I'm not crazy about the idea of cutting my rear bumper. Anyone know of a hitch that does NOT require any cuts? I'm only going to use it for a bycycle carrier and a cargo platform for traveling. It's a 2011. Thanks for any help. I'd rather have someone's recommendation than my best guess.
Is There a Hitch That Doesn't Require Cutting the Bumper?
hemiuberalles
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I'm not crazy about the idea of cutting my rear bumper. Anyone know of a hitch that does NOT require any cuts? I'm only going to use it for a bycycle carrier and a cargo platform for traveling. It's a 2011. Thanks for any help. I'd rather have someone's recommendation than my best guess.
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etrailer.com and a Uhaul hitches, I didn't have to cut the bumper on my 09 with a 2in Uhaul receiver hitch... I would go to the contact link on etrailer.com they responded to multiple emails from me the next day.
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I have the uhaul and the bumper is not cut. 
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He is talking about a 2011 which now has a low fascia (like the Compass Rallye). One of those "improvements" to hide the muffler.
The aftermarket manufacturer's probably haven't made a new one yet for the lower fascia. Cutting the fascia is probably a better situation than if they did make a hitch. Because the tow bar would be hanging lower there would be more torque on the bolt points and frame.
The aftermarket manufacturer's probably haven't made a new one yet for the lower fascia. Cutting the fascia is probably a better situation than if they did make a hitch. Because the tow bar would be hanging lower there would be more torque on the bolt points and frame.
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I researched Hidden Hitch and Valley hitches for my 2011. Both now require cutting the bumper due to the redesign.
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Folks,
Thank you all for taking the time to answer my question.
jc9767 or anyone else - Which hitch did you prefer for the 2011?
Thank you all for taking the time to answer my question.
jc9767 or anyone else - Which hitch did you prefer for the 2011?
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77 Posts
I went with the Mopar Hitch. I liked the fact it sat up a little higher than the others and provided a better angle. I only plan on towing a small 14' sailboat, so I didn't need to get a heavier hitch. Still waiting to have the dealer install it, will post pictures when done. We also ordered the UConnect, which is on backorder, so we are waiting to make one trip to the dealer.
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I went with the draw-tite class III from etrailer.com. I had to cut the fascia, But I measured twice, marked everything with painters tape, scored the plastic with a razor, and cut with a hacksaw.
Getting out all of those damn trim clips was actually more complicated and time consuming than cutting the plastic
![Image]()
Getting out all of those damn trim clips was actually more complicated and time consuming than cutting the plastic
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jlobaugh, that is a really beautiful job. I hope I can pull it off half that well. Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks, and no problem. Now I'm wishing I would have taken some pictures, but UPS showed up way too lake on Friday and I had to get the riot back together and get home on time, I promised my kids homemade pizza.
I'm sure I could have done it without removing the fascia, but I thought it would be fun, and it made cutting way easier.
Here's another shot.
I cut it 3" wide using 2 of the 4 lower trim clip holes to establish the center line, and i eyed up how square it was. I'm really pleased with how it turned out. The painters tape made it really easy to stay on course.
And another of the riot with a naked rear end, no real reason for adding it, other than I've never seen a picture of it before.
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Hi, I have the same dilema and criteria as hemiuberalles; I only need a hitch for a bike carrier. I'm glad to have found this thread; it gives me some hope of possibly getting a hitch installed too. Wow! Great job by jlobaugh...and homemade too.
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jlobaugh, First I wanted to say the hitch looks great. I have the same hitch, I pulled it off my '08 Pat and want to install on my new '11.
1) Any tips on removing the rear bumper facia? I see the plastic clips. Is this something where you just pry with a screw driver? The facia has to come off to get the hitch in there, I tried already.
2) Is the black plastic one piece? or is it connected to something else. Your photo shows everything off, I'm assusming this was for the wiring harness?
3) How far up did you cut the facia? I saw the instructions on the Hidden Hitch site, it doesn't show how high to cut the rectangle.
-Thanks
1) Any tips on removing the rear bumper facia? I see the plastic clips. Is this something where you just pry with a screw driver? The facia has to come off to get the hitch in there, I tried already.
2) Is the black plastic one piece? or is it connected to something else. Your photo shows everything off, I'm assusming this was for the wiring harness?
3) How far up did you cut the facia? I saw the instructions on the Hidden Hitch site, it doesn't show how high to cut the rectangle.
-Thanks
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988 Posts
Thanks!
1) Use a trim clip tool to remove the clips. they are about 10 bucks at Autozone. Keep a pair of needlenose pliers handy to push against the part that goes into the body if it gives you crap coming out. Other than that, a 7mm socket/nutdriver is all you will need. Remove the lights first, be careful though, I busted a lens when the tool caught the lip. You will also need to remove the plastic cover on the lover gate threshold, that requires a philips head screwdriver. when you remove the gate seal, do so very slowly, there is an off-white glue like substance in there, and it will get everywhere.
2) I believe the rear fascia is two pieces, but it comes off as one unit
I removed it so it would be easier to cut, I figured there would be less of a chance of me screwing something up if i could cut it on a flat level surface. It was also much easier to place the hitch first, snake in and and conceal the wiring harness.3) i cut it to just over 3" wide, and I cut up 4.5". I started bu cutting 3" up, but that wasn't enough, so I cut 1/2" strips out at a time until the bumper fit perfectly.
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Thanks for the info...I probably won't do it for a couple weeks. Now I'm considering adding the wiring harness, since everything will be apart.
jlobaugh. Nice job on the hitch install. I will be using this post when I go to do mine also. So the rear bumper cover has to come off to do the hitch?
What light wiring harness did you use and where di you buy the hitch and harness? Again nice job on the install.
What light wiring harness did you use and where di you buy the hitch and harness? Again nice job on the install.
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Jlobaugh, that is some really good info, and great pictures. Was the wiring harness a pain at all? Did you use the one that comes with the tow-prep? Also, why did you have to remove that weather stripping with the goopy glue? Any drilling required for that class III?
It looks great, and gives me a bit more confidence to put one on myself. Thanks for the pictures
It looks great, and gives me a bit more confidence to put one on myself. Thanks for the pictures
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988 Posts
you could probably do it without removing the cover, but it takes 5 minutes to remove it, and it probably saves at least 30 minutes.
The hitch and harness came from etrailer.com. Good luck and always remember; measure twice, cut once
Thanks. that is who I was going to order mine from also.
What are you guys towing with the patriot?
I will be towing a 14 foot aluminum boat and a jetski at different times of course and both are under the 1000lbs. But i will eventually pick up the tranny cooler for piece of mind.
What are you guys towing with the patriot?
I will be towing a 14 foot aluminum boat and a jetski at different times of course and both are under the 1000lbs. But i will eventually pick up the tranny cooler for piece of mind.
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I have a cargo tray that I use, and I needed a rear recovery point.
I don't tow anything specific, but it's always nice to have the ability to rent a uhaul trailer if I need to get building materials or transport something larger than what will fit in the riot. I also need to occasionally lug around a 10K generator, but I need to add a brake controller, it's about 2200lbs and I can definitely tell that it's behind me when stopping.
I was very happy with etrailer, everything shipped quickly and all hardware was included. I do wish they had included a template for cutting the fascia, but what did come with it was enough for me to figure out what I needed to do. I sent them an email about it and they said that they will look into adding a template with the instructions.
There's a thread in the general discussion about adding the hitch, but it mostly applies to previous model years. This post from me tells you what method I used to measure and cut the fascia.
I don't tow anything specific, but it's always nice to have the ability to rent a uhaul trailer if I need to get building materials or transport something larger than what will fit in the riot. I also need to occasionally lug around a 10K generator, but I need to add a brake controller, it's about 2200lbs and I can definitely tell that it's behind me when stopping.
I was very happy with etrailer, everything shipped quickly and all hardware was included. I do wish they had included a template for cutting the fascia, but what did come with it was enough for me to figure out what I needed to do. I sent them an email about it and they said that they will look into adding a template with the instructions.
There's a thread in the general discussion about adding the hitch, but it mostly applies to previous model years. This post from me tells you what method I used to measure and cut the fascia.
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