Roadmaster Base Plates for a Sterling Tow Bar and a 2011 Jeep Liberty

Question:

I am not a mechanic but I can screw in some bolts if needed. What I have is a roadmaster sterling tow bar on my motor home. The bar is about ten years old. We bought an new jeep and it needs a roadmaster plate installed. If I ordered one of these ez plates would I be able to install it myself? The jeep is a 11 liberty.

asked by: Richard

Expert Reply:

The first thing you are going to want to do is consult the owners manual of your 2011 Jeep Liberty to determine if it can be flat towed or if anything additional is needed to tow the vehicle. From the research I did, all wheel drive models with automatic transmissions and models with 2 wheel drive and a 6 or 5 speed can only be towed on a trailer.

Two wheel drive models with automatic transmission will require a transmission lube pump. And 4 wheel drive models with automatic transmission can be towed if it has selectable 4 wheel drive with a neutral in the transfer case.

If you determine you can flat tow your model, there are 2 different base plates available from Roadmaster. First is # 521433-1 that you have referenced. These fit if the vehicle does NOT have a rockguard or skid plate (but will not fit Renegade models).

The other option is # 521434-1 and it will fit if the vehicle has a rockguard or skid plate (but will not fit Renegade models). Either base plate set will fit the Sterling tow bar. I have included a link to the installation instructions for # 521434-1 for you so you can see what installation requires.

Roadmaster does have a statement in all of their base plate instructions that states: Installation of most mounting brackets requires moderate mechanical aptitude and skills. We strongly recommend professional installation by an experienced installer.

You will need to look over the instructions to determine if it is a job you can perform or if you would rather have someone else, like a trusted mechanic or RV dealer, perform the installation.

there are other items that are needed to flat tow a vehicle. You will need safety cables, a lighting solution, and most states now require supplemental braking. I have included a link to an article that covers everything you need to flat tow a vehicle.