Tow Bars and Flat Towing Parts

1. Tow Bar Base Plates

2. Tow Bars

3. Safety Cables

4. Flat Tow Wiring Harness

5. Flat Tow Brake Systems

6. Additional Wiring Components

Blue Ox Base Plate Kit on front of Jeep.

1. TOW BAR BASE PLATES

A base plate is the critical link between your RV and your vehicle, providing a secure mounting point for your tow bar. Designed to match your vehicle’s exact make and model, base plates ensure a strong, stable connection that keeps your vehicle aligned while flat towing. With the right base plate, hooking up is faster, easier, and gives you the confidence to hit the road without second-guessing.

etrailer adpaters for roadmaster tow bar.

BASE PLATE ADAPTERS

BASE PLATE PARTS

Roadmaster Nighthawk Tow Bar attached to RV.

2. TOW BARS

Tow bars create the solid bridge between your vehicle’s base plate and your RV’s hitch, making flat towing controlled, smooth, and reliable. A properly connected tow bar ensures proper tracking behind your RV and minimizes sway, so you can tow safely mile after mile. Whether you need a telescopic tow bar for easy hookup or a fixed model for simple operation, there's a setup for every towing style.

HITCH STYLE TOW BARS

COUPLER STYLE TOW BARS

TELESCOPIC TOW BARS

FIXED TOW BARS

TOW DOLLIES

Roadmaster EZ Hook Safety Cables in blue.

3. SAFETY CABLES

Safety cables act as a vital backup if your tow bar ever disconnects during travel. Designed to keep your towed vehicle secured to your RV, these cables offer peace of mind for any trip. Coiled, straight, snap hook, or quick-link styles are available depending on your setup, all built to add an extra layer of protection for every mile you tow.

COILED SAFETY CABLES

STRAIGHT SAFETY CABLES

SNAP HOOK SAFETY CABLES

Blue Ox Permanent base plate safety cables in black.

QUICK LINK SAFETY CABLES

SAFETY CABLE EXTENSIONS

Blue OX Tow Bar Wiring Kit being install in truck.

4. FLAT TOW WIRING HARNESS

A flat tow wiring harness synchronizes your vehicle’s lights with your RV’s signals, ensuring brake lights, turn signals, and tail lights all function properly while towing. Wiring is not just a safety feature—it's a legal requirement in most areas. From removable tail lights to diode kits and wiring adapters, we offer easy solutions to keep your flat tow setup safe and compliant.

WIRING EXTENSIONS

Blue Ox 7-wire to 6-wire coiled electrical cord in blue.

WIRING ADAPTERS

REMOVABLE TAIL LIGHTS

Roadmaster diode 7-wire to 6-wire flexo-coil wiring kit.

DIODE KITS

Roadmaster tail light wiring kit with bulbs.

BULB AND SOCKET KITS

Brake Buddy Brake System in cab of truck.

5. FLAT TOW BRAKE SYSTEMS

A flat tow brake system applies braking power to your towed vehicle, easing the load on your RV and creating safer, smoother stops. Essential for controlling momentum on descents and during emergency stops, these systems are required by law in many states. Choose from proportional, pre-set, fixed, or portable braking systems depending on your towing setup and preferences.

Roadmaster Even Brake portable braking system.

PROPORTIONAL BRAKING SYSTEMS

PRE-SET BRAKING SYSTEMS

FIXED BRAKING SYSTEMS

Brake Buddy portable braking system in red.

PORTABLE BRAKING SYSTEMS

Blue Ox replacement RF controller for Patriot braking systems.

BRAKING SYSTEMS ACCESSORIES

6. ADDITIONAL WIRING COMPONENTS

Complete your flat tow setup with wiring components designed for convenience and safety. Stop light switch kits, fuse bypass switches, battery charge lines, and battery disconnect kits help ensure a smoother towing experience while protecting your vehicle’s electrical system.

STOP LIGHT SWITCH KITS

BRAKE-LITE RELAY KITS

BATTERY DISCONNECT

FUSE BYPASS SWITCH

BATTERY CHARGE LINE KITS

TOW BAR ACCESSORIES

Customize and protect your setup with tow bar accessories. From protective covers and storage bags to hitch adapters and locking systems, these extras make towing easier and safer. If you're flat towing multiple vehicles, second vehicle kits make it simple to share your braking system across cars.

TOW BAR ACCESSORY KITS

TOW BAR COVERS AND STORAGE

Roadmaster replacement tow bar quick disconnect kit.

FLAT TOW HELP ARTICLES

Need help getting started? Check out our helpful resources written by people who've flat towed themselves:

Must-Have Flat Towing Components article.

Guide to Hooking-Up to Flat Tow article.

Ensuring Safe Travels: Flat Towing or Using a Dolly with Your RV

Check out our selection of tow dollies, or choose from our wide array of flat tow products to create a world-class setup. We have everything you need, from hitch-style and coupler-style tow bars to wiring to braking systems.

Not only do we have the tow bars, we also have the accessories you need to hook it up and function properly, from the wiring down to the brake systems. With trusted brands like Roadmaster, Curt, Demco, Blue Ox, and Tow Ready, you can travel with peace of mind that you have a high quality product that will do its job right.

With over 75 years of assisting our neighbors and customers, over 1 million photos and videos taken to make sure you’re getting exactly what you need, and over 35 thousand installations completed, we’ve got the product know-how and experience to help you make the right choices for the job at hand.

What is flat towing?

Flat towing, or dinghy towing, is when you tow a vehicle with all four wheels on the ground behind another vehicle, like an RV. It’s a simple way to bring your car along for the ride without using a trailer or dolly.

What’s the difference between flat towing and using a tow dolly or trailer?

Flat towing is simpler—no bulky dolly or trailer to store or deal with. As long as your car is flat towable, it’s faster to set up and easier to disconnect when you reach your destination.

Can I flat tow my car?

Not every car can be flat towed, so it’s best to check your owner’s manual. Look under “Recreational Towing” to see if it’s approved and find any special instructions. For more information, be sure to check out our Flat Tow Index to see which vehicles are compatible and any additional tips!

What do I need to flat tow a car?

You’ll need a few key things:

Tow Bar Base Plates: These attach to your car to connect it to the tow bar.
Tow Bar: This links your car to the RV.
Safety Cables: A backup connection in case the tow bar fails.
Wiring Harness: To sync your car’s lights with your RV.
Supplemental Braking System: A braking system for your towed car, which is required in most states.

Why do I need a supplemental braking system?

A supplemental braking system helps your car stop safely while it’s being towed. It reduces wear on your RV’s brakes and is often required by law. It’s all about keeping everyone safe! For more information, check out our FAQ.

Can I flat tow an automatic car?

Sometimes. Certain automatic cars can be flat towed, but it depends on the make and model. Check your owner’s manual to be sure, as some might need modifications or have special procedures.

How do I hook up my car’s lights for flat towing?

You’ll need a wiring harness to connect your car’s lights to your RV. Some are plug-and-play, while others might need splicing. Either way, it ensures your car’s brake and turn signals match your RV’s.

Are there speed or distance limits when flat towing?

Possibly! Some vehicles have restrictions, like not exceeding a certain speed or towing for too long without stopping. Your owner’s manual will have all the details.

Can I have my flat towing setup professionally installed?

Absolutely. Flat towing setups can involve multiple components—base plates, tow bars, wiring, and braking systems—all of which need to work together safely and reliably. If you’re not comfortable drilling into your vehicle’s frame, handling electrical wiring, or installing a supplemental brake system, professional installation is a smart choice. Use our Local Installer Locator Tool to find a trusted installer near you and make sure everything’s set up correctly for your next trip.