To see if this custom-fit item will work for you please tell us what vehicle you'll use it with.
This setup keeps your front end looking clean when you’re not towing. The hidden bracket design means the drawbars are easily removable with two pins, leaving the brackets virtually invisible. On most vehicles, the brackets sit within the grille where they stay out of sight and protected from scrapes or scuffs. You get a strong mounting system that doesn’t change the look of your vehicle when you’re driving solo.
Strength and precision come standard here. The base plate is made from all-steel and computer-cut for an exact fit, ensuring solid performance under load. A black powder coat finish adds durability and corrosion resistance, so it holds up through years of towing and weather exposure. This setup is built for heavy-duty use and spreads towing forces evenly across the frame for confident hauling mile after mile.
Because this kit is part of Roadmaster’s direct-connect line, it doesn’t need a crossbar. That means fewer parts to deal with, faster hookups, and a cleaner look up front. The design connects straight to motor-home-mounted tow bars that slide into trailer hitch receivers like the Nighthawk, Sterling, Blackhawk, Blackhawk 2, Falcon, and Falcon 2. Once you pull the pins to remove the arms, nothing sticks out to bump your knees or snag gear.
The installation process is straightforward—no welding required. The custom base plates bolt directly to your frame for a secure fit, and all necessary mounting hardware comes with the kit. Clear instructions walk you through drilling locations if needed on certain setups. Once installed, connecting your tow bar takes only minutes, saving time every time you set up or disconnect at camp or home base.
Customer Satisfaction Score:
90% were satisfied with this product
10% of customers were not satisfied
Ratings & Reviews
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.
Easy to install needed to replace some fasteners as they broke removing front grill was able to get them from Amazon cheap
Easy installation! Etrailer videos are very informative and helpful! Always great to have a helper too!
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!
It was shipped promply. I installed it myself using the included step by step instructions and videos from etrailer. It all went well (though I had to come back and reconnect the sensor plug- my bad).
I tow a Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk and this base plate is nearly invisible when not towing. Works well.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Everything is good.
Timely, fast action ensured I got my equipment earlier than expected. Great job, right part.
It works great!
IT FIT PERFECTLEY AND I AM VERY SATISFIED WITH IT
Excellent quality and instructions. Exceeded expectations.
The items have performed super for my towing of my vehicle behind my motorhome thank you.
Installed these on my 2013 Toyota Prerunner. Installation was very easy and straight forward. They work great.
The product was delivered in a very timely manner and installation was fairly easy.Highly recommend this product and seller,Etrailer. Etrailer website was easy to navigate and as said earlier,UPS delivered on time ,actually sooner than I expected.Base plate looks good on my truck and I am expecting years of good service from it..
The baseplates were fairly easy to install. I tow my Tacoma behind my Tiffin Phaeton. My first trip was from Eugen, Oregon to Tucson, Arizona; 1400 miles. It was like it wasn't even hooked to my rv.
Fast , easy , knowledgeable service.
I did some research and decided this was the best route to set up my 2012 Tacoma to tow behind my RV. Very clean install and the plates are very unobtrusive.
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