bing tracking image
  1. Tow Bar Base Plate
  2. Roadmaster
  3. Removable Draw Bars
  4. Hitch Pin Attachment
  5. Partially Hidden
THIS ITEM IS NOT A FIT FOR
1989 Eagle Summit
etrailer Installation
We'll connect you with nearby partnered installers who know this exact setup.
Roadmaster

Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms

Part Number: 1151-1
In Stock
$575.00
Retail:$632.50
You Save: $57.50
Tow Bar Base Plate
Not Confirmed to Fit

1989 Eagle Summit

Will this fit?

To see if this custom-fit item will work for you please tell us what vehicle you'll use it with.

Roadmaster Removable Draw Bars - 1151-1
zoom in icon
slider vertical icon
zoom out icon
Comment field cannot be left empty.
Name field cannot be left empty.
By submitting this form, you understand and agree to our Terms of Sale, Website Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Thank you! Your comment has been submitted successfully. You should be able to view your question/comment here within a few days.

Error submitting comment. Please try again momentarily.

Product Images

etrailer Installation
We'll connect you with nearby partnered installers who know this exact setup.
Designed specifically for heavy-duty applications, direct-connect brackets install onto your vehicle's frame to provide attachment points for a motor-home-mounted tow bar. Front arms are easily removable when not in use. Great Prices for the best tow bar base plate from Roadmaster. Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms part number 1151-1 can be ordered online at etrailer.com or call 1-800-940-8924 for expert service.
  • All Info
  • Reviews (3697)
  • Q & A (0)
  • Photos

Roadmaster Tow Bar Base Plate - 1151-1

Highlights

  • Custom Fit for Your Vehicle: Mounts to existing attachment points
  • Ready for Flat Towing: Provides secure attachment points for a motor-home-mounted tow bar.
  • Blends In When Not Towing: Removable drawbars leave brackets virtually invisible within the grille.
  • Built to Last: Computer-cut, all-steel frame with black powder coat resists corrosion and wear.
  • Simplifies Hookup: Direct-connect design eliminates the crossbar for faster, sleeker connections.
  • Installs with Confidence: Custom base plates and included hardware ensure a precise vehicle fit.
Made in USA

Features to know about

Made for a Clean Front End: Hidden Base Plate with Removable Arms

If you like your vehicle to keep a clean, factory look when you’re not towing, this setup fits the bill. The drawbars are easily removable via two pins, leaving behind brackets that are virtually invisible once the arms are off. They mount within the grille area where they stay protected from scuffs and road debris, giving your front end a tidy, low-profile appearance.

Built Strong for Heavy-Duty Towing: All-Steel Construction and Durable Finish

These direct-connect brackets are computer-cut from all steel, so they provide exceptional strength for long-distance towing. A black powder coat finish adds durability and corrosion resistance, helping the hardware hold up through years of use. The heavy-duty design connects right to the vehicle frame to spread the load evenly during towing.

Simplify Hookups and Save Time: Direct-Connect Design Without a Crossbar

Because this base plate is built for strong, heavy-duty applications, it doesn’t need a crossbar. That means faster hookups and a sleeker appearance up front. The arms slide into place and secure with pins—simple, solid, and quick every time you connect your tow bar.

DIY-Friendly Installation: Custom Fit with Included Hardware

This kit is designed for straightforward installation with no welding required. The custom base plates ensure a perfect fit for your vehicle, and all mounting hardware and instructions are included to guide you through the process. The result is a secure setup you can handle yourself without special fabrication or complex tools.

Stay Compatible with Your Tow Bar Setup: Works with Roadmaster Hitch-Mount Tow Bars

You can pair this kit with Roadmaster tow bars that slide into trailer hitch receivers—like the Nighthawk, Sterling, Blackhawk, Blackhawk 2, Falcon, and Falcon 2—for a complete flat-tow setup. Just note that it’s not designed for tow bars that attach to a hitch ball or for use with EZ Hook safety cables that rely on a Quick Disconnect crossbar.

Specs

Construction and Design

  • Material: All-steel construction
  • Manufacturing process: Computer-cut for precision
  • Finish: Black powder coat for durability and corrosion resistance
  • Design type: Hidden bracket design; partially hidden when installed
  • Connection type: Direct-connect brackets attach to vehicle’s frame
  • Front arms: Removable drawbars secured with 2 pins
  • Crossbar requirement: Not required due to heavy-duty application compatibility

Compatibility

  • Compatible tow bars: Roadmaster tow bars that slide into trailer hitch receivers (Nighthawk, Sterling, Blackhawk, Blackhawk 2, Falcon, Falcon 2)
  • Not compatible with: Tow bars that require a hitch ball
  • Vehicle fitment: Designed for the 1999–2002 Lexus LX 470 and Toyota Land Cruiser

Included Components

  • Instructions and mounting hardware: Included

Origin and Warranty

  • Manufactured in: USA
  • Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty

Note

  • The EZ Hook safety cables included with Roadmaster’s Sterling tow bars will not work with direct-connect base plates because these cables connect to an anchor plate on the Quick Disconnect crossbar, which is not used with direct-connect base plates.
  • The drawbars can be removed to leave the brackets virtually invisible, typically mounted within the grille for protection from scrapes and scuffs.

1151-1 Road Master MX Base Plate Kit

Installation Details 1151-1 Installation instructions

This Product Fits The Following Vehicles




Customer Satisfaction Score:

Ratings & Reviews

4.8

3697 reviews
5 Stars
(3221)
4 Stars
(316)
3 Stars
(67)
2 Stars
(30)
1 Star
(63)
Review Sort Icon
by:
Bought this to be able to flat-tow our 2000 Toyota Land Cruiser which some say can't be done (w/o damage to the tranny) - however - we're a couple thousand mile into the experiment and all seems to be well.
The device itself - although a bit awkward to completely remove/reinstall on the vehicle - shows no sign of weakness or operational malfunction.
For those of you who may consider doing this same thing with your Toy and are using (or intend to use) Roadmaster's Brakemaster air-actuated brake system, BE ADVISED: you WILL burn up your Cruiser's brakes UNLESS you add their 900002 adjustable pressure reducer to accommodate your "active" braking system. (Bolt hole spacing on the actuator cylinder bracket allows for mounting the reducer right on the unit inside the vehicle ;-)
One improvement Roadmaster could/should make to this baseplate setup is to provide mounting points for their Guardian series front-end vehicle protection.
It CAN be done!
R W. profile picture

R W.

12/13/2020

After a year of pointlessly hauling around that Guardian rock guard on its storage mount on the back of the motorhome, we finally got the mods to the baseplate done that should be a factory option. Woohoo, it worked!! So far as the baseplate parts themselves, the only possible concerns Ive noticed are: 1 some rust and wear of the hitch pins 2 wear at the holes in the hitch pins where the security lockskeepers pass through them. Looking into replacing the whole hitchpin setup with the same type of locking pins I use in the receiver tow hitch and baseplate arm receivers.

by:
1999 Toyota Land Cruiser
the base plate kit fit very well, I had to do a little bit of grinding but after that it all bolted up well and fits great
Tom profile picture

Tom

1/12/2025

works great,no problems at all

by:
Got what I ordered... on tome and as promised.... good place to do business.... when the need arrises i will order from them again....
by:
1999 Toyota Land Cruiser
Great Service. was shipped the day we placed the order. delivered in record time;
by:
2005 Lexus LX 470
by:
2026 ford Ranger
Had these installed at Lester’s Automotive in Boerne,Texas…First class service all the way. Paul and his crew worked through lunch for over 4 hours to install these on our 2026 Ford Ranger. Also ran the wire and hooked up my auxiliary tow lights. The price for this was very reasonable and would highly recommend them for all r.v. needs even if not real close to the Boerne area. R.V park within reasonable distance if needed.
by:
2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Etrailer comes through again! This was a great savings as a used kit, but it was even better than the description online. I have installed (4) baseplates on and etrailer.com has given me great videos to watch and good instructions to follow. Couldn't be more pleased with the quality, service and delivery times.
Gwendolyn Y. profile picture
Etrailer Expert

Gwendolyn Y.

2/12/2025

Install looks great, Jeff! Do you have any plans of where you are going to go this season yet?

Jeff profile picture

Jeff

2/12/2026

I’ve pulled the Chevy behind our motor home several times over a the last year. It has worked excellent. And when not in tow the tubing is barely noticeable.

by:
Easy to install needed to replace some fasteners as they broke removing front grill was able to get them from Amazon cheap
Gwendolyn Y. profile picture
Etrailer Expert

Gwendolyn Y.

2/26/2026

Looks great, Mark! Where are you off to next?

by:
Awesome instructions! Install was fairly easy. Product is very high quality and solid construction. Thank you E Trailer!
Heather A. profile picture
Etrailer Expert

Heather A.

4/10/2026

Wow great job Crystal! It looks great! Also, I couldn’t help but notice “Ski Express” on the car, that’s pretty cool. What kind of work do you do?

Crystal R. profile picture

Crystal R.

4/10/2026

@HeatherA I’m a pilot car driver. We escort oversized loads across the country. Thanks to E Trailer I was able to add a High pole to my car expanding my business and bringing in more revenue already. Thanks!
by:
2015 Jeep Wrangler
It mounted up just as the instructions said it would. From previous research I was not surprised when some of the mounting did not align perfectly. Had to use a dremel tool to make it work. The product looks very sturdy from its design. I’m happy with it and look forward to RV traveling.
by:
Pathetic and just talking to Noah he states he will get to my issue later when he has time!! My car is on jacks all torn apart and I think Roadmaster gas misled advertising. This 523228-5 baseplate is NOT MADE FOR 2026 CHEVY TRAX!!!
Mike L. profile picture
Etrailer Expert

Mike L.

9/23/2026

Which trim is your 2026 Chevy Trax? Per Roadmaster, the # RM25EQ (523228-5) fits all trims of the 2026 Trax except the ACTIV trim....

Larry profile picture

Larry

9/23/2026

The 523228-5 DOES NOT FIT MY 2026 CHEVY TRAX LT! Look at the side braces in your video of a Demco base plate install (upside down "U"). That is what is needed for my install. In Roadmasters install instructions, page 7, items #2, #3 have no frame in that area to bolt to & #5 has only one ho l e on bact end and putting a bolt in that hole leaves 3/4" short of main base plate. I sent pics to verify this to Noah on 9/22 @ 11:46AM. I know, unless you tried this install personally you are going by Roadmaster's word. BE CAREFUL IN SUGGESTING THIS FIT UNTIL YOU VERIFY. I just do not want someone else to have this experience. Thoughts ?
by:
Chevrolet TrailBlazer
This works perfect with my Roadmaster tow bar. It was a little difficult to install since I had to remove the front end of the Trailblazer, but with the good directions that came with it and some you tube videos made the installation easier.
David profile picture

David

8/2/2026

It’s been a great year. No problems with the base plate. Works great with my tow bar. Towed my trailblazer from Texas to North Dakota and back, and several short trips.

Jerred H. profile picture
Etrailer Expert

Jerred H.

8/2/2026

@David That is great to hear David! Thanks for coming back and sharing that feedback. I appreciate you taking the time.
by:
2017 f150
Customer service was very helpful. Easy to install. No bumper or grill cutting however, you do loose your front hooks. Nice low profile.
by:
2013 jeep Wrangler
I bought and installed this tow plate one year ago on my 2013 Jeep Wrangler. I bought this particular plate due to the jeep having a Barricade off-road bumper. This plate attaches a bit lower than other plates and prevented having to modify the bumper. Installation was easy involving only hand tools. The plate comes with all needed bolts and attachments. I have towed this Jeep several thousand miles behind my RV with absolutely no issues. As an aside, I use a Roadmaster Night Hawk tow bar which is also an excellent product. Both are expensive, but I believe cheaping-out on safety is no a good idea. I highly recommend this product.
Gary S. profile picture

Gary S.

6/19/2026

No issues at all. This is a solid piece of equipment.

Heather A. profile picture
Etrailer Expert

Heather A.

6/19/2026

@GaryS Thank you for letting us know! What is your favorite adventure so far?
by:
2019 Ford Transit T250
This Road Master Direct connect base plate works perfectly for a 2020 ford transit cargo 250! Awesome service from etrailer as usual! The finished product can barely be seen through the front fascia!
by:
I just followed your video of the installation and it was on point !
by:
I have lots of issues with this tow bar. Initial installation was difficult due to a tight fit. Had to have my mechanic cut holes in frame to get bolts attached. After a few times of use the bolts failed causing the bar to fall fwd that then damaged my hitch arms. To fix I drilled new hole through bar and frame securing it with a #8 bolt. To reinforce it I used turnbuckles attached to my bumper. last tow finally went well.
by:
It’s a super strong and wonderfully engineered addition to my new Maverick pickup.. Couldn’t be happier with it!!!!! Well done!!!!
by:
The product is great - I gave 4 vs 5 stars only because I had to drill the rear holes out as they did not align with the holes in my frame and I had to drill out the hole in the bracket to align with my frame extension hole, again bracket did not align with the existing hole. However, in general it appears to be a solid mount.
by:
Great Base plate, had to modify the non-oem bumper a little to get the clearance needed to get mounting holes lined up. Once that was done, everything went pretty quickly finished and tested. Towed 600 miles and worked flawlessly. Much better than using the bumper tow points, as they were elevated causing a very bouncy towed on bridge aprons. Bumper tow points also let the towed have minor side to side movement, this does not, so a lot better towing experience.
by:
2024 Chevrolet Colorado
I had hoped to employ a mounting bracket assembly I had bought on-line used. It would have required extensive modification with an unsure outcome. I found this assembly at etrailer for a reasonable price and ordered it to remove uncertainty from the installation. Etrailer was helpful in completing the rest of my needs for a brake assembly also. Good people.
by:
The Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plate Kit has performed flawlessly over the past year. With almost 10k miles logged during our 3 month trip across the US, the components have remained as installed and operated as expected.
by:
I really like the way it is hidden and doesn't stick out like a sore thumb. My Rubicon X has a metal skid under the bumper that I cut holes in for the base plate tabs to protrude. I made 5 or 6 trips to my shop to get it right. Would be nice if it came with a paper template showing where to trim. It bolted up perfectly and seems well made.
by:
2018 Mazda Miata
I installed this base plate on a 2018 Miata RF. I think I recall something about it taking 3.5 hours and my initial estimate was 3.5 days. It actually took a bit longer than that, but I was not pushing myself and did not have the luxury of having the vehicle on a lift but had it up on two ramps for the front wheels.

The order came pretty quickly, probably about 4 or 5 days between the time I placed it and UPS delivered it. The parts were well packaged and it came with a printed set of instructions. I had watched the video install on another Miata and if it weren't for that I'm not sure I would have tried it. I'm not a pro mechanic by any means but have worked on my own vehicles now for over 40 years. And I'm not a spring chicken either, so all the up and down working on the car can tire me fairly quickly. But if you are not in a rush and go carefully it can be done.

It took a day to do most of the disassembly. I removed both headlights and the intake tube on the passenger side. That tube came out much easier then it went back in.

The next day I got the baseplate mounted which helped to start visualizing how it all would work. All of the holes for the 6mm bolts did not quite line up with the holes in the frame. I had to file one sides worth for a bit of extra clearance. From my experience on this install you really want to leave all the bolt on the loose side till you get everything situated.

A couple of days off for rain and the then I got to work on the bracing. Initially I though I didnt need to cut the top lip of the frame but I decided to go ahead and do it anyway since that part didnt seem to sit flat when bolted from the back end. I'm still not sure its really necessary as the hump clears the metal lip without cutting it.

I also ordered a 14" long 1/2" drill bit to cut the holes in the frame. It was a Bosch bit, wasnt very expensive and it went through the metal like the proverbial hot knife. I managed to get all the big bolts installed in a day with a great sense of satisfaction.

The next day I torqued down all the bolts and the mount felt very solid. They stress that you need to install all the bolts, but honestly I can't see the 6mm bolts doing much compared to the half inch bolts that do most or all of the work. But I put them in and tightened them all the same.

A couple of days spent to install the tail light wiring and then I got back on to putting the front clip back on. My car must have had an aftermarket grill since it did not match the pictures or the video. I tried to position it carefully to see where the parts that were going to stick out would be so I didnt cut out more than I needed to. So there was a good amount of back and forth, cut and fit. In the end I had to make some extra cuts for clearance for the safety cable tabs as well as the mount for the 6 wire connector. Until I made the extra cuts the lower part of the front clip would not seat correctly. Getting the clip in the right position so it fits under the lights also takes some finagling.

Figuring out where all the bolts go back in can be interesting. Take pictures where you can. Dont be too aggressive when working with plastic parts. Overall I'm satisfied with the install, but I have yet to try and hook it up to tow.
Gwendolyn Y. profile picture
Etrailer Expert

Gwendolyn Y.

4/18/2025

Wow, Bob! Thank you for such the detailed review and feedback about how your install went. I also appreciate all the photos you sent as well. I cant wait to hear about how your first tow goes and where you head off to.

by:
It takes a while. Better if you have a car lift ( we have a lift )
25
3697
true
Show More Reviews

See what our Experts say about this Roadmaster Tow Bar Base Plate

  • Availabiluity Of Replacement Arms For Roadmaster Base Plate 1151-1
    Hello Bob, thanks for getting in touch. We do offer replacement arms for the Roadmaster base plates like the # 1151-1 you mentioned. You can purchase new ones by filling out the attached form below for # RM-ARMS. Just keep in mind this is a special order and new arms usually take a few weeks to get.
    view full answer...
  • Recommended Roadmaster Base Plate Kit For 2000 Lexus LX 470
    For your LX 470 I recommend the Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plate Kit # 1151-1 which was designed for the 1999-2002 Lexus LX 470 and Toyota Land Cruiser. To complete your flat tow setup you will also need a tow bar, safety cables, wiring for lights, and a supplemental braking system. I recommend the Roadmaster Falcon All Terrain, Non-Binding Tow Bar # RM-522 which will make unhooking your vehicle a breeze even on un-even ground, and will work perfectly with the Direct Connect Base...
    view full answer...

Do you have a question about this Tow Bar Base Plate?


Info for this part was:

Employee Lindsey S
Written by:
Lindsey S
Employee Adele M
Updated by:
Adele M
Employee Wilson B
Updated by:
Wilson B
Employee Mike S
Updated by:
Mike S
Employee Isabelle B
Updated by:
Isabelle B
Employee Amanda K
Updated by:
Amanda K

At etrailer we provide the best information available about the products we sell. We take the quality of our information seriously so that you can get the right part the first time. Let us know if anything is missing or if you have any questions.


Product Experts Available Now!
Call 1-800-940-8924