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This custom-fit base plate kit lets you hook up your tow bar to your vehicle. No external crossbar means that only the base plate tabs are visible. Simple bolt-on installation with included hardware.
Features:
Specs:
If you have a tow bar from a different manufacturer, an adapter may be available. Demco makes adapters for use with other manufacturer's tow bars so that you don't have to go through the added hassle and expense of replacing your tow bar when outfitting your new towed car with base plates.
Type of Tow Bar | Use Adapter |
---|---|
Roadmaster Eagle and Eagle 8000 | DM9523014 |
Reese Tow Champ and Valley Industries | DM9523015 |
Roadmaster Falcon 5250 | DM9523023 |
Blue Ox, Aladdin, Aventa II, Aventa LX, and Alexus | DM9523034 |
Roadmaster Tracker, Falcon 2, Falcon All-Terrain, Blackhawk, Blackhawk All-Terrain, and Sterling tow bars with serial numbers up to 14,500 | DM9523036 |
Roadmaster Nighthawk All-Terrain, Sterling All-Terrain, and Sterling tow bars with serial numbers 14,501 and above | DM9523062 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (214 Customer Reviews)
This custom-fit base plate kit lets you hook up your tow bar to your vehicle. No external crossbar means that only the base plate tabs are visible. Simple bolt-on installation with included hardware.Received on time and installed as directed. I'm 78 and only had one problem, that of having to bend down a tab on the vehicle frame. Had to go buy a punch. However, the left base plate front holes for the tow bar attaching pin was not in alignment. The pin would not go through. Contacted etrailer and received a replacement in no time. Removed the bad one and reinstalled the new one. Then took the vehicle to my hitch guy for brake wiring. He double checked my work and said everything was in great order and a good fit. With the virus lockdown, I have not towed other than home from getting the brakes set up. But that worked ok.
After reviewing the top name brands for tow bars I was really exited first with Roadmaster's pin style base plate connectors, but when I realized that it would require cutting and possibly drilling I took a second look and decided to install the Demco base plates and get the tow bar from them as well.
These plates can be installed in a mere 2 hours if you have all the tools ready to go. I have the fortunate luck that my truck is equipped with the air suspension and so lifting it to the highest setting and driving up on 12in ramps gave me ample amount of room to work under the front bumper area.
The installation is seriously easy and requires no special tools, other than a set of metric sockets and a torque wrench. The factory tow hooks are removed and these base plates fit in the exact same space without any cutting, not even the plastic cover behind the pumper needed to be removed (though for some odd reason the instructions did and I followed them on the driver side but when I realized that I could install the plate without this step, I omitted it on the passenger side). Despite my initial worry of wanting a nearly invisible look, these bars are remarkably clean looking.
First, etrailer has come through again. I've been purchasing various components and towing related parts from them for years and never once had an issue. Great work guys.
Now on to the product review of the Demco Excali-Bar II tow bar. Right away I liked the fact that it had the breakaway cables pre-mounted and attached to the underside of each tow bar. It makes it very easy to keep it all neat this way. The cables are also polyurethane covered, so fraying shouldn't be an issue from rubbing. The next cool thing is that the tow bar has a built in 3in raise or drop to make the installation parallel to the towed vehicle, plus there is two hitch pin locations for further lateral adjustment. The driver side tow bar also comes with an umbilical cord rod that allows you to keep the electrical umbilical cord attached to the bar without the risk of it dropping down on the pavement during travel and getting chewed up or ripped off - also keeps it clean and eliminates one less thing to consider each time when connecting and disconnecting. Stowing away also gives multiple options as the two bars can either be both on the same side (driver or passenger) or they can be split (one on each side).
I purchased the Demco base plates, so no special adapters needed for my vehicle. Tow bar hook up and disconnect takes no more than 5 min. The release levers work as advertised and allowed to disconnect the tow bar even when the towed vehicle wasn't perfectly aligned. These base plates were the only ones that didn't require any drilling or cutting of the trucks frame or other cladding.
In all, the Excali-Bar II tow bar is worth every penny.
Installed these Demco Baseplates on my 2017 Ram 1500 Crew Cab. Flat towing this vehicle behind my Winnebago Journey 42E is a breeze. Easy to connect and disconnect. Hardly noticeable when not in use.
We plan on flat towing our 2015 Ram 1500 tradesman behind our RV and it came with the tow hook when we bought it. I did have to run the truck up on ramps, but then it was about a hour and a half job to remove the tow hooks and brackets and install the base plates. We have not yet pulled the truck, but the installation was okay.
Have worked great, easy to hookup and unhook. Have traveled from California to Virginia and back, and many other local trips, over 25,000 pull with this baseplate with no issues, great product and was easy to install.
Product uses most factory, or OEM hardware. Factory chassis is not compromised
Fred S.
7/12/2022
Excellent product. On my application of a 2018 Ram, installation uses factory chassis holes. I am not a fan of drilling into the chassis.
The product arrive 1 day early. I had it installed on my 2015 Ram truck in 2 1/2 hours. Everything fit and all the parts were in the package. I had watched the video before I purchased which helped with the confidence that I could Install myself. Install the back bracket before installing the base plate on the bumper bolts. It was hard to get the bolts to thread if you follow the instructions.
Purchase, delivery and install couldn’t have been better. Highly recommend etrailer!!
Very solid and easy to install. Great suggestion from the staff at etrailer.
Great product. Communication is super.
Excellent part ( fit and finish)
Product was shipped very quick. Much faster than my order earlier this spring.
The quality of this base plate is very good. On my 1990 Cherokee the spacing of the 1/2" bolt holes required me to enlarge the holes for proper fit. The instructions are shamefully poor quality as are the installation photos in the instructions. Demco needs to improve.
The base plates fit nicely but the covers are a poor fit. It would make sense to me that the covers covered the whole base plate.
Thanks, Randy
Unit works well on my 2001 Nissan frontier, have towed the truck a few times with no problems, good investment.
The reason I didn't give a 5 star is ecause I had problems with the rust on the inside were the receiver. I would think the holding round stock should be made out of stainless. I have to grease the pins before I insert them.
Etrailer has proven to be the best place to purchase all my towing needs! They sent my first order very quickly. I decided to do a second order for another vehicle and again perfect service and top quality parts! The communication is A++++ and I highly recommend Etrailer.
Received shipment fast. I ordered the wrong adapters and call customer service right after delivery. Got excellent service from Brittany ordered the right adapter, got a return label while on the phone to my email. Installed the demco base plates with a few problems. Fit was tight but nothing a small mallet couldn't handle. They do mention in instructions that you may need to elongate one of the holes. Mine was for a 2016 GMC 2500. Definitely need to make hole bigger on the truck frame. I would do it before inserting the baseplate. Otherwise great product good tight fit.
It took closer to 5 hours by myself!! Actually fairly simple install. If I had another one to do now it would probably take 3 hours. Some of the bolts were a pain with my large hands. It only pokes out a little. Very happy with this hitch!!
Very high quality.
Very quick delivery.
Very good customer service.
I will order from etrailer again, I'm sure
Great service - ordered Sunday night, delivered Wednesday lunch time, installed Wednesday afternoon. Excellent information, instructions - took about 4 hours, had to file 2 bolt holes a slight bit, but the fit was very good.
I am very happy with the baseplate and would recommend it to anyone.
Before and after pictures attached.
This is my second set of Demco tabless base plates. First for a 2019 Ford F-150 and now for a 2023 Ford F-150. I like the fact that they are easy to install and are are basically hidden. My only complaint is that Demco makes the mounting holes over size. I assume to aid in installation however it allows for the base plates to move around some after installation even when properly tightened. This caused some problems with the installation of my Roadmaster tow defender as the tow bar mounts spread apart.
Towed our jeep 3,000 miles and this baseplate fit and worked very well.
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Smitty
12/20/2021
Working great. Been out several times and my tow vehicle follows straight as an arrow. No complaints.