Trackrig
Anchorage, Alaska until June, 2013
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I’ve recently purchased a 2002 Jeep Wrangler (5-spd 6-cyl) to tow behind my 2005 Fleetwood Excursion 39S which has the standard seven pen connector. The Roadmaster tow bar came with a short coil cord with round male four pin connectors on each end. I will need an adapter from the MH seven pin to four pin cord. Then I’ll need to install a female four pin receptacle at the front of the Jeep. The question is how do I tie into the Jeep’s tail lights from the receptacle on the front of the jeep?
When I first started looking at how to hookup the Jeep’s lighting for towing, I looked at several examples of from the JeepForum on connecting the wiring from the front receptacle to the Jeep’s wiring right in front of the driver’s seat. This is where the wiring comes down from the light switch going to the rear tail lights. To do this, you have to cut into the Jeep’s wiring and install diodes to make sure nothing happens to the Jeep’s electrical while connected to the MH’s electrical system. This keeps the wiring inside both the engine compartment and inside of the Jeep instead of running underneath the jeep where it can get ripped out from four-wheeling. Besides the diodes, I believe you also have to either pull a fuse from the Jeep’s fuse panel behind the glove box or install a cut-out switch someplace to prevent damage to the Jeep’s electrical system. I may be wrong on this if the diodes are installed?
Then I started looking at wiring kits that run from the front receptacle to the rear lights where you actually install new light bulbs in the Jeep’s rear lights. This is extra wiring that will have to run under the Jeep that I’ll have to figure out how to keep safe. The good part is, you’re not cutting into the Jeep’s electrical system so you can’t hurt anything.
What methods have you used to wire your jeep for towing? Here’s the kit from Roadmaster I’m looking at.
I haven’t tried to do a “clicky” yet, I would appreciate it if someone would add one for me.
Thanks for your time,
Bill
http://www.roadmaster-tow-bars.com/accessories/wiring-system-kits/taillight-wiring-kit-with-bulbs
TAILLIGHT WIRING KIT WITH BULBS
ROADMASTER PART #: 155
YOUR PRICE: $54.95
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chucknmare
Tacoma, Washington
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Joined: 08/09/2005
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I used sockets and a trailer wire kit from the car part store for mine Had to drill into the tailights to install sockets but it kept me from having to mess with the wiring on my jeep. Some of the lighting for tail lights need to have diodes etc. put in and thats a pain in the drain. This way you wire it just like a regular trailer. Chuck
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mike brez
milford ct
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chucknmare wrote:I used sockets and a trailer wire kit from the car part store for mine Had to drill into the tailights to install sockets but it kept me from having to mess with the wiring on my jeep. Some of the lighting for tail lights need to have diodes etc. put in and thats a pain in the drain. This way you wire it just like a regular trailer. Chuck
I did the same exact thing on my 02 Wrangler.
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Raymon
Phoenixville, PA
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chucknmare wrote:I used sockets and a trailer wire kit from the car part store for mine Had to drill into the tailights to install sockets but it kept me from having to mess with the wiring on my jeep. Some of the lighting for tail lights need to have diodes etc. put in and thats a pain in the drain. This way you wire it just like a regular trailer. Chuck
I did exactly the same. However, all my wiring was run inside the Jeep. From the engine compartment I ran the wires through the firewall, along the door sill plate and along the driver's side in the rear seating area. In the rear, I was able to fish the wires from the driver's side to the passenger side through the metal trough that runs from the driver's side to the passenger side. In order to do this, I had to cut out the body putty on the passenger side that prevented the wires from coming through. I ran the wires from inside the Jeep into each light fixture. It made a nice clean job with no wires exposed.
I got the light sockets and the trailer wiring harness at an auto supply store. There is a thin aluminum (?) piece of metal inside each light fixture that separates the the top of the fixture from the bottom. I mounted the sockets in this metal.
Hope this helps.
Ray
* This post was
edited 07/30/12 07:05am by Raymon *
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Hikerdogs
Wisconsin
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We used the diode kit from Roadmaster and original bulbs and sockets. I mounted the front wiring socket in the center of the frame with a standard trailer hitch mounting bracket. Then ran the wiring harness up through the engine compartment and into the passenger compartment through one of the factory wiring harness grommets. I ran the wiring harness through the passenger compartment under the sheet metal lip along the drivers side door sill, then under the lip where the top attaches to the body.
There's a plug at the left rear where (if you have the hard top) the wiring harness comes through for the rear window washer and wiper. Then route the harness back down through the grommet and attach the diodes & wires to the appropriate tail light socket. It's a little tight for space so I removed the tail lights, pulled the harness through the hole terminated everything then stuffed it back into the cavity. Ours has been in place for over 6 years with no damage from off roading.
As for pulling a fuse it's not necessary for the TJ model Jeeps. The battery will not run down nor will you accumulate mileage on the odometer.
If you're worried about security you can remove the glove box then remove the #4 fuse. That will allow the engine to crank but not start. If your jeep has the security system the key will have a chip similar to th older GM cars. You can get a new key cut without the chip. The new key will allow the ignition to be turned on but the engine won't start
Hikerdogs
2013 Winnebago Adventurer
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Thunder Mountain
Buena Vista, Colorado
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Save yourself the brain damage and time. Look at the Cool Tech wiring harness. Easy install. Just don't expect any customer service if you have any problems.
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workhardplayharder
Treasure Coast Florida
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I did the same as stated above. The jeep is wired as if were a trailer. My tow bar had the short section of wire but I got rid of that because I had a low voltage issue with the additional connections. There is enough wire to reach the RV coiled up under the hood when not in use. I bought some 1157 sockets and installed inside the existing taillights. If I ever have to re-do it I would use LED strips instead of bulbs.
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zman-az
Northern AZ
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Done this on a 2002 and a 2003. Installed diodes right under the drivers door. Stuck the diodes to the side with double stick tape. Also had to extend 1 wire to make it work and cut the harness every 2-4" so I could stagger the diodes and only have to extend 1 wire from the factory harness. I have a service manaual and it showed me what color wires to cut into, unfortunealy I don't have the manaual with me or I would give you the colors. No fuses needs to be pulled unless you remove your doors and that is covered in the jeep manual.
In addition I also removed a spring and a metal tab from the steering wheel lock mechanism. Now I don't need to have a key in the ignition when towing. You can do a google search on what parts to remove. Pretty easy job and takes less than 5 minutes.
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JohnnyT
Goshen New York
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Moved from class A forum
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road glide
Angels Camp, California
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Hey we just sold our 2004 Wrangler dinghy a couple of months ago and this is what I did...
Least amount of hassle...Harbor Freight has magnetic tow lights for 10-19 bucks...I used the 4 plug and their wiring and just ran the harness over the front spring/shock mount along the driver side frame over the rear coil and back to the bumper and mounted the mag lights on either side with two (one each) bungee cord. Never had a problem in 2 years of towing and when we sold it, it all came off in minutes with no damage to the jeep.
The mag lights sit on top of the rear stock jeep bumper.
One word of caution...when I hooked everything about the lighting inside wiring of the lights was backward...Brown is running lights and green and yellow are stop/signal...Chinese manf had it backwards LOL
2003 Safari Sahara 350 Cummins ISC Allison 6 speed
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2002 Jeep Liberty Limited 4x4 tow vehicle
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