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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 (386 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.the base plate kit fit very well, I had to do a little bit of grinding but after that it all bolted up well and fits great
Bought this to be able to flat-tow our 2000 Toyota Land Cruiser which some say can't be done (w/o damage to the tranny) - however - we're a couple thousand mile into the experiment and all seems to be well.
The device itself - although a bit awkward to completely remove/reinstall on the vehicle - shows no sign of weakness or operational malfunction.
For those of you who may consider doing this same thing with your Toy and are using (or intend to use) Roadmaster's Brakemaster air-actuated brake system, BE ADVISED: you WILL burn up your Cruiser's brakes UNLESS you add their 900002 adjustable pressure reducer to accommodate your "active" braking system. (Bolt hole spacing on the actuator cylinder bracket allows for mounting the reducer right on the unit inside the vehicle ;-)
One improvement Roadmaster could/should make to this baseplate setup is to provide mounting points for their Guardian series front-end vehicle protection.
It CAN be done!
Got what I ordered... on tome and as promised.... good place to do business.... when the need arrises i will order from them again....
Great Service. was shipped the day we placed the order. delivered in record time;
I installed the Roadmaster MX Direct Connect Base plates on my 2001 GMC Yukon XL myself. To ensure I could measure torque with the basic tools I own, I did have to remove all the front body parts like bumper, grill headlights, air dam, etc. I was a little disappointed that two of the horizontal Roadmaster pre-drilled holes did not accurately lined up to the factory horizontal holes in my frame ends. I had to use a drill bit to elongate the holes abount 1/4 in to get the 1/2 in mounting bolts through. Then torqued everything to 56 lb-ft with red threadlock on bolts, nuts. I've towed this 6K lb Yukon since last September, about 9,000 miles on trips and the braces themselves are rated at 8K each, so it's held up well. I did have to work with Roadmaster tech in Wash State to ensure I ordered the correct part numbers as etrailer seemed less certain. But etrailer did provide the parts on time and packaged reasonably well as they're not lightweight items. The rear-most mounting bolt requires the installer to drill a 13mm hole into the cross member connecting front frame box rails. Measure twice, drill once.
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
Really easy install. This is my 4th vehicle I've installed a base plate on so I already had a good idea of what was going to happen. Instructions say the bumper stays on but six 10mm, two 7mm bolts and 4 plastic retainers and you have a ton more access with it off. Everything bolted up real nice.
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 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.
Easy install, instructions were clear
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
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!!
Easy to install. Works great. Probably have 5,000 miles or more now towing with no issues.
Received my order and it contained all parts required to install. Installation was a breeze because each part fit as it was suppose to per installtion instructions which were also very easy to understand. Will do more buisness with etrailer in the future!!
Another great product from etrailer. Arrived on time came with everything I needed. Had to trim a little more plastic trim than I expected but it’s all good. Took me about 3 hours including the wiring to the tail lights and breakaway switch for the brake buddy.
Easy installation and works as intended. Quick delivery. I’m very satisfied!
Works great . The only problem was having to take the bumper off the Escape . But that’s not the Roadmaster’s fault . The installation was not hard and the instructions were great.
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.
The parts are correct but didn’t come in the oem packaging that uses styrofoam padding. They clanked around in the etrailer box and the powder is scratched up pretty bad.
Knowing how Roadmaster takes pride in their packaging to receiving them in this condition is pretty disappointing. There was not even paper wrapping them up. The cardboard box is in perfect shape.
The tow bar worked exactly as expected - Excellent! I towed my Jeep behind my motor home from Tennessee to Maine without any problems! Can't wait to use it again!
Perfect fit for my 2008 Honda Element SC Automatic! There were questions of whether this model was flat towable or not? After researching the heck out of it, I took the chance and I use the Honda 2005 flat tow instructions from the owners manual of that year (there were no engine or tranny changes from 2005 to 2008 that I could see). Perfect! I've now towed my Element over 500 miles without issue. This baseplate and instructions are great. I already had the Roadmaster Falcon 2 tow bar. I use the invsibrake system for the toad brake and love that also.
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R W.
12/13/2020
After a year of pointlessly hauling around that Guardian rock guard on its storage mount on the back of the motorhome, we finally got the mods to the baseplate done that should be a factory option. Woohoo, it worked!! So far as the baseplate parts themselves, the only possible concerns Ive noticed are: 1 some rust and wear of the hitch pins 2 wear at the holes in the hitch pins where the security lockskeepers pass through them. Looking into replacing the whole hitchpin setup with the same type of locking pins I use in the receiver tow hitch and baseplate arm receivers.