Done driving the tag a long! The information on the net is soo overwhelming. We will tow a CRV and wondering what you have or would change if you had to buy again. We do a lot of our own maintenance and wondering if this is something we can do ourselves? After sifting through all that info I am thinking it would be easier to buy the whole set -- tow bar, base plate, braking system. wiring?
Penny and Paul said
11:13 AM Jul 27, 2011
After seeing how a dealership installed our baseplate and electrical hookups on our CRV I wished I had done it myself. Of course I'm still in a stix n brix and have a lot of the tools and stuff I'd need. What a hack job.
Also do your homework on your supplimental brake system. That's not a good place to go the cheap route. We were given a 10 year old Brake Buddy and it has workd flawlessly. No wheel lock ups, no brakes dragging, no false triggers.
janni said
11:42 AM Jul 27, 2011
Just made a call and almost 5000 to get the Blue Ox tow bar and brake. We do plan to spend the money on a good brake but wonder which towing system we could take a shot at putting on ourselves????
Penny and Paul said
12:20 PM Jul 27, 2011
When I was shopping around the various vendors made the base plate installation manuals availalable at their web sites. That might help you to ascertain which system is within your abilities to install. I only have experience the what I have which it the Roadmaster Falcon. Perhaps some of the other folks here know the pro's and cons of different ones.
BTW, our Roadmaster towbar is over 10 years old and it works well. No complaints.
If you're reasonably handy you can install the baseplate on your vehicle. I installed Blue Ox base plates on both our Jeep Grand Cherokee and Honda Fit. The instructions are very good from Blue Ox and once you get the bumper and other parts off it's just a matter of nuts and bolts. Be sure to locktite everything so it won't come loose. Then just put everything back together. It's not rocket science! I'd say each vehicle took me half a day.
I also installed the light hookup on both vehicles. Needed to use the bulb and socket kit for the Grand Cherokee and the Honda Fit required the diode setup. Neither are complicated and once again Blue Ox directions are very good. The hardest part of the wiring is finding a way to get the wire from the front of the vehicle to the back.
We have had very good luck with Blue Ox products. I bought an older baseplate on eBay for the Jeep and it was missing some mounting hardware when I got it. I made a call to Blue Ox and they shipped me the parts at no charge. Can't beat that!
Done driving the tag a long! The information on the net is soo overwhelming. We will tow a CRV and wondering what you have or would change if you had to buy again. We do a lot of our own maintenance and wondering if this is something we can do ourselves? After sifting through all that info I am thinking it would be easier to buy the whole set -- tow bar, base plate, braking system. wiring?
After seeing how a dealership installed our baseplate and electrical hookups on our CRV I wished I had done it myself. Of course I'm still in a stix n brix and have a lot of the tools and stuff I'd need. What a hack job.
Also do your homework on your supplimental brake system. That's not a good place to go the cheap route. We were given a 10 year old Brake Buddy and it has workd flawlessly. No wheel lock ups, no brakes dragging, no false triggers.
When I was shopping around the various vendors made the base plate installation manuals availalable at their web sites. That might help you to ascertain which system is within your abilities to install. I only have experience the what I have which it the Roadmaster Falcon. Perhaps some of the other folks here know the pro's and cons of different ones.
BTW, our Roadmaster towbar is over 10 years old and it works well. No complaints.
Used is the best way to go! I just found this Stowmaster 5000 Tow Bar http://prescott.craigslist.org/rvs/2512808635.html on Craigs List. There are deals to be had, you just need to shop around.
Few more I found on CL>>
http://prescott.craigslist.org/pts/2482641283.html
http://prescott.craigslist.org/for/2458352583.html
http://prescott.craigslist.org/rvs/2483868735.html
Brake Buddy & Bars>> http://prescott.craigslist.org/rvs/2442536068.html
If you're reasonably handy you can install the baseplate on your vehicle. I installed Blue Ox base plates on both our Jeep Grand Cherokee and Honda Fit. The instructions are very good from Blue Ox and once you get the bumper and other parts off it's just a matter of nuts and bolts. Be sure to locktite everything so it won't come loose. Then just put everything back together. It's not rocket science! I'd say each vehicle took me half a day.
I also installed the light hookup on both vehicles. Needed to use the bulb and socket kit for the Grand Cherokee and the Honda Fit required the diode setup. Neither are complicated and once again Blue Ox directions are very good. The hardest part of the wiring is finding a way to get the wire from the front of the vehicle to the back.
We have had very good luck with Blue Ox products. I bought an older baseplate on eBay for the Jeep and it was missing some mounting hardware when I got it. I made a call to Blue Ox and they shipped me the parts at no charge. Can't beat that!