Steven Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 I have the towing package, but no hitch. also, there is a wiring harness in the truck for the towing package, but is not installed? what the heck is that about? steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kconnors Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 I have the towing package, but no hitch. also, there is a wiring harness in the truck for the towing package, but is not installed? what the heck is that about?steve Hi Steven, I ordered the towing package as well. It is called the TRAILER TOW PREP and includes 4-pin connector wiring and engine cooler. There is no mention of a hitch. Before I bought my Journey I asked for them to throw in the hitch which they agreed to except it will be an after market hitch such as Reese or Hidden or similar. The wiring will be hooked up with a 4-Pin connector. It would seem that Chrysler does not have a hitch available for this vehicle yet although you can buy a receiver. Don't figure! Good Luck with getting yours hooked up. Bye the way it seems the max towing weight for this vehicle is 3500 lbs although Chrysler only recommends 2000 lbs. Keith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hit-By-Thunder Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 Hi Steven,I ordered the towing package as well. It is called the TRAILER TOW PREP and includes 4-pin connector wiring and engine cooler. There is no mention of a hitch. Before I bought my Journey I asked for them to throw in the hitch which they agreed to except it will be an after market hitch such as Reese or Hidden or similar. The wiring will be hooked up with a 4-Pin connector. It would seem that Chrysler does not have a hitch available for this vehicle yet although you can buy a receiver. Don't figure! Good Luck with getting yours hooked up. Bye the way it seems the max towing weight for this vehicle is 3500 lbs although Chrysler only recommends 2000 lbs. Keith yup, I agree with keith. But I do believe the dealer would have installed the pigtail for the customer rather than just leaving it loose in the Journey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snow_Runner Posted April 4, 2008 Report Share Posted April 4, 2008 I also spoke with the dealer about the trailer hitch and wiring. The dealership does list the receiver in their computer, but it looks awful as they need to cut some of the bumper out. It is also shown in the accessories brochure. The receiver comes with a round 7 pin connector, but the prep kit only has a 4 pin. Yes the dealer is required to install the wiring harness, although when we looked at it at the dealership there was alot of head scratching going on. The harness has a few relays in it as well, and I do know that the stability program on the vehicle will auto correct if the trailer starts to sway. As I mentioned in the previous post, even if you don't need the trailer tow package, it is worth getting the option to have the extra oil cooler installed. Rick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hit-By-Thunder Posted April 4, 2008 Report Share Posted April 4, 2008 I also spoke with the dealer about the trailer hitch and wiring. The dealership does list the receiver in their computer, but it looks awful as they need to cut some of the bumper out.It is also shown in the accessories brochure. The receiver comes with a round 7 pin connector, but the prep kit only has a 4 pin. Yes the dealer is required to install the wiring harness, although when we looked at it at the dealership there was alot of head scratching going on. The harness has a few relays in it as well, and I do know that the stability program on the vehicle will auto correct if the trailer starts to sway. As I mentioned in the previous post, even if you don't need the trailer tow package, it is worth getting the option to have the extra oil cooler installed. Rick. yes Rick, that is why we oredered with the towing package ahem towing prep package it's just nice to have the factory installed cooler for the oil as an extra safety Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaymista Posted June 1, 2008 Report Share Posted June 1, 2008 I bought into the Trailer Tow Package too and I thought the wiring would be installed when I picked up my Journey. I didn't even see the wiring "package" in the back of my Journey until I got it home and found this mess of wires and connections. Is the dealer definitely required to install this wiring or do you have to hire a hitch specialist to install it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaymista Posted June 1, 2008 Report Share Posted June 1, 2008 I bought into the Trailer Tow Package too and I thought the wiring would be installed when I picked up my Journey. I didn't even see the wiring "package" in the back of my Journey until I got it home and found this mess of wires and connections. Is the dealer definitely required to install this wiring or do you have to hire a hitch specialist to install it? I took this off the Dodge site ... Feature: Wiring harness The trailer wiring harness is the electrical connection required to operate the trailer's running lights and brake lights. Some harnesses may include a connection for the trailer's auxiliary brakes. Does this refer to the wiring harness I found in the back of my van is to be used on the trailer that I am going to be using with the Journey? Can someone explain what the heck this is all about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2009journey Posted June 1, 2008 Report Share Posted June 1, 2008 My dealer told me that it was extra cost to install the wiring, "just like the dodge rams", he told me. Anyway I searched the internet and found most dealers did not install but there are some that did. It is definitely not consistent. There was a lot of confusion initially whether they should or should not install. Anyway, it should only take you 30 minutes to install. Here is how... The factory wiring just ties into the signal lights. Open the hatch and pull out the two pins on each signal/brake light. You pull out the inner pin with a screw driver and then the larger outer piece pulls out. Pull out the whole light assembly, with the two pins removed it just falls out. Now, unplug the signal light connection. One end of the harness plugs into the light and the other into the existing wiring. Basically it connects in-between the wiring connection to the signal light. Drop the wiring down the gap under the signal light and run to the other side. One side (I think it was the drivers?) has TWO connecters. One connects to the lower and one to the upper connections on the signal light assembly. If this not on the correct side the trailer lighting will be backwards. Then use the already installed clips to attach to the frame. It is literally a 1/2 hour job for someone with basic skills. The worse part is you will have to lay under the vehicle so you may get a little dirty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaymista Posted June 1, 2008 Report Share Posted June 1, 2008 Thanks for this information. I was assuming this would all be done for you when you picked up your Journey. I remember when I bought my 2000 caravan, I didn't have to do any of this work. I think my Dodge dealer should have pointed this out to me when I ordered the SXT with a trailer package included. It just doesn't seem right to me as a customer to find out this way that the Journey comes with a trailer package ok, except they didn't mean it would be installed and ready to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2009journey Posted June 2, 2008 Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 I totally agree! However, arguing with my dealer about it got me no where. The dealer stated it is a "prep" pack, no hitch and no installed wiring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NiceTrip Posted June 2, 2008 Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 I totally agree! However, arguing with my dealer about it got me no where. The dealer stated it is a "prep" pack, no hitch and no installed wiring. So ask your dealer where's the Oil Cooler, and how do you install it. Because according to the dodge website, the Trailer Prep Package comes with: Engine Oil Cooler Trailer Tow with 4-Pin Connector Wiring After all, if they don't install the Wiring Harness when you order this FACTORY INSTALLED OPTION, then why would you expect them to install the oil cooler? Serirously though, if your dealer gave you a wiring harness but didn't install it - I would question whether you actually got the factory trailer prep package or "dealer installed" trailer package. I.e. you got charged $130 for a $10 wiring harness and you didn't get the oil cooler at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2009journey Posted June 2, 2008 Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 So ask your dealer where's the Oil Cooler, and how do you install it. Because according to the dodge website, the Trailer Prep Package comes with: Engine Oil Cooler Trailer Tow with 4-Pin Connector Wiring After all, if they don't install the Wiring Harness when you order this FACTORY INSTALLED OPTION, then why would you expect them to install the oil cooler? Serirously though, if your dealer gave you a wiring harness but didn't install it - I would question whether you actually got the factory trailer prep package or "dealer installed" trailer package. I.e. you got charged $130 for a $10 wiring harness and you didn't get the oil cooler at all. That is funny because that is just what I asked!!! Mine has the oil cooler installed (oh, I checked just in case) but the wiring was loose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radon360 Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 My dealer told me that it was extra cost to install the wiring, "just like the dodge rams", he told me. Pardon my language, but that's bulls***. Any RAM that you order with the tow prep group comes with the 7 blade electrical and 4 pin trailer wiring connectors pre-installed at the factory. The only loose wire harness that you get is the 4 wire pigtail with a connector to which you can wire your choice of electronic brake module and then plug in underneath your dash, should you happen to trailer something with electric brakes. This was the case on both my RAMs. I, like most people was confronted with a mass of wires, connectors and relays laying in the rear compartment. If your dealership wouldn't install it for you at no additional charge, then either you're working with a non five-star dealer, or one that's looking to lose that certification. Tell them to put it in at no additional charge, or you're going to complain to Chrysler. The salescritter should have been wooing you about the customer satisfaction survey that you will be receiving in the mail, and how you "need" to contact him first if there's something that you can't mark "completely satisfied." Hold this over their heads, if necessary, and you should be able to get the results you want. I suspect that because this harness is not factory installed, but left hidden away in the jack compartment that the dealerships genuinely miss this when prepping the vehicle, since the other trailer tow preps usually come factory installed. I'm willing to bet in a year that this will be addressed, either at the factory or in the way the dealerships are instructed to prep vehicles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hit-By-Thunder Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 well said Radon360. and couldn't agree more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NiceTrip Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 Pardon my language, but that's bulls***. Any RAM that you order with the tow prep group comes with the 7 blade electrical and 4 pin trailer wiring connectors pre-installed at the factory. The only loose wire harness that you get is the 4 wire pigtail with a connector to which you can wire your choice of electronic brake module and then plug in underneath your dash, should you happen to trailer something with electric brakes. This was the case on both my RAMs. ...which makes me wonder - any chance the loose 4-wire pigtail that was loose in the trunk, is the harness you refer to for the Electric Brake connection? I know that the tow prep package comes with a 4-wire connector, and the accessory (not available from factory) hitch comes with a 7-pin connector. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radon360 Posted June 6, 2008 Report Share Posted June 6, 2008 ...which makes me wonder - any chance the loose 4-wire pigtail that was loose in the trunk, is the harness you refer to for the Electric Brake connection? I know that the tow prep package comes with a 4-wire connector, and the accessory (not available from factory) hitch comes with a 7-pin connector. That's not the case. The connectors on one side of the harness are designed to allow to unplug the wiring harness near the taillights, plug this harness into the supply side, then plug the lights back into the harness. The other side of the harness is a standard 4 pin trailer wiring harness. The 4 pin harness provides a left turn/brake, right turn/brake, running lights, and a ground connection, but has no provisions for electric brakes. A 7 blade connector adds a terminal for electric brake actuation, as well as back-up lights, and an unswitched 12V supply (if all seven terminals are actually connected). The relay modules in the harness exist because, like most Dodge vehicles these days, the vehicle brake and turn signal lamps are separate. Rear amber turn signals are clear indication of this, but the RAMs and Grand Caravans also have a separate bulb for the turn signal and brake indications, despite both of them having completely red lenses. The relays combine the brake light and turn signal indications for each side into one circuit, since non-commerical trailers are commonly wired with combined turn/brake lamps. Most older domestic cars and trucks were also setup with combined turn/stop indications. Only after the imports made headway in the U.S. market did it become en vogue to separate the turn and brake light indications, typically with the turn signals becoming amber in color. The brake module pigtail in the RAM is nothing more than four wires hanging out of a rectangular automotive connector that looks nothing like a trailer wiring connector. The brake module itself wasn't part of the RAM tow prep group because there were (are) a sufficient number of owners who plan to trailer, but won't need the electric brake control module. Most larger boat trailers use surge brakes, and smaller trailers have no brakes whatsoever. Given that it's not common to find electric brakes on trailers rated for less than 3,500lbs, if you're pulling a trailer with electric brakes with your Journey, then there's a reasonable chance that you're exceeding the towing capacity of the Journey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mprls Posted June 21, 2008 Report Share Posted June 21, 2008 Here's a quick link to some after market trailer hitches. I'm sure there are others. http://www.etrailer.com/hitch-2009_Dodge_Journey.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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