jaymista

Thanks for this information. I was assuming this would all be done for you when you picked up your Journey. I remember when I bought my 2000 caravan, I didn't have to do any of this work. I think my Dodge dealer should have pointed this out to me when I ordered the SXT with a trailer package included. It just doesn't seem right to me as a customer to find out this way that the Journey comes with a trailer package ok, except they didn't mean it would be installed and ready to go.

I took this off the Dodge site ... Feature: Wiring harness The trailer wiring harness is the electrical connection required to operate the trailer's running lights and brake lights. Some harnesses may include a connection for the trailer's auxiliary brakes. Does this refer to the wiring harness I found in the back of my van is to be used on the trailer that I am going to be using with the Journey? Can someone explain what the heck this is all about?

I bought into the Trailer Tow Package too and I thought the wiring would be installed when I picked up my Journey. I didn't even see the wiring "package" in the back of my Journey until I got it home and found this mess of wires and connections. Is the dealer definitely required to install this wiring or do you have to hire a hitch specialist to install it?

Well, I picked up my Journey today. My dealer was able to call around to other dealers and found the van I wanted ... SXT, Silver Steel Metallic, FWD, 5 passenger, Convenience Group 1, and Trailer Tow Package. I got the undercoating that someone on this site recommended along with the paint sealant deal. I bought into the anti-theft deal for the windows and I am signing up for an Extended Warranty deal on Monday. I liked the way it drives, so far. I'll get a pic up as soon as possible. It came without fog lights. I had to take what I could get and I'll be checking to see if I can get them installed. (Can I?) I had to drive it 50 miles from the dealer to my house and the windshield was littered with bugs ... dead bugs. The problem was I couldn't figure out how to get the windshield washer fluid to come out. I am going to be reading the manual tonight.

Thank you 360 for your explanation. I will do as you suggest and wait until the Journey is broken in. I intend to tow a 16 foot trailer now and then to go camping so the autostik should be neat to use. I imagine it takes a woman (my wife, I mean) a long time to learn this shifting business. I will have to really know how to use the stik myself before I let her fool around with it!

I have AutoStik on the new van I am picking up on Friday. I do not understand the -/+ of the shift. Does the - drop you down a gear and the + take you up a gear? Can someone give me a clue please?

I am getting a new Journey tomorrow. I am trying to find out what tire comes with the the 5 passenger SXT 17" wheel? Is it a good tire or should I try to dicker for a better tire?

6 Speed! That's good, I think. Any vehicle I have had before only had 4 so this will be new to me.

Does anyone know what kind of tires come with the 17" wheel for the Dodge Journey SXT FWD?

Try rating the car at 60 mph on a long drive and see how close you come to Dodge's suggested mileage.

I made a deposit today so a dealer could bring in a 2009 Dodge Journey SXT tomorrow. It is only a 5 passenger with a tow package and I am not sure what else. It has a 3.5 v-6 engine and I think a 4 or 6 speed automatic transmission. Sorry I don't have all the details. I think the color is going to be either Silver Steel Metallic Clearcoat or Bright Silver Metallic Clearcoat. I just got the financing arranged this afternoon so it is a done deal except for some details as to how much the final price will be. My wife is most joyous as she did not want me buying a car where she sits so low, she could hardly see out the window.

I have a chance to get a 5 passenger Journey EXT and it has all I want except it is AWD. I sort of want FWD because they say it gives better mileage. Does anyone know how much difference in mileage between the FWD and the AWD? I have never had an AWD or 4X4 in my life. Is the AWD worth the extra money to buy?

Thanks for checking this out. The only advantage of the Nitro would be that it is a cheaper vehicle to buy at the moment because of a rebate deal. I have read rumours that the Nitro might be discontinued but again this is only a rumour.

I have a small House trailer, 1600 lbs, and I am wondering how a 3.5 Journey would be towing it. I have a 3.3 Dodge Caravan at present and sometimes I wish I had more power to haul the trailer. I have read that I can get a Dodge Nitro for about four thousand less than what the Journey would cost me. I know the Nitro would pull the trailer ok but I would prefer a Journey if towing the trailer was no problem. Do you think the Journey could do the job your Jeep would do in towing a trailer that weight?

My dealer had two in the beginning. He is down to one now and feels he has it sold.

You may be looking at $100 fill ups this summer the way things are going!

If a state requires front license plates, it should be the responsibility of the dealer to provide the mounting brackets. Tell the dealer you want the vehicle licensed when you pick it up and see what he does. I suppose he could just screw the plate to your bumper and go without a mounting bracket. I can't believe this should be a problem for anyone purchasing a new motor vehicle. Are dealers that cheap?

Thanks for this info. I really don't need this package after reading your clear explanation. The salesman also told me that 19" wheels are not cheap when you have to replace them.

It isn't a hardware problem! I really would check that Norton thing out.

I suspect you might have a problem with Norton. I have had problems with this program in the past because it, in my opinion, does too much in your system as it checks for viruses, spyware, etc. If it were me, and I am no expert, I would delete Norton and see if it helps. You can always reinstall it if you need to. The problem is that Norton makes a lot of changes in your registry too and you have to make sure after you delete it that you go into the registry and check it out. There are a lot of people who swear by Norton but I have always had problems with it for some reason. The other problem you might have is your video card. If you have a good video card and your computer has been working well with graphics programs, I would rule this out. I have no experience with Vista but I know you must have lots of memory, a good video card, and a fast computer to use it. I am still stuck with XP because I don't have an updated computer capable of running Vista.

I am getting ready to order a Journey SXT and on the Dodge web site, when I click on the Exterior Appearance Package, it shows that I would be going from a 17" tire to a 19" tire which was something I didn't expect. I was more interested in the Performance Steering and Performance Suspension part of the package. What is the advantage of going to a more expensive larger tire size other than just appearance?

Try rebooting and see if it makes any difference. Also sometimes the internet is a busy place and the connections might be slow. I haven't found any great problems with the downloads from this site ... so far.

Are these pictures of a five seater Journey? I have never seen this view before. Please confirm!?!?

The SE comes with HanKook tires. I noticed they were marked "made in China". Does anyone have info on these tires? I really didn't like the fact that the Journey had a "made in China" tire with the news lately about products coming from China. Is the size of wheel a problem that forced Chrysler to use these HanKook tires rather that something like Goodyear, Michelin, or some other popular brand? I never heard of HanKook before.

I want a 5 seater for the same reason. I am 71 with no kids or grandkids. My wife is insisting I buy a Journey after I tried to get her interested in a Patriot. We have a 2000 Caravan at the moment.