Tow Package?

dirt pig · **Posted:** Sat Sep 20, 2008 11:06 am

Just a silly question for all you good folk out there.

How can you tell if you have the tow package installed?
I've only recently obtained my Jeep and it came with a trailer hitch.
But how can one tell if I've got the whole package or just the hitch?

Do I count the radiators or something?

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sat Sep 20, 2008 4:18 pm

Check to see if you have a clutched fan connected to the water pump pully. If you do then it has it.

dirt pig · **Posted:** Sat Sep 20, 2008 11:07 pm

I can only see one fan (the main one) and it is thermatic (aren't they all, nowadays?)

I count 3 radiators.
Why 3 radiators? Is it:
1 Engine
2 Transmission (This makes me think, Tow Package)
3 Air Conditioner

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sat Sep 20, 2008 11:40 pm

dirt pig wrote:

I can only see one fan (the main one) and it is thermatic (aren't they all, nowadays?)

I count 3 radiators.
Why 3 radiators? Is it:
1 Engine
2 Transmission (This makes me think, Tow Package)
3 Air Conditioner

Is it the mechanical fan or electric?If you have the tow package you will have 2 fans,one electric(hard to see since the mechanical fan hides it) and the other is mechanical with a fan clutch The tranny cooler is on all KJ's with the 42RLE,the KJ's with the 45RFE has the tranny cooler in the radiator.The A/C condensor is in no way part of the tow package in anyway.

dirt pig · **Posted:** Sun Sep 21, 2008 1:45 am

Found it !!

I saw the main fan which is white.
I was expecting the second fan to also be white. It's black.
That's why I couldn't see it. The second fan has scimitar shaped blades.

Look's like I have the tow pack!

Thanks for your help guy's

SavageUrge · **Posted:** Sun Sep 21, 2008 1:38 pm

This may sound stupid, but the easiest way to tell is if you have the 7-wire plug in the rear surrounded by a metal "cage" that is welded to the hitch itself. A quick look at the wiring should be a dead giveaway as to whether or not it's a factory setup.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sun Sep 21, 2008 1:51 pm

SavageUrge wrote:

This may sound stupid, but the easiest way to tell is if you have the 7-wire plug in the rear surrounded by a metal "cage" that is welded to the hitch itself. A quick look at the wiring should be a dead giveaway as to whether or not it's a factory setup.

You can buy the OEM hitch and the OEM 7-pin wiring connector seperatly,so this alone does not mean you have the tow package.When I bought my MOPAR hitch it came with that welded cage,I opted to buy the flat-4 connector instead of the 7-pin though.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Sun Sep 21, 2008 2:03 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

SavageUrge wrote:

This may sound stupid, but the easiest way to tell is if you have the 7-wire plug in the rear surrounded by a metal "cage" that is welded to the hitch itself. A quick look at the wiring should be a dead giveaway as to whether or not it's a factory setup.

You can buy the OEM hitch and the OEM 7-pin wiring connector seperatly,so this alone does not mean you have the tow package.When I bought my MOPAR hitch it came with that welded cage,I opted to buy the flat-4 connector instead of the 7-pin though.

Curious, why did you go with the flat 4?

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sun Sep 21, 2008 2:06 pm

Sir Sam wrote:

tjkj2002 wrote:

SavageUrge wrote:

This may sound stupid, but the easiest way to tell is if you have the 7-wire plug in the rear surrounded by a metal "cage" that is welded to the hitch itself. A quick look at the wiring should be a dead giveaway as to whether or not it's a factory setup.

You can buy the OEM hitch and the OEM 7-pin wiring connector seperatly,so this alone does not mean you have the tow package.When I bought my MOPAR hitch it came with that welded cage,I opted to buy the flat-4 connector instead of the 7-pin though.

Curious, why did you go with the flat 4?

Because I was in no way ever going to pull anything that needed brakes.If I need to tow anything that needs a 7-pin connector I'll buy a SuperDuty.A Jeep is not in anyway made for towing,have I towed with my KJ? Yes but nothing major,if I need to really tow something a 1-ton pickup will be in my future since my KJ is for rocks not towing or mpg's.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Sun Sep 21, 2008 2:29 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

Sir Sam wrote:

tjkj2002 wrote:

SavageUrge wrote:

This may sound stupid, but the easiest way to tell is if you have the 7-wire plug in the rear surrounded by a metal "cage" that is welded to the hitch itself. A quick look at the wiring should be a dead giveaway as to whether or not it's a factory setup.

You can buy the OEM hitch and the OEM 7-pin wiring connector seperatly,so this alone does not mean you have the tow package.When I bought my MOPAR hitch it came with that welded cage,I opted to buy the flat-4 connector instead of the 7-pin though.

Curious, why did you go with the flat 4?

Because I was in no way ever going to pull anything that needed brakes.If I need to tow anything that needs a 7-pin connector I'll buy a SuperDuty.A Jeep is not in anyway made for towing,have I towed with my KJ? Yes but nothing major,if I need to really tow something a 1-ton pickup will be in my future since my KJ is for rocks not towing or mpg's.

Right, but surely there is justification for having a full set of trailer wiring availbe for use when needed? I dont ever plan to tow anything with trailer brakes, nor do I have the controller, but stil, having the round 7 is nice.....

did you go with the mopar or other wiring harness?

InCommando · **Posted:** Sun Sep 21, 2008 2:42 pm

Perhaps the fact that it is HIS jeep and HE chose the connecter HE wanted?
Just a thought.

It is over & done with. That alone made asking once silly. To keep harping on his choice after he responded is kind of low class. Do you think he is going to rush out & change it because you think he needs more options?

tommudd · **Posted:** Sun Sep 21, 2008 2:47 pm

InCommando wrote:

Perhaps the fact that it is HIS jeep and HE chose the connecter HE wanted?
Just a thought.

It is over & done with. That alone made asking once silly. To keep harping on his choice after he responded is kind of low class. Do you think he is going to rush out & change it because you think he needs more options?

plus just about any trailer that anyone would ever pull with the KJ only needs a flat 4, why go bigger if no need to :shock:

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Sun Sep 21, 2008 4:58 pm

Pulling many types of campers requires the 7-plug. Even the small ones. I pulled a Casita to Moaband it required the 7-plug. I had to scramble at the last second to get one because the one I had the year before only needed the 4-plug. The second one had a shower and toilet in it. I rent them from Outdoor Rec on the base.

dirt pig · **Posted:** Mon Sep 22, 2008 4:37 am

I have no actual intention of towing anything in particular.

The reason I ask is that I had a towbar on a car I had in the past. And although I had no intentions of towing, The need arose where towing was required. The vehicle was quite capable (read..should have been!!) of the job required.

I did sucessfully tow the van the required 100 miles.

However with the next service I was told that I cooked and hardened the seals in the tranny. It appears I should have had an equivelant tow pack. At that time all that was required was an additional tranny cooler.

So now I'm just that little bit wiser and do the research beforehand. :idea:

I'd hate to cook the Jeep's tranny. Big Bucks $$$$....

Here in Australia, the round seven pin connector has been around since "Adam was a boy"

Gonna have to update my sig line now :wink:

pipeliner · **Posted:** Mon Sep 22, 2008 6:41 am

tommudd wrote:

plus just about any trailer that anyone would ever pull with the KJ only needs a flat 4, why go bigger if no need to :shock:

Sir Sam wrote:

Because I was in no way ever going to pull anything that needed brakes.If I need to tow anything that needs a 7-pin connector I'll buy a SuperDuty.A Jeep is not in anyway made for towing,have I towed with my KJ? Yes but nothing major,if I need to really tow something a 1-ton pickup will be in my future since my KJ is for rocks not towing or mpg's.

What a load of rubbish! The Jeep towhitch is rated for 2260kg for the 3.7 petrol and 2800 kg for the 2.8 CRD - I have towed a 1500kg camper trailer all over Australia with my CRD manual without a problem. Over here anything over 750 kg needs brakes and most campers have electric brakes these days.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 22, 2008 7:54 am

About the towing:

1) In almost any state - a trailer that weighs in over 3000 pound will require trailer brakes by Law. [1 Ton below the KJ limit]

2) The 7 Pin harness isn't hooked up to a brake controller on the vehilce side - You still have to buy a controller and wire it into the electronics. Otherwise the trailer brakes don't work.

If you have this fan, chances are you have the HD cooling / Towing Package

If you don't have the mechanical fan (white colored fan) than your KJ did not come with that package.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Mon Sep 22, 2008 6:44 pm

InCommando wrote:

Perhaps the fact that it is HIS jeep and HE chose the connecter HE wanted?
Just a thought.

It is over & done with. That alone made asking once silly. To keep harping on his choice after he responded is kind of low class. Do you think he is going to rush out & change it because you think he needs more options?

Jesus you have an axe to grind.

I am not belittling or berating him in any way, I asked poignant questions that were relevant to the thread.

Ya its HIS jeep and HE did what HE wanted, and I am openly discussing it with him. Now the next person who reads his response gets to take in both sides of the view and make the decision for themselves.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 22, 2008 7:24 pm

Sir Sam wrote:

InCommando wrote:

Perhaps the fact that it is HIS jeep and HE chose the connecter HE wanted?
Just a thought.

It is over & done with. That alone made asking once silly. To keep harping on his choice after he responded is kind of low class. Do you think he is going to rush out & change it because you think he needs more options?

Jesus you have an axe to grind.

I am not belittling or berating him in any way, I asked poignant questions that were relevant to the thread.

Ya its HIS jeep and HE did what HE wanted, and I am openly discussing it with him. Now the next person who reads his response gets to take in both sides of the view and make the decision for themselves.

Yes I did it my way.If Sir Sam want's that 7-pin connector for that "just in case" situation,that is fine.I do not camp,and will never again go camping,hence I would never pull any trailer that weighs more then 3000lbs that has trailer brakes with my KJ.The only type of trailer I will ever pull is a flat bed or enclosed trailer that wieghs about 1200lbs max(then load it with 4000lbs of my tools

).

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Mon Sep 22, 2008 7:39 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

Yes I did it my way.If Sir Sam want's that 7-pin connector for that "just in case" situation,that is fine.I do not camp,and will never again go camping,hence I would never pull any trailer that weighs more then 3000lbs that has trailer brakes with my KJ.The only type of trailer I will ever pull is a flat bed or enclosed trailer that wieghs about 1200lbs max(then load it with 4000lbs of my tools

).

Ok gotcha, just wondering where you were coming from with that.

RAYMAN975 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 22, 2008 9:14 pm

i have an 02 with the 45RFE, i was going to get a B&M or another good brand of tranny cooler. would it be worth it to get one even though i already have the radiator built in one? how would i do it, cap off the radiator part and justrun the lines into the aftermarket cooler? i looked and see where the rubber lines turn into hardlines then go into the radiator. i was going to put it up and down on the passenger side, opposite side of the PS cooler

the only thing i ever really plan on towing is a small popup camper, or even a regular 8-10' regular walk in camper from like the 80's that i saw for sale lol

Tow Package?

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