[Guest]

Hey All,
I've been doing a lot of reading on here regarding this topic.
I just ordered my oem hitch and bezel, but did not order the factory wiring harness. I thought it was crazy expensive. Yes, I'm cheap....
I was thinking about using one of those hopkins multi-tow plugs to keep everything looking factory and just use the 4 pin plug.
I looked up on hidden hitch and they have a t-connector for an 07, but it says there isn't one available for an 08. Would they not be the same connector? (Part# 118421) Does anyone know if it will fit an 08?

Has anyone else gone this route of using the factory hitch with alternate wiring and if so, what did you use?

One last question.
How hard is it to cut out the piece of the bumper to install the bezel?

Thanks!

 

[dk1677]

There are threads on it you can do a search at the top right I know one member cut it with a utility knife, I would think a dremel tool would do well

 

[Scott Motorsports]

Remeber one thing with adding a hitch, you do not get the trailer towing cooling package that is put on with the factory tow package.

 

[Ryan]

Cutting the bumper is the most time consuming part with the hitch. I used a utility knife and a drill. The only thing with not using the OEM wiring harness, is there will be a hole in the hitch where it should be. This is why i guess I will be buying one soon, looks best in my opinion.

 

[Guest]

I did do a search on it, in fact many searches, but didn't see much as far as how people were cutting the bumper.
I'll try the utility knife suggestion, though the dremel idea sounds like it might work well too. I'll keep that in mind in case I run into problems with using the knife.
As for the cooling package, I'm not that concerned about it, as I only plan on using the Nitro to tow my small utility boat, or maybe 1 snowmobile. No heavy loads will be towed with it, so the tranny/power steering cooling shouldn't be an issue.
Does anyone happen to know though if the harness for th 07 will work on the 08. I would think it would, but wanted to check.
Thanks again for the info everyone

 

[adot45]

I installed the OEM hitch and used a Craftsman rotary tool with a side cutting bit to cut the bumper fascia. It worked great. I got a plug n play wiring harness off of ebay for $50 that terminated in the four prong plug. I then bought an adapter that plugs into that and it fits into the OEM spot on the hitch...pretty straight forward and looks good. It also provides me with the option to use the four prong or the 7 round plug. It was about $22.

 

[Waldorf]

I installed the OEM hitch and used a Craftsman rotary tool with a side cutting bit to cut the bumper fascia. It worked great. I got a plug n play wiring harness off of ebay for $50 that terminated in the four prong plug. I then bought an adapter that plugs into that and it fits into the OEM spot on the hitch...pretty straight forward and looks good. It also provides me with the option to use the four prong or the 7 round plug. It was about $22.

looks great Dave, very professional looking. Your Nitro is awfully dirty though! :chuckle: I have that same hitch lock device and it is rusty already, so much for "stainless"!

 

[BlueJet]

looks great Dave, very professional looking. Your Nitro is awfully dirty though! :chuckle: I have that same hitch lock device and it is rusty already, so much for "stainless"!

Oh, like YOURS is any cleaner right now!!!!:shakehead: Go shovel some snow, eh!!

 

[adot45]

Sic em BJ, .....the sad thing is I had several very nice pictures of the install, etc. but had a crash recently and lost them all......I lost all my Nitro's baby pictures as well.....

 

[Waldorf]

Sic em BJ, .....the sad thing is I had several very nice pictures of the install, etc. but had a crash recently and lost them all......I lost all my Nitro's baby pictures as well.....

sorry to hear that Dave! you gotta archive photos and not trust hard drives to function forever! a guy at work told me about a friend that had 5 years worth of photos on their system that crashed! It's just too easy to back them up or burn them to discs, etc.

 

[Bubba 53]

Hey reedZ ! if you look at Doc nitro he did a nice thread on the hole job it should help.

 

[grobison]

I just got through installing my hitch, wiring harness, trailer brake on my nitro and the whole thing installed was under $500. the 7pin plug in harness from the dealer installed in about a hour and was well worth the money because of the no splicing and had the wire for the brake controller. Its only 130 and the same price as the 4pin harness. I recommend the 7 pin version. I got a hidden hitch for 129 and a prodigy brake controller for 95 from etrailer.com

I had the whole thing installed by my local trailer shop for 1-1/2 hr labor and he did all the install and tested it.

Does anyone know the specs on the bigger radiator the trailer package is supost to have?

Greg

 

[Blue ram]

grobison

I have the 7 pin wiring.
It was factory installed.
But I am trying to find out where the connector is for the Brake controller.

 

[Blue ram]

Oh
Had to look several times be hind that left kick panel.
It was not obvious.
The darn thing (red wire ) was buried in behind the main harness.
OK now I can do the rest from here on.

 

[worknitro]

There is only one radiator listed for the Nitro from what I remember. You should add a trans cooler, steering cooler and perhaps an engine oil cooler if space will allow for it. Most Nitro's have a cooler mounted down in the lower grill, but I'm not sure exactly which it is.

 

[minitrucker007]

I just installed the receiver, trim bezel and 7 pin wiring on my Nitro and the OEM wiring took about 25 minutes to hook up using a lift. It works great and looks stock.

 

[jakered]

u have to cut along line insat in back bumper. dont cut all the way to top of grove leave a little lip underneith so u can cut slots for the clips i used a dremel tool it was easy