the wiring harness that just plugged in at etrailer.com and am very impressed with their service and the hidden hitch. The square bar that runs left to right that is normally very visible is totally out of sight! Go to this page and notice the how long the vertical pieces are for the Valley brand as compared to the hidden hitch.

JoBo

I have bought 2 hitches from them already. I will be buying one for my

2006 Unlimited as soon as it arrives at the dealership.

Bruce

M> Looking for advice on a trailer hitch for a 2000 Grand Cherokee

Have the trailer packages changed over the years for the JGC? When we bought our '93, there were significant upgrades to the vehicle that came with the factory installed hitch platform. Heavier duty radiator, transmission cooler, body reinforcements in the rear to take the extra stress, etc. Also came with the 7-wire harness with all the relays, etc. that would be difficult to duplicate.

Dick

I was just up on the Jeep website and it appears that for your $255 you get:

7 and 4 Pin Wiring Harness Class IV Hitch Receiver Nothing else is listed.

Hi Bill, You might compare yours with this WJ trailer package, alternator, battery, brakes, rear axle, and fan.

list for the Jeep Grand Cherokee with vehicle identification number 1J8GW58J94C129522.

According to our records, the above Jeep was equipped from the factory with the following:

XLDV Seats - Leather Trimmed Bucket ADEP Cold Weather Group ADL Skid Plate Group AFFS Luxury Group AHX Trailer Tow Group IV APAS Monotone Paint ATCP Radio-CD/Cass/10 Disc/Infinity Spkrs AWBP Quadra-Drive 4WD System A83P 4.7LHO Eng(EVC)/5spdA/T 5-45Rfe(DGQ) BAZS Alternator - 136 Amp BC6S Battery - 625 Amp Maintenance Free BRYS Brakes - Anti-Lock 4-Wheel Disc CACS Seats - Low Back Bucket CBWS Door Trim Panel - Highline CFNS Seat - Rear 60/40 Folding CGS Air Bags - Side, Supplemental CGUS Child Seat Anchor System-LATCH Ready CG1S Air Bags-Front,Next Gen,Multistage** CJ2P Air Bag-Side Window Curtain,Frt & Rr CKDS Carpet - Floor CKNS Carpet - Cargo Compartment CKTS Cargo Tie Down Loops CLES Floor Mats - Front & Rear CLGS Cargo Storage - Covered CLHS Cargo Trim Panel w/Storage Net CLPS Scuff Pads - Door Sill CSCS Cover - Cargo Compartment CSRS Assist Handles - Passenger CUDS Console - Mini Overhead CUFS Console - Full Length Floor DGES Transmission - All 5-Speed Automatic DGQ Transmission-5-Spd Automatic 5-45RFE DHAS Torque Converter - Lock-Up DHFS Quadra-Trac II On Demand 4WD System DJJS Axle - Front, Dana 30/186MM DMEP Axle Ratio - 3.73 DRKP Axle - Rear, Dana 44/226MM DSBP Axle - Vari-Lok Progressive,Front DSCP Axle - Vari-Lok Progressive, Rear EVC Engine - 4.7L HO V8 MPI GBBS Windshield Glass - Tinted GCBS Glass - Front Door Tinted GEGS Glass - Deep Tint Sunscreen GEPS Glass - Flipper Liftgate GFAS Defroster - Rear Window GNCS Sun Visors - Illum Vanity Mirrors GNKS Mirror - Rear View, Auto Dim GT3S Mirrors - Power Fold-Away GWAP Sunroof - Power GXMS Keyless Entry - Remote GXXS Sentry Key Theft Deterrent System HAFS Air Cond ATC w/Dual Zone Control HGAS Insulation - Hood HGDS Insulation Group - Deluxe I23S Route 23 - CSX, Jessup, MD JA6S Instr Cluster - Electroluminescent JCBS Speedometer - 120 MPH Primary JHBS Wiper/Washer - Rear Window JHC Windshield Wipers - Rain Sensitive JJBS Horns - Electric, Dual Note JJJP Power Outlet - Auxiliary 12V JKAS Glove Box - Locking JKPS Power Outlet - Auxiliary 12V JKYS Power Accessory Delay JPBS Locks - Power JPDS Windows - Power, Driver One-Touch JTFP Seats - Power, 10-Way Heated, Memory K4BS STRIPE/BADGE/MOLDING/COLOR LACS Illuminated Entry LAGS Warning Chime LAZP Vehicle Information Center LBBS Lamps - Courtesy LBCS Lamp - Glove Box LCES Lamps - Rear Courtesy/Reading LDBS Lamp - Cargo Compartment LETP Traveler/Mini Trip Computer LEWS Memory - Radio/Driver Seat/Mirrors LMBS Headlamps - Halogen LMGP Headlamps - Automatic LNJS Fog Lamps LPSS Lamp - Center Hi-Mount Stop LSAS Security Alarm MDAS Bracket - Front License Plate MFZS Grille - Bright MHAS Windshield Moldings - Black MTBP Badge - 4.7L HO, Liftgate MVAS Badge - Limited, Bright MVBS Badge - Grand Cherokee, Bright MVCS Badge - Jeep, Bright MVEP Badge - V-8, Liftgate, Bright MWES Side Rails - Roof MZBP Badge - Quadra Drive NAS Emissions - U.S. 50 State NBGP Federal Tier 2, Bin 9A Emissions NFPS Fuel Tank - 20.5 Gallon NHFP Cooler - Power Steering NHMS Speed Control NMHP Engine Cooling - Hydraulic PXR Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl Coat QXRS Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl Coat RAAC All Radio Equipped Vehicles RB1 Radio - AM/FM CD, GPS Navigation RCES Speaker System - Infinity RDDS Antenna - Fixed RDPP CD Changer - 10-Disc, Remote RDZP Audio Ctrls-Steering Wheel Mounted SBAS Steering - Power Rack and Pinion SCLS Steering Wheel - Leather Wrapped SDAS Suspension - Normal Duty SUAS Steering Column - Tilt TBBS Spare Tire - Full Size TBLS Spare Tire - Inside Mount TWGP Tires - P235/65R17 BSW AS Perf. TZAP Goodyear Brand Tires WF1P Wheel - 17" Steel, Spare WGPS Wheels - 17 X 7.5 Alum,Silver Accent WLYC Wheels - Steel WLZC Wheels - All Aluminum XAM Pedals - Power Adjustable w/Memory XEAP Tow Hooks XEEP Skid Plate Shield - Fuel Tank XEFP Skid Plate Shield - Transfer Case XEUP Skid Plate - Front Suspension XFHP Hitch - Class IV Receiver XFKP Wiring Harness - 7 Pin XFLP Adaptor - 7 to 4 Pin, Wiring XGDP Garage Door Opener - Universal XGM Tire Pressure Monitoring Display

God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O mailto: snipped-for-privacy@aol.com

Billy Ray wrote:

Bill, after your response I checked both online and talked to a Jeep factory representative. There is no factory Trailer Package for a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. You can only order a Hitch and wiring package from the dealer, the Wrangler from the factory is setup to tow 3500lbs. The hitch and wiring is listed in Mopar Parts Catalog. I can get the hitch and wiring package from Etrailer.Com for a lower cost.

The question you had, was a good one, it made me curious as to weather there was a Package or not. So I thank you for getting gears turning and checking in to this.

Thanks

Bruce

L.W.(ßill) Hughes III wrote:

Somehow this thread that started out with a hitch for a Grand Cherokee ended up with a hitch for a Wrangler. No wonder there is confusion.

Dick

Maybe I'm confused more than usual. Are we talking about a Wrangler Unlimited as mentioned below or a Grand Cherokee as mentioned in the subject line?

Well... I'm not sure how accurate it will be to compare a base '02 6 cylinder Laredo with an '04 Limited V-8 but here goes.

-Leather seats... mine are aftermarket

-paint - same color name different code Actually all the codes are different. Mine are 3 place and this Limited has

4 place codes with the first 3 the same The limited has different option packages (cold weather, skid plate, luxury, trailer) mine has Group 26E (Laredo Package), and 2TE (unknown)

-Engine mine is a 4 liter I-6, the limited has the 4.7L v-8

-Alternator - both are 136 amp

-Battery - both are 625 CCA

-Brakes - both 4 wheel power disk anti-lock

-Transmission mine 4 speed automatic limited 5 speed automatic (both standard equip.)

-Limited is Quadra-Trac II, mine is Select-trac

-Front axle - same Dana 30

-Axle Ratio mine is standard 3.55, Limited is standard 3.73

-Rear Axle mine is Dana 35, Limited is Dana 44 (standard on V-8?)

-Seats mine power driver, not heated

-Limited has power steering cooler & hydraulic cooler (?)

Soooo... What is on the '04 V-8 Limited that is not on my '02 Laredo I-6 that is not standard equipment for that model... Trailer hitch, hitch wiring..... maybe PS cooler, hydraulic cooling

What differences are due to newer year and upgraded model V-8 engine, 3.73 gear ratio, Dana 44 rear end, Quadra-Trac II, tire/wheel size

What is the same color , alternator, battery, brakes

I did find one reference to the V-8 having a 'hybrid' cooling system. I am wondering if that is a combination mechanical/electrical while mine is electrical

Use the Mopar harness, the construction is much nicer. Wyckoff Parts online has a free shipping offer going on: "Offer expires 11-27-2005. You must use coupon code TURKEY."

I installed a Draw-Tite Class III Round Tube Receiver (p/n 75193) from eTrailer. The big problem with a Draw-Tite or Hidden Hitch receiver vs. the Mopar receiver is the lack of a mounting box for the 7-pin receptacle. The Mopar receiver has one built-in on the back side of the tube. I ordered a cheap plastic mounting box (p/n 18159 also from etrailer.com) that straps to the tube with a black hose clamp. I rotated it around to the back side of the tube; you can't see it or the strap unless you look close.

-Rob.

[D> Bill, after your response I checked both online and talked to a Jeep