Setting aside price for now, are there any functionality or aesthetic differences between the factor trailer hitch and the dealer installed?

Are the electrics the same?

Your input and comments welcome.

 

Depends on what the dealer installed option is. Is it a factory part that they will install? Then no. Is it an aftermarket solution? Then probably.

It's such a huge undertaking to add a trailer hitch I would highly suggest that it's done at the factory. It's never great to take that many parts off of a vehicle and put them all back on again. Just adds risk of a mistake happening.
It's disappointing the JLR made it optional. Deleting it should be the option, not adding it. There would be a lot fewer disappointed second owners.

Obviously sometimes you don't have a choice and need to just add it later.

 

^^Thanks for the response. If I were to do the dealer install, I would insist on factory parts. What is the price difference - factory vs. dealer installed?

 

As far as I'm aware, there currently is no aftermarket trailer hitch for the Defender. I am planning on getting one over the winter, but the hitch receiver is currently on backorder for 10-12 weeks. I haven't found any aftermarket options. Your dealer would install the OEM kit. Price should be around $3,000-$3,500 for the part and labor depending on your dealer's labor rate.

The kit itself is retails for ~$1,700.

The kit for 2020-2022MY: VPLENAS000
The kit for 2023MY and newer: VPLE110NAS01PR
The kit for Defender 130: VPLE130NAS01PR

 

Adding the hitch isn’t a big deal at all. Take the bumper cover off, unbolt the reinforcement, bolt on the hitch which is the reinforcement, run the harness to the module and code it with gap tool. No more than a few hours of work, easily done at home.

Can grab a used one off eBay for much less than a dealer. If you have deployable side steps you already have the trailer hitch module, or just grab a module off eBay also and be done with it.

Actually just saw Lucky8 has the oem kit with harness and module cheaper than eBay even.

https://lucky8llc.com/collections/defender-l663-trailer-hitch/products/towing-receiver-complete-wiring-combo

And they include the DIY video

 

^^Very helpful

 

is doing a *LOT* of work here. For those of us who have done it, this is not a trivial thing to do. Watch the Powerful UK video if you want to see the number of steps and fasteners involved.

 

Oh I’ve done it! Haha

 

Just FYI - I've checked dealer direct and reseller channels on obtaining the hitch, wiring, and control module. Both sources show the items still in backorder status, but both sources also indicated that things are starting to move again, and hope to have the parts available soon.

FWIW

 

Here's the lucky8 video on how to do it yourself, or maybe it helps to understand why it's not a cheap uhaul install.