Why Will the Hopkins Tail Light Wiring Kit HM56202 Not Work on a 1997 Jeep Wrangler TJ

Updated 01/15/2019 | Published 01/14/2019

Products Featured in This Question

Hopkins Custom Tail Light Wiring Kit for Towed Vehicles

(158)

$74.94

Roadmaster Bulb and Socket Tail Light Wiring Kit for Towed Vehicles - Incandescent

(438)

$83.00

Question:

I am wiring a 1997 Jeep Wrangler TJ to flat tow behind my RV. I’m curious as to why the HM56202 will not work on the 1997 TJ. I know the harness changed a bit but I have never found anything that is specific to a ‘97 that will not work with the rest of the TJ series and vice versa. Do you have feedback from people that have tried and they say it won’t work, or should I roll the dice and give it a try. Or am I missing the harness that is plug and play and will work on the 1997? Thanks!

asked by: Tanner

Helpful Expert Reply:

The Hopkins Custom Tail Light Wiring Kit for Towed Vehicles part # HM56202 will not work on your 1997 Jeep Wrangler TJ because Jeep changed the pinouts on the tail lights between the 1997 and 1998 model years. Therefore, it will plug into the connectors behind the tail light housing but will not function properly.

There is not another plug and play flat-tow wiring harness for your Jeep so I recommend using the Roadmaster Tail Light Wiring Kit with Bulbs part # RM-155 as it will not require you to splice into the factory tail light circuits and we have an install video to show the process.

expert reply by: Conner L