Im looking to buy a trailer hitch, what is the best size to order?

I dont even own the boat yet, but plan on getting one soon.

What is the standard size in terms of choosing between the 2" opening or the 1 1/4"

I dont really know much about trailers, but I want to place the order for the hitch since Im in Canada and it will take a while to get here.

The standard is 2" receiver but unless you are towing more than 3500 lbs now or in the future it doesn't matter. All I needed was light duty and in that case the small size worked for me.

Yeah - I've towed a 2000 lb trailer (with Wranglers) with both 1 1/4" and 2" receiver sizes. Both work fine. You can get 3500 lbs rated hitches in both receiver sizes I believe. Just make sure that the hitch rating (and vehicle tow rating) is suitable for what you intend to tow.

One advantage that the 2" has is that other receiver-mount accessories (bike racks, cargo platforms, etc) tend to come in that size. You can get a 1 1/4" to 2" adapter but the arrangement might be a little more wobbly as compared to a 2" hitch.

I have a 2" to 1 1/4" adapter for my bike rack. Only problem is it keeps the bikes a little further away from the car and does make it more wobbly. Advantage was for my Wrangler it allowed the bikes to clear the spare tire.

I called my local dealer and they tried to tell me only the 1 1/4" is available for the pat, etrailer is telling me different..

So if I buy a boat, chances are it will have a 2"?

I called my local dealer and they tried to tell me only the 1 1/4" is available for the pat, etrailer is telling me different..

So if I buy a boat, chances are it will have a 2"?

Dealer will sell you the Mopar hitch that is 1 1/4". E-Trailer sells aftermarket hitches. I ordered a Reese for mine (2") from a local hitch place. I will take some pics once I put it on.

Apparently U-haul also sells a Pat Hitch reciever for $149.95. It's 1 1/4" (P/N 36316). I'm going to check this out soon. I need one for towing rubbish to the dump and a bike rack. See the notes on the board about the Mopar hitch - apparently you have to cut the bumper (yuk).

Follow this link for 2" Info and install pictures.

http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1699

and this one also has pics

http://www.jeeppatriot.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=527

Had a question in regards to hitches that are available for the Patriot. I have seen some that sit below the bumper and some that need to have part of the rear body cut away to fit. What is the difference? I'm a biker and need to mount my rack to haul my Specialized Roubaix around.

This thread has information on installing/hitch brand.
http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2010

Also, Mopar's hitch requires the cut out, but it's doesn't come in a 2" receiver (I know there was a picture on here somewhere but didn't find it). Not sure what size your rack needs.

OK, I've been watching/reading about everybody getting their hitches etc. I don't have one/plan on getting one, but it seems one complaint about the Mopar hitch is the circular cutout that has to be done to the bumper.

Just an idea, but would it be possible to not do the circular cutout, but rather to continue Jeep's trapezoidal theme (like the wheelwells) and do your own trapezoidal cutout? Make your own template, folded at first to be symmetrical, then unfolded and applied to the bumper? Probably limited by the length of the trim piece to be applied afterwards, so measure and design carefully.

Other Jeep's have trapezoidal designs around the hitch equipment (GC for example).

Does anybody have pictures of the Mopar hitch on their Patriot? I have seen pics of the after market one, but would like to see how it looks with the cut out.

I posted on the other jeep forum about this but thought I would post here also since there's a tread going on it.
I had an interesting problem with an aftermarket hitch. I bought a 2" Drawtite from etrailer.com. It installed easily but immediately after install the muffler and tailpipe rubbed up against the hitch while on the highway. This drove me crazy. After about 2-3 weeks of scratching my head and even having a hitch company attempt to move the muffler forward a bit with no success, I finally gave in and ordered a mopar from the dealership. After seeing that it required a cutout, I let them install it. It looks nice. The problem went away immediately. One person posted on the other forum that he has a Drawtite with 13k miles on his Pat and has not had this problem. So it could be an isolated situation. But it's still weird. I bought a 1 1/4-2" adapter and that caused the bike rack to be woble and hang just a bit. And the stabilizer wouldn't fit the adapter. So, now I have another bike rack on order in the 1 1/4 size. My recommendation to anyone looking for a hitch is to just get the mopar to eliminate the possibility of this happening. It also looks nicer.

I posted on the other jeep forum about this but thought I would post here also since there's a tread going on it.
I had an interesting problem with an aftermarket hitch. I bought a 2" Drawtite from etrailer.com. It installed easily but immediately after install the muffler and tailpipe rubbed up against the hitch while on the highway. This drove me crazy. After about 2-3 weeks of scratching my head and even having a hitch company attempt to move the muffler forward a bit with no success, I finally gave in and ordered a mopar from the dealership. After seeing that it required a cutout, I let them install it. It looks nice. The problem went away immediately. One person posted on the other forum that he has a Drawtite with 13k miles on his Pat and has not had this problem. So it could be an isolated situation. But it's still weird. I bought a 1 1/4-2" adapter and that caused the bike rack to be woble and hang just a bit. And the stabilizer wouldn't fit the adapter. So, now I have another bike rack on order in the 1 1/4 size. My recommendation to anyone looking for a hitch is to just get the mopar to eliminate the possibility of this happening. It also looks nicer.

I have the hidden hitch (same as draw-tite) and the muffler is nowhere near the hitch. Weird.

I posted on the other jeep forum about this but thought I would post here also since there's a tread going on it.
I had an interesting problem with an aftermarket hitch. I bought a 2" Drawtite from etrailer.com. It installed easily but immediately after install the muffler and tailpipe rubbed up against the hitch while on the highway.

Our Uhaul hitch (2" receiver, they modified a 2" to fit for us for the same labor/price as 1 1/4") also banged against the exhaust pipe. It did not hit the muffler section, so we had a simple solution that worked for us. Thankfully, since all of our accessories are for 2" receivers and the 2"->1-1/4" doesn't work great with our hitchbox. Anyway, we used a hacksaw to trim the rubbing part of the hitch back about 1/2" (although its not as clear as I would like but that would have required digging a hole or a car ramp :)(http://www.jeeppatriot.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=315

This is what my paperwork said about the trailer group. How I read it is that I still have to install a trailer hitch receiver. Man what a rip!!!

ABC Trailer Tow Prep Group Includes: 243.00
Engine Oil Cooler
Full Size Spare Tire
Trailer Tow Wiring Harness
ALL Trailer Tow Packages will require additional equipment at the
customer’s expense before towing. A Drawbar and Hitch Ball are
NOT included. A Trailer Hitch Receiver is not included unless
Listed in the package contents.

On the up side, at least the 2008 tow prep comes with a full size spare. I wish we had found one with a tow prep, since the mopar kit for the engine cooler is 132 and they want 250 in labor to install, waiting for aftermarket...

I guess another plus in not having to put in the harness. Judging by the pics of one of the member's post, it looks to be a real pain in the butt.

This is what my paperwork said about the trailer group. How I read it is that I still have to install a trailer hitch receiver. Man what a rip!!!

ABC Trailer Tow Prep Group Includes: 243.00
Engine Oil Cooler
Full Size Spare Tire
Trailer Tow Wiring Harness
ALL Trailer Tow Packages will require additional equipment at the
customer’s expense before towing. A Drawbar and Hitch Ball are
NOT included. A Trailer Hitch Receiver is not included unless
Listed in the package contents.

Yeah, I agree it's kind of a pain not to have the hitch put on at the factory, but it does give you the opportunity to put on a hitch receiver of your choice (brand, 1 1/4" or 2", under fascia or fascia cut-out).

I finally just ordered the Mopar hitch when I was at camp jeep. Its supposed to be an easy install (we'll see...). For those who are interested, the Mopar hitches are made by Valley, but Valley puts an improved anti-corrosion finish on for Mopar in order to meet the Mopar specification.

I finally just ordered the Mopar hitch when I was at camp jeep. Its supposed to be an easy install (we'll see...).

I'd like to know how doing the cutout was and, of course, what everyone says- take pictures if you can :)

Sure - After I do it I will post info on how the install was, and will post pics (I need to figure out how to do that anyway!)

I'd like to know how doing the cutout was and, of course, what everyone says- take pictures if you can :)

I was wondering what people use to cut out the bumper? What is your plan?

On the up side, at least the 2008 tow prep comes with a full size spare. I wish we had found one with a tow prep, since the mopar kit for the engine cooler is 132 and they want 250 in labor to install, waiting for aftermarket...

So did you have to get the oil cooler? I have the FD II with tow prep and I have the wiring harness. My pat is trail rated, does it come with the $132 oil cooler?

I think both the tow prep and the trail rated options give you the engine cooler. You can always call chryslers help line (800 992 1997) and they will check your vehicles equipment list for you (they use your VIN to look it up).

I am going to get the engine cooler before next summer, just holding out to see if the price drops. We would like it for some towing wiggle room (1000#-2000#), but does anyone know if that'll help MPG at all (sorry OT a little)?

I was wondering what people use to cut out the bumper? What is your plan?

Well, I hadn't thought it through yet - I figured the instructions would say something. But its really just a rather thin plastic that needs to be cut, so perhaps a utility knife with a new blade, or maybe a coping saw? The cut doesnt have to be perfectly clean, as a trim piece gets attached to the cutout.

What are all of you towing? I thought the max towing rate was 2000lbs and the standard is 1000lbs. Seems like the time you connect a trailer about the only thing you could tow is a lawnmower or something like a four wheeler.

let's see...presently, towing a work trailer for landscaping/home improvements/dump trips and, yes, I push or exceed the 1000# with that easily.

In the future, I hope to get a light canoe trailer. Will need more capacity than the roof provides when the kids get older, but that will be under 1000# no problem.

My most used feature about the hitch is having a hitch box for camping, car trips, etc.

I now tow 2 different boats. One almost 2,000 lbs the other a bit over, around 2,500 lbs.

Well, I hadn't thought it through yet - I figured the instructions would say something. But its really just a rather thin plastic that needs to be cut, so perhaps a utility knife with a new blade, or maybe a coping saw? The cut doesnt have to be perfectly clean, as a trim piece gets attached to the cutout.

OK, that was what I didn't understand. I didn't think that a trim piece came with it... Duh.. Now I understand.

I haven't decided yet, but I think I'm getting an FDI with towing prep group. I can't find some details. Can anyone confirm any of the following:


mopar harness is 4 pin or 7 pin? (don't you want a trailer with brakes if you're pushing the 2000lbs and doesn't that require a 7 pin?)
mopar hitch receiver is class II?
does the 2000lbs exclude the weight of any cargo in the Patriot? I always get confused when they spec the towing capacity. :confused:
dumb question -- does adding aftermarket hitch (or anything related to it) impact the factory warranty at all?


And if there's already an FDI on the lot with all the options EXCEPT towing prep group that I'm interested in, do you know if adding the towing prep group is something the dealer can do or is it best to just order it equipped from the factory?

In case anyone's interested, I'll just be towing boats and potentially a tear drop camper. I want the vehicle equipped to tow its max from the get go so I don't have to deal with it later in the future.

Thanks in advance.

You have many questions and the answers to most are already posted in the previous posts and in other related threads. I do not want to dissapoint you by saying, "Go read the posts", but they do help. Really. As far as what your intentions are, they are good and would probably be best for you. I can tell you this, those that say tow prep only really come with the wiring harness, no hitch. Jeepgirl is trying to help me by me calling to find out. You see the thing is that I think some FDII's came with the oil cooler and some did not. Do not quote me on this.