Buy the best, and you'll only cry once
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1992 XJ Cherokee Trailer Hitch Wiring Install***
The hitch I bought had wiring that I intended to use to connect to my trailer. It had the standard round 7pin trailer socket on one end and the stock cherokee taillight 8pin-style plug on the other:
Long story short, I found out that Cherokee's of my vintage did not have an open plug ready and waiting to become a tow package model if the customer so wished.
(It could be that mine is just developmentally challenged..haha...that would figure.)
This meant I had to go a different route with my wiring. oops! [smacks forehead]
After searching and contemplating doing the wiring/splicing job myself, I decided upon a plug and play style kit that gives me a 4pin connector that is common with Uhaul trailers with no brakes or surge brakes, and a 7 pin that will work with my trailer wiring as well as trailers that have electric brakes.
Here goes:
Here's the two kits I required...
This is PN 42455 at any trailer/auto place. I went to san diego trailer cuz they had it in stock, and they're good people.
Didn't get the part number off the adapter below, but its a standard 4 pin to 7 pin adapter that most places should carry.
Take your spare tire out, if you still carry yours back here, like I do. (for the time being)
4 screws and 2 bolts later and you're in like flynn.
This is the connection between the taillight (left) and harness (right).
The 42455 splice, as seen below, simply goes in line between the two.
I don't know the magic behind this, but this black box converts the signal from the harness and powers both left and right taillights. (So i'm told) It sticks on with a foam, peel-away, double-stick pad.
Cherokee's seem to have this plug already in place to bring wiring out. (If not intentional, it sure is handy coincidence.) I scored a small "X" in the plug for the cable to come through. I re-used the wire protector from the factory wiring setup to protect the wires and then ziptied it up out of sight.
This is how it looks from the rear.
I used a test light to test each set of lights (running, Right T-signal, Left T-signal, brakes) and all was well. All told,
it took me about 1.5 hours working slow in the heat today. Very doable.
I'm very glad I waited, saved up a bit and got a quality kit. It helped also that the hitch I bought had a 7 pin bracket already welded on.
BTW, all I have to do, is pull the wiring apart in the middle a bit past the white zip tie to access the 4pin connector if I'm pulling a uhaul trailer.
