Is Cutting or Grinding Required During Installation of Base Plates on 2019 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk

Updated 03/05/2020 | Published 03/04/2020

Products Featured in This Question

Blue Ox Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms

(4921)

$561.95

Demco Tabless Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms

(414)

$456.88

Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms

(3505)

$575.00

Question:

I have watched the install on a 2019 Trailhawk and the video shows that the area to installed the plate needs to be ground down. Does the 2020 Trailhawk have to be ground down, the written instructions don’t mention that.

asked by: Doug S

Helpful Expert Reply:

It sounds like you're referring to the installation of the Demco Tabless Base Plates # DM9519340, where there is some cutting and grinding required to install those particular base plates on the 2020 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk. While we haven't had a 2020 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk into the shop to verify this is also the case on the 2020, it's a safe bet that this will be the case.

With that being said, you're not going to need to do any cutting or grinding to install the Roadmaster # RM-521451-5 or Blue Ox # BX1143 base plates. If you're not wanting to perform that task (I personally hate working with angle grinders, so I don't blame you) you would want to use one of those two base plates in your towing setup instead of the Demco base plates.

I've linked the installation video we did of the Roadmaster base plates on a 2019 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk so you can see the process for yourself. If you already have a Demco tow bar, you can use a base plate adapter to use it with either the Roadmaster or Blue Ox base plates. If you can let me know which tow bar you've got, I'm happy to recommend the appropriate adapter for your application.

expert reply by: Erik B