Ok I don't see a mopar part # for a reciever tongue in there online catalog.

I ordered the mopar hitch reciever kit. I don't know if this comes with one or not but if I need to order what type of tongue should i get for:

Mopar Hitch Reciever Kit
82208815AB.

Thanks

Not sure what tongue. Warning, you will have to cut the bumper.

warning noted :). I am going to give it a try with some care.

Use a fresh (new out of the box) razor blade and make thin repetative cuts and you'll get through the plastic in not time without damaging anything.

Use tape or some traceable pattern as a template to make the cut semi-circular and even.

Edit: The Mopar hitch reciever is 1 1/4" opening. You should be able to pick up a 2" drop for around $30.00 from any local boat store or autoparts store.

I had mine installed at the dealer. The cutout is perfect since the assembly comes with a template.

Let me know if you want me to post some pics.

Yeah if you don't mind would like to see what it looks like.

phil8400 I would love to see some photos just for reference.

This might help: http://www.etrailer.com/faq/ballmount.asp

This might help: http://www.etrailer.com/faq/ballmount.asp

Ok thanks that make sense depending on the trailer height...(my first jeep w/ a hitch) :).

Ok thanks that make sense depending on the trailer height...(my first jeep w/ a hitch) :).
My first also. I am trying to choose between the dealer installed Mopar hitch and the HiddenHitch from eTrailer. I have found contradictory posts with some saying the Mopar requires a bumper cut-out and some saying it doesn't. The only difference I can see is better ground clearance/departure angle and a hole in the bumper with one requiring the cut-out. If Mopar has indeed switched to a below the bumper design at a price three times that of eTrailer my choice is obvious. Guess I had better call the dealer one more time.

My first also. I am trying to choose between the dealer installed Mopar hitch and the HiddenHitch from eTrailer. I have found contradictory posts with some saying the Mopar requires a bumper cut-out and some saying it doesn't. The only difference I can see is better ground clearance/departure angle and a hole in the bumper with one requiring the cut-out. If Mopar has indeed switched to a below the bumper design at a price three times that of eTrailer my choice is obvious. Guess I had better call the dealer one more time.

The MOPAR hitch absolutely requires cutting the bumper. About to add a new thread to describe my exciting hitch sage...

Here you go...

I had it installed by dealer - can't really see the wiring harness, but it's about three inches to the left of the receiver.

Personally, I think this setup looks good. I don’t really know what all the fuss is about. Notice that they put a rubber seal around the cutout. The only thing I would have preferred would have been for the cutout to be square instead of round…but this is the Mopar design. (it comes with a template for the cutout).

i think that looks pretty good :pepper: but i can understand why cutting the bumper may make some nervous :-/

Thanks Phil8400, but I didnt expect you to go take the photos in the rain... or were you just looking for an excuse to go out side and look at your beauty?

Phil8400 - thanks for the pics. I almost had my dealer install the Mopar hitch (they had never done a Pat before) - but after they received the hitch they said that it was the kind that went under the bumper (no cut required). Maybe they didnt look closely enough. Anyway, confused about the whole hitch thing, I told them not to install it.

I like the look of the "in bumper" hitch and have no problem cutting away part of the lower trim. I may just do it myself.

i think that looks pretty good :pepper: but i can understand why cutting the bumper may make some nervous :-/
Hello,

Perhaps I should clarify my reasons for being opposed to this approach:

1. I have spent the past few years gradually restoring an antique car. When you cut a piece from the factory you lower its value in the future. Not near term but way into the future. I don't know what will be considered a collectible in 30 years but I do know that someone will have an oh crap moment.

2. Any cut will create a weak point. While the area may never ever be stressed to fracture along the cut (e.g. a very cold day and minor bump) why chance it.

3. It was an unnecessary design compromise. CexD had no reason or need to go with this design except perhaps to save costs by using a standard light duty hitch and changing the cutout. I hate engineering compromises.

4. Jeep has a design theme. Only the headlights and foglights are round by tradition. The same tradition carries forth that all else is angled and preferably trapezoid. So a circular cut is used for the hitch. Tells me that the hitch accessory is an afterthough and not designed in to the vehicle.

Most of this stuff is trivial but I tend to look at little things to understand the whole. Phil8400, I don't think the hitch looks bad as designed and the installation appears well done. I just am anal about certain things. Gladly I do not have a smiley for that image!

Thanks Phil8400, but I didnt expect you to go take the photos in the rain... or were you just looking for an excuse to go out side and look at your beauty?

Anything to stare at her fine a**. Hehe.

Hello,

Perhaps I should clarify my reasons for being opposed to this approach:

1. I have spent the past few years gradually restoring an antique car. When you cut a piece from the factory you lower its value in the future. Not near term but way into the future. I don't know what will be considered a collectible in 30 years but I do know that someone will have an oh crap moment.

2. Any cut will create a weak point. While the area may never ever be stressed to fracture along the cut (e.g. a very cold day and minor bump) why chance it.

3. It was an unnecessary design compromise. CexD had no reason or need to go with this design except perhaps to save costs by using a standard light duty hitch and changing the cutout. I hate engineering compromises.

4. Jeep has a design theme. Only the headlights and foglights are round by tradition. The same tradition carries forth that all else is angled and preferably trapezoid. So a circular cut is used for the hitch. Tells me that the hitch accessory is an afterthough and not designed in to the vehicle.

Most of this stuff is trivial but I tend to look at little things to understand the whole. Phil8400, I don't think the hitch looks bad as designed and the installation appears well done. I just am anal about certain things. Gladly I do not have a smiley for that image!

I share your sentiments on the circular cut. I also would have preferred a square/trapezoid design. For sure this was an afterthought. The GC’s cutout is nice and square.

As for the Patriot possibly becoming a classic, well, hmmm, you never know ;)

The cutout could create a weak point, but this area is already so paper thin that you could cut this with shop scissors. This is why they apply the rubber seal to the cut away area – this and to hide any ½” screw ups.

Here you go...

I had it installed by dealer - can't really see the wiring harness, but it's about three inches to the left of the receiver.

Personally, I think this setup looks good. I don’t really know what all the fuss is about. Notice that they put a rubber seal around the cutout. The only thing I would have preferred would have been for the cutout to be square instead of round…but this is the Mopar design. (it comes with a template for the cutout).

Hey Phil8400,

Thanks for those pics. :smiley_thumbs_up: I'm ordering my Mopar hitch on Monday. Could you tell me what the specific parts were that you ordered (numbers if you have them) and what it ended up costing you for parts and labour for the dealer install?

Also, if you happen to have a better pic of the wiring harness and where it sits when not in use, that would be great....I hate to see dangling wiring coming from the back of a vehicle.....sure wish I could have ordered it straight from the factory like my old G.C.....

I will post a pic of mine and the actual cost after it is done and we can compare your install with mine....

One final question: While there are some minor differences in design between the MOPAR and 3rd party solution it seems that Chrysler could have dropped the receiver hitch below the bumper and used the tongue to level it off just as easily and at the same cost as the through the bumper solution. Is there any engineering reason one direction was chosen over the other? FYI to see the Draw-Tite installation can go to http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1540&highlight=rant&page=2

Ok i cut out my bumper and installed the hitch this past weekend.
It took about 30 minutes to do the cutout. It was actually pretty simple. Just have to be patient and make sure everythings lined up properly.

I lined up the template that came w/ the mopar hitch and taped it to the bumper. Made sure everything was lined up properly. I then used a black sharpie marker to outline the template. I removed the template and used a brand new razor blade and traced the outline of the marker. It took about 3 - 4 passes with the razor blade before it cut through the plastic. You need to be very patient while cutting the outline out it will eventually cut through. After I was done the cutout line was already pretty smooth so I took a file and smoothed out the edges to finish it out. I then installed the plastic trim and crimped it on.

Installing the hitch was just a matter lining up the holes and installing the bolts.
One thing is we really had to crank down hard to get the bolts to go on. This took about 2 hours. Probably because of the awkward position i was in because i didn't put the jeep on a lift.

I will post pics soon.

Ok i cut out my bumper and installed the hitch this past weekend.
It took about 30 minutes to do the cutout. It was actually pretty simple. Just have to be patient and make sure everythings lined up properly.

I lined up the template that came w/ the mopar hitch and taped it to the bumper. Made sure everything was lined up properly. I then used a black sharpie marker to outline the template. I removed the template and used a brand new razor blade and traced the outline of the marker. It took about 3 - 4 passes with the razor blade before it cut through the plastic. You need to be very patient while cutting the outline out it will eventually cut through. After I was done the cutout line was already pretty smooth so I took a file and smoothed out the edges to finish it out. I then installed the plastic trim and crimped it on.

Installing the hitch was just a matter lining up the holes and installing the bolts.
One thing is we really had to crank down hard to get the bolts to go on. This took about 2 hours. Probably because of the awkward position i was in because i didn't put the jeep on a lift.

I will post pics soon.


Wow...you definitely have more patience than myself..Congrats on the job!:smiley_thumbs_up:.....I'm still waiting for my dealer to get the parts in and then I'll get them to install the hitch as I don't trust having a steady hand to do the cutting.....

Has anyone tried the bolt-on Reese hitch? They say the Reese will hold up to 3500 Lbs., but the Patriot literature says it will only tow 2000 Lb. properly equipped. I assume this is only if you use the MOPAR hitch? Will a hitch mounted below the bumper really decrease the departure angle that much? I mean, it looks like the factory hitch is almost below the bumper anyway?!
When I asked about having the MOPAR hitch put on, I was quoted almost $650. I laughed in their face, uncontrollably.

I have a HiddenHitch ready to install as soon as my Patriot gets here. The hitch has nothing to do with the tow rating of a vehicle. Among the many factors governing that figure are the weight of the vehicle and it's engine, transmission, drivetrain, cooling system, suspension and brakes. You choose a hitch with a rating equal to or greater than the weight of whatever you are towing.

The Reese hitch is capable of 3500 lbs. but the patriot is not. You can tow up to 2000 lbs with the towing package. I think that the hitch below the bumper is a good protector of the bumper that you are near the max angle of departure.

Cool. I think that the hitch below the bumper is a good protector of the bumper that you are near the max angle of departure. That's kinda what I was thinking. After all, severely damaging the hitch is less likely than the bumper, and it's cheaper to fix the hitch than the bumper.

Check my "Remington Steel pictures for a good idea on how the hitch looks. I used a chrome hitch receiver cover just cause I thought it looked cool with the trapezoid shape.

Has anyone tried the bolt-on Reese hitch? They say the Reese will hold up to 3500 Lbs., but the Patriot literature says it will only tow 2000 Lb. properly equipped. I assume this is only if you use the MOPAR hitch? Will a hitch mounted below the bumper really decrease the departure angle that much? I mean, it looks like the factory hitch is almost below the bumper anyway?!
When I asked about having the MOPAR hitch put on, I was quoted almost $650. I laughed in their face, uncontrollably.

They're crazy man! I paid 250 Canadian from the dealer. 80 dollars for the install since I didn't want to do the cutting myself. They guaranteed the work.

I agree with phil8400. I paid pretty well the same for the dealer to install.

Love the result.

Ok I don't see a mopar part # for a reciever tongue in there online catalog.

I ordered the mopar hitch reciever kit. I don't know if this comes with one or not but if I need to order what type of tongue should i get for:

Mopar Hitch Reciever Kit
82208815AB.

Thanks

With respect to the proper draw bar/ball mount....The Draw-Tite on e-trailer.com suggests that the Patriot needs one that is 9 and 3/4" long with a 3 and 1/8" rise....you can also purchase them at this site and they do ship to Canada as well as the U.S.....