2008 Jeep Patriot Class 3/4 Trailer Tow Hitch with 2" Receiver Installation
Write-up and Review for Drawtite Hitch...

This Drawtite Hitch is for 2008-2009 Jeep Patriot and Compass. It is a no-drill bolt on hitch. Installation is extremely straight forward and only used four bolts that attach the hitch to the unibody/frame. In the box was the hitch, (4) bolts (aprox 3"), (4) nuts, (2) lock washers, and (2) locking flat washers.

The installation went as follows: I sat the hitch on two jack stands to support it while preparing the area. Using a floor jack, I jacked the rear end of the vehicle up so that the suspension raised but the tires were still on the ground. I did this to gain some clearence for working, although this is not nesessary but does make the job much easier. With the vehicle safely raised (only 2 or 3 inches), I slid the jack stands holding the hitch under the rear of the vehicle were it will be installed. I lifted the hitch to meet the frame and inserted a bolt into the rear-most hole on the left and right sides and started the nut and lock washer but did not tighten them yet. At this point, I encountered the only snag with this installation. The front-most hole in the frame is slightly smaller than the rear-most hole, but all four bolts are the same size, so bolts may not easily slide through the holes. In order to correct this, you can first try tightening them with a ratchet, the threads from the bolt may pull them through the holes. If that method does not prove to be effective, lightly hit the bolts with a mallet or hammer and it will work its way through. Then put on the flat locking washer and nut and tighten all four bolts to recommended tightness (see instructions manual that came with product).

Over all this installation was very easily even with the slight hold up mentioned above.The installation took about 30 minutes and required no special tools other than a basic ratchet and the correct size socket(s). I would recommend this hitch, it was a good fit and seems to be very sturdy. It is a 2" receiver class 3/4 hitch so it is quite capable of towing a load, although we are only using it for a hitch mount bike rack and a hitch hauler cargo rack.

Below are some pictures of the hitch and the installation:

2008 Patriot before installation.

Drawtite hitch.

Installation hardware.

Mounting holes in unibody/frame.

Hitch installed.

Side view of hitch installed.

After shot with bike rack in the hitch.