etrailer | Setting up the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver on a 2014 Jeep Cherokee

Click for more info and reviews of this CURT Trailer Hitch: https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitc... Check out some similar Trailer Hitch options: https://www.etrailer.com/fitguide.htm Search for other popular Jeep Cherokee parts and accessories: https://www.etrailer.com/vehicle/2014... https://www.etrailer.com Don’t forget to subscribe!    / etrailertv   Full transcript: https://www.etrailer.com/tv-install-t... Today on this 2014 Jeep Cherokee we'll be installing a Curt hitch, part number C13172. Now I'll show you what our hitch looks like once it's installed. Next I'll give you a couple measurements to assist you in selecting accessories for your new hitch. In the center of the hitch pin hole to the inaudible 00:17 center to the bumper is 5 inches. From the top of the receiver tube opening to the ground, it's 16 inches. This will assist you in selecting accessories such as a ball mount, bike rack or cargo carrier. Now we'll go ahead with the installation. First we'll need to lower the exhaust. We'll also need a strap around the exhaust to control the descent. Remove the two bolts that secure the hanger to the frame and move over to this side and repeat the same process. With our fasteners removed, pull out on the muffler so the hanger will go around the suspension brackets. With both fasteners removed, just let the safety strap help us lower the weight of the exhaust. You'll need to remove the lower fascia support fasteners. Next, remove the push pin fasteners that secure the heat shield around the support bracket. Underneath the heat shield you'll see the support tabs that we'll need to release as we work the support bracket off of the fascia. The next step, as per the instructions, will be to find the center of our fascia, measure and cut out for the hitch receiver tube. Go ahead and measure and mark it out. Hold off on cutting it out at this time. Using a paint marker, find the center first. The width of our cutout will need to be approximately 3 1/2 inches. The height will be approximately 4 3/4 inches. Remove the manufacturer's fasteners here at the bottom and side of the frame. The bolts we'll be removing from the weld nuts will become attachment points for the hitch. Hang onto the hardware as we'll reuse it in this weld nuts. You need to locate the wiring that runs along the bottom of the frame, there are 3 attachment points. Go ahead and pop all 3 attachment points free so that we can push it back and out of the way. Then remove the rubber plug in the bottom of the frame. This will open up the access hole. Our next step will be installing our hardware into the frame. Use a carriage bolt and block in the frame to create the attachment point. Use our pull-wire provided with the install kit to help get the hardware into the frame. Slide the block onto the pull-wire, then thread on the carriage bolt. Feed the carriage bolt into the frame first, followed by the block. Pull the block and bolt back over the access hole and leave our pull-wire attached. In order to create enough clearance to get our hitch in place, remove the seam sealer here on the side of the frame. Just using a scraper or putty knife we can clear the sealer off. Now we're ready to put our hitch in place. It's a good idea to get an extra set of hands to help you hold the hitch while you install the fasteners. Feed the pull-wire through the forward attachment point. As we bring it up to the frame, we'll make sure we don't pinch out the wire that we relocated and we're just going to help the hitch up into place and now remove the pull-wire, install the flange nut under the carriage bolt to hold our hitch in position temporarily. Here we can see the mark that we made when we measured out as per the instructions. It's pretty close but to get a more exact fit we can make an additional mark. Now that we've double checked or made our additional mark on the fascia we can lower the hitch and make the cutout necessary. Using a sharp bladed utility knife, go ahead and cut out the section. With our cutout made, we're ready to put our hitch in place. With our 2 bottom fasteners in, go ahead and re-install the manufacturer's bolt in the side of the frame, securing the 3rd attachment point on this side. Once we have all our fasteners installed finger-tight, go ahead and run them down. With all our fasteners tightened down go ahead and torque the specifications as indicated in the instructions. With our hitch tightened down and torqued to specifications, re-install the manufacturer's wire back to the attachment points on the inside of the frame. With the wiring back in place, re-install the rear fascia bracket and heat shield. Then re-install the exhaust. Note here on the driver's side, you'll need to avoid pinching off the wires on both sides of the exhaust hanger. Now with the exhaust re-secured