Tow Bar? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

janni · RV-Dreams Family Member

Tow Bar?

Penny and Paul · RV-Dreams Family Member

After seeing how a dealership installed our baseplate and electrical hookups on our CRV I wished I had done it myself. Of course I'm still in a stix n brix and have a lot of the tools and stuff I'd need. What a hack job.

Also do your homework on your supplimental brake system. That's not a good place to go the cheap route. We were given a 10 year old Brake Buddy and it has workd flawlessly. No wheel lock ups, no brakes dragging, no false triggers.

janni · RV-Dreams Family Member

Just made a call and almost 5000 to get the Blue Ox tow bar and brake. We do plan to spend the money on a good brake but wonder which towing system we could take a shot at putting on ourselves????

Penny and Paul · RV-Dreams Family Member

When I was shopping around the various vendors made the base plate installation manuals availalable at their web sites. That might help you to ascertain which system is within your abilities to install. I only have experience the what I have which it the Roadmaster Falcon. Perhaps some of the other folks here know the pro's and cons of different ones.

BTW, our Roadmaster towbar is over 10 years old and it works well. No complaints.

azrving · RV-Dreams Family Member

Used is the best way to go! I just found this Stowmaster 5000 Tow Bar http://prescott.craigslist.org/rvs/2512808635.html on Craigs List. There are deals to be had, you just need to shop around.

Few more I found on CL>>

http://prescott.craigslist.org/pts/2482641283.html

http://prescott.craigslist.org/for/2458352583.html

http://prescott.craigslist.org/rvs/2483868735.html

Brake Buddy & Bars>> http://prescott.craigslist.org/rvs/2442536068.html

RVRon · RV-Dreams Family Member

If you're reasonably handy you can install the baseplate on your vehicle. I installed Blue Ox base plates on both our Jeep Grand Cherokee and Honda Fit. The instructions are very good from Blue Ox and once you get the bumper and other parts off it's just a matter of nuts and bolts. Be sure to locktite everything so it won't come loose. Then just put everything back together. It's not rocket science! I'd say each vehicle took me half a day.

I also installed the light hookup on both vehicles. Needed to use the bulb and socket kit for the Grand Cherokee and the Honda Fit required the diode setup. Neither are complicated and once again Blue Ox directions are very good. The hardest part of the wiring is finding a way to get the wire from the front of the vehicle to the back.

We have had very good luck with Blue Ox products. I bought an older baseplate on eBay for the Jeep and it was missing some mounting hardware when I got it. I made a call to Blue Ox and they shipped me the parts at no charge. Can't beat that!