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Designed specifically for heavy-duty applications, direct-connect brackets install onto your vehicle's frame to provide attachment points for a motor-home-mounted tow bar. Front arms are easily removable when not in use.
Features:
Note: Direct-connect base plates will work only with the Roadmaster tow bars that slide into a trailer hitch, such as the Nighthawk, Sterling, Blackhawk, Blackhawk 2, Falcon, and Falcon 2. These base plates will not work with tow bars that require a hitch ball.
Direct-connect brackets do not require a crossbar because of the heavy-duty nature of your vehicle's frame. Thus, installation is simplified, the hookup process is faster, and the total appearance is enhanced.
Note: The EZ Hook safety cables included with Roadmaster's Sterling tow bars will not work with direct-connect base plates. These cables connect to an anchor plate on the Quick Disconnect crossbar, which will not be present when you are using these base plates.
The drawbars, or front arms, on the direct-connect base plate kit are simple to mount and remove, easily securing with pins. Once the drawbars have been removed, the remaining brackets are virtually invisible. On most automobiles, the brackets are mounted within the grille, where they remain not only unseen, but protected from scrapes and scuffs as well.
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (376 Customer Reviews)
Designed specifically for heavy-duty applications, direct-connect brackets install onto your vehicle's frame to provide attachment points for a motor-home-mounted tow bar. Front arms are easily removable when not in use.Very good fit. Easy to install. Directions were fairly easy to follow. Will be towing behind our Winnebago Journey. This is my 3rd baseplate from trailer. Great company and customer service.
works as expected installation was easy enough to do myself.
The tow bar Base Kit was a great product. It was advertised to take 3 hours to install, and I (with help) was able to do it in about 2 1/2 hours. It fit perfect and was of great quality. You do need a second person to assist removing and installing the front bumper grille assembly, and to hold up the base plate assembly to get the first bolts started.
My only suggested improvements would be that the photos in the manual are not great, but I was able to figure them out.
Ron G.
3/4/2016
Everything is great. I will be towing my Explorer next week to the NASCAR race in Vegas. Good product, easy install which I did myself in a few hours.
very solid tow hook up.easy to connect car to tow bar
Delivered quickly. Seems to be correct part with Pierce’s. But process to get to me was simple!
I've owned this for about a year and now posting my review. 1st. Etrailer customer service is exceptional, fast shipping and well packaged. 2nd. The installation instructions included as well as the video made the installation very easy. 3rd I really liked the fact that no modification or removal of the Ford Explorer frame or structure was required. Simple increasing the diameter of two holes was the only modification of the Ford frame. Car tows like a dream. I'm very confident that the engineering of road master will allow me to tow safely for years to come.
I love the quality of the products I ordered. Customer relations was very good as well, they kept me informed and even though it took several weeks and etrailer had to wait on items to get to them, I was communicated to well. I know it’s important in who you deal within this day and time and you can trust etrailer.
Glenn
9/27/2021
Awesome, great reliability
Pretty straight forward instructions, easy to follow, would definitely recommend watching the online video first. had to do a little bit of pounding with a lead shot hammer to get 2 of the holes to line up, but not too difficult.
Michael
2/1/2020
Great!!! We have towed our 2014 Explorer several times between Florida and Indiana and it has worked just as it should.
High quality, installed easily using the videos and instructions.
Shayne
6/17/2021
Still working great, makes us feel confident while driving down the road.
The Roadmaster Brake sys, seat adapter, and Roadmaster base kit do a very good job towing my 2013 Explorer
I have hauled my car from Florida to New Brunswick & Quebec and back as well as a quick trip to Vancouver Island British Columbia without a bit of problems. I highly recommend this base plate
Product arrived when promised and well-packaged. Video was a huge help in installing this item. Step by step and accurate!
Michael O.
5/4/2021
Product continues to perform without any issues. Im very pleased with the baseplate.
Quick delivery and product as described.
Excellent service -- ordered online afternoon of July 13; shipped same day and arrived two days later. etrailer video was helpful in outlining steps for installation - especially fascia removal prior to actual install. Installation took about 3 1/2 hours which includes fascia/grill removal and reinstall. Did need to secure additional fender clips to reinstall fascia - many broke during removal as almost 20 years old -- available aftermarket from Dorman. Order arrived correct with all parts/no damage. Fit was excellent. Will order from etrailer again
I originally purchased a Blue Ox baseplate to install since I already had a tow bar. Upon removing the front grill, I was surprised to find the used Element I had purchased already had the front bumper caps removed and 2 braces installed. Thanks to the photos on etrailer reviews and product info, I was able to determine that the vehicle had previously had a roadmaster baseplate installed! I purchased this unit and it fit perfectly onto the already installed braces. Seems very solid and high-quality so far.
The coupling pin point end up being too low relative to the ground. . Therefore to remain within the required 3 inch horizontal limit for the tow bar, a 6 inch drop must be added to the towing vehicle. This creates a significant problem for a motor coach. On rises and falls of the road surface ( speed humps, etc.), the drop of 6 inches creates a rub condition between the drop hitch, safety cable, brake air lines and the road surface. If the adapters where engineered to be extended and the pin coupling points were raised 3-4 inches, the problem would be solved. It appears this designers considered aesthetics more than integrated functionality. Other than the fact that I must disconnect the tow vehicle, remove the tow bar and remove the drop hitch to traverse forward in situations and on many occasions , it is a functional base plate.
This whole system is great!!! Even being a female, it takes less than a minute to connect or disconnect, just a couple of small receivers stick out of the front of the car. And they are removeable when not towing. My brother even bought a set for his Class C. It is difficult to back up in the Class C, IT is ok as it is quick to disconnect, so no worries.
Easy install, remove factory tow hooks slide new brackets in, mark and drill 2 half inch holes for each bracket install and torque all bolts, simple install quality Roadmaster product with excellent workmanship.
I have it it over a year now and preforming flawlessly!Install went well. this so much easier than when I was using a tow dolly. flat towing is really the only way to go
Easy install, instructions were clear
it was delivered in a timely manner, I was able to do the complete installation by my self in my driveway. I love the ease of use, I can connect and disconnect in minutes. I would recommend it to anyone who is going to be towing a dingy!!
I was shocked at how easy and precise fitting this base plate installed on a 19 year old 2005 Honda Element AWD with +180K miles! I didn't have to trim anything. I did have to use a smaller but same thickness washer on the inside passage side frame rail as the supplied washer was hitting a factory stop plate which I didn't wish to mess with.
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Rick
8/3/2016
Still works perfectly as advertised