Demco Classic Base Plate Kit - Fixed Arms
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2003 Ford Explorer
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2003 Ford Explorer
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When you’re logging serious miles behind the RV, a solid front connection gives peace of mind. The Demco Classic Base Plate Kit uses fixed draw bars that bolt directly to the chassis with no welding required. Its sturdy steel construction spreads towing force evenly to minimize weight on the suspension for a dependable pull mile after mile. The bracket spacing of 28-3/4" and height of 17-1/2" help you plan the rest of your towing gear around a stable, level setup.
If you like your front bumper to stay uncluttered when parked, this setup keeps things tidy. The hidden reinforcement design eliminates any crossbar or large protruding brackets, leaving only compact base-plate tabs visible. When you’re not towing, the included high-density polyethylene tab covers snap into place for a clean look while keeping dirt out of the tabs—and they even cushion the blow if you bump your shins on them.
You don’t need special tools or welding to mount this kit. It’s a simple bolt-on installation that uses existing chassis points, and everything you need comes in the box—clear instructions, hardware, and an electrical bracket for mounting a round connector plug. For anyone setting up their own towing system, it’s a doable weekend job that results in a rock-solid fit.
No need to replace gear you already trust. This base plate works directly with all Demco tow bars and can be adapted for other manufacturers’ tow bars using separately sold Demco adapters. That flexibility means you can integrate it smoothly into an existing setup without extra hassle or expense.
Ratings & Reviews
This Product came surprisingly fast! I was very impressed with the way it was packed! Very well For a heavy part! The Part is so impressively made, I hate to cover it up!
I HAD A VERY PLEASANT EXPERIENCE! The products work great. I enjoy dealing with people that have understanding of the products and are able to communicate to the consumer in a very pleasant manor.
Thank you!
They for right where the original tow hooks were. The only problem was the one bolt on each side was hard to get tight due to the location in the cutout of the pin attachment.
It took closer to 5 hours by myself!! Actually fairly simple install. If I had another one to do now it would probably take 3 hours. Some of the bolts were a pain with my large hands. It only pokes out a little. Very happy with this hitch!!
The quality of this base plate is very good. On my 1990 Cherokee the spacing of the 1/2" bolt holes required me to enlarge the holes for proper fit. The instructions are shamefully poor quality as are the installation photos in the instructions. Demco needs to improve.
Received shipment fast. I ordered the wrong adapters and call customer service right after delivery. Got excellent service from Brittany ordered the right adapter, got a return label while on the phone to my email. Installed the demco base plates with a few problems. Fit was tight but nothing a small mallet couldn't handle. They do mention in instructions that you may need to elongate one of the holes. Mine was for a 2016 GMC 2500. Definitely need to make hole bigger on the truck frame. I would do it before inserting the baseplate. Otherwise great product good tight fit.
Fast delivery and great price. Replaced an old Roadmaster baseplate (which was a shin-getter) for my Saturn Vue, with a Demco baseplate. Fits perfect! New baseplate is barely exposed to my shins. Directions were very clear, and I installed it in about 2 hours. It even came with the thread lock required. etrailer communicated every step of my shipment, even following up after delivery.
Poor paint quality. Paint was chipping off down to the metal even before I got them out of the box. Like everything else anymore, over priced and lacking quality.
The product is built well, however, the bumper doesn't go back onto the car flush like it was before mounting the base plate. On another note, it would be useful if the instructions mentioned leaving the front bumper off while installing other products like the diode kit, and the fuse by-pass switches,as well as the break away kit.
One year follow up....
The Demco unit is a solid base plate overall. Basemount mounting holes are slightly off compared to the frame which made installation slightly difficult, however, not too difficult to rectify. Unit works well with just over 3000 miles in the past year.
After reviewing the top name brands for tow bars I was really exited first with Roadmaster's pin style base plate connectors, but when I realized that it would require cutting and possibly drilling I took a second look and decided to install the Demco base plates and get the tow bar from them as well.
These plates can be installed in a mere 2 hours if you have all the tools ready to go. I have the fortunate luck that my truck is equipped with the air suspension and so lifting it to the highest setting and driving up on 12in ramps gave me ample amount of room to work under the front bumper area.
The installation is seriously easy and requires no special tools, other than a set of metric sockets and a torque wrench. The factory tow hooks are removed and these base plates fit in the exact same space without any cutting, not even the plastic cover behind the pumper needed to be removed (though for some odd reason the instructions did and I followed them on the driver side but when I realized that I could install the plate without this step, I omitted it on the passenger side). Despite my initial worry of wanting a nearly invisible look, these bars are remarkably clean looking.
I purchased this with the intent of having my local RV repair shop install it for me. I was curious about how it was installed so I read the directions and thought, this doesn’t look that hard. I was right. The directions were clear and accurate and in a little over two hours I was closing the hood on a finished install. Quality all the way around and really fast shipping. Three days after placing my order it was delivered.
One of the mounting holes on top of the frame, the welded nut, is out of alignment and I ended up using the bolt from my OEM tow hooks. Perhaps consider a pilot point for these especially if nuts are not in plane with the rest of the assembly. Other than that the tow bar is operating great. Nice low profile and blends into the stock ranger front end. Fits well with the Curt adjustable tow bar.
Have not used it yet, but probably the easiest thing to install just simple three bolts. and I don’t believe that you could find anybody to ship something. Any faster.
These were a perfect fit for my 2026 Sierra 2500HD. The instructions are in desperate need of being updated. I was able to complete the installation without removing the grill and bumper. All that was required was the removal of the tow hook and enlarging the facia hole to accommodate the baseplate.
Great service - ordered Sunday night, delivered Wednesday lunch time, installed Wednesday afternoon. Excellent information, instructions - took about 4 hours, had to file 2 bolt holes a slight bit, but the fit was very good.
I am very happy with the baseplate and would recommend it to anyone.
Before and after pictures attached.
wrong part!!!
1998 Jeep Cherokee Lim ited
This is the second time we've ordered these kits. They work very well for our needs, staff is very helpful and responsive, and shipping is fast.
Received on time and installed as directed. I'm 78 and only had one problem, that of having to bend down a tab on the vehicle frame. Had to go buy a punch. However, the left base plate front holes for the tow bar attaching pin was not in alignment. The pin would not go through. Contacted etrailer and received a replacement in no time. Removed the bad one and reinstalled the new one. Then took the vehicle to my hitch guy for brake wiring. He double checked my work and said everything was in great order and a good fit. With the virus lockdown, I have not towed other than home from getting the brakes set up. But that worked ok.
Perfect fit on a 2001 Chevy Tracker feels solid looks good
Fairly ez to install Have not towed it yet am waiting on towbar
So that I can try it out
They fit our 2007 Hummer H-3 perfectly. Very easy to install and appear to be well built. We have only used them for a test pull and they worked perfectly.
Just sold the Tracker that the base plate was installed on but it had several thousand miles of towing on it with no problems . Installation was not too difficult , and it hardly showed . Seems a bit expensive for what it is , but it is custom made so I get it . Very heavy duty steel with the bonus of it actually reinforces the front end of the Tracker .
The kit was easy to install. Quality control could be better. I wasted time trying to get the frame mounts fitted, because they had them labelled backwards. Some of the nuts they supplied were the wrong thread. It has a real good thick paint job. But that tends to make things hard to put together. I had to sand down the Falcon adapters. I also had to modify the fog light spoiler, but that was a given as it is a rare option. All in all, it looks good and works fine.
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Chris C.
6/28/2020
After a year everything works as it should. I did loose one of the plastic covers because they dont fit good and snug. On a side note, my MH broke down on the expressway and I was able to use the toad to push my MH off the expressway to a safe place. Not sure if any else has done this but it truly was a life saver!