[therobertbrooks]

I bought a 2014 Limited Grand Cherokee 4x2 with the ECO Diesel but it did not come with a hitch. I mainly bought it for the MPG and the fun of driving with the high torque but I do need to tow a trailer every now and again with my fourwheeler or hunting gear.

Any idea what is needed for me to get a hitch installed? I guess I am a little confused because when I look at the back of the vehicle it doesn't look like there is a spot for the hitch. (ie. No space in the bumper for it to stick through)

 

[MDBones]

I'd have to think that any trailer hitch (dealer installed or aftermarket) would need to come out through the plastic below the painted portion of the rear bumper. Anything below that would position the hitch too low.

If you can get underneath your Jeep, take a look at that lower area from the inside of the bumper cover and see if there are any score marks in the plastic indicating an area that would need to be cut out for a receiver.

 

[Auburn Pearl]

I bought a 2014 Limited Grand Cherokee 4x2 with the ECO Diesel but it did not come with a hitch. I mainly bought it for the MPG and the fun of driving with the high torque but I do need to tow a trailer every now and again with my fourwheeler or hunting gear.

Any idea what is needed for me to get a hitch installed? I guess I am a little confused because when I look at the back of the vehicle it doesn't look like there is a spot for the hitch. (ie. No space in the bumper for it to stick through)

Not sure how the limited is set up, but on the Summit it comes with the receiver hitch installed, although I called my dealer a liar when I first saw the vehicle because it was totally not visible without climbing under the vehicle and looking for it. As it turns out, the hitch is concealed behind the "bumper", and a trim panel must be removed to access the hitch and trailer plugs. There are two access screws on the bottom of the bumper trim that can be turned with a coin and this loosens the center section of the bumper trim. Then you reach up in the bumper, stand on your head, twist around, do the hokey pokey and try to put your fingers on the two remaining top release prongs while there is no way to see them. Feeling your way around, you can squeeze the two tabs to release the trim from the bumper. Once I got this off, I will never use it again as it is too much of a pain. Hope this helps.

 

[Bogeyman2B]

and THAT'S why we bought the Overland...to avoid the hokey pokey
We try to get out at least once a month for a long weekend and I could not see covering up the receiver after every use.
Cannot wait to pickup our new Heartland North Trail 28' this coming weekend...dry weight 5180. No doubt this will be fun to see what fuel mileage we get.
Our last Honda Ridgeline was maxed out towing about 5,000 and averaged 10 MPG.

 

[granite]

and THAT'S why I bought the LIMITED...to avoid the hokey pokey .
I ordered mine withe the luxury package and a full tow package. Couldn't be bothered with a tow install. Did that twice on my first two pilots. My third pilot came with it and it fits the car differently then a add on hitch. No, I don't tow anything big but who knows when that will change.

 

[therobertbrooks]

Not sure how the limited is set up, but on the Summit it comes with the receiver hitch installed, although I called my dealer a liar when I first saw the vehicle because it was totally not visible without climbing under the vehicle and looking for it. As it turns out, the hitch is concealed behind the "bumper", and a trim panel must be removed to access the hitch and trailer plugs. There are two access screws on the bottom of the bumper trim that can be turned with a coin and this loosens the center section of the bumper trim. Then you reach up in the bumper, stand on your head, twist around, do the hokey pokey and try to put your fingers on the two remaining top release prongs while there is no way to see them. Feeling your way around, you can squeeze the two tabs to release the trim from the bumper. Once I got this off, I will never use it again as it is too much of a pain. Hope this helps.

I will have to take a look.. I don't think mine came with a tow package at all. I guess an aftermarket hitch will be below the bumper.

 

[Auburn Pearl]

Let us know which way you decide to go. I know on my last GC it was a royal pain to mount the aftermarket receiver hitch. I would have gladly paid the dealer to put it on, had I not already committed to the project. Not much clearance room under there to work the tools around. I wonder if the factory tow package can be purchased and installed after the fact. Anyone out there tried adding a hitch?

 

[MDBones]

My understanding is that proper installation of a receiver hitch requires cutting an opening in the rear bumper fascia on 2005 and up GC's.

The couple of sites I looked at also had a trim bezel available for the cutout.

 

[therobertbrooks]

Spoke to my service guy at the dealership and he quoted me $800 to get the hitch installed to factory specs. I imagine it does not include the trans cooler or bigger alt.. but it will look the same a from the factory and have the wiring connected to the computer so it knows you are towing something (not sure the benefit of that). It would probably be a few hundred to get uhaul to install one and it would hang down 6 inches below the bumper and have a pigtail plug hanging by a zip tie.

Probably going to get the factory spec on installed.

 

[Casper]

I did not know that there was wiring connected to the computer so it would know it was towing.

 

[therobertbrooks]

I did not know that there was wiring connected to the computer so it would know it was towing.

Ya, I remember reading something about it, I think on Mopar.com. You have to connect the plugs to the computer and configure it. I imagine Uhaul or getting it done elsewhere outside of the dealership would not do that.

Maybe its meant to "automatically" put it in tow mode since there is not a choice to? Just a guess...

 

[therobertbrooks]

Had the factory hitch installed at the dealer and it looks great. Fit looks just like it should be. I asked the dealer what my towing capabilities were since I did not get the tow package but just the hitch and he looked it up with Chrysler and they stated I still have the 7400 lb towing capacity. Total was $804 (labor was over $400) out the door and it took half a day to get it done.