Using Roadmaster Falcon 2 Towbar with 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 with Front Winch Installed

Question:

My 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 Magnum 4x4 has a leveling kit and 20 in. tires which causes the Roadmaster mounting system to be high, and it takes up the winch mount space. Would this receiver safely support mounting brackets for the Roadmaster Falcon 2 towing system?

asked by: Gene W

Expert Reply:

The Curt Front Mount 2-Inch Trailer Hitch Receiver, part # 31320, cannot be used to flat-tow your Ram Pickup. You can flat-tow your vehicle (provided it is not the SRT-10) with base plates, such as the Roadmaster XL Base Plate Kit for 2005 Ram Pickup, part # 260-1. This base plate is compatible with all Roadmaster towbars.

Your Ram 1500 should be able to have both the front-mount hitch, # 31320, and the tow bar base plates, # 260-1, installed simultaneously since they mount to different parts of the frame. My contact at Roadmaster confirmed that there should be no reason these two items cannot be mounted at the same time since one mounts from the bottom of the frame rails (the Curt hitch) and the other from the sides of the frame rails (the Roadmaster base plates).

I have included a photo of your vehicle (one with 20 inch tires installed) showing where the base plate arm tubes protrude through the opening between the bumper and bumper trim panel. The arm tube centers are positioned 26 inches above ground level. The front-mount hitch receiver tube (part # 31320) would sit below the front (OEM) bumper fascia, under the license plate.

Your winch, and where it is mounted, may be the wildcard in all of this. If your winch were to be mounted to a front mount hitch receiver, such as the Curt # 31320, you could simply remove it for flat-towing. But if the winch is mounted to a brush guard/bull bar or to your front bumper then you will not be able to mount base plates. Brush guards typically mount in the same location at base plates and/or hitches and so they cannot be used together. If the winch is mounted to your bumper it may have to be removed for flat towing.

If you do need to compensate for height differences you can use a hi/lo adapter such as one of those shown on the provided link. These insert into the RV hitch receiver.