Why Does 2017 Jeep Renegade Require Custom Fit Trailer Wiring Harness

Question:

Could I use this item to hook up the lights on a small trailer to my 2017 Jeep Renegade? It is a very small trailer for hauling a riding mower, it only has two lights brake/turn, tail on each side therefore it will not be drawing much load. I really dont want to pay $87 for the T-One Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connectorinch part # 118651 that is called out for this model if I dont truly need to in this case. I can see if the trailer had several side clearance lights possibly drawing a large load of power that the vehicle wires can not handle, needing this power assist modular. What has me really concerned is I dont see how the T-One Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connectorinch triggers on and off the tail lights when it does not connect to the tail light wires at any point, but only the yellow and green turn signal wires and the battery, are the tail lights on at all times the T-One Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connectorinch plug is connected?

asked by: Lenny

Expert Reply:

There's a couple reasons you'll have to install a custom trailer wiring kit for your 2017 Jeep Renegade and wouldn't be able to just hardwire in a 4-way. Mainly your taillight circuits on your Jeep aren't the right style for trailer wiring. You need to have the taillight circuits so that the stop and turn signals are on the same wire and then the running lights are on a different one. Also your vehicle taillights aren't rated for the extra amperage draw of trailer wiring so you need a kit like the Tekonsha part # 118651 which only uses the taillights as signal wires and uses the vehicle battery to provide the amperage draw for the trailer lights.

expert reply by: Jameson C