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Curt Class III Receiver Hitch highly recommended

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Esteves858

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Installed the Curt Class III Receiver Hitch for my 2007 Jeep Patriot and have to say that it is a clean installation.

The instructions call for cutting out the bumper, but the design of the receiver lets it hang flush against the bumper - NO CUTTING REQUIRED.

Image


I'll post up pictures when I can.

The other receivers that go straight across may require cutting into the plastic rear bumper though I'm sure some folks who have the Draw-tite or similar version can chime in.

Overall, I'm very happy with this hitch and its 400 Pound Tongue Weight!
 
#2 ·
I believe the cutting instructions are for the Compass Ralleye only. I also have this hitch installed and it's quite good. The extra bolts that the other hitches don't have helps a little for strength
 
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#8 · (Edited)
For those in Canada I bought this hitch new off ebay on Saturday with free Fedex shipping and received it on Wednesday. No duties since it get's shipped from a warehouse in Ontario :banana: I bought the curt wiring harness as well and will be attempting the install this weekend if the weather plays ball

Cost was:

hitch $132US
t-connector $67US

Now I am just looking for a deal on the oil cooler

Esteves858 which wiring harness did you use?
 
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#11 ·
Installed my Curt III today. Removed the bumper cover to investigate other rear push bar possibilities and was wondering if all you guys really used that fishwire included in the kit, and did you really drop the muffler? With the cover off I didn't have to do either or even get under the chassis. Those two 7/16x1.25 carriage bolts and the spacer must have been a b***h to fishwire together, per the instructions, IMHO. Especially if you just kept the drilled out hole to 7/16" and no larger. I just inserted the bolts from bottom to top and was able to place a larger galvanized reinforcement spacer inside the frame rail with the nut.
 

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#13 ·
I kind of like the idea of cutting the bumper cover in order to get the hitch situated a little higher (though your hitch looks great where it is). Anyone have an idea on an aftermarket hitch that would sit up higher like the OEM hitch?

G
 
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#14 · (Edited)
Gaz said:
I kind of like the idea of cutting the bumper cover in order to get the hitch situated a little higher (though your hitch looks great where it is). Anyone have an idea on an aftermarket hitch that would sit up higher like the OEM hitch? G
Click to expand...
According to my local Mopar dealer parts, the factory hitch is only rated at 1500# GTW and has a 1.25" receiver. If this is true, the Curt Class III being heavier, seems to have a more substantial crossmember (1.5" x 2.5" square tube) with 2" receiver and it just clears the chassis floor by 1/2" in the middle as it is, so it would be impossible to get it any higher. I like the way the Curt III just touches the bottom of the bumper cover. Good design. Has anyone actually seen a hitch installed "at the factory", not a dealer add Mopar factory hitch? Actually, I didn't think the factory messed with adding receiver hitches on vehicles this small.
 
#15 ·
MINICooperS said:
According to my local Mopar dealer parts, the factory hitch is only rated at 1500# GTW and has a 1.25" receiver. If this is true, the Curt Class III being heavier, seems to have a more substantial crossmember (1.5" x 2.5" square tube) with 2" receiver and it just clears the chassis floor by 1/2" in the middle as it is, so it would be impossible to get it any higher. I like the way the Curt III just touches the bottom of the bumper cover. Good design. Has anyone actually seen a hitch installed "at the factory", not a dealer add Mopar factory hitch? Actually, I didn't think the factory messed with adding receiver hitches on vehicles this small.
Click to expand...
Not even on the website. Though they do install everything else related to towing, the hitch is a dealer installed option, but still OEM.

G
 
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#16 ·
Perhaps I'm thinking of the instructions, or even mis-remembering something I saw where the bumper cover was cut to allow the hitch receiver to sit higher... But either way, I think I also remember reading somewhere (and again, this is *my* memory we're talking about) that the OEM hitch receiver is slightly smaller, limiting what it can receive. I've not really done much towing and don't know too much about the subject at all, so someone else would likely be better to comment on it than I.

G
 
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#17 ·
The Curt III instructions do mention the facia would have to be trimmed if installed on a Patriot equipped with the "Rallye Package", whatever that is. Maybe ground effects, on a Patriot?
I have a DrawTite Class 2 hitch on my 95 Saturn SL2 sedan that has a 1.25" receiver and it works rather well.
 
#18 ·
The only hitches that require cutting are the OEM hitch (all models) or after market hitches on the Compass Rallye:
http://www.jeep.com/en/compass/rallye.html

The Rallye does have ground effects added to the read (and front I believe).

For a Patriot, though, if you don't want it to hang below your bumper, you either need a factory hitch or something custom. All of the others install directly below the bumper.
 
#19 · (Edited)
So are we all in agreement that the OEM hitch is only rated at 1500# GTW (gross trailer weight) and has a 1.25" receiver as well as a lighter, straight crossmember? (which is how they are able to tuck it higher into the bumper facia) It appears that most of the trimming is to allow for the hitch pin to be removed anyway, as you can only go so high without hitting the floor of the spare tire well.
 
#20 ·
MINICooperS said:
So are we all in agreement that the OEM hitch is only rated at 1500# GTW and has a 1.25" receiver as well as a lighter, straight crossmember? (which is how they are able to tuck it higher into the bumper facia)
Click to expand...
That sounds correct (though I have not seen the crossmember, so that is just an assumption on my part).
 
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darthschrader
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