Hello...
I just wanted to post a quick "thank you" to everyone contributing on this thread and forum. With the info posted here I was able install my hitch and factory wire harness for only $221.70!
I've got a 2011 Dodge Journey - Crew
Here is what I did...
Ordered my hitch and ball mount from AutoAnything.com - They seem to always be running some kind of sale so I was able to get 15% off and free shipping. The prices below do not include that discount.
Here is the link to the hitch receiver. I went with the Curt. - $142.95
http://www.autoanyth...A0A3318065.aspx
I went with the class III, I know its a bit overkill but it was only $9 more than the class II
Here is the link to the ball mount - I went with the 2" drop, 2" ball "Ready Tow" also from Curt - $39.95
http://www.autoanyth...4A3885A0A0.aspx
Rated at 7500 GTW / 750 TW (again a bit overkill but it was the same price so... what the hell... better safe than sorry, right?)
Here is the link for the Mopar wiring harness - Part #68080976AC
http://www.factorymo...68080976ac.html
They had one is stock and since I'm in the same state, I got it the next day. It was $25 cheaper than my local dealer! - Price was $54.67 plus shipping
It did come with the rubber cap cover but the mount was separate. The cable is so short that I decided to just let it hang and skip the mount.
By the way, the instructions tell you to remove the bumper. DON'T DO IT! There is no need and it will save you a bunch of time and trouble if you don't. I'm a pretty big guy, (6'2" - 350 lbs). I laid on the ground underneath the rear bumper and was able to fit my arms between the bottom of the bumper and the spare tire well, which is where the harness with the three relays pops into the pre-drilled holes in the frame with those little plastic pins. The only thing you have to do is unplug the factory connector which is attached to a dummy "connector cap" and attach it to the harness. I pulled that "connector cap" out and used those holes to mount the now connected harness connector & factory connector. My only suggestion is to drop the spare tire so you have a little more room.
The installation of both the hitch and the wiring harness were ridiculously easy. If you have a torque wrench and know how to use it, you can do it in less than a couple of hours.
Like everyone else here when I was done my 4-wire plug had no power. The next day I went to my local dealer armed with all the info I acquired here. I explained to the service rep that I just needed the port activated. They had no idea what I was talking about so I gave them all the info that I had acquired here, the part number of the harness that I had already installed, the Star case number (S1108000077) that LUX MAN & Armendegga posted earlier in this thread and a basic Idea of what they had to do (flash the software to active the tow option). Basically I did all the research and leg work for them. When the tech picked up the car he came over to ask if I had the instructions that came with the harness. I did not have them with me. He said, no problem, he would look it up in the parts department. I figuring that the Rep had probably not correctly relayed all the info that I gave him so I went through it again with the tech. He had never done it before on a Journey, he said, but with the info I gave him, it should not be a problem. He drove off in the car and 15-20 minutes later he was back and the port was working. He said he had no problem at all and that the info I gave him was right on the nose and exactly what he needed. I wasn't sure if they were going to try and bill me for the labor so right off I told them that I had spoken to Chrysler and that they had told me it should have been done at the factory so I shouldn't have to pay for it. (A little white lie but what the heck, I really shouldn't have to pay for it anyhow) When the tech returned with the paperwork he said his supervisor signed off on it and I just had to sign some paperwork and that was it...no charge. Thanks to everyone here who contributed to the forum I was able to give them as much information as possible making their job much easier. I was in and out of the dealership in less than 45 minutes!
Here is what the tech wrote on my invoice, in case it helps anyone else.
ADD TRAILER TOW CODE TO VEHICLE OPTIONS LIST AND RECONFIGURE BCM. TESTED TRAILER HITCH WIRING. OPERATIONAL NOW.
Thanks again!!!
