hi guys my buddy has a 96 cherokee sport with no trailer wires he has a boat and wants to run the wireing to the jeep is there a attachement he can buy or has anyone else done this , he has a 3 way light on boat he wants brake turn signal thanks 4 the help. also when he hauls the boat which weighs about 1100lbs his jeep overheats is it becuase theres to much weight or does he need a better radator

 

The tail light wires are behind the plastic panel behind the spare tire. A "T" trailer light connector makes it a simple "plug in" install.

http://www.etrailer.com/t1-1996_Jeep_Cherokee.htm

It's over heating because something(s) is/are faulty/neglected with the cooling system. The XJ should be able to tow 1100 lbs and not even know it's back there.

 

You can buy the converters or you can go to a junkyard and pick a converter out of one that has a towing package. I haul a 8x5 with a 4wheeler and a dirt bike from Birmingham to just shy of Panama City twice a year and as long as you keep maintenance up and make sure the cooling system is 100% operational he shouldn't have a problem hauling 1100 lbs...tell him to flush the system really good and see if that helps.

 

you can buy the direct plug in at any autozone but it is a special order and cost $28 or u haul has the 5 to 4 wire converter for $16. i just wired mine last week with the one from u haul and it only took about 30-45 mins to do it. if you go that route make sure you have a test light to figure out what wires to tap in to

 

I have a 96 country also and when I went to the dealer for a wiring harness the cost for a similar hoppy direct wiring kit was $100, but for the years prior and after 96 the price was @$45. I looks like the 96 required a special harness. I purchased the hoppy brand from Auto Zone for $28 and it worked fine when I adaptered it to fit a 6 plug coleman trailer, but when I hooked it to a 4 prong trailer, I would blow my reverse lights. I did this twice and had to replace the fuse inside the engine compartment. I picked up the adapter for a 6 prong to 4 prong from U-Hall and have not blown the fuse since. Just something to watch out for. Since most newer vehicles use seperate turn and brake signals you need that 3 x 1inch converter so your lights will work properly. After about 6 years my trailer lights would not work right, but when I checked the wires from the harness, I was getting power. Found out after hours of checking grounds, etx, I found the converter was faulty. I changed the unit with an extra unit from an old wiring harness and the lights work fine now.

 

Towing 1100lbs should be no problem. Maybe he needs a cooling system flush. Or perhaps the bearings on the trailer are shot and putting a ton of resistance into turning the wheels.

 

have him install a tranny cooler that might help to cool off the engine just dont bypass the cooler in the radiator all together may need it in the winter

 

thanks alot guys for the help

 

http://www.etrailer.com/t1-1996_Jeep_Cherokee.htm

That's exactly what I used. Very easy install. That site has a video of how to do it.