Difference Between Roadmaster Base Plates For 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee & Recommended Braking System

Question:

Thanks for your answer Kyle. This leads me to a couple more questions: I like the invisibrake system you recommended, but I'm considering a portable braking system so I can use it in two different vehicles. Depending what article or answer you read from eTrailer, you get a different answer. Which portable system do you recommend and why? Thanks so much! RM-152-98146-7. Couple of questions: 1. Installation drawings show a 4-way connector between motorhome and tow vehicle, but really its a 7 to 6 way connector, right? The drawing is only utilizing 4 of the wires for this application, right? 2. If I purchase the charge line kit RM-156-25, then I will be able to use the motorhome charge line in my 7-pin connector as the power source, through your provided wiring harness in the kit above and into the center position of your provided 6-way connector above, correct? I really dont want to have run a separate charge line outside the wiring harness from the motorhome and the tow vehicle

asked by: Mark B

Expert Reply:

The only difference between the (now discontinued) Roadmaster Crossbar-Style Base Plate 1419-5 and (now discontinued) Direct-Connect Base Plate 1419-6 for your 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee is that the crossbar style requires a separate piece to attach the tow bar, the Crossbar Assembly for Roadmaster Motorhome Mounted Tow Bars # 910021-00.

Because they are discontinued I recommend going with a base plate from Demco that fits your Grand Cherokee, along with a compatible tow bar:

- Demco Classic Base Plate Kit # DM9518072
- etrailer SD Non-Binding Tow Bar # e34ZR

Along with the base plate and tow bar there are a number of other parts you'll need to flat tow your 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee, which I'll go ahead and list out for you below.

- Roadmaster 4-Diode Universal Wiring Kit for Towed Vehicles # RM-152-98146-7
- Roadmaster Brake-Lite Relay Kit for Towed Vehicles # RM-88400
- Roadmaster InvisiBrake Supplemental Braking System # RM-8700

expert reply by: Kyle S

Mark B.

11/23/2022

Thanks for your answer Kyle. This leads me to a couple more questions: Looks like the direct connect tow bar eliminates the possibility of using the Guardian RM4000 rock guard. What are the other available options for tow vehicle protection? I like the invisibrake system you recommended, but I'm considering a portable braking system so I can use it in two different vehicles. Depending what article or answer you read from eTrailer, you get a different answer. Which portable system do you recommend and why? Thanks so much! RM-152-98146-7. Couple of questions: 1. Installation drawings show a 4-way connector between motorhome and tow vehicle, but really its a 7 to 6 way connector, right? The drawing is only utilizing 4 of the wires for this application, right? 2. If I purchase the charge line kit RM-156-25, then I will be able to use the motorhome charge line in my 7-pin connector as the power source, through your provided wiring harness in the kit above and into the center position of your provided 6-way connector above, correct? I really dont want to have run a separate charge line outside the wiring harness from the motorhome and the tow vehicle

Kyle S.

11/23/2022

Okay, let's go ahead and start with the braking system; if you want to go with a portable braking system, the best one is from Blue Ox: - Blue Ox Patriot Radio Frequency, Portable Braking System # BLU37TR I like the # BLU37TR the most because it is just the easiest overall to install and use, plugging right into your Jeep's 12 volt outlet, and its 10 different power settings let you fine tune the amount of braking you want better than other systems. And the other reason I like it is simply due to it being a Blue Ox product; they and Roadmaster have consistently shown over a long period of time their products are both high-quality and reliable, which is important, particularly for something with so many pieces like a flat tow set up. Now, as for protection for your Jeep when flat towing, there is an option for that while using the # 1419-6 base plates, which is very similar to the one you mentioned, so what you'll need is the Roadmaster Tow Defender Protective Screening # RM-4750. Moving onto the Roadmaster 4-Diode Universal Wiring Kit for Towed Vehicles # RM-152-98146-7 does only use four wires for the lighting function, but the 6-way connector on this will function exactly the same. It is also required to use the Roadmaster Battery Charge Line Kit for Towed Vehicles # RM-156-25. And the answer to your second question is yes - you have it 100 percent correct. The wire from the charge line kit will go directly to the center pin of the 6-way on the wiring kit.