Congrats on your new Patriot. What color? We love pics.

I wouldn't imagine getting the hitch installed at U-Haul would mess up the warranty. Does the $600 at the dealer include adding the transmission cooler and the trailer wiring? Might be something to look into -- shouldn't cost much more to add the tranny cooler though it may not even need it. I don't think the Jeep Patriot tow prep package even adds a cooler if you order it with the Patriot (just includes a hitch).

Get the lifetime Mopar/Chrysler bumper to bumper service contract? It's $2,300 if you buy it online or negotiate it at your dealer. You can add it after you bought the Jeep.

https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/Jeep/Patriot/2016/C13081.html?vehicleid=2016305998

Scroll down and there's a video showing installation of a hitch. That etrailer.com is a great place to buy tow hitches and wiring stuff. Yeah you definitely want brake lights and left/right turn signals working on the trailer. It's the law. Could use some ones that stick onto the trailer but may as well just wire it up the right way. They have like 5 or 6 hitches for the Patriot on that site, and they also sell wiring kits.

U-Haul does a ton of hitches and are experts at it, but then again the Jeep dealership also knows the Patriot/Compass. If they did the wiring and the tranny cooler in addition to the hitch for $600 at the Jeep dealership, then I'd be inclined to take it there.

 

Welcome from PA

 

Thanks, @pudders33!

 

Hi @jd_1138! Thanks so much for the informative reply!

I've been trying to upload some photos (my Jeep is white), but it's not letting me... maybe because I'm brand new? I even reduced the file sizes, but no luck... I'll try again later.

That's a great question about the tranny cooler being included at the dealer. It would make more sense as to why it's twice the price of Uhaul. I will definitely ask them about that tomorrow, although I'm still confused about what they were saying about the lack of wiring. It just doesn't make sense. I looked more in to it and, yes, you have to have lights on a trailer (which is what I thought). I will get a hold of them and try to get more clarification.

When I was shopping dealers for the Patriot, I had a hard time finding any that had the tow package included (seemed more like a special order car). Based on my research, I was under the impression that if it came with the tow package, it automatically included the tranny cooler, but I may have been mistaken. Either way, it'll be a good question for the dealership. Wondering if I can tow more with the tranny cooler (1000 lbs. vs. 2000 lbs)?

And funny you mentioned about the Mopar warranty... I just looked into that the other day and tried to get a quote online. Apparently, if you live in California, they can't quote prices online, so a rep contacted me yesterday and quoted me $3,730 for the lifetime unlimited miles warranty! When I purchased the Patriot at the Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram of Vacaville dealership on this past Sunday, the warranty they offered was some off the wall warranty company - not Mopar. Maybe I can try at a different dealership.

I'm gonna check out the etrailer site right now... thanks again for your help!

 

Welcome from SoFlo.
Take a look under your Pat before you get your hitch installed. I did not get the tow package when I bought my Pat but there is a cooler installed on mine.

 

I wouldn't know where to look or even what it looks like... I'll do some research and see if I can find it! Thanks for the heads-up!

 

Show this link to the dealer who said MOPAR doesn't make a trailer tow harness for your Patriot (or maybe just go to another dealer):

Trailer Tow Wiring Harness - 82209280AD | Mopar

Your "2016 Jeep Patriot (4WD 4dr 75th Anniversary)" is clearly listed under "Vehicle Applications".

I'm in the same boat - I'm also planning on adding the tow hitch and trailer wiring harness to my 2016 Patriot (4x4 Latitude). I haven't done it yet, but I plan to buy a Draw-Tite Class III 2"receiver hitch from eTrailer and try to install it myself. I'm going to see what the local dealer charges to install the MOPAR wiring harness.

 

Yeah it doesn't look too hard at all. Here's a video of installing it (scroll down). You probably know of the video; I am just posting it for others.

https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/Jeep/Patriot/2016/75712.html?vehicleid=2016304862

About the most pricey tool you need is a $40 torque wrench (don't use a Harbor Freight one, lol) and some basic tools/sockets oh and some frame stands, wheel chocks, etc..

 

I just had a hitch installed by a uhaul dealer here in WA. on my '16. I'm not happy, the installer did NOT read the instructions, and cut a 2"x6" gouge on my bumper fascia--not where the hitch receiver goes, but where the LH mounting bracket goes. So----be sure they know what they're doing. The repair cost on my rig will amount to nearly $300 for a $150 hitch + install job....still negotiating with uhaul dealer--NO A HAPPY CAMPER!

If you want/need more info--please PM me with your email, I will send photos, can't seem to upload any of these this week...and...good luck!

 

I just had a hitch installed bu a uhaul dealer here in WA. on my '16. I'm not happy, the installer did NOT read the instructions, and cut a 2"x6" gouge on my bumper fascia--not where the hitch receiver goes, but where the LH mounting bracket goes. So----be sure they know what they're doing. The repair cost on my rig will amount to nearly $300 for a $150 hitch + install job....still negotiating with uhaul dealer--NO A HAPPY CAMPER!

If you want/need more info--please PM me with your email, I will send photos, can't seem to upload any of these this week...and...good luck!

Wow, what a moron the installer was. The only notch should be right where the hitch receiver goes. The idiots at UHaul ought to give their installers laptops so they can watch the 5 minute videos on that etrailer.com website showing proper installation.

 

Wow.... Just wow!!! As a former car audio installer all I can say is you always check 10,000 times before you cut a customers car

 

go to Genuine Mopar Vehicle Protection Warranty - Save $$ Today he sells mopar plans on line i checked and for your pat in cal cost is 2730. for the unlimited miles and yrs with a 100 deductible.. type in save 100 in coupon area for an extra 100 off they have financing plans but it does cost you more. i bought a coverage for my 2014 journey and it was 2230 at that time already had to use it since i have 45k on it and was out of town and the oil sending unit went bad took it to dodge dealership the coverage also covers rental and a lot of other cost anyway they got me a car and then called me 4 hrs later said it was fixed and all i owed was 100. actualy 107 with tax. i plan on driving this car till the wheels fall off lol if there is any cheaper places to get a genuine mopar warranty please post the web address as my daughter just bought a 2016 pat. not sure if she plans on getting the extended warranty but she might...

 

I vote "no" for U-Haul install for the following reason:

I just had a close call with my 2014 Latitude 4x4 2.4L. The TIPM was fried and causing the right rear signal and brake light to fail. Took it to the dealer expecting 100% that it'd be covered under warranty, and it took them two days to decide that they weren't 100% sure it was my aftermarket trailer wiring harness to blame. Otherwise I would have had to pay to replace the TIPM, over $1k. They said if it happens again and I still have the Curt wiring harness on there, they'll charge me.

Not TOTALLY sold that's the reason (given all the issues I've seen with TIPM), and I'm not sure the '16 still uses a TIPM. Regardless, I'll sleep a lot easier tonight knowing I don't need to shell out a paycheck.

I'm probably going to go ahead and have them install the Mopar harness while they're replacing the TIPM. Not messing with electrical again. I'm at 34000 miles on my standard factory warranty, which expires at the end of November. Probably going to grab at least an 85k 6yr warranty before I'm out of this one—this is warranty repair #3 on the Pat, first two were alternator fail and front right axle broken, and a lot of car rentals covered during those repairs.

I installed my own Curt receiver though, and it's been fine. It wasn't terribly difficult, but if you don't do a LOT of work on your own vehicle, you'll be nervous the whole time. It's a good feeling when it's done.

 

Also, the oil cooler cost me $500 in Chicago area for part & install about 2 years ago.