Is Brake Light Relay Used w/Patriot Braking System and Hopkins Wiring for a 2017 Jeep Cherokee

Updated 01/23/2017 | Published 01/21/2017

Products Featured in This Question

Roadmaster Brake-Lite Relay Kit for Towed Vehicles

(741)

$48.05

Roadmaster Universal Magnetic Tow Lights with 4-Way Flat Trailer Connector

(45)

$85.52

Question:

I am looking at installing the HM56208 on my 2017 Jeep Cherokee Trail Hawk and the information on the HM56208 product page says that a relay kit to disconnect the brake light may be needed. The 2017 Jeep Cherokee Trail Hawk has push button start and the brake lights do come on when the car is off and you push the brake pedal. I will be using a BRK2012 Blue Ox Patriot Radio Frequency, Portable Braking System to apply the brakes while towing. Is the relay needed for this application? If it is, can I just pull the fuse for the brake when I tow instead? Note that the 2017 Jeep Cherokee Trail Hawk requires a MOPAR wiring harness to be installed to activate the electronic steering while towing and this requires ing a fuse under the hood and flipping a switch in the console before towing. So pulling another fuse would not be an issue. Have installed the BX7445 Blue Ox Aventa LX Tow Bar on RV and the BX1136 Blue Ox Base Plate Kit on the Cherokee.

asked by: David M

Expert Reply:

There were special instructions for the 2014 and 2015 Jeep Cherokee regarding the brake light relay and braking systems but not for the 2017 models. One sure way to avoid having to use the relay, which is # RM-88400, is to use a magnetic light kit such as # RM-2120. All other light kits will require the use of the relay. Otherwise, since your Jeep has a push-button start feature, you would follow the Normally Closed part of the instructions for the relay. The relay is listed as required for the Patriot system unless you are using magnetic lights.

expert reply by: Michael H