5/28/2010 8:42:58 AM |
Tow Hitch on a Dodge Caliber |
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rockerron
Beaverton, OR
55, joined Mar. 2009
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Any one tried to do this? I know there is not much room under the rear, but I am thinking of putting a tow hitch on my Dadge Caliber to tow a 2 rail Motorcycle trailer. Any opinions?
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5/28/2010 12:00:32 PM |
Tow Hitch on a Dodge Caliber |
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saesph1
Centerville, PA
55, joined May. 2009
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Redneck trailer supplies, two motor cycles, IE Hardley Ridable is a little much for a four cylinder.
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5/30/2010 3:14:11 PM |
Tow Hitch on a Dodge Caliber |
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karrpilot
Oswego, IL
52, joined Jul. 2009
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I would read the owners manual. Your vehicle probably is not intended or designed to tow anything.
And i am sure there wasn't a trailer towwing option available at the time of sale. Meaning, no external wiring, no bigger radiator or trans / oil coolers, etc.
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5/31/2010 3:27:14 AM |
Tow Hitch on a Dodge Caliber |
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yajusneverkno
Oxford, AL
50, joined Oct. 2008
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I put a tow hitch on a 6 cyl mustang to pull a small utility trailer. Just the trailer alone with no load on it is a lot on it. I hardly use it and never very far. I seriously doubt a 4cyl would handle the load, even a small one
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6/1/2010 9:18:04 AM |
Tow Hitch on a Dodge Caliber |
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thunderroadhemi
Louisville, KY
58, joined May. 2010
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Checked the dodge site the 2.0 is rated at 1000 lbs and the 2.4 1000 lds with a 2000 lb max. But they give you a list of what to add to do this. Trans cooler ect. My truck is rated at 3160 lbs max with oil cooler, trans cooler, power steering cooler and heavy duty rad. I would not tow any were near the max.
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6/1/2010 3:55:16 PM |
Tow Hitch on a Dodge Caliber |
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rockerron
Beaverton, OR
55, joined Mar. 2009
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I would read the owners manual. Your vehicle probably is not intended or designed to tow anything.
And i am sure there wasn't a trailer towwing option available at the time of sale. Meaning, no external wiring, no bigger radiator or trans / oil coolers, etc.
Right You are! This Caliber did not come with a tow package so I would be doing an after market package install. Finding a larger radiator might be a problem though, the external trany cooler should be a no-brainer... Thanks for the input.
Checked the dodge site the 2.0 is rated at 1000 lbs and the 2.4 1000 lds with a 2000 lb max. But they give you a list of what to add to do this. Trans cooler ect. My truck is rated at 3160 lbs max with oil cooler, trans cooler, power steering cooler and heavy duty rad. I would not tow any were near the max.
I have the 2.0L Auto Trans. My paylod is around 850lbs with a tongue weight of about 250lbs. I think the car should handle it when "properly equiped". Does any one even make a tow package for this? I am probably going to have to build my own bolt on hitch assembly.
Thanks for the input.
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6/1/2010 5:15:04 PM |
Tow Hitch on a Dodge Caliber |
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karrpilot
Oswego, IL
52, joined Jul. 2009
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Another thing. If you try to tap into the factory wires to run trailer lighting, you are asking for BIG trouble.
Cars today are wired thru lighting modules. Any additional current drawn from trailer wiring that was not built into the module to begin with, has a nasty habit of frying said module.
Hence the trailer towwing package. Back in the day, this was never an issue. But times have changed. All the current draw is calculated in at the factory now.
In fact, even adding those so-called brighter higher output head lamps that are on the market are a NO-NO.
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6/2/2010 10:38:29 AM |
Tow Hitch on a Dodge Caliber |
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rockerron
Beaverton, OR
55, joined Mar. 2009
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Another thing. If you try to tap into the factory wires to run trailer lighting, you are asking for BIG trouble.
Cars today are wired thru lighting modules. Any additional current drawn from trailer wiring that was not built into the module to begin with, has a nasty habit of frying said module.
Hence the trailer towwing package. Back in the day, this was never an issue. But times have changed. All the current draw is calculated in at the factory now.
In fact, even adding those so-called brighter higher output head lamps that are on the market are a NO-NO.
My vehicle did not come with a Daytime Running Module, so I wont have that problem, but thanks for the heads up.
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6/2/2010 4:54:42 PM |
Tow Hitch on a Dodge Caliber |
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thunderroadhemi
Louisville, KY
58, joined May. 2010
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check the hidden hitch wed site or the draw tight sight they both sould have a set up and a wire plug to plug and play your lights.
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6/2/2010 6:22:23 PM |
Tow Hitch on a Dodge Caliber |
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litterbox
Townville, PA
64, joined Apr. 2010
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headlights and parking lights are on a different circuit. Dodge has a wiring kit, 134.00 for a jeep compass, it may have a similar plug and play for your car. It must be wire tied from the front all the way to the back. Thumbs up on the Drawtite site.
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6/3/2010 12:07:41 PM |
Tow Hitch on a Dodge Caliber |
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rockerron
Beaverton, OR
55, joined Mar. 2009
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headlights and parking lights are on a different circuit. Dodge has a wiring kit, 134.00 for a jeep compass, it may have a similar plug and play for your car. It must be wire tied from the front all the way to the back. Thumbs up on the Drawtite site.
Sweet! Hidden hitch even carries the wiring harness.
Thanks every one!
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6/3/2010 5:49:49 PM |
Tow Hitch on a Dodge Caliber |
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thunderroadhemi
Louisville, KY
58, joined May. 2010
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Read and reread the instructions before you in work on it and good luck.
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6/4/2010 6:16:57 PM |
Tow Hitch on a Dodge Caliber |
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rockerron
Beaverton, OR
55, joined Mar. 2009
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Read and reread the instructions before you in work on it and good luck.
I looked over the instructions onlilne and I dont like the way it bolts to the chassis, There does not appear to be a plate or bracket for the inside of the chassis. There is a local distributer here in my city so I am going to check them out.
Thanks
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