I have a question on wiring our 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee

[Christyhicks]

Nope I'm not dead .

No, didn't get kidnapped .

No way, didn't get divorced.

Yep, still have busses   

Ha ha ha, now that I've answered any of your questions, I have a question for you:

Let's say some long, lost busnut friend of yours, someone from the past who has NO LIFE and NEVER GETS TO READ FOR FUN ANYMORE, has a question on how to wire up our 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee to tow behind our 4107, TempBus. . .well, do you still love her enough to give some direction???

Gosh, I miss you guys so much  . . . seems I get to go online and read posts for a few days and then, boom, it's weeks before I do anything fun on a computer.  We did, however, manage to pick up a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee to tow instead of the "plain Jane" 1996 Jeep Cherokee we've been towing, "and yes, it has leather heated seats for my precious buns"  , so now we need to figure out a better way to wire this. 

Larry ended up just adding extra lights to the other Jeep, and pulling one battery cable and hooking up a different one each time we hooked up and disconnected, but we'd like to do better with the next one.  For one thing, it's a pita to do the battery cable thing each time and not really the best for the cable ends, also, the CLOCK IS NEVER RIGHT because of killing the power each time.  He tried a big rotating switch on the main cable, but that messed with the computer and he had to pull it back out. . something with the grounding or something like that.   

In return for some advice, I'll post our "new kitty cat" story about our last outing in the bus. . . not as funny as some of the crazy stuff that happens to us  , but still somewhat typical of the trials  and tribulations we experience in our journey through life.  Thanks in advice, Christy Hicks

[Utahclaimjumper]

Cristy,pull one tailite and check for diodes, my 02 Liberty was factory equipt with
the diode at each tail lite behind the lit assy. then simply run a 4 conductor wire to the grill to plug into the bus.>>>Dan

[luvrbus]

Christy, Sonja said forget about wiring the Jeep instead put the little car on a trailer and you would have something fun to drive anybody can drive a Jeep (her words not mine)

[Sean]

Christy,

This is really hard to describe in just a text medium.  If you need a picture, I'll have to find a way to get it to you.

Step one is to make sure your trailer hookup on the bus provides (1) 12 volt trailer signals, not 24, and (2) combined stop/turn signals, rather than separate signals (this is the industry standard for trailers).  If you need a converter, here's an inexpensive circuit you can build with four automotive cube relays (24-volt ones), about $2 each:

http://odyssey.smugmug.com/photos/4750590_JifrZ-O.gif

Step two is to isolate the tail lights from the rest of the Jeep's chassis wiring using diodes.  Radio Shack part # 276-1661 (four to a package for about $2.50) will work for this application.  Wire the diodes (paying attention to correct polarity, marked on the package) between the wire coming from the Jeep's harness and the positive for each filament of the stop lamp bulbs (so two diodes per bulb -- one for the stop filament, and one for the tail-light filament).

Now you can connect the output of your tail light converter from the bus, through another set of diodes, to the lamp filament wires downstream of the diodes mentioned in step two.  So that's three connections from the bus, involving three diodes.

Total parts: four relays, seven diodes, and some wire.

If you want the "third brake light" to also work, you'll need to do the same diode routine, so add two more diodes, and connect the third brake light to the common red wire coming off the second relay from the left.

That's it -- you're done.  Note that your turns will be indicated by the stop lamp blinking on and off on that side, rather than a separate turn signal even if the Jeep includes one.  Note also that this assumes you will run new, dedicated wire all the way from the connection with the bus on the front, to the lamp housings on the back.  Trying to tap into the wiring harness somewhere else, such as in the engine compartment, can lead to problems with the toad unless you have detailed wiring diagrams and know exactly where else those wires are connected.

HTH,

-Sean
http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com
(you know -- the snooty guy at Key West)

[Christyhicks]

Christy, Sonja said forget about wiring the Jeep instead put the little car on a trailer and you would have something fun to drive anybody can drive a Jeep (her words not mine)

HAHAHAHA, isn't that the truth Sonja!  Larry said to tell you that he was just going to two PuttPutt four down and then when he got somewhere, go back and look to see if there's anything left!  Shame on him!

No, just kidding  , actually, he's been so great, in fact, against his own better judgement, he took on the project of getting PuttPutt mobile again.  He replaced the SU carbs with a weber carb (ahem, you should have SEEN him buzzing around the parking lot after he did that. . . Looked pretty funny to see all 6'1" of him crammed into that little tiny car,  ). 

He has installed a new vinyl top, new rubber underneath, on top and on the sides of the windshield, replaced a wheel cylinder and got the brakes fine tuned. . .just all KINDS of stuff.  He's been out to his shop numerous times searching out all the bits and pieces that were scattered around out there and has found pretty much everything except the replacement bumper and the seat rails.  My new seat covers finally arrived today, so if he can find those rails, all he'll have left to do is repair the floor pan on the driver's side and she'll pretty much be back to normal again.   

He's done all this, even though he just DREADS the thought of me getting run over by someone when I'm in it. I have assured him over and over of how careful I drive when in that little skateboard.  Course, you gotta wonder about him. . . Installs a racing carburetor in it and then says, "Now, don't drive it fast. . . Really watch out for those other drivers. ..". . .hmmmm.

Today, he commented. . ."You know, I BET that little thing, if you took off the windshield, would drive RIGHT up into that bay on TempBus,  .  Yeah, of course, you'd have to put red flags on the front and rear bumpers where they stuck out past the bay doors,  .   

Gotta love that Guy!  Christy

[Christyhicks]

make sure your trailer hookup on the bus provides (1) 12 volt trailer signals, not 24, and (2) combined stop/turn signals, rather than separate signals

Well, TempBus is indeed 12v, but it's the separate signal routine.

this assumes you will run new, dedicated wire all the way from the connection with the bus on the front, to the lamp housings on the back.  Trying to tap into the wiring harness somewhere else, such as in the engine compartment, can lead to problems with the toad unless you have detailed wiring diagrams and know exactly where else those wires are connected.

Well, crap, you sure did like to burst our bubble, didn't you!   On our other Jeep, Larry didn't think the lights came on bright enough when activated off the bus,so he  just ran new wire and mounted an extra set of tail lights.  He really didn't want to do that on this one, and really wanted to use the existing taillights. 

We were also hoping to get away from popping a battery cable off each time we towed, and if he has to bite the bullet and wire it up with separate wires and diodes, well, he may just have to go that route, we were just hoping someone had a miracle cure!   It's not that we're lazy, we're just, well, work dis-inclined .  Anyone out there with a cure???  Anyone? Cure? Easy cheesy solution?   Christy Hicks

[JackConrad]

Christy,
  We did ours the easy way. We put magnetic lights on top of the Grand Cherokee  (we also use these lights when towing other trailers, etc.). We did run a "flat four" wire fron a connector under the front bumper to another connector on the rear bumper on the Grand Cherokee. Magnetic lights plug in at rear bumper and bus plugs in at front bumper. Transfer case in Neutral & transmission in Park. Only takes about 5 minutes to hitch and go.  Jack

[Christyhicks]

Yeah, we've gone the magnetic light route in the past, and it is easy and quick but we were kind of hoping to use the existing taillights this time around and not have to pile those lights anywhere.

A local RV shop wired my mom's car and he actually put a round female plug at the front of her car, and then provided her with a pigtail to plug into that on one end and into her motorhome plug on the other. . which I thought was a great idea.  Currently, we pop the hood and pull out a long piece of wiring, wrap it around one hitch arm a few times and then plug it into the bus. .  and you KNOW how nasty that wire is by now! 

Come on guys, keep swinging at it. . . please tell me there's something EASY to do, ha ha.  Christy

[Christyhicks]

-Sean   http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com  (you know -- the snooty guy at Key West)

HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH

I missed that first time around Sean!  Just printed out your post for Larry and when I did, I caught your signature. .  busted me up for sure!

Ahhhh, after one builder calls and said they "accidently" broke our ductwork sanding one slab, and another calls and says he thinks we have the kitchen sink in the wrong place and wants to meet us there before he sands (this is after we went over his changes to the plans thoroughly and AGREED on the measurement to use), I sure did appreciate a good laugh this morn.     THANKS for that!  Christy Hicks

[Hi yo silver]

Christi,
Nice to hear from you again; I've missed ya!
You're so creative.  Thanks for contributing to our board!  Look forward to meeting you guys one day, now that I have a BUS!!
Dennis 

[Dreamscape]

Hi Christi,

I like Clifford's idea, put that small car on a trailer and forget the Jeep! 

Better mileage anyway, besides you can't go topless in your Grand Cherokee!

Good hearing from you, thought you might have frozen to death from ole man winter.

Paul

[Christyhicks]

besides you can't go topless in your Grand Cherokee!

Oh man, the responses I have to choose from. . . . .

Says WHO???

Oh yeah, well just you wait. . . . .

If I can't, can Larry?


hahahahahahahaha, you guys!   Christy

[Christyhicks]

Christi, Nice to hear from you again; I've missed ya!

I bet not NEAR as much as I've missed you guys!  Gosh, I wish work didn't interfere with my life!!!!!

You're so creative.  Thanks for contributing to our board!  Look forward to meeting you guys one day, now that I have a BUS!!  Dennis 

Well, we're looking forward to meeting you too, but I've GOT to warn you, I am not funny at all in person!  Ask these guys, they'll tell you. . . I'm just a plain old ordinary busnut with bigger plans than pockets, more guts than common sense, and a husband who is just as bad off as I am .  We don't have trips, we just have adventures, and so far, we've managed to survive them intact, so what more could a person ask???  Hmmm, well, maybe for less work and more time off. . . but I guess maybe. . .some day. . . .some day. . . .  Christy Hicks

[Christyhicks]

Well, Larry took a break from Putt-Putt this week and tore into the Jeep front end.  He's got the base plates on and the cowling back in place, and has it mostly wired up.  Sean, your description was a big help to him, so thanks for that.

I do have a minor concern. . . Larry informed me that he'd have to "remove 33" of Putt-Putt in order to fit it into the bay"  . . . .               Now, why in the world did he even USE A TAPE MEASURE ON MY CAR?

Christy Hicks

[luvrbus]

Christy, Larry is a brave man even thinking that I laid my Eagle manual on Sonja's that is covered and I still have problems 2 weeks later everytime she goes to the shop I hear about it   we love the little cars don't we Larry and to think guys complain about the cost of parts on a bus