Parts Needed to Flat Tow 2018 Ford Explorer With Demco Tow Bar

Question:

Greetings! We have a 2018 Ford Explorer and would like to flat tow behind our RV. What do you recommend? Our dealer is recommending the DEMCO Dominator Tow bar. What else do we need? Id like to find one that for the base plate we can remove the caps/pegs

asked by: Chris A

Expert Reply:

We can get your 2018 Ford Explorer set up to flat tow, and the Demco Dominator is a great choice for a tow bar. The other things you will need are base plates, like you mentioned, a wiring kit, and a supplemental braking system to apply your Explorer's brakes while you are towing it. I'll make a list for you of the parts to make it easier to order.

- Base Plate Kit: Demco Tabless Base Plate Kit # DM9519329
- Tow Bar: Demco Dominator Non-Binding Tow Bar # DM9511008
- Wiring Kit: Roadmaster Diode 7-Wire to 6-Wire Flexo-Coil Wiring Kit # RM-15267
- Roadmaster Automatic Battery Disconnect # RM-766
- Supplemental Braking System: Demco SBS Stay-IN-Play DUO Supplemental Braking System # DM86VR
OR
- For a motorhome with air brakes: Demco SBS Air Force One Supplemental Braking System # DM26VR

The Demco Tabless Base Plates will maintain your Explorer's look as there is not going to be an extrusion like with other base plates, so these are the "cleanest" looking base plates you can get. The Dominator tow bar is fantastic because it has long arms which make it easier to maneuver when towing, along with integrated safety cables and an adjustable tilting head so a high-low adapter won't be needed. Having these features on a tow bar means you won't have to purchase them separately, saving you additional expenses.

I really like the Flexo-Coil wiring kit because it is designed to prevent any type of electrical feedback, keeping your Explorer's electrical system safe. As for the braking systems, both the Stay-IN-Play DUO as well as the Air Force One are strongly recommended because they are a one-time install which will never require any type of removal or reactivation, and because they give you braking proportional to that of your motorhome. This results in much smoother braking than most systems which send out a pre-set amount of braking power. With smoother braking comes a more comfortable and easier-to-control ride in your motorhome when flat towing.

I also recommend the Sentry Deflector for Demco Tow Bars # DM9523135 to keep rocks and other debris from hitting your Explorer while you are flat towing it. Additionally, I have added links below to instruction manuals and video reviews for you to take a look at.