we hauled one of those things back from florida once with a caravan...both were packed to the roof...lots of fun

great to hear that the Pat pulls so well

 

I took a 4x8 UHaul on a 1700km trip in the middle of summer and it towed great. I did however get the dealer-installed hitch and cooler installed before I did the trip. I was impressed that the patriot took the weight of the trailer and showed no signs of increased heat. ...I'm also assuming I packed the trailer a bit heavier than the 2000lb Patriot limit.

The gas mileage wasn't the greatest, but that's to be expected.

 

This is great BarryB. Its good to hear you did not notice the load. I cant wait to get my tow hitch installed. I have the FDII and as far as I know it does have the coolers installed. I cant wait to pick up my brother in law at the end of his spring semester from college. I will be sporting a new hitch! Question: Do you have cruise/speed control on yours? If you do, did you use it while towing? If not: Do you know if it is recommended using cruise/speed control while towing? Thanks.

 

Question: Do you have cruise/speed control on yours? If you do, did you use it while towing? If not: Do you know if it is recommended using cruise/speed control while towing? Thanks.

Yes, I do have cruise control and used it on the highway with no problem. I did have to downshift a bit when going through some hilly areas, but you should have no problem since you have the CVT. I probably should have given that trans more of a chance when I ordered mine. I optioned for the factory tow package also. You should be able to use the same harness that I have (it is a piece of cake to install). I bought my 2" hitch from hitchmart.com and am quite pleased. It too is simple to install. Good luck.

 

Was that the enclosed or open cargo trailer? Did it have surge brakes?

 

Just an enclosed trailer with no additional brakes. Patriot brakes felt fine. Very good stopping distances.

 

yea these patriots can tow not the best but you cant loose.. i towed some stuff too here my thread on it. also a picture.
http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8856

 

I put to my pat a Curt hitch, also i have an accesorie to mount a bike, but it's not a trailler... Some have one? I just want to know if anyone have problems....

 

Hey Patriots, I need help on this one. I know somewhere, a while back someone posted a picture of the engine oil cooler. The one that is supposed to increase your tow ratings to 2,000 pounds. Can someone give me the link to that picture, or maybe tell me exactly where it is at. I have the FDII version Patriot and it came with the towing wiring harness (its still in the bag). I mean, does the fact that it came with the wiring harness tell me that it has the oil cooler? If I just knew what it looked like and where it is that would really really help me. I once even asked the dealership and they did not know themselves. Go figure. Thank you in advance. \
DJ XS

 

oil cooler is liquid cooled



its not the larger oil coolers we're used to
its a small canister that cools using the engine coolant,
about the size of the oil filter
believe its on the front passenger side somewhere
cant find the pic,
but yes, if you have the FDII it should have come with oil cooler, higher amp alternator, skid plates, tow hooks,
wiring harness is usually purchased when you purchase the hitch,
harness is generally not part of the FDII, unless you purchased the tow package with hitch,
in that case it should have been installed and not placed in a bag,

 

thanks for the info terasec, but I am still in need of knowing where it is. Do I have to remove the skid plate to see it? Does the oil filter actually attach to the oil cooler? Like I said I do have FDII. It's funny what you say about the wiring harness. I do have it in a bag, but it was not installed. It did not come with a hitch, but yet I have the wiring harness. Weird... So what, if I get the hitch installed at the dealership they should install the wiring harness for free?

 

Good info to have, no problems with the 5sp and clutch with pulling that weight?

 

5 spd worked great - no problems at all.

 

Just an update for who might be interested. It turns out that my ' 07 FDII came with the quote on quote "Trailer Tow Prep Group" ($50 option) that basically included the wiring tow harness, but was not installed. I obviously know that since I have it in the darn bag with me! So the time came for me to buy a hitch (oem by the way - only because it is hidden and wont affect my departure angle) and at first they tell me that they were going to charge me to install the wiring harness on top of the labor for the installation of the hitch. Anyways after extensive deliberations with the mopar speed shop department and one of the head honchos at my local 5 star dealership, they agreed to charge me only $ 90 dollars to get the hitch and the wiring harness installed! I think that is a great price given that I do not have much time to do the install and it would all be under warranty.

Now the tricky part. My fellow Patriots...tell me that this sounds like to you...

Ok, so they tell me that they had to do the installation after I tell them that I can do it on my own because I did not have much money left. I ask them why, why do you have to do the install, why can't I? They say that they have to update (flash) the computer after the entire install with their startech, or star something computer to let the computer of the jeep know that their has been a wiring harness attached to the light system, otherwise it wont send a signal to the trailer being towed. I told them, that is absurd, I have never heard of a thing like that. I told them to look here ( I showed them the actual installation manual that came with the wiring harness) and is says nothing about flashing the computer. He tells me, " I know but we have almost daily updates and notes, "your paperwork is outdated". I agreed to have them install it wether this is true or not since I was only going to pay $ 90 dollars, but I cant help feel I was dooped over on this one.
My question to you Patriots is, was I dooped over? I think (and this is my justification) that it was ok since for me shelling out $90 to get a quality install is great, but what if it were you? Also, one more thing, they assured me that they were going to be able to keep the factory tow hook, they guaranteed me otherwise they would put it all back together and refund me the labor, parts and all and I would walk away (even with a new bumber they say). Keep in mind that the hitch I bought is the one that is hidden within the bumber. I am sure they will figure it out before they cut into it.

 

I put the factory hitch and wiring on my 08 Pat and it works fine with out a flash of the computer. Also kept the tow hook installed.

 

WWWWORTH, did you have a hard time with the removal of the bolt on the tow hook? Did you use the bolts that came with the hitch? Any pictures? You know they speak a million words.

 

I am 65 and every thing under a car seems hard anymore. I did not have any real problems with any of the bolts. I did buy longer grade 8 bolts to reinstall the tow hook and no pictures. Working with the Pat on jack stands left little room for pictures. I set the tow hook across the open jaws of my bench vice and a couple wacks with a large hammer removed the bolt nicely.
Twenty years ago it would have been a piece of cake instalation and 40 years ago I could have installed it with one hand tied behind my back.
This is what I seem to do best now:zzz:

 

Well... just an update. I went to the dealership this morning and got my wiring harness and tow hitch installed! It looks great, although they did not install the tow hitch, something about them not being able to do so. I am going to have to do it myself. Yes I am going to have to undo what they did, but at least I know how to put it together now.

 

I installed my harness and hitch in April of 07 and have used it many times since (sometimes towing well over 2,000 LBS). I would go back to the dealership and make them show you the "activate trailer hitch button" on the starscan. No computer flash is required for the tow harness. However the benifit of having the dealer install the harness is that it should be covered under the warranty, that said...is it worth $90. well thats up to you.

 

Yeah, I am going to go back to them and have a word about it all, but on the positive note. I went out for a test drive with a fleetwood pop-up trailer that I purchased (used) and the Patriot pulls it without a problem. One thing to note. I do have a 2 inch ballmount and the trailer asks for a 2 inch ballmount, yet I feel a bit of "play" within the trailers ballmount assembly. I did mount it correctly and I triple checked. My question is, is it common for a little bit of play when towing? I ask this because I have not towed ever in my life before.

 

The factory wiring harness is the way to go (imho). I doubt the recalibration of the computer system is necessary. Mine was factory ordered with the package so maybe it was already calibrated.

You will feel some slack in the trailer hitch connection regardless of the trailer type. Sounds normal to me.

 

Thanks BarryB. I guess coming from a guy that had never really towed, I have learned that there will be some wiggle and jiggle within the hitch ball and the trailer.

 

I have given it quite a bit of thought over the years and have come up with this rule: If you make it home with the trailer still attached, it was probably on right. If you don't make it home with the trailer attached, it probably wasn't on right.

 

Easy question

Ahh...and now here comes the person that does not know anything! I would appreciate your help answering a few (hopefully) easy questions.

I bought a new Patriot Limited last year. It is currently being shipped across the US, so I do not have it or the manual to refer back to.

I am planning on towing a u-haul trailer as soon as it gets here. I know that I have a full size spare tire, so I am guessing I have the Trailer Tow Prep Group option.

What additional parts do I need? Any suggestions on ordering/installing them myself or going to a dealership?

Thanks!

 

Typically you'd need the Mopar Hitch, and Mopar Wiring harness.
Do a quick search for the part numbers.

I'm not 100% sure that the full-size spare means you have the Trailer Tow Prep option or not. Do you have a FDII?

 

Saracino5,

You can download your owners manual direct from Jeep. Fill out your vehicle year and model. In the middle of the page is a "Owner/Service Manuals" link to download he owners manual.

If you have the full sized spare, I think you have to have the tow package. As UA_Who said, you need a wiring harness, receiver, ball mount and ball.

 

I recently got my Pat with tow package - just a bag of wiring with no hitch. Really surprised me. I bought the Mopar hitch (for off-roading purposes) and installed both myself without any problem. The tow hook has to be removed but then reinstalls using the same bolts. Everything works fine. I haven't yet hooked up my trailer to test out that signal sending issue. Hmmm.

 

Grygor, this is a well documented issue. I have an '07 and FDII and mine too came with the trailer tow prep group. For my '07 I paid $50 dollars extra and the wiring harness came in the bag. Unlike you however, I paid 95 dollars for the hitch install and they threw in the wiring install for free. They said that it came with the Patriot, therefore they were obliged to install it when needed.
Funny, I too have not connected my trailer to test out the wiring. Turns out that my vacation spot is not yet open due to bad weather. You mentioned that you did your own install and therefore were able to re-install the original tow hook. I got upset at the fact the the dealership said they were not able to do so. I told them that I would do it on my own. Anyways, did you have much of an issue with it? Did you use the original tow hook mounting bolts? What torque setting did you use for both the hitch and the tow hook? I ask this because I am getting ready to the the tow hook re-installation this weekend. Thanks.

 

Anyways, did you have much of an issue with it? Did you use the original tow hook mounting bolts? What torque setting did you use for both the hitch and the tow hook?

It was pretty easy. I definitely used the original tow hook bolts on that side. I had read that you had to drill out the hitch because the bolts were a little larger diameter. That was not the case. Lucky me. Although, lucky you for your dealer including the hitch in the deal. My dealer said I was strickly on my own for that. Of course, they would have been happy to install it for a fee after I bought it extra from them. As for torque, they say 65 ft-lbs for the main hitch bolts. That's what I used when installing the tow hook. Not sure if that's right. Good luck!

 

Thanks Grygor.