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Designed for use with motor-home-mounted tow bars, the direct-connect brackets are virtually invisible, easy to mount and remove, and they eliminate the need for a quick-disconnect crossbar on your tow bar. Installs on your vehicle's frame.
Features:
Note: Roadmaster direct-connect base plates will only work with Roadmaster tow bars that slide into a trailer hitch, such as the Nighthawk, Sterling, Blackhawk, Blackhawk 2, Falcon, or Falcon 2. These base plates will not work with tow bars that require a hitch ball.
The drawbars, or front arms, on this base plate kit are supremely easy to mount and remove. Just insert them into the brackets and twist to lock them in place. To remove each arm, simply tug the built-in pull pin to disengage the lock, twist the arm back and pull it out of the bracket. 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 (2083 Customer Reviews)
Designed for use with motor-home-mounted tow bars, the direct-connect brackets are virtually invisible, easy to mount and remove, and they eliminate the need for a quick-disconnect crossbar on your tow bar. Installs on your vehicle's frame.
Installed on my 2020 Jeep Cherokee for flat towing behind our motorhome . I wanted a tow bar connection that integrated with the front end of the Jeep and the removable arms did the trick . I had one issue with the driver side receiver bracket not lining up with the upper mount bolt hole on the Jeep, image 0547. Had to make a slight adjustment to the receiver bracket so the holes would line up, image 0551 and image 0559. The rest of the install went smoothly
I also installed the Demco braking Stay n Play Duo system , image 0565 which went in without any issues, image 6028. 7 thousand miles of towing later, couldn't be happier with the products
Installers beware! I had a very difficult time with this base plate kit because of a mid-2022 redesign by Roadmaster that makes it very challenging to install.
Roadmaster added a tang on top of each base plate to supply additional bracing of the unit against the bumper core. It requires installing two additional bolts and spacers on the upper mount in an area where there isn't easy access due to bracing. This has not been reflected in the picture of the part on etrailer nor is it included in any of the installation videos. The Roadmaster instruction text says to remove the existing bolts from the bumper horn and then reinstall them but with the needed spacers and the set-back of the upper mounts on the redesigned base plate the bolts aren't long enough. I guess to compensate RM supplied two new bolts as seen in the drawing. The problem is, the supplied bolts aren't the correct thread pitch. The RM supplied bolts are metric 1.5 but the welded nut on the Cherokee is 1.25 thread pitch thus requiring a trip to the hardware store to get the proper bolts. Then, when trying to install them you don't have clear access due to bracing. You're trying to hold a spacer in place, using an extension with a universal joint and the socket to get the bolt started. To make matters worse, the upper mount bolt holes on one of the base plates didn't align with the jeep because the tang wasn't at the right height. I had to use a crow bar and a lot of effort to slightly bend up the heavy steel tang to get it to mate up. To top it all off one of the arms was locked in the receiver and wouldn't budge. I had to resort to using a breaker bar inserted in the arm end and a mallet to slowly get the arm to even rotate in the receiver. After much effort I eventually got it to rotate as it should in the receiver and then managed to extract it. When I got it out it was badly scored from the rough welding detritus way down in the receiving tube (see photo attached). I used a file to clear the tube and now it works properly but you have to ask where was the quality control when this arm was inserted in the receiver tube? It had to be obvious that it wasn't going in properly.
All in all I was extremely disappointed with the amount of effort and time I had to put into what should have been a straightforward installation. The redesign makes the job take at least twice as long as it should have.
The bracket wasn’t a perfect fit. Some bending of the bracket tabs were required but other than that all was good.
Great product and east to install
2022 Jepp Cherokee Trailhawk. Fits and works great. We have towed from North Carolina to Texas and other trips, no problems.
I haven't opened the box yet, but I appreciate the prompt shipping, especially your tracking web site
Very pleased.
All parts arrived in good condition. This base plate was installed on a 2019 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk. The top two bolts take a little work to get lined up.
Traded my older tow for 2020 model Jeep and had to refit to tow. Was pleased what I ordered had a green “Guaranteed to fit” my new tow before placing my order. Parts have not been installed yet, waiting for wire harness. Spoke with a very pleasant and helpful person “Allison” who advised me on the wire harness for my new tow vehicle. The base plates came with all parts for installation accompanied with clear instructions and pictures for each step. The shipping box was slightly damaged but all parts were there and zero damage, padded well in box. With my experience so far, I will be a returning customer.
Works great but it took some time & effort to install. Hooking up to RV is easy and has been good - except when I forget to replace the wire harness cover for the car.
My first order didn’t arrive with the other items ordered. I specifically asked the supplier which tow package fit my 2020 Grand Cherokee. My car was dismantled for installation, and the guy said it wouldn’t fit. I called and found out they sent the 2020 Cherokee kit. I ordered, what I hope, is the correct one to install, delaying my trip. I got online to print the return label to find out they would subtract the $xx shipping fee. I called and was told they’d make a note to not charge me for the return shipping. I was also told I’d receive an email for the one arriving with tracking. I cannot locate it. Hoping it arrives tomorrow, as expected.
The four top bolts that replace the factory bolts were the right size , but the wrong thread pitch. I had to go to the local Napa store to purchase the right bolts.
The top bolt holes didn’t line up, so I had to use a die grinder to enlarge the holes to make it fit.
Top 2 bolts and spacers are a nightmare! Bolt holes did not line up with the holes in the frame. Started install on a Saturday. I called etrailer for advice, all they had was: it's the right part. Their video was from the previous version without the top two bolts. So I waited till Monday to talk to Roadmaster. Their response was to take a pry bar and pry up on the upper plate to get it to align. On the drivers side, there is barely any room to reach the inside hole, and then to have to align a spacer as well? All in all, it would have been simpler to grind off the lip and use the e-trailer base plate kit. The mounting plate for the 6-wire plug won't even fit their wiring harness. anyway, I finally got it on, but a 4-hour job turned into 12 by the addition of those two bolts.
Easy to install great instructions
No problem towing my Jeep Trail hawk
Great investment. We've towed or 2020 Trailhawk all over the U.S. without any issued.
Works perfectly. Great product and sup port
Product was delivered as specified and on schedule. I’ve ordered other items from Etrailer in the past. Again, without issue.
Installed on 2019 Jeep Trailhawk for Duo brake system so it was part of the completing that process that included the DUO. Installed Roadmaster Direct Connect base plate, Duo Brake systems to be used with Falcon All Terrain- The system has been great so far after one year in service.
The total install for everything probably took me 25-30 hours, working on it over several days. Removal of brand Jeep quarter panel and front end grill was a little nerve wreaking, but easy install on tow plates. The brake and electrical work used the other 60% of the time on this job.
I would consider myself to have intermediate skills for automotive repair activity. The slicing of the various electrical brake light system wires was a little challenging to due access in the front end and rear brake light housing. The video's from etrailer.com was very helpful in completing the process from start to finish ( although I had to watch it a number of times as I completed each portion of the install)
Note - The jeep brake light wiring will be connected to a plug in receptacle installed at the front of the jeep. Where the coil wire from the RV that plugs into this installed receptacle can become loose from plugging /unpluging the coil wire.
The pins can be pushed back thru that rubber housing easily if extreme caution isn't used each time and over time can loose contact with the coil connector. They should improve the plastic sheath that covers the backside of the pins in that receptacle so they cannot be pushed thru the back side.
Perfect application
These fit like a glove on the 2019 Cherokee Trailhawk. Cannot even see the baseplate's when mounting brackets are removed.
Removing the facia is a bear. Take your time and use some auto trim removal tools (search online).
We purchased your Base Plate kit to tow our 2021 Jeep behind our Winnebago Class C motorhome. We have logged close to 5,000 miles so far without an issue. We are very pleased with this product performance.
Great to work with, friendly and very knowledgeable on their products. Will certainly be purchasing from etrailer again in the near future.
Dave M.
5/12/2021
These are great! I love the way that these baseplates installed, the unobtrusive look on the front of the jeep and most of all I like the fact that they are connected directly to the frame of the vehicle and that the arms are separate and free floating with no cross bars. I really like the ease of the installation of the yokes and the removal when not in use.
Great product with very good DIY installation instructions. The product fit with no frame drilling and all hardware was perfect. The end product looks great and performs perfectly.
High quality. Received fast.
The most difficult part was getting the grill on my Cherokee Trailhawk removed, that was a real pain. Once that was accomplished the base plate was easy! Make sure that everything you will need to do is done while the grill is off (a job you only want to do once) !!! 7
So glad I bought these base plates as they were a perfect fit and required no vehicle modifications whatsoever. Truly bolt on using existing OEM holes in the vehicle frame.
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Robert J.
7/17/2023
I had this installed by Roadmaster. It is a great product and very easy to set up. I chose it because of its price and quality.