Best place to get hitch? Which harness?

[Wakko]

I need to get a hitch and wiring on the '07 ASAP, as I'm trying to get to Jacksonville (four hours or so away) to pick up a motorcycle. Local place wants stupid money for one, and I know I can do the install myself since I read the threads on here about it. The popular Ebay seller with them is this guy:

ETA: Done! Check bottom post.

Draw-tite Cequent Reese Hidden Hitch U-Haul Curt hitches items in eCustomHitch store on eBay!

He's got this package which seems reasonable as hell to me, unless someone has a better suggestion:

TRAILER HITCH + WIRING + MOUNT + BALL PACKAGE FITS: 02-07 Jeep Liberty | eBay

It IS possible we'd tow a car at some point, though likely only around town. Class 3 would be adequate for that? Thanks for the help, as always!

 

[TwoBobsKJ]

This is my reply to another post. I'd suggest staying away from the generic harnesses that come in packages like you have in your post. I've used them before and had funky electrical gremlins pop up in weird places :freak3:
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Here's a flat-4 harness from Jeep for you. Seems kinda pricey but it is truly plug-n-play. Below it is the 7-pin round harness (and you'll need the supplemental harness too.) Again seems kinda pricey but everything's there, no worries about tapping into the correct power lines, blah blah.

I found a used KJ hitch from LKQ Online (their main depot is 15 minutes from me in Akron - not too far from you either.) Search for a hitch from an '02-'07 - personally I like the factory hitch the best. Is the most hidden, comes with the mount for the harness and pops right in. You'll sandwich the gas tank skid between the hitch and the frame (don't re-use the skid bolts.) I paid $65 for my used factory hitch from LKQ and bought the correct bolts from a local RV shop.
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Bob

 

[Wakko]

Thanks for the tips, Bob. I didn't think about plug and play, now I will. I checked with the site and they only have a Class 2 OEM hitch, so I'm out of gas there.

Does the bumper require any modification for a hitch?

 

[theroofable]

No modification if you get a one such as a uhaul or hidden hitch. Cant tell you any about the others because I dont know, but you shouldnt have to.

 

[KJandCJ]

Hi! Well anytime I need something for my jeep, I always go to this two links and get a good deal. You might want to check and see what you come up to.
Jeep Parts - Jeep Accessories, Jeep Lift Kits, Jeep Wrangler Cherokee Accessories
Trailer Hitches - 5th Wheel Hitches - Ball Mounts - Gooseneck Hitch - Curt Trailer Hitch

 

[GTF]

I got a Draw-Tite hitch from the U-Haul store for I think $130. I remember it was a better deal than anything I saw online and it was in stock at the store. I think it's class 3, good for more than the Jeep is rated for, so anything more is just extra weight.

I got my wiring harness from Amazon. Got the kind that goes into the main connector, not the t-connector type.

 

[04Liberty]

The factory add on harness is the best one to use plug-n-play wise. I got the 4 blade since I never intend to to anything eavy enough to require a 7 pin.

 

[Wakko]

Well it's all done. I went with a Curt hitch from Amazon, then the Curt harness through Summit Racing on Ebay. Super easy install...it took longer to remove the taillights than do anything else. Total price a tad under $200, and the hitch is US made.

Amazon.com: Curt Manufacturing 13044 Class III Receiver: Automotive

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[Luke]

Nice! ...same hitch that I have

 

[03 JEEP KJ BIG BLUE]

now you will see how annoying it is to hook onto any trailer with that silly spare on the back lol

 

[Wakko]

Heh heh, yeah, I read that in another thread. What's the best way to deal with it? Dropped mount? I want to haul a 12x6 box trailer.

 

[TwoBobsKJ]

Heh heh, yeah, I read that in another thread. What's the best way to deal with it? Dropped mount? I want to haul a 12x6 box trailer.

If the drop is too much then it messes with the trailer tongue angle. Better to get an extended ball mount - get a 10 1/4" extension vs the 16" or longer. To much leverage on the hitch with the super extra-long mounts.

Check out the ones on this page from etrailer.com

Bob

 

[03 JEEP KJ BIG BLUE]

take the spare tire off and put it on your roof or in the garage and get tripple A

 

[Wakko]

take the spare tire off and put it on your roof or in the garage and get tripple A

Ummm, no.

 

[HoosierJeeper]

Hitch looks good...looks just as "tucked up" as the OE one.

I've never had an issue towing a 6x12 Uhaul trailer, but I'm lifted so I used a 3.5" drop...but I see tons of KJ's here that are stock with like a 2" drop, no extensions.

 

[sota]

Heh heh, yeah, I read that in another thread. What's the best way to deal with it? Dropped mount? I want to haul a 12x6 box trailer.

in my case I toss the jeep spare on the trailer deck, since it's 20' long after all.

one of these days though I'll sort it out better and come up with a more permanent solution (thinking something involving the roof.)

it also has ALOT to do with the trailer tongue, the drop on the bar, etc.
in my case everything comes together such that I have to remove the spare AND the bracket off the rear door to tow the car trailer. the tongue jack handle would smash into the spare bracket otherwise so I couldn't wind it down.

 

[03 JEEP KJ BIG BLUE]

i pull boats in and out of our shop all the time so its much easier to just ditch the spare and whip it on the roof.

 

[RedJeep]

Did you have any problems with the bolt holes crusted up? I have an '04, would like to put on a hitch but am wondering if the threads will be too gritted up.

Dan

 

[sota]

spray some lube up in the holes first, either WD40 or some kind of rust penetrant (preferred.)
let it sit for a while, then take a copper pipe cleaning tool like a plumber would use and go to town with it on the threads. that'll help clear out most of the gunk. if you have access to them you could follow up by chasing the threads with a thread tap.
when you get ready to install the bolts for the first time I'd liberally lube them up with the same WD40 or rust pentrant you used before and attempt to thread them in all the way, then back out. that should clear the thread fully. if they fight you for any reason pull the bolts out and try cleaning the threads again. if after 2 or 3 times they aren't fully clean you have 2 choices... keep trying to clean them or chase them, or just assume you're putting the hitch in ONCE, and if you ever try to take it out you're breaking the bolts.
otherwise, clean them out with some non-cfc brake cleaner, and finally install the hitch and bolts with liberal amounts of anti-sieze. the one you'll hate the most is the forward passenger bolt because of the exhaust system.

 

[Cardhu]

x2 on the tap and wd40 or equiv. It will move all the gunk to the channels in the tap and be your best bet.

Mine is an 07 and was still gunked and a little rusted and really needed it. Don't have a lot of salt up here either.