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Expert Answers about Tow Bar Braking Systems


  • Do Tow Bars Come with Supplemental Braking Systems
  • Tow bars like the Blue Ox Aventa or Blue Ox Avail # BX7420 are completely different components than supplemental braking systems like the Blue Ox Patriot # BLU37TR; they will not come as a package and will be purchased separately to allow for choices to be made dependent on each user's individual needs (fixed installation vs portable, RVs with air brakes vs hydraulic brakes). They will need to be purchased individually depending on your needs and preferences. When it comes to whether or...
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  • Does a Tow Bar Come with Roadmaster XL Base Plates # 1164-1 on a 2002 Toyota Camry
  • The Roadmaster Base Plate Kit, # 1164-1, includes all the parts needed to install the base plates on the 2002 Toyota Camry, but it does not include a tow bar. These are XL style base plates so you will need a tow bar compatible with XL base plates. The most economical tow bar is the Tracker, # RM-020. In order to make the base plate arms removable, you would also need Quick Disconnect Kit, # RM-201. I have included a link to the installation details for the tow bar for you to view. There...
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  • Does The Blue Ox Avail Tow Bar Come With A Baseplate For A 2015 Jeep Wrangler JK
  • The Blue Ox Avail Non-Binding Tow Bar # BX7420 is just the tow bar and would require you to purchase a Blue Ox branded baseplate separately. For your 2015 Jeep Wrangler JK you would need the Blue Ox Base Plate Kit # BX1126. This baseplate is designed to fit with a standard factory bumper, if you have an aftermarket bumper I would need to know what it is in order to see if we have a compatible fit. For your tow bar wiring I recommend getting the Roadmaster Diode 7-Wire to 6-Wire Flexo-Coil...
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  • Does the Roadmaster Sterling All Terrain Tow Bar # RM-576 Include the Vehicle Specific Base Plates
  • The Roadmaster Sterling All Terrain Tow Bar, part # RM-576, will include the safety cables, electrical wiring, and the quick disconnects. The base plates are not included with the Sterling tow bar and are vehicle specific, so they would have to be ordered separately for your 2010 GMC Canyon. I am including a link to the instructions on the Sterling tow bar and a link to a video review of the tow bar. For your 2010 GMC Canyon I would recommend the Roadmaster XL Base Plate Kit, part # 3122-1....
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  • Parts Needed to Flat Tow a 1994 Ford Escort Behind a Motor Home
  • To flat tow a vehicle you will need at least 5 items: base plates, tow bar, safety cables, lighting, and supplemental braking. For base plates I recommend # 427-3 because they fit both GT and non-GT models of the 1994 Ford Escort. For a compatible tow bar you can use the Falcon 2 # RM-520. Or for a more economical option you can use the Tracker # RM-020. If you go with the Tracker tow bar you will also need quick disconnects # RM-201 to make it easily removable. For either tow bar you...
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  • Does Blue Ox Alpha 2 Tow Bar Come With Safety Cables for Towing 2013 Mini Cooper
  • The Blue Ox Alpha 2 Tow Bar # BX7380 you asked about does indeed come with the safety cables included, so they are not something that you would need to purchase separately. This is a really good option for flat towing your 2013 Mini Cooper as it has long arms to allow excellent maneuvering. The tow bar is one of the parts needed in order to flat tow your '13 Mini, and is compatible with Blue Ox base plates; if you don't have the rest of the parts needed for your flat tow set up, I'll...
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  • Are Safety Cables Included with the Blue Ox Baseplate for 2014 Fiat 500L?
  • The Blue Ox Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms # BX2803 only comes with the short cables that attach the base plate kit to the frame of your vehicle. The safety cables for your 2014 Fiat 500L that are required for the tow bar will actually come with the tow bar system if you get a Blue Ox tow bar. My recommendation is to use the either the Acclaim tow bar # BX4330 for a coupler style mount or the Alpha tow bar # BX7380 for the direct hitch mount that is more common. You may need a high-low...
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  • What Comes With the Blue Ox Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms, BX1735
  • Safety cables, such as Blue Ox 7' Safety Cables, # BX88197, are a separate item from the Blue Ox Base Plate Kit with removable arms, # BX1735. However, safety cables are sometimes packaged with tow bar options such as the Blue Ox Avail Non-Binding Tow Bar, # BX7420. A breakaway switch to apply towed vehicles brakes under emergency situation under separation from motorhome is an integrated component of the supplemental braking system.
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  • Does Demco Stay-IN-Play DUO Supplemental Braking System Come With All Parts For Installation
  • Let's start with the wiring kit question, and yes you can use your current Roadmaster tow bar lighting kit, it won't affect the use of the Demco system. And to answer your other question, yes, everything that is required for the installation is included with the the Stay-IN-Play braking system, which is the following part number: - Demco Stay-IN-Play DUO Supplemental Braking System w/ Wireless Coachlink Monitor # DM86VR The only thing I recommend considering - if you don't already have...
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  • Complete Flat Towing Setup for a 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland W/ Tow Hooks
  • I would personally go with Roadmaster's stuff. They've had a really good track record in my experience and have been an industry favorite for a while. So, for your 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee you're going to want the Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plate Kit # RM77ZR for a base plate and the Roadmaster Nighhawk # RM-676 for a tow bar. This tow bar will easily attach to the base plate using the direct connect brackets, has an integrated LED light for low light conditions, and has an 8K capacity...
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  • Are Removable Arms Included with Roadmaster Removeable Arm Base Plate Kit for 2021 Jeep Gladiator
  • It sounds like you're referring to the arms that come out of the base plates and yes, the Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms # RM-521453-5 comes with those arms; it actually comes with everything you would need for a complete base plate kit that will allow you to connect directly to Roadmaster tow bars that are compatible with direct connect base plates. A complete flat towing kit consists of base plates, a tow bar, tow bar wiring, supplemental braking system and...
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  • Are the Blue Ox 7' Safety Cables # BX88196 Coiled
  • Yes, the Blue Ox 7' Safety Cables # BX88196 that you referenced are coiled. I have attached a review video so that you can see how this keeps them off of the ground. For a complete flat towing setup you will need a base plate kit, tow bar, safety cables, vehicle tow bar wiring, a supplemental braking system, and possibly a high-low adapter. If your flat towing setup is missing any of these parts just let me know what it is you are needing as well as the year/make/model of your vehicle...
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  • Parts Included With Roadmaster Base Plate Kit # 522112-1 for 2013 Kia Soul
  • According to Roadmaster, the # 522112-1 base plate kit is compatible with the 2013 Kia Soul, manual transmission equipped models only. (Auto transmission models are not flat towable.) I am not sure what you mean by the forks . . . are you referring to the removable draw bars that the tow bar quick disconnects would attach to? (Refer to part # 15 and 16 shown on the first page of the instructions I have linked to.) The diagram also shows everything included with the base plate kit, including...
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  • Does 2016 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Blue Ox Base Plate Kit Come With Installation Hardware
  • Yes, the Blue Ox Base Plate Kit # BX1134 comes with the hardware needed to install it on your 2016 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. Attached is an installation video of this process for you to check out. For a complete flat towing setup you will need a base plate kit, tow bar, safety cables, vehicle tow bar wiring, a supplemental braking system, and possibly a high-low adapter. If you do not have all of these components just let me know and I can make some additional recommendations for you.
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  • Are Heat Shrink Butt Connectors Included With the SMI Air Force One Supplemental Braking System
  • Thank you for the compliments on the install videos. I too think that our install and video team do a great job at providing people with excellent instructions. The SMI Air Force One Supplemental Braking System for Motor Homes with Air Brakes # SM99243 that you are interested in does come with all of the butt connectors that you will need for installation, but they are basic ones and not the heat shrink version. The Deka Heat Shrink Butt Connector that is mentioned in the video (at the...
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  • Towing a 2014 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk Behind an RV
  • The images of the parts you mentioned are there to show you where they would install but they are not included. If you look at the parts list you will notice that they are not included. That is a bit confusing though. The reason they are not included is because there is no way to tell what a given person might need for wiring and if they are even using a supplemental braking system that has a breakaway system, if they are using one at all. Demco base plates # DM9519308 are designed for...
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  • Parts Needed to Flat Tow a 2012 Fiat 500 Behind a Motor Home
  • I went out to the warehouse and opened up a box of the Blue Ox base plates # BX2801. They do indeed have removable tabs! We are going to take new pictures to show all the parts including the tabs. In addition to the base plates you will also need a compatible tow bar. I recommend the Alpha # BX7380. It is rated for up to 6,500 pounds and includes safety cables. I have linked a review video for you. For lighting you can use a magnetic kit such as # RM-2120 or for a more permanent solution...
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  • Why Does the Blue Ox Accessory Kit BX88229 Come with Diodes and a Bulb and Socket Kit
  • That's a great question. I spoke with my contact at Blue Ox and she said that the purpose of the tow bar lighting options of the Blue Ox Towing Accessories Kit for Aventa LX Tow Bars # BX88229 is to give you the option of doing the bulb and socket kit or the diode kit for the tow vehicle's wiring. You would not need to use the diodes with the bulb and sockets. You would want to pick one route or the other.
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  • Do Safety Cables Come with Blue Ox Base Plate Kit for 2019 Jeep Cherokee
  • The safety cables which wrap around the frame and attach to the base plate kit are included with the Blue Ox Base Plate Kit part # BX1143. I reached out to my contact at Blue Ox to confirm this for you as well. If you don't already have a tow bar to use with these base plates, I recommend the Blue Ox Ascent Non-Binding Tow Bar part # BX4370. If you need anything else to complete your flat-tow setup, I have attached them for you below. Roadmaster Diode 7-Wire to 6-Wire Flexo-Coil Wiring...
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  • Does Roadmaster Base Plate Kit RM-521424-5 for Jeep Wrangler Include Installation Hardware
  • Yes, the Roadmaster Base Plate Kit # RM-521424-5 that fits your 2004 Jeep Wrangler does include the necessary installation hardware. Base plates are one of the five basic components for safe and legal flat towing and the linked article will illustrate. You also need a tow bar like the RoadMaster Falcon 2 # RM-520, safety cables like # RM-643, a lighting kit like # TLL21RK from Optronics and a supplementary braking system such as the Blue Ox Patriot # BLU37TR.
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