Cherokee Chat General non-tech Cherokee chat
XJ/MJ/ZJ/WJ

Mopar Tow Package (XJ)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-29-2019, 06:42 AM
  #1  
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
 
Jpoe0108's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 293
Received 161 Likes on 94 Posts
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0L 6
Default Mopar Tow Package (XJ)

Not that I need something OEM, but I was cruising local listings to see if I could come up with a receiver hitch for my XJ, and I found a guy that has one with a Mopar sticker and has a built in 6 pin connector. I asked for clarity on model specifics and year..

Were they offered this way? His price is pretty cheap, looks like the wiring still has some type of pigtail attached.


Someone obviously tossed some lights on for whatever reason. But if it's not worth fooling with, I can get a Curt Class 3 with plug n play wiring for under $170 if this isn't worth fooling with.
Old 10-29-2019, 07:32 AM
  #2  
CF Veteran
 
BlueRidgeMark's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Lost in the wilds of Virginia
Posts: 7,964
Received 956 Likes on 771 Posts
Year: 1998 Classic (I'll get it running soon....) and 02 Grand
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Default

Yeah, there was a factory option. That's probably it. The lights are aftermarket, though. More lights is mo' bettah, usually.

It's probably made by Reese or Kurt anyway, so if it's cheap, might as well go for it.
Old 10-29-2019, 08:07 AM
  #3  
::CF Moderator::
 
cruiser54's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Prescott, Az
Posts: 43,971
Received 1,559 Likes on 1,263 Posts
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Default

Make sure you get the nut strips that slide in from the rear....

You don't have them unless you have a gas tank skid plate.
The following users liked this post:
Jpoe0108 (10-29-2019)
Old 10-29-2019, 09:03 AM
  #4  
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
 
Jpoe0108's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 293
Received 161 Likes on 94 Posts
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0L 6
Default

Originally Posted by cruiser54
Make sure you get the nut strips that slide in from the rear....

You don't have them unless you have a gas tank skid plate.
So, according to my build sheet, I had a tow package. No bolts but there's something threaded there.

Last edited by Jpoe0108; 10-29-2019 at 09:27 AM.
Old 10-29-2019, 09:13 AM
  #5  
::CF Moderator::
 
cruiser54's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Prescott, Az
Posts: 43,971
Received 1,559 Likes on 1,263 Posts
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by Jpoe0108
So, according to my build sheet, I had a tow package. No nuts but there's something threaded there.
Probably good then. Get the stock one.
Old 10-29-2019, 09:28 AM
  #6  
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
 
Jpoe0108's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 293
Received 161 Likes on 94 Posts
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0L 6
Default

Originally Posted by cruiser54
Probably good then. Get the stock one.
Any idea on bolt sizing and if it's a plug and play on wiring? I'm assuming the wiring gets spliced in.
Old 10-29-2019, 09:34 AM
  #7  
::CF Moderator::
 
cruiser54's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Prescott, Az
Posts: 43,971
Received 1,559 Likes on 1,263 Posts
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by Jpoe0108
Any idea on bolt sizing and if it's a plug and play on wiring? I'm assuming the wiring gets spliced in.
Don't know.
Old 10-29-2019, 09:38 AM
  #8  
CF Veteran
 
Ralph77's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 7,404
Likes: 0
Received 1,555 Likes on 1,195 Posts
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Default

Originally Posted by Jpoe0108
Any idea on bolt sizing and if it's a plug and play on wiring? I'm assuming the wiring gets spliced in.
M12x1.75x40 for the bolts.
Factory ones would be flange heads.
Thinking you won't find flange heads so get a washer too.
Thinking if you had the tow package that both nut strips are in there.
Definitely should have one on the passenger side.
That is what the exhaust hanger for the tail pipe is bolted too.
The following users liked this post:
Jpoe0108 (10-29-2019)
Old 10-29-2019, 10:49 AM
  #9  
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
 
Jpoe0108's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 293
Received 161 Likes on 94 Posts
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0L 6
Default

Originally Posted by Ralph77
M12x1.75x40 for the bolts.
Factory ones would be flange heads.
Thinking you won't find flange heads so get a washer too.
Thinking if you had the tow package that both nut strips are in there.
Definitely should have one on the passenger side.
That is what the exhaust hanger for the tail pipe is bolted too.
Yeah I'm pretty sure the strips are in there as well. Splice in the wiring?
Old 10-29-2019, 10:57 AM
  #10  
CF Veteran
 
Ralph77's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 7,404
Likes: 0
Received 1,555 Likes on 1,195 Posts
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Default

Originally Posted by Jpoe0108
Yeah I'm pretty sure the strips are in there as well. Splice in the wiring?
Not a clue.
Only reason I know the nut size is cause I put a factory gas tank skid on my XJ and had to buy hardware.
Old 10-29-2019, 05:30 PM
  #11  
CF Veteran
 
BlueRidgeMark's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Lost in the wilds of Virginia
Posts: 7,964
Received 956 Likes on 771 Posts
Year: 1998 Classic (I'll get it running soon....) and 02 Grand
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by Jpoe0108
Yeah I'm pretty sure the strips are in there as well. Splice in the wiring?

Mebbe. Mebbe not. Pull your spare tire and the panel behind it. You might find a connector in there.

If not, it's a good place to do your splicing and mount your 4x2 light adapter.

https://www.etrailer.com/t1-1999_Jeep_Cherokee.htm
Old 10-30-2019, 04:38 PM
  #12  
CF Veteran
 
Waynerd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: North canaan Connecticut
Posts: 1,469
Received 26 Likes on 26 Posts
Year: 01, 99, 98, 98,98
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Factory was a 7 pin connector. I had that Mopar one on the 01 I had.
Old 10-30-2019, 07:39 PM
  #13  
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
 
Jpoe0108's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 293
Received 161 Likes on 94 Posts
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0L 6
Default

Originally Posted by BlueRidgeMark
Mebbe. Mebbe not. Pull your spare tire and the panel behind it. You might find a connector in there.

If not, it's a good place to do your splicing and mount your 4x2 light adapter.

https://www.etrailer.com/t1-1999_Jeep_Cherokee.htm
4x2 light adapter? What you talking about Willis?
Old 10-30-2019, 07:58 PM
  #14  
CF Veteran
 
BlueRidgeMark's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Lost in the wilds of Virginia
Posts: 7,964
Received 956 Likes on 771 Posts
Year: 1998 Classic (I'll get it running soon....) and 02 Grand
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Default

Most trailers use two lights, one on each side.
  1. The left tail light is a combined Stop light and left turn signal. One bulb, two functions.
  2. The right tail light is a combined Stop light and right turn signal. One bulb, two functions.


Your Jeepey doesn't do that.
  1. On the left you have an amber left turn signal. One bulb, one function.
  2. On the left you ALSO have a red stop light. One bulb, one function.
  3. On the right you have an amber right turn signal. One bulb, one function.
  4. On the right you ALSO have a red stop light. One bulb, one function.

You need to go from 4 bulbs to 2 bulbs. You can't just connect the Jeep's wires to the trailer's bulbs. It won't work. Try it, you'll fry something. You require an intelligent interface that can recognize when the Jeep:

  • Lights the left (amber) turn signal and nothing else.
  • Lights the left and right stop lights.
  • Lights the right (amber) turn signal and nothing else.
  • Lights the left (amber) turn signal AND both stop lights.
  • Lights the right (amber) turn signal AND both stop lights.
  • Lights both (amber) turn signals and nothing else.
  • Lights both (amber) turn signals and both stop lights.

See? It ain't simple. There is no direct wiring configuration that will work. You must have an interface such as I linked above.
Old 10-30-2019, 08:13 PM
  #15  
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
 
Jpoe0108's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 293
Received 161 Likes on 94 Posts
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0L 6
Default

Originally Posted by BlueRidgeMark
Most trailers use two lights, one on each side.
  1. The left tail light is a combined Stop light and left turn signal. One bulb, two functions.
  2. The right tail light is a combined Stop light and right turn signal. One bulb, two functions.


Your Jeepey doesn't do that.
  1. On the left you have an amber left turn signal. One bulb, one function.
  2. On the left you ALSO have a red stop light. One bulb, one function.
  3. On the right you have an amber right turn signal. One bulb, one function.
  4. On the right you ALSO have a red stop light. One bulb, one function.

You need to go from 4 bulbs to 2 bulbs. You can't just connect the Jeep's wires to the trailer's bulbs. It won't work. Try it, you'll fry something. You require an intelligent interface that can recognize when the Jeep:

  • Lights the left (amber) turn signal and nothing else.
  • Lights the left and right stop lights.
  • Lights the right (amber) turn signal and nothing else.
  • Lights the left (amber) turn signal AND both stop lights.
  • Lights the right (amber) turn signal AND both stop lights.
  • Lights both (amber) turn signals and nothing else.
  • Lights both (amber) turn signals and both stop lights.

See? It ain't simple. There is no direct wiring configuration that will work. You must have an interface such as I linked above.
I see what you're saying. Makes sense.

Where does the factory trailer wiring connect? Mine had a tow package from the factory (at some point) someone may have cut wires and tucked the out of the way.

Never mind, I reread your post. This could be simple, or like you said, need an interface box.

My fiesta had one of those Curt Plug-n-play harnesses. Same situation.

Last edited by Jpoe0108; 10-30-2019 at 08:27 PM.


Quick Reply: Mopar Tow Package (XJ)



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:30 AM.