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The Towing thread

314K views 2K replies 156 participants last post by  SouthernComfort 
#1 ·
Please place your queries and comments regarding towing, towbars, wiring, Brake Controllers, and any other Aussie towing matters here.

This way the information will be contained, and others will not need to plough though other irrevelent threads to find info.
 
#163 ·
Hi All
Follow up from my earlier post.
Had the jaycar isolator fitted today replacing the redarc with the 13.2 volt cut in.
Fits (just) beside the battery on the floor of the battery compartment.
Power to the 12 pin plug now. Set to cut in at 13 volts.
The trailer lights dimming issues was a less than perfect earth which has also been rectified.
Had a loan V6 petrol MY 14 today. The difference back to back with the diesel is significant.
Hope this has been of some help to those buying a new JGC. The joys of being first. Think I'll let them install a few rear cameras before I get mine. Heard they had arrived in the country.
Cheers
Andrew
 
#164 · (Edited)
This is my post from another forum, worth copying here:
Hi Andrew, great that the issue has been sorted....
I do find it strange that your battery voltage is so low however, and also that it seems to differ from the earlier models - but still uses the same AGM battery.
As I understand it, an AGM battery charges at 14.2 to 14.8 volts, and floats at 13.2 to 13.7 - I've metered our 2012 CRD and it shows numbers in this ballpark. Our van has AGM batteries charged by solar panels, and the Morningstar controller shows similar numbers as well.
Obviously you haven't had an issue with battery charge but I can't see how your main battery can be getting correct charge if it sits at 13v with the engine running.
If your vehicle is typical of the 2014's, then with a feed to a van for fridge or charging it could be that voltage drop may be an issue,with such a low start point, and again I can't see how van batteries will be charged - unless a DC to DC charger is used.
Perhaps someone could educate me.
John
 
#168 ·
It may be worth checking the cable size. Did your sparkie use battery cable? I get the impression many Aussie auto sparkies use 2 to 3mm wire for the light stuff and 6mm for the heavy stuff as a matter of course. Even a relatively small 6B&S battery cable has about 2.8 times the copper of a typical 6mm cable. If he used 6mm auto wire then you will certainly need a DC-DC converter. Another thing is that he may have used the body as an earth return to save on wire. While this works, it is not a good idea. The earth points are prone to high resistance and can promote corrosion.
 
#174 ·
Has anyone in Melbourne had a Tekonsha brake controller fitted into the central cubby by an auto-electrician that they are happy to recommend?

Preferably to a MY14 ... but it can't be that different to previous model can it? I know the media hub is in there now but trim removal etc would be the same would it not?

My dealer (or at least my dealer's preffered brake controller fitter) is messing me around and it's looking like this afternoons pick up ain't gonna happen :(
 
#178 ·
I had mine fitted by my local auto elec in the centre cubby.
They've done a good job but I had to take in the instructions for the removal of the cubby from wk2jeeps.com as they'd never done one before.
Depending on how far in Melb you want to travel can be a sticking point though.
I have used Lilydale Auto Electrics
Address: 54 John St, Lilydale VIC 3140
Phone:(03) 9735 1461
 
#176 ·
I've cross posted my reply from the other forum, just for information....
Pomdave, if you go here Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2 - Interior trim removal you will see that on this page is a link to a .pdf file that shows trim removal information for a 2014 model. Also if you check the home page for the same site there's lots more other handy information to be browsed through.
I installed my P3 in our 2012 myself because I couldn't find anyone locally I was confident could do the job.
It wasn't difficult (you have to be reasonably handy and understand what you are doing though), but once the trim was removed it was a bit scary seeing the innards exposed. I made well sure to keep the missus away while it was opened up. I took the power supply (via a circuit breaker) and earth from the battery terminals under the drivers seat, and the brake switch supply from the stop light trailer wiring. That way there were no issues with conflict with the vehicle wiring.
Maybe if you printed out the trim removal info and took that to your installer of preference it may reduce any fears he may have about issues he may encounter. I've seen photos of a P3 in a 2014 cubby so it can certainly be done.
In the US this model gets a plug under the dash that a brake controller will connect to, but this doesn't exist on the export version we get.
Good luck
John
 
#179 ·
Thanks to all who have responded so far,

I had provided the trim removal instructions and SNUKEs photos of the P2 in place, however they questioned the legality of the controller being inside the cubby, "because the display and the buttons can't be seen from the driving position" (due to the cubby lid in the open position)

I know, I know! I argued that you only need to get to the manual lever underneath it ... personally when braking, especially in an emergency situation I am not looking down to check the voltage that is being applied to the trailer brakes, but hey that was his position what can you do?

I don't think I'm game enough to attempt fitting myself, and hopefully I won't need to go all the way to Lillydale either (wrong side of town for me), I'm sure a solution will present itself, that's what I like about this forum you don't feel like you're on your own.
 
#180 ·
I was pretty sure I could see it in the cubby from the standard seating position when I took the pics, but I wasn’t trying to so it’s not a firm memory.
I am 195cm so the seat is all the way back giving a better viewing angle.

Do you actually need to see the controller anyway? Hell, do you even need to access the booster lever?
Once it is set up correctly it is basically forget it and concentrate on driving.
This may be different for off-road when are going slow and judging each section and maybe require to nearly lock up the trailer.
But in regular road driving, in an emergency situation I am not taking my eyes of the road or hands of the wheel.

Is there really a legal requirement to see it? I can barely see the non digital one we have on the Pajero in the usual place below the steering column near the transmission tunnel.
 
#181 ·
Do you actually need to see the controller anyway? Hell, do you even need to access the booster lever?
Once it is set up correctly it is basically forget it and concentrate on driving.
This may be different for off-road when are going slow and judging each section and maybe require to nearly lock up the trailer.
But in regular road driving, in an emergency situation I am not taking my eyes of the road or hands of the wheel.

Is there really a legal requirement to see it?
I'm with you Snuke, I'm not taking my eyes off the road or hands off the wheel if shit is happening.
I also don't believe there is a requirement to see a display.

It's pretty clear that Pomdave's installer didn't want to do the job, and in that case it would be pointless pushing to an end result that was less then successful.
I'll let you into a secret, I travel with my cubby door shut.
After over a hundred thousand K of towing with a P3 and 30,000 odd with the Jeep, I have the utmost confidence in the vehicle, the controller and my van to do everything possible without me reducing my concentration on whatever is happening and trying some sleight of hand trick. Nah, not going to happen.

The ipad sits on the console in front of the closed cubby door and does an excellent job of providing mapping.
John
 
#183 ·
It is/was in my contract with the dealer to be supplied with electric brake controller, but in fairness to the dealer it was their auto-electrician who said he wouldn't do it, not the dealer themselves.

The dealer was prepared to find an alternative provider to have it fitted, but that would obviously impacted delivery date, in the end we made a deal and I pick up my jeep tomorrow :D and I will make arrangments for getting the braker controller fitted myself and at my leisure (good job it's not summer yet!)

So, I'm still looking for any recommendation for a place to get one fitted in Melbourne (inner or western suburbs) if anyone else has had this done and was happy with the workmanship.
 
#184 ·
I know a guy in Box Hill I wouldn't use again.
Fitted hitch and brake controller. Get it home, next day to tow to Sydney, hmmm no brakes on trailer. Hadn't wired it up properly to the battery. Very simple to fix, so simple it was scary he missed it.
 
#185 ·
The thing that would get up my nose, and probably did yours Pomdave, is that the dealers installer fed you a line, perhaps believing you were stupid, rather than being open and saying that it was a bit beyond him and he was concerned that if he broke something or it didn't work, he was in a no-win situation.
I hate that approach to customer relations.
You'll certainly be better off going someplace else.
When I was looking around for a towbar 2 years ago our local HR supplier was straight enough to say he had some bad experiences with can bus equipped vehicles and he would prefer not to take it on. I respected that, and arranged a Mopar alternative.
again, good luck
John
 
#186 ·
As an alternative, I installed my P3 under the dash directly in line with the steering column, see the photo. If I'm driving straight, it is covered by the centre spoke of the steering wheel so not obtrusive at night. I can see it if I move my head a little and I can easily reach the lever. Initially I thought it was quite vulnerable so I mounted it in the cradle supplied in order to pop it out when not needed. However, surprisingly, I haven't come close to kicking it yet so I just leave it there. Actually, the headlight/fog switch is the most problematic for me. I keep bumping it with my knee when getting in or out. I mounted the P3 just forward of the air-bag flap (probably illegal). I dare say in the event of the air-bag going off, it would knock the P3 out of its cradle but that would be the least of my worries.

For cars with electric steering column adjustment, another solution I've heard of is to mount it on the flat plastic area under the steering column. Unfortunately the Laredo has mechanical steering column adjustment and this is where the lever is located.
 

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#190 ·
It just needs a touch ground off the outside corners of the HR shank to match the slight difference in radius. It'll fit.
 
#192 ·
Reverse Sensor Behaviour

Hi guys,

I'm still deliberating my trailer wiring / towbar provider. My boat isn't particularly demanding to tow, but I have concerns about the implementation of the various wiring kits

Does the Mopar trailer wiring solution automatically deactivate the rear reversing sensors when a trailer is connected? This is what my dealer said, but hey... I don't trust them much these days for some mysterious reason :confused:

Does anyone have a non-genuine trailer wiring solution that disables the rear sensors when the trailer is connected, or do you guys push the button to silence them each ignition cycle?

Cheers,
Steve
 
#197 · (Edited)
Re: Reverse Sensor Behaviour

Hi guys,

I'm still deliberating my trailer wiring / towbar provider. My boat isn't particularly demanding to tow, but I have concerns about the implementation of the various wiring kits

Does the Mopar trailer wiring solution automatically deactivate the rear reversing sensors when a trailer is connected? This is what my dealer said, but hey... I don't trust them much these days for some mysterious reason :confused:

Does anyone have a non-genuine trailer wiring solution that disables the rear sensors when the trailer is connected, or do you guys push the button to silence them each ignition cycle?

Cheers,
Steve
Don't know about the Limiteds or Overlands but the Laredo has no such fancy switching. I fitted a switch myself on the rear right pillar trim (see the pic). The switch simply cuts in to the red power lead to the backup sensor unit. I'll stick a label on it if and when I sell the car.
 

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#195 ·
Yes, and your wording is a 20% improvement on theirs... proving there's still scope to word it with around 6 less "we don't" statements!

Anyway, everyone has their own approach in business. Maybe I've just got used to my own eloquence :lol:
 
#196 ·
Nav TV have been good to deal with for me.
I've got the Allgig sitting in my garage waiting for me to get the courage to start cutting into the factory camera loom to allow it work properly.
With the RHP unit in the MY11, 12 and 13 a switch needs to be fitted to allow access to the factory reversing camera and any other camera input you wish (I have a camera on the rear of my caravan I want to display on the factory screen)

It all works as described (I previously installed it but then removed it when I lost the factory reversing camera, need that switch installed to switch between the two)
 
#201 ·
I have purchased a AV switch that senses signal to switch the 2 cameras . It a jaycar and intend fitting when my i take delivery of my CRD saturday . I will be towing a 2.5 transporter with my race car in it . Can anyone tell me wht sort of fuel economy i can expect towing ?? Its gotta be better than my territory petrol . Thanks len
 
#202 ·
I have purchased a AV switch that senses signal to switch the 2 cameras . It a jaycar and intend fitting when my i take delivery of my CRD saturday . I will be towing a 2.5 transporter with my race car in it . Can anyone tell me wht sort of fuel economy i can expect towing ?? Its gotta be better than my territory petrol . Thanks len
Welcome Len,
If I read it right your race car and trailer comes in around 2.5T, correct?
If so, my Jayco caravan weighs similar and I average 13.5l/100 towing that and I always sit on the posted speed limit, so I'm not driving for economy:lol:

Interested in your solution with regards to the AV switching also.
Did you purchase a Nav TV unit?

Cheers,
Matt
 
#203 ·
Yes i have ordered the nav unit .
it has a master and slave . The master is the rear camera and when i plug in the transporter it supplies 12 v to the rear camera . The slave then senses the input and changes until the 12v is removed . I will post details when i get it installed . Currently working on the tft in the territory so i assume it should work
I will post a how to when i get it installed . Thanks for the figures . THe transporter is 2.5 t loaded but is a bit of a box on wheels so if its under 15 i will be stoaked

 
#208 ·
Yes i have ordered the nav unit .
it has a master and slave . The master is the rear camera and when i plug in the transporter it supplies 12 v to the rear camera . The slave then senses the input and changes until the 12v is removed . I will post details when i get it installed . Currently working on the tft in the territory so i assume it should work
I will post a how to when i get it installed . Thanks for the figures . THe transporter is 2.5 t loaded but is a bit of a box on wheels so if its under 15 i will be stoaked
Looking forward to it! :thumbsup:
 
#210 ·
Hi Steve ,
Its currently in the territory .. as soon as i pull it out ill post brand and cat number .. I had a brief look and couldn't find it either . Thanks for the good wishes .. I pick up my Limited in the morning . Road trip to pick it up in the morning . Dad has a MY2012 limited and hes running me up .
Will be interesting to compare the two traveling together home . :thumbsup:
Len
 
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