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Roadmaster's crossbar-style brackets are virtually invisible, easy to mount and simple to remove. Brackets install on your vehicle's frame to provide attachment points for your tow bar.
Features:
The drawbars, or front arms, on the crossbar-style series base plate kit are supremely easy to mount and remove. Just insert them into the brackets and twist to lock them in place. To remove, simply twist the arms back and pull them out. 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 (2226 Customer Reviews)
Roadmaster's crossbar-style brackets are virtually invisible, easy to mount and simple to remove. Brackets install on your vehicle's frame to provide attachment points for your tow bar.
This base plate kit is excellent. The install was easy. I like the removable arms because you can remove them when not needed. The RM-521447-5 was a great fit for my 2017 Jeep Cherokee Latitude 4 wheel drive.
Seems more robust than the Ford Ranger base plates…of which cracked and cracked the frame of the truck. The welded cross bar should help in that regard. 2nd….I didn’t reinstall the plastic splash guard or the metal cross piece…I want to easily see and check the bolts periodically without having to remove a splash guard to do so.
I bought and self installed this on my 2021 GMC Sierra Duramax 1 year ago. Install took about 5 hours and wasn't difficult...I could problty install it in 2-3 hours after leaening the tricks. Weve towed the truck all over the USA since then (over 10,0000 miles) and it works great! I've used other brands and highly recommend Roadmaster tow systems over the competition.
The kit worked and fit as expected. I felt the video was more helpful to me than the instructions. Cutting out the front plate was a little more challenging than I expected. Really, installing this at home, on Jack stands, rather than a lift was my real challenge. But then I am 77 years old.
My original roadmaster bracket for my 2021 Ford Ranger FX4 cracked. I’ve had the first bracket on the truck for about two years before the failure. Not sure how to make it better.
I reported that one of the removable tow arms was missing to etrailer within hours of receiving the baseplate. This was due to the shipping box being damaged during transit and likely just fell out. After four business days with no communication from etrailer I contacted Roadmaster. A couple of emails and they shipped the part. Very disappointed having to do etrailer's legwork. For this I will give etrailer one star.
The baseplate RM 524473-5 for a 2023 Ford Escape fit as expected sorta. Had to apply a 3 pound hammer as the mounting brackets were tweaked a little likely from welding and pulling a little out of square. I felt the instructions had a lot of reading between the lines, a couple of times I just about picked up the phone and called them to see if my interpretation was correct. But I just consulted with my analytical 15 year old grandson and we figured it out. (His 18 year old brother served to knock me to the floor and pull me back up again, faster than calling a crane service.)
My big complaint was that they could have provided actual measurements where to drill the Tupperware where the arms go through, there is a couple of reverence points that could be used. There was a few minor things that didn't/did need to be done but likely could easily be because of running production changes. (And better packing of 45 pounds of steel by RM)
After receiving the package, reading up and watching a few videos. Installing them was a breeze. Minor trimming on the grill as my truck did not have tow hooks, and trimmed the inside bumper mount, on the bottom of the baseplate slot.
Everything went pretty good except for the reinstall of the PAD. Had to mount it on an angle because wire to short. Love it versus the crossbar I had on Santa Fe 5 speed. Also had to wire 12v outlet and emergency brake switch wiring into drivers side which was fairly easy. And 12v charging circuit for battery. My grandson Seth made it look easy.
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.
The brackets are heavy and feel solid. The mounting is straightforward on my 2024 GMC Sierra Denali 1500. You will lose the front tow hooks but I feel the tow bracket inserts will be safe to use if needed for a rescue. They are barely noticeable to the casual person when the inserts are removed for daily driving.
Saidly, since installing the Roadmaster baseplate on our new 2024 Equinox RS we have only toad about 30 miles. Installation was more challenging then I anticipate with the whole project (including lights and battery charging system took two days. The removable arms, once installed, appear slightly out of square. This causes binding on the tow bar fitting and a challenge when taking the tow bar off. Unrelated to the base plate, GM owners manual instructions for flat towing changed after I purchased the car and did the base plate install. Previously the car remained in auxiliary mode. The new instructions state to disconnect the negative battery terminal. I believe this is because in auxiliary mode the Auto Braking system remains engaged. When towing at 4-5 mph, as in a parking lot, all appears normal. When towing at highway speed the AB engages because the distance between the RV and the toad is too close for the speed. In my case the result was a hub fire requiring the replacement of the entire brake system and tires. GM would not warranty this as they consider brakes a ware item. THis on a car with less than 6K miles. Since this experience the car has not beet towed do to my wife's concerns.
This Roadmaster base plate kit was easy to install and appears to be very strong and is just right to use on my Jeep Wrangler that I tow with a motor home
Installed on my 2020 Jeep Cherokee for flat towing behind our motorhome . I wanted a tow bar connection that integrated with the front end of the Jeep and the removable arms did the trick . I had one issue with the driver side receiver bracket not lining up with the upper mount bolt hole on the Jeep, image 0547. Had to make a slight adjustment to the receiver bracket so the holes would line up, image 0551 and image 0559. The rest of the install went smoothly
I also installed the Demco braking Stay n Play Duo system , image 0565 which went in without any issues, image 6028. 7 thousand miles of towing later, couldn't be happier with the products
Fit my new 2023 Ford F150, and made towing a chinch. Now, I am searching for a winch capable front bumper, that will stil allow for my cruise control and lane system to work.
This is a rock solid baseplate. Installed on a 2023 Equinox LT (AWD). I followed etrailer's videos for installation and they are spot on. We connect with a Roadmaster Nighthawk tow bar, charge line kit, smart diode lighting kit, and a Demco Stay-in-Play supplimental braking system. It is fairly well hidden when not in-use. This setup is great!
Easy to install with videos from etrailer. This is the third or forth set that I have purchased and installed on various vehicles.
The base plate appears to be of very good quality, provides a secure connection and has functioned very well. The removable arms are the easiest I’ve used and really minimize the visibility of the base plate when removed.
It was a fantastic base plate. The Blue Ox base plates required the entire bumper, grill, etc be removed. These Roadmaster base plates were installed from underneath and only required the tow hooks be removed. My wife and I completed the installation in a couple hours. The stiff wires attached to the nuts that required installing inside the frame was genius. We bought Roadmaster to Blue Ox adapters and continue to use our Blue Ox towing equipment. The Roadmaster Nighthawk is just too heavy for me (I'm 78). Anyway, I love the Roadaster base plates. And, I'm thankful for the clear installation instructions provided etrailer.
I installed them on my new RAM 1500. Works great, very heavy duty. I also modified and attached a push bumper and used the Roadmaster base plates.
Sturdy, simple to use design. The second set if Roadmaster base plate lits I have installed. (2015 Silverado and 2022 Colorado). Both work well. And oh yeah, do yourself a favor and buy from etrailer. If you have any hitches in the get along, those good folks will always help straighten things out.
I had these on another vehicle. Easy installation Super easy for towing. I'll buy them again for my next vehicle.
Installing on 2020 Jeep Trailhawk :
Pic #0557 : Roadmaster Base Plate Kit , Demco Supplemental Braking System , Diode Wiring Kit , Demco Battery Charge Wire Kit
Pic # 0548 ,0551 , 0559 Had to adjust the bracket plate to line up with the upper bolt holes
Pic #6028 finished install , mounted the operating unit to the top fuse box cover using automotive Velcro . Air cylinder , controller and LED light installed . Aside from the base plate bracket not lining up with the upper bolt holes I would give it 4 stars . My son in law is a master at solving mechanical issues .
Exactly what I needed. Written jbstructuons were spot on and video was very helpful.
Happy with the finished product, but had real problems installing it. First, the instructions were for a different vehicle than the one I specified. Thank God for the video online: it WAS for my vehicle. A pain running in and out from the computer (I can't see the small phone details), but it worked. Second, the passenger baseplate had what appeared to be a casting mark in a small area where a bolt head was. It was impossible to get a socket or wrench on the bolt; I spent a half hour or so with a file getting rid of a small ridge that prevented the socket from entering the area. The passenger side also did not fit well; all the bolts had to be as loose as possible to get the nuts started, one hole was nearly a half a hole off from where it needed to be. The drivers side was fine in all aspects.
In the end, though, it is on and looks great. Presumably it will tow great as well.
Installed on my 2020 jeep jl sport s with factory plastic bumper and plastic rock guard. Shane’s video was very helpful but I did not like how the metal plate behind the rock guard was cut away and how the rock guard had two big cut outs so I did some modifications. I cut two slots in the metal bracket and added angle brackets for extra support. As a result i did not use the supplied brackets for the rock guard. I created a template for the rock guard which resulted in two small cut outs. A lot of extra time but i am retired so time is relative. I think it looks great.
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