[XJ99]

I was given a quote at a dealership of $1040 hitch+wiring installed on my 2019 TH; $563 for hitch and wiring, the rest for the install, plus tax. Seems a bit high to me...trying to shop around on it. but if it includes a $100 ECM flash, then about $370 for install sounds like what others were quoted.

Whole cost still seems pretty high to me, though not having the tools, space or time to do the install is what you pay for I suppose.

That's cheap. It took them 7 hours to install my harness.
They don't know what they are getting themselves into. LOL

 

[Clarence Newton]

I just dropped off my 2019 Jeep limited 2.0t to get the factory hitch and wiring installed. The parts total $538.80 and was quoted $570 plus tax for labor. I was told that the heavy duty engine cooler is for areas like the west coast mountains and I would not need it. My vehicle has the transmission cooler from factory but a 3.734 final drive ratio. Should I be concerned about the final drive ratio?

 

[AZJeeper]

I just dropped off my 2019 Jeep limited 2.0t to get the factory hitch and wiring installed. The parts total $538.80 and was quoted $570 plus tax for labor. I was told that the heavy duty engine cooler is for areas like the west coast mountains and I would not need it. My vehicle has the transmission cooler from factory but a 3.734 final drive ratio. Should I be concerned about the final drive ratio?

Your driver ratio is exactly the same as my 2.0t WITH the factory tow package.

 

[Rand]

no you already have the heavy duty cooling and same drive ratio you would have with the tow package.

 

[Clarence Newton]

That is great news! I have gotten more information from this forum in one night then a week of searching google?

 

[Critter79]

I am amazed at how dealerships are either just dumb, or don't want your business. Went to a dealership in New Jersey yesterday, same one I bought my jeep from. Wanted to get a quote on how much to purchase and install the tow package (hitch and wiring) on my 2019 TH.

First they tell me, because I have a sunroof, Star engineers do not recommend installing the tow package on my cherokee. And if I do install it, they do not recommend towing anything...because since I have a sunroof, my vehicle frame will twist. Nevermind that I've seen sunroof/tow packages on other jeeps from the factory.

Second, they tell me when they look in their little system, they do not see the hitch or wiring parts listed for my vehicle/vin. Even when I give them the part numbers which I have gotten on here, online and from another dealership, they say those part numbers are wrong.

I can only conclude that either this dealership does not want to install anything aftermarket, or they just don't update their computer systems. I have a another short story about rocks rails, but i'll put that in a different thread.

 

[Exiled_Addick]

I am amazed at how dealerships are either just dumb, or don't want your business. Went to a dealership in New Jersey yesterday, same one I bought my jeep from. Wanted to get a quote on how much to purchase and install the tow package (hitch and wiring) on my 2019 TH.

First they tell me, because I have a sunroof, Star engineers do not recommend installing the tow package on my cherokee. And if I do install it, they do not recommend towing anything...because since I have a sunroof, my vehicle frame will twist. Nevermind that I've seen sunroof/tow packages on other jeeps from the factory.

Second, they tell me when they look in their little system, they do not see the hitch or wiring parts listed for my vehicle/vin. Even when I give them the part numbers which I have gotten on here, online and from another dealership, they say those part numbers are wrong.

I can only conclude that either this dealership does not want to install anything aftermarket, or they just don't update their computer systems. I have a another short story about rocks rails, but i'll put that in a different thread.

You didn't speak to them on April 1 did you?

 

[fryguy]

Just a FYI, here's the towing info for the 2.0 from the 2019 Cherokee Users Manual. Note the difference in Factory installed tow package limits vs non-factory installed. Just saying the OP should be aware....

 

[ToyCop]

I put the factory hitch, harness, and bezel in my wife’s Cherokee yesterday. Took me about 4 hours. Now, I just need to get up to the dealer for activation. I only broke one clip on the black fender trim. The paper templates for the bezel cut were dead on and a jigsaw made the cut easy.

 

[AZJeeper]

Your tongue weight should be 10% of the trailer's weight. Your 2,000 lbs spec is only the weight of the trailer and anything in it, aka the total weight. That weight is 800 lbs of trailer and 600 lbs of cargo so you are pulling 1,400 lbs.

The 400 lbs of people and 100 lbs of cargo and the tongue weight 140 (10% of 1,400) equals 640 lbs which is under the 1,000 lbs of cargo you can carry in the Jeep.

In the above scenario you can load 600 lbs more in the trailer and 300 lbs more in the Jeep (I think I allowed for the extra 60 lbs of tongue weight )

I've come across this thought that stuff in the Jeep counts against the tow spec. I even found a confusing and/or just plain wrong webpage from Camping World that claims this.

There is one other spec and thats your overall carry weight which is everything moving down the road. I've never seen a published spec but based on the weight of the Jeep and the weight you can tow it 10,000 lbs.

All true, except you should know the exact weight you can carry. That information can be found on the placard (sticker) on the driver's entry. For example, my TH/E with the Tow Package the maximum "occupants and cargo" is 900 lbs.

 

[chartle]

All true, except you should know the exact weight you can carry. That information can be found on the placard (sticker) on the driver's entry. For example, my TH/E with the Tow Package the maximum "occupants and cargo" is 900 lbs.

Yes per my post my 2014 Cherokee's was 1,000 lbs. Your skid plates and maybe a few other things must be the difference.

 

[007]

Actually the official limit is 4500 lbs. without the Tow Group. Many later Cherokees though do have aux transmission coolers installed OEM which are a key element of that limit. As the years from 2014 progressed it seems that more had the aux cooler OEM. All Trail Hawks from day one had it. If you had AD2 you had it from day one. Also it seemed that more may have had it as the years progressed simply because the ZF needed it because of its compact size and heavy workload (4WD) from the Cherokee. Simply a precaution by FCA in my opinion.
This has been discussed many times over the almost 5 years I have been reading this forum. @Fj4080 kind of confirms Aux cooler in this continuing saga.

I can remember the old days that many times the tow shops would have to add an aux cooler and possibly change the axle ratio at the same time. This was all depending on how much weight was involved. Those were the main changes needed to tow. Sometimes adding some simple suspension changes like HD shocks were also done.

I would have a shop add a hitch, tap into the rear lights, and change the fluid every year at the end of the tow season. At my tow weight an aux cooler was not needed.
That tow weight was under 2k. The old days are not much different than today in the reality of things except the tail lights.

The Cherokee itself, structurally OEM, will tow 4500lbs as it sits. I have seen nothing to the contrary. Its the extra cooling that is the issue.
Aux trans coolers can be added if needed, specifically for the Cherokee. These are aftermarket systems for the Cherokee. That is the most important element of the Tow group outside the hitch/wiring cable. The extra engine cooling may simply be the extra fan on the radiator if so equipped.
The axle ratio is what really limits the Cherokee towards that upper limit if its non OEM tow. The main thrust is to keep the parts and equipment cool, primarily the transmission. It always has been and always will.

Now obviously there is a warranty involved so that limit is there for a good reason. FCA will guarantee your tow up to that limit with their specific equipment package. Aftermarket packages do not pass the muster as FCA can not nor should they guarantee their performance or how thy will stand up to various weight limits.
Also another issue is non OEM tow receivers and wiring set ups. If not installed properly they can actually damage the vehicle itself.

A properly installed aftermarket tow set up is obviously at your own risk if you are towing 3,000lbs or so but I doubt there will be issues if the vehicle is maintained properly. In the end its proper cooling...…

One of the reasons I have gotten OEM tow set ups on my last 4 Jeeps was its a well integrated package with the axle ratio so as to maintain that warranty and on my 2014 a Max Care Life plan. That OEM tow was the reason 3 out of the 4 Jeeps had to be factory ordered.


But just some general observations.

@Jeepster1 this is an old post on a much discussed topic, and I've seen a few members with real life examples to back up what you're saying. I have a 2014 Cherokee Altitude (see signature for details) FWD model, and we decided we wanted to buy a boat when we moved to Chattanooga. I was quite disheartened to discover the 2000lb towing capacity (maybe a flat bottom aluminum boat w/trailer, at most?). However, from what I gather, the tow limit is set as a CYA value by FCA. In my case, we're looking at a boat/trailer load of approx. 3800lbs. The only places I'll be towing it are less than a mile to the marina on the river, and the marina on the lake (about 14 miles of non-highway driving, mostly flat). So, I think if I take it slow and easy, I'll be alright.

Is this what you've found to be true as well?

Thanks!

 

[007]

@Jeepster1 this is an old post on a much discussed topic, and I've seen a few members with real life examples to back up what you're saying. I have a 2014 Cherokee Altitude (see signature for details) FWD model, and we decided we wanted to buy a boat when we moved to Chattanooga. I was quite disheartened to discover the 2000lb towing capacity (maybe a flat bottom aluminum boat w/trailer, at most?). However, from what I gather, the tow limit is set as a CYA value by FCA. In my case, we're looking at a boat/trailer load of approx. 3800lbs. The only places I'll be towing it are less than a mile to the marina on the river, and the marina on the lake (about 14 miles of non-highway driving, mostly flat). So, I think if I take it slow and easy, I'll be alright.

Is this what you've found to be true as well?

Thanks!

Although, since it's almost 4000lbs, I'm also going to add this. That oughta do the trick, I think.

 

[007]

Wait a second... this looks suspiciously like an aux transmission cooler installed in my Cherokee already.

Yep... I missed it on the build sheet before: NHBP Auxiliary Transmission Oil Cooler
I wonder if it's part of the Altitude pkg? Who knows, but I'm a happy camper!

 

[XJ99]

I put the factory hitch, harness, and bezel in my wife’s Cherokee yesterday. Took me about 4 hours. Now, I just need to get up to the dealer for activation. I only broke one clip on the black fender trim. The paper templates for the bezel cut were dead on and a jigsaw made the cut easy.

Only 4 hours? Holy crap that's fast!!!
I broke both clips on my fenders, and ended up screwing them back on.

Looks kinda bad, but everything else I tried including 3M trim tape failed.

 

[XJ99]

Although, since it's almost 4000lbs, I'm also going to add this. That oughta do the trick, I think.

You will be pushing the max tow as a 2019 2.0T with tow. Plus the tongue
weight will take traction away from the front wheels. On a steep/slippery
boat ramp you might lose the Jeep in the lake. Really pushing it... 0.02

 

[007]

You will be pushing the max tow as a 2019 2.0T with tow. Plus the tongue
weight will take traction away from the front wheels. On a steep/slippery
boat ramp you might lose the Jeep in the lake. Really pushing it... 0.02

Actually, mine is a 2014 with the 3.2 V6, but that's a good point on the FWD concern. Thanks!

 

[XJ99]

Actually, mine is a 2014 with the 3.2 V6, but that's a good point on the FWD concern. Thanks!

Yeah, so your limit is 2K. 3,800 might be asking for problems.
My buddy slid into a lake in his F-150. Turned off traction control,
and the rear tires spun until his trucked ended up in the drink. LOL

 

[Flybynightcru]

Yeah, so your limit is 2K. 3,800 might be asking for problems.
My buddy slid into a lake in his F-150. Turned off traction control,
and the rear tires spun until his trucked ended up in the drink. LOL

Ice Road Trucking didn't quite work out obviously...😎

 

[Its_andres22]

Hey guys, I'm new here to the Cherokee club. Recently got a 2019 Cherokee Limited AWD 3.2 V6, I'm trying to get the tow package added to the Jeep. My only concern is that my Final Drive Ratio is 3.251, from my understanding of reading this Thread that means I will not have the Max Towing at 4,500lbs because of that?

If the case is that I am only able to tow max 2,000lbs because of my gearing, how bad would it be for the vehicle to carry a motorcycle on a motorcycle hitch carrier?