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The crossbar-style hidden brackets attach to your Ford Explorer's frame to provide attachment points for your tow bar. The visible portions of the brackets can be removed when you are not towing.
Features:
The square drawbars, or front arms, on the crossbar-style base plate kit are simple to mount and remove, easily securing with hitch pins. Once the drawbars have been removed, the remaining brackets are virtually invisible. On most automobiles, the brackets are mounted within the grille, where they remain not only unseen, but protected from scrapes and scuffs as well.
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (970 Customer Reviews)
The crossbar-style hidden brackets attach to your vehicle's frame to provide attachment points for your tow bar. The visible portions of the brackets can be removed when you are not towing.Good information and prompt shipping.
Base plate is solid and install and use instructions are excellent.
Be warned that product install is drill two holes and install 3 bolts, BUT the entire front panel has to be removed and replaced. Not difficult, but time-consuming.
Seat bracket is solid and install and use instructions are excellent.
Brakemaster kit is good quality, but instructions are not as good as most Roadmaster products. Instructions for air line install are especially weak.
shipping was great installation was as described works great
I had some difficulties installing it , but in all it went well. We have used it on several trips and it works just wonderful.
I have not installed it yet but will in the near future.
etrailer service is and has always been stellar. My order was correct and was delivered very quickly. The only reason I made this a four instead of a five was that the rear bolt position of both base plate brackets where welded on crooked. Each small plate was at a different angle from each other. In my opinion whoever welded them wasn’t paying attention to quality control. Because I was on a time crunch for my departure on a trip and could not wait for replacements (and I needed the vehicle for local driving) I made the brackets work. Other than that the installation went smoothly and I was able to test tow my 2004 CRV a couple of times without incident.
Very impressed that they're the exact fabbed fit, and easy to install! These tow base plates are super sturdy!
Item arrived earlier than predicted after viewing a very complete tracking system. The information was very clear and precise. Good job! I am 75 years of age and installed the baseplate myself. Only a couple of minor issues. One pin would not insert. Welding blob in the way. Filed it smooth and problem solved. The video was excellent but was a bit different in that it showed a different method o rear bolt installation, however the instructions on paper showed the correct way. Reinstalling the front clip had presented some difficulty. I suggest really watching the inner fender position relative to the front clip before removal. All said all went well. The finished look is great, (see pictures). Great product!
Base plate 1910 install on 1999 Landrover disco 2
the base plate arrived fast (as does everything I have ordered from etrailer). It was a bit bent on arrival but Becky sorted me out and offered to replace it but it was easy to bend back (with a 3lb hammer).
The included instructions were great for removing the bumper but nor much else. Possibly because my Landy is a 1999 disco 2 and the pictures were of a 2002.
I have included some pictures of stuff I wish I had known. Firstly I had to loose the recovery loop on the driver side as the base plate would not fit over it. The chassis frame has steel tubes inside the bolt holes so the amount of drilling is minimal (I ordered a drill bit that they suggested but in all honesty could have opened up the holes with a file easily).
You need to oval out the aluminum crush cans before you replce them or the new bolts will not go through. The center mount bolt just needs the plastic mount for the center screw on the scoop cut out and there is a bog square hole on the top of the member (thats why you need to big square piece of steel on the top of the center bolt)
Mine was obscured by the torsion bar so I ended up dropping it to drill out the hole and get the bolt in straight.
It was easy to bolt up to the frame once everything was prepped and do yourself a favour and buy loctite red for the bolts - you don't want to be going in there again.
The bumper template was a good start but I had to reshape mine a lot particularly as the hole on the baseplate ended up halfway through the bumper and I had to do a lot of enlargement at the bottom to attach the safety wires.
The photos should make more sense of some of my description
The baseplate and crossbar arrived one day earlier than expected. Directions were included which made the installation pretty easy.
I am happy with etrailers products and will buy from them again.
This base plate was installed on a 2008 Kia Spectra. The bracket is strong and not really hard to work with HOWEVER,,,,,,,,,, I am used to the BlueOx base plate which is much easier to "hook up". Unfortunately, BlueOx did not make a base plate to fit my vehicle. That is not a big problem as I'm usually not in any hurry and it only takes maybe 5 minutes longer to "hook up".
The biggest problem with the RoadMaster base plate is that due to the way it is bolted to the frame, it only allows for a 6-inch ground clearance on the front of the vehicle. I have to be very careful with any "dips" in the road, especially on cross streets. Six inches may not sound like much but since the tires are several feet behind the base plate, it reduces that ground clearance greatly. It also will not clear the concrete "stop blocks" in front of many parking spaces.
If you are not very careful and keep this in mind, you may likely bend the frame of your car when you come to one of these sudden impacts. I haven't bent anything yet but it has certainly been shocking when it hits. Most of the time, the impact will cause the base plate to scrape and lift the car to the height to clear the obstacle.
I've attached a picture with a ruler in the view.
Everything looks good for us, but we have one more part that we are waiting on before we can install on the truck plus it's raining out here in Washington State. when it's time to put it all together we will take a picture and send it.
My husband and I were able to install the Roadmaster base plates on our 92 Jeep Cherokee in just a couple of hours. It went on pretty much the same as the demonstration video on the etrailer web site. The minor differences were addressed in the printed instructions that were included in our package. We haven't put it to the test yet as we still need to tackle wiring for the Roadmaster Even brake system that we purchased second hand. We will be towing our Jeep with our 93 Safari Trek. Customer service provided by Marty was excellent. I will provide pictures at a later date.
The hardest part of the installation is getting the grill off and back on. Of the six preexisting holes all but one lined up the sixth hole was off about a half inch but the car had hit a deer a few years ago.
This was a very simple install. This is my 4th baseplate I have bought and 2 pintle tow bars. Always excellent craftsmanship
Installed on a 2010 Ford Ranger Sport 2wd
Have towed over 10000 and not one issue. I did the install without one issue, picture perfect, I did use a online video to get a general idea of install otherwise I primarily used manufacturer's. . Be sure to use the recommended/ required locktite product.
Enjoy!!!
What a job to install this thing! Does not line up with any of the existing holes. It is close, but still a real bear to get into place. Instructions do not have any photos. The instructions also list bolts that are not in the kit. I strike that up to a misprint, but still very confusing. It requires a drill bit, that I could not find any any hardware store or auto store. 17/32 drill bit? Maybe include that with the parts? Definitely helps to have another hand and a lot of patience. No videos online about this install and what to do about all the gaps where it does not properly line up at the right angle for towing.
Dealing with eTrailer to purchase and install my own base plate made me feel like I had a team of experts at my disposal. The installation is not easy and not for everyone, but with the help of chat sessions and videos, I believe that most people with some good working knowledge of tools can get it done.
Base plate kit was fairly easy to install,all hardware was included and directions were clear! I would definitely buy another to install if ever needed. I do have a car lift making it easier,but would not be bad without,just a little harder on the knees!
Great product, shipping was FAST. Instructions were adequate, but minimum - this was not surprising, you have to know how to bend wrenches to install something like this yourself.
I had a factory-installed tow hook on each side that had to be uninstalled, but once you remove the front bumper shroud it is easy to remove and all the bolts are easy to remove. Once the hook was out of the way, easy-peasy!
Fast shipping and installation went smoothly with the provided instructions. The only complaint was the shipping box was in very bad shape - I think due to the weight of the base plate. A sturdier shipping box should be used.
Great product,installation took about 3 hours,instructions were good,go step by step.works well with the roadmaster falcon tow bar.
Super nice people at etrailer. I wasn’t sure exactly what I needed and they helped me pick out the best hitch for me.
I needed to set up our 1998 Toyota RAV4 for dinghy towing. Etrailer.com had everything I needed. The Roadmaster 1142-3 base plates fit as designed and were fairly easy to install, the only body modification needed was trimming the splash pans around the engine for the ends of the mounts. I had to point them out to my wife after installation, they are very discreet when not in use. The Roadmaster 910021-00 QD towbar assembly will make connecting to our RV a breeze, and the RM-98100 second vehicle kit had all the connectors and tubing to install my Brakemaster and BrakeAway cylinders. The long leads on the HM20014 breakaway switch meant I needed fewer wire connectors, and the FA80-01-2160 coiled cable will provide a more finished look when not towing the Toy. I decided to not complicate my life any more than necessary, and selected the EZT20B tow light kit instead of a magnetic kit due to the convertible top on our RAV4. The customer service people at etrailer.com were quick to answer my questions about wiring options, kept me informed when I had a delay, and the shipping/delivery times were unbelievable. Here in Wisconsin I received my orders in TWO DAYS!
Placed order with Rebecca after she answered several questions. Shipment was quick and follow on emails kept me informed of status of order. In fact, she called me to let me know that the order had shipped. Product was drop shipped to Labelle Auto for installation. As stated in product manufactures installation instructions the install was straight forward and took the full 3 hours. I have used (towed) my vehicle since the install and everything works great. Also installed the Roadmaster Diode wiring kit. Easy to do and works great. As an added benefit with this kit your front running lights will also be illuminated. Overall I am very satisfied with both the product and the customer service provided by Rebecca and Dana at etrailer.com.
I've towed with it many times and Zero problems. I did find that moving the car slightly forward after stopping helps relax tension amd.make.disconnect much easier. Overall... I'd say SUPER..!!
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Gordon
1/8/2016
Great with no problems. Connect and disconnect very quick and easy. Thanks.