wireing up a 2002 jeep to tow.

[BFoughty]

My dad is needing to wire up the lights on his 2002 Jeep Grand cherokee. He was told that cutting into the original wireing would mess it up. Does anyone know how to wire up the lights on this?



TIA, Brian

 

[Glen Pratt]

I would order a set of these and be done with it.
http://www.awdirect.com/awdirect/catalog. cfm?dest=itempg&itemid=6209&secid=68&linkon=subsection&linkid=98
Looks like an easy solution. -Glen

 

[BFoughty]

I think he is wanting something more permanent. His other jeep (not sure of the year) had a place for extra bulbs to be mounted in the tail light housings. Just had to add the bulb mounts.

 

[PToombs]

Does it have a trailer plug? Make an "extension cord" and fasten it securely to the Jeep, and plug it into the trailer plug. Then to the truck plug. That should run parking lites and turn signals.

I never tried it, but it should work. Opinions?

 

[TJJEEPER]

On modern rigs you need to install diodes in the line so you don't backfeed from the lights. You can either do a search for how to do it or buy a kit like this one.

 

[jelag]

All the trailer supply companies have a plug for teeing into wiring harness to make a trailer connection on the back of the vehicle. .



I'd get one of these... if there is one on the vehicle now a second one will plug in... male plug on one end and female plug on the other end... If you than tie into this plug and run wires to the front of the Jeep you should be all set... .



Hope this helps. .

 

[BFoughty]

Thanks TJJeeper that's what i was hoping for. Not sure why he didn't find this as he is a member of camping world. He is wanting to pull this behind his Georgia Boy motor home. Now i guess i need to get the tow bar hooked up for him. Thanks again everyone for the input.

 

[BFoughty]

It would jelag... . except for the diode thing. thanks anyway, Brian

 

[jelag]

Brian... . don't know what your talking about... the kits I've used have no diodes in them... diodes allow for current to flow one direction in a wire... and there are none of these that I know about on the jeep or our trucks... . in the light circuits. .



Jim

 

[BFoughty]

With the newer Jeeps i guess you have to put/bypass diodes or something... . i'm not real sure what/why. I was just talking to dad about wireing up his jeep and he said that we couldn't because of this. So maybe the kit has something to do with it. I think it's like other DC products... will throw codes if you cut into the wires ???

 

[CRuth]

After years of hassling with odd electrical things on my 1960 CJ5 (between all the owners and aftermarket parts, remember it didnt come with turn signals back then) I finally got fed up and installed a switch. One position the lights are completely disconnected from the jeep electrical system and go directly to the tow vehicle, the other position puts it back to normal. No more weird stuff happening. But I do have to remember to throw the switch after towing or I'm driving around with no lights

 

[DerekW]

Does it have a trailer plug? Make an "extension cord" and fasten it securely to the Jeep, and plug it into the trailer plug. Then to the truck plug. That should run parking lites and turn signals.

I never tried it, but it should work. Opinions?

I was thinking the same thing but what I would do is go down to auto parts store or even walmart sometimes has the right kit and buy a trailer wiring kit that is used to make a vehicle that didn't come with a factory to package to a vehicle with trailer wiring and connecter. It should have an odd plug that you don't see on a trailer on one end if it does buy it. then I would follow the instructions in the kit as where to plug the wiring up. NOW PAY ATTENTION CLOSE CUZ SO FAR IT SOUNDED LIKE I WAS TELLING YOU HOW TO WIRE UP THE JEEP TO PULL A TRAILER THAT IS NOT THE CASE THOUGH KEEP READING. Now where you plugged the trailer wiring kit to the vehicle there was wiring coming from the front of the vehicle to that connector then the wiring goes up to all the lights in the back. leave the wiring disconnected that comes from the front of the vehicle so you don't short any thing up there by sending current the wrong way (the wiring wasn't designed to have the 12v power source where you are connecting it) If you want to leave the wiring connected that comes from the front of the jeep I would suggest installing diodes to make the electricity flow in the proper direction (just install the diodes facing the right direction please). Then I would run install a trailer wiring kit (kit to put wiring on a trailer cuz the jeep is pretty much going to be your trailer) on the jeep with a connector up in the grille on under the bumper to plug into the back of the rv. the trailer wiring would be tied secure all the way down the unibody to the back of the jeep then have a plug that plugs into your autoparts store wiring kit (the 1st kit I had you install). Then you should be good to go just remember disconnect wiring to that comes from the front of the jeep so you don't fry any switches or anything as they are in line before the fuses on the jeep.



OH ONE MORE THING install a ground wire from the RV to the rear part of the body because MOPAR lighting circuits are completed through a ground and the battery on the jeep shouldn't accept negative juice cuz it is not putting out any current. The voltage after the lights will be like . 001-. 009 or so but still that can cause problems or maybe I just over build my electronics so they don't have problem? I dunno but I am very picky about the way I do things for instance I will be building my own replacement wiring harness for my truck that flows better to elimate some of the things I don't like in the electrical circuits. but any way Best of luck.