When we bought our new Grand Cherokee, I asked the sales guy how much they would charge to add a tow package. I had seen on the Jeep website that they would charge me $795. They said they would do it for $899! I told them "no way" was I going to finance $900 for a tow package. I got online and ordered everything I got everything I needed from etrailer for $185. Yes, I know the aftermarket is a bolt-on while the Jeep place was probably weld-on. I don't care.

It took me about 45 minutes to install everything. The Jeep already had the wire harness. All I had to do was provide the 7-pin round/4-pin flat box. Everything was good to go! Right? Wrong. When I hooked up my trailer and plugged in the trailer, my trailer lights didn't work. I checked the 7-pin plug and it had no power. I checked all of the fuses but they were all good. So, I called up the Jeep dealer. They said that I had to bring the Jeep in to have the vehicle's computer "programmed" to get the trailer lights to work. Okay.....

SO I get to the dealership and ask how much this programming will cost. "130 plus tax". I said " are you kidding me?" They weren't. Two hours later and over $140 gone, I drove off.

The good thing is that my trailer lights work.

It's all in a name. One of the guys I work with is a big Jeep fan an a quote from him. "Jeep ain't cheep!!!!!!

I honestly believe that part of this was the fact that I hadn't paid the $899 for THEIR tow package. I think they would have charged me the same outrageous amount if I had bought a Dodge Durango.

Toyota dealer wanted more than that to add the tow package to my wife's Highlander. Cost of doing business - gotta pay to play.

All depends on what is considered a "tow package"

Some consider it a receiver hitch and light plug. Some include auxiliary transmission and oil cooling, and preparation for electric brakes.

If you plan to tow then get the factory tow package that normally includes hitch, wiring, tranny cooler (very important), heavy duty battery and maybe high output alternator and engine oil cooler. I really doubt that dealer would have welded a hitch on. Factory tow package on my Tacoma was like $600. Add a tranny cooler to that Jeep