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  1. Tow Bar Base Plate
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  4. Twist Lock Attachment
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Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms
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Roadmaster

Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms

Part Number: RM35FR
In Stock
$575.00
Retail:$632.50
You Save: $57.50
Tow Bar Base Plate

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etrailer Installation
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Designed for use with motor-home-mounted tow bars, the direct-connect brackets are virtually invisible, easy to mount and remove, and they eliminate the need for a quick-disconnect crossbar on your tow bar. Installs on your vehicle's frame. Great Prices for the best tow bar base plate from Roadmaster. Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms part number RM35FR can be ordered online at etrailer.com or call 1-800-940-8924 for expert service.
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Roadmaster Tow Bar Base Plate - RM35FR

Highlights

  • Custom Fit for Your Vehicle: Mounts to existing attachment points
  • Ready for Flat Towing: Direct-connect brackets create solid attachment points for RV towing.
  • Blends In When Not Towing: Hidden brackets sit back within the grille for a clean, factory look.
  • Quick Hookup and Release: Twist-lock removable arms click in place and pull free with built-in rings.
  • Built to Last: Computer-cut, all-steel construction with black powder coat resists corrosion.
  • Simple to Install: Mounts to the vehicle’s frame with no welding required; hardware included.
Made in USA

Features to know about

Made for a Clean Front End: Hidden Brackets with Removable Arms

When you want a tidy look up front, this design keeps things nearly invisible once the arms are off. The brackets sit farther back than standard mounts so nothing sticks out past the grille. When you’re not towing, you just twist out the drawbars and the remaining brackets stay tucked away and protected from scrapes or bumps.

Hook Up Fast and Easy: Twist-Lock, Pin-Release Connection

Getting connected doesn’t have to be a chore. The removable arms slide into the brackets, twist to lock in place, and secure automatically. Built-in pull rings let you unlock them quickly when it’s time to unhook. The direct-connect setup means you don’t need a separate crossbar—just mount your tow bar directly for a clean, strong connection every time.

Built to Handle Real Mileage: All-Steel Construction and Powder-Coat Finish

This kit bolts straight to the frame with no welding required, giving you a solid connection point that can take the stress of long trips. The computer-cut, all-steel construction provides exceptional strength, and the black powder coat finish stands up to corrosion so it keeps performing through years of use.

Set Up with Confidence: Direct-Connect Fitment for Roadmaster Tow Bars

If you’re running a motor-home-mounted Roadmaster tow bar like the Nighthawk, Sterling, Blackhawk, Blackhawk 2, Falcon, or Falcon 2, this base plate is built for you. It eliminates the quick-disconnect crossbar altogether so hookup is simpler and cleaner. Each kit comes with the necessary mounting hardware and instructions to bolt everything in place without guesswork.

Specs

Features

  • Direct-connect brackets: Provide attachment points for your motor-home-mounted tow bar
  • Streamlined design: Creates supremely clean look
  • No quick-disconnect crossbar: No obtrusive quick-disconnect crossbar
  • Hidden brackets: Sit even farther back than standard brackets
  • Drawbars: Attach and remove quickly and easily
  • Arms: Click to lock in place in brackets
  • Built-in pull rings: Let you unlock arms so you can twist and remove them
  • Computer-cut, all-steel construction: Provides exceptional strength
  • Black powder coat finish: Durable and corrosion resistant
  • Installation: Simple installation - no welding required
  • Custom base plates: Ensure a perfect fit for your vehicle
  • Compatibility: Compatible with Roadmaster motor-home-mounted tow bars only
  • Instructions and hardware: Instructions and mounting hardware included
  • Country of origin: Made in the USA
  • Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty

Note

  • Note: Roadmaster direct-connect base plates will only work with Roadmaster tow bars that slide into a trailer hitch, such as the Nighthawk, Sterling, Blackhawk, Blackhawk 2, Falcon, or Falcon 2. These base plates will not work with tow bars that require a hitch ball.

523206-5 Road Master EZ-5 Base Plate Kit

Installation Details RM35FR Installation instructions

This Product Fits The Following Vehicles




Customer Satisfaction Score:

Ratings & Reviews

4.8

3602 reviews
5 Stars
(3141)
4 Stars
(310)
3 Stars
(63)
2 Stars
(30)
1 Star
(58)
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Designed for use with motor-home-mounted tow bars, the direct-connect brackets are virtually invisible, easy to mount and remove, and they eliminate the need for a quick-disconnect crossbar on your tow bar. Installs on your vehicle's frame.

by:

Installation was fairly straightforward, kudos to e-trailer for the videos, looks great, everyone says it looks factory installed, love the low profile base plate without the bar, also love that the hook ups are detachable and can be removed when not towing, gives it an overall cleaner look. Installed it right at the campground without issues, took about 3 hours to install, with our rubicon only had to widen the top holes as the second set of holes were already the size of the bolts needed. This is the 3rd base blare we have installed and they get easier each time.



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This is my 4th set of Roadmaster baseplates that I’ve installed through the years. The fit, quality and finish appearance is always excellent. 2024 Chevy Silverado 1500.



by:

The folks at etrailer are fantastic. I didn't know everything I needed to tow my car behind our RV... but they did! Everything I needed was in the boxes and the videos made it all come together. Thank you to everyone at etrailer!



by:

Good product. If you are reasonably handy and have some tools, you can install this yourself in a few hours. I'm a mechanic, it took me a little over 2 hours to install on my own toad. The fit is good, there are 4 holes you have to drill, otherwise it is plug and play. When you insert and twist lock the tow bar mounts into their sockets they feel a little sloppy but they are secure, and i never noticed any rattle when towing. Overall i give it a 4 out of 5 for easy install and clean look after install. Pic included of installed base plate.



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This was a bit of a challenge to install on a 2026 Chevrolet Colorado Z71. One item to be aware of, as you take off the front Facia of the truck for the install, there are two Facia "brakets" that attach to the front fenders that seem like they are use once plastic snaps. Three of the 4 snaps broke off on both sides when I removed the facia. These are about $35 a piece from Chevy and prevent you from making this a 1 day job. Additionally, there are 2 7mm screws/bolts that connect one of the coolers to the back of the bumper support and these are a real problem to get back in - over an hour of time and every 1/4" tool in my arsenal was needed to find a way to get these started. Finally, one of the Connecting Plates (Passenger side) needed to holes to be elongated to enable all the bolts to be started. Finally - you need to put the Brakaway bracket on the driver side, to have enough cable to reach you brake system. Probably have 4 hours in the disassembly and installation of the Direct-Connect Plate. Now waiting a couple days for the plastic brackets from Chevy to complete the install. Good Luck!!



by:

Excellent base plate, just as my wife requested, she didn’t want too much metal visible in front of the bumper. Installation instructions were a bit confusing for me, but I’ll clarify, for me.



by:

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.



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2002 Honda CR-V. Easy to install. Two and a half hours, and stopped to eat a sandwich. To install the spacers inside the roll frame on the car I used an extension magnet to reach in there and position them. As you can see NO cutting was needed on the bumper cover!
Now I have to figure out the easiest way to run the wiring for the lights.
Thanks Lauren A for your help!



by:

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.



by:

Awesome instructions! Install was fairly easy. Product is very high quality and solid construction. Thank you E Trailer!



by:

Easy to install needed to replace some fasteners as they broke removing front grill was able to get them from Amazon cheap



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 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:

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.



by:

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:

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.



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Nice helpful phone staff , quality products , fast delivery . What’s not to like !!!!



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Arrived early. Fit and work perfectly.



by:

I'll know better after this weekend - towing the car for the first time.



by:

Great product. I had it professional installed very easy to use

John B. profile picture

John B.

1/19/2023

Same as its been the previous year. Great product!! NO issues easy to use and attaching to my 2021 TrailBlazer



by:

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.

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

  • Recommended Flat Towing Set Up for a 2023 Chevy Trailblazer
    Hey Richard! To flat tow your 2023 Chevy Trailblazer you will need the following parts: Tow Bar and Safety Chains - Roadmaster Falcon 2 Tow Bar item # RM-520 and item # RM-643 Base Plate Kit - Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms item # RM35FR if you have the L, LS, LT, or ACTIV models or item # RM46VR if you have the RS model Wiring Harness - Roadmaster Diode 7-Wire to 6-Wire Flexo-Coil Wiring Kit item # RM26FR if you have the L, LS, or LT models or item # RM38FR...
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  • Braking Sensitivity Settings for a Brake Buddy Select On a 2025 Chevy Trailblazer LT
    Hey Carrie, there is no set sensitivity setting for the Brake Buddy Select 3 Portable Flat Tow Brake System # HM39524 and your 2025 Chevy Trailblazer. What you're going to need to do is set the braking power for 25 - 45 psi and go from there. The setting should be enough that your towed vehicle still gives a slight tug at your RV when you brake. If you find that you need more or less PSI you can just adjust from there.
    view full answer...
  • Recommended Flat Towing Parts for a 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer
    Hey Ronald. So long as they're installed correctly the Roadmaster 7-Wire to 6-Wire Flexo-Coil Kit item # RM-146-7 and the Blue Ox 7-Wire to 6-Wire, Coiled Electrical Cord item # BX88206 will have the same locations and functions. It looks like you're looking at flat tow setups for a 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer. Here's the parts you'll need: Tow Bar and Safety Chains - etrailer SD Non-Binding Tow Bar for Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plates item # e74ZR Base Plate Kit - Roadmaster Direct-Connect...
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  • Recommended Flat Towing Components For A 2023 Chevy Trailblazer And Where To Get Them Installed
    If you're willing to make the trip out to our facility in Wentzville, MO then we could install your flat towing components for you. We also have an installer locator, which I've attached below, that you can use to find the nearest installer to your area code. Just to make sure you have everything you'll need to flat tow your Trailblazer I have to following recommendations: Baseplate: Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plate Kit # RM35FR. Tow Bar: etrailer SD Non-Binding Tow Bar # e74ZR along...
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  • Does The Battery Have To Be Disconnected To Flat Tow A 2023 Chevy Trailblazer
    The battery will need to be disconnected while you flat tow your 2023 Chevy Trailblazer. If you want to make this process as easy as pressing a button then you'll want to install the Roadmaster Battery Disconnect with Switch # RM-766. If you haven't picked out the rest of your flat towing setup then I have the following recommendations for you: Baseplate: For L, LS, LT, and ACTIV models you'll need the Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plate Kit # RM35FR. For RS models part # RM46VR. Tow...
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  • Recommended Flat Towing Components For A 2023 Chevy Trailblazer
    If you want to set up an appointment to drop off your Trailblazer and motorhome to have all of your flat towing components installed then you'll want to reach out to our customer service department at 1-800-940-8924 to get an install appointment. If you haven't picked out your flat towing components yet then I have the following recommendations: Baseplate: If you have an L, LS, LT, or ACTIV model then you'll need the Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plate Kit # RM35FR. For RS models you'll...
    view full answer...
  • Recommended Flat Towing Components For A 2023 Chevy TrailBlazer ACTIV AWD
    Hey Jeffrey, I'm doing good, how about you? Sorry to hear about your Equinox but we can definitely help get your new Trailblazer set up to tow. The tow bar, Tow Defender, safety cables, and charge line kit (if installed) could be swapped over but the diode wiring and baseplate are different. The braking system can most likely be moved over but you might need some new parts depending on the system. What braking system do you currently have? For the baseplate I recommend the Roadmaster...
    view full answer...
  • Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plate Kit with Removable Arms for 2022 RS Trim Chevrolet TrailBlazer
    The Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plate Kit, # RM35FR will not fit the RS model of the 2021 Chevrolet TrailBlazer. We do however have three options that are a confirmed fit for the RS model of the 2021 Chevrolet TrailBlazer. The Roadmaster Crossbar-Style Base with removable arms, # RM96VR. The Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base with removable arms, # RM46VR. And the Blue Ox Base Plate Kit, # BLU49FR. These are all confirmed fit for the 2021 models, not yet listed as such for the 2022....
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  • How To Use Roadmaster Nighthawk Tow Bar On 2022 Chevy TrailBlazer
    In order to use the Roadmaster Nighthawk All Terrain, Non-Binding Tow Bar part # RM-676 on a 2022 Chevrolet TrailBlazer you'll need the Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plate Kit part # RM35FR. If you want to use the Roadmaster Nighthawk All Terrain, Non-Binding Tow Bar for Blue Ox Base Plates part # RM-677 you'll instead need the Blue Ox Base Plate Kit part # BLU49FR. The instructions are linked for you so you can determine if you are capable. A few other things you might want to consider...
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  • Compatible Base Plate For A 2021 Chevy TrailBlazer Activ AWD
    If your 2021 Chevy TrailBlazer Activ AWD has a 1.3L Turbo engine then you will be able to use the Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms # RM35FR. The RS base plates would not be compatible with your vehicle. As for the difference between Roadmaster and Blue Ox, Roadmaster manufactures all of their equipment in house, in the US, and is top tier in quality. While Blue Ox is a good brand, their quality and customer service comes in second place. Roadmaster's tech service,...
    view full answer...
  • Recommended Parts to Flat Tow a 2023 Chevy Trailblazer
    To flat tow your 2023 Chevy Trailblazer you will need the following parts: Tow Bar and Safety Chains - Roadmaster Falcon 2 Tow Bar item # RM-520 and item # RM-643 Base Plate Kit - Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms item # RM35FR Wiring Harness - Roadmaster Diode 7-Wire to 6-Wire Flexo-Coil Wiring Kit item # RM26FR Battery Disconnect Switch - Roadmaster Automatic Battery Disconnect with Switch item # RM-766 Supplemental Braking System - Blue Ox Patriot Radio Frequency...
    view full answer...

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


Info for this part was:

Employee Lindsey S
Edited by:
Lindsey S
Employee Wilson B
Updated by:
Wilson B
Employee Amanda K
Updated by:
Amanda K
Employee Mike S
Written by:
Mike S

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