Mercury Milan

[173dave]

Has anyone tried towing a Milan? We use a dolly. the base plates seemed expensive at $4,000 installed. Does anyone know where we can get it done cheaper?

[Mr_D]

I hope that price included the best tow bar, base plate, brake system, breakaway system, wiring and installation!!

Still seems high even if all that was included. We spent just over $2200 for ours on the '05 Odyssey and that included the RoadMaster Sterling towbar although I did do the wiring myself.

[173dave]

That was just the base plates at Camping World

[173dave]

$450 just for the brackets then they have to take much of the frony skin of the car off to install them

[Mr_D]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 173dave $450 just for the brackets then they have to take much of the frony skin of the car off to install them

At $100/hr they would need 35½ hours labor to get to $4,000!!

The RoadMaster site has the full installation instructions and time estimates. I didn't look it up but I'd be very surprised if it took more than 5-6 hours for the brackets.

I did the full install on a '97 Jeep GC in my driveway. Took me two days working by myself and I did the brackets, brake breakaway, brake system and all the wiring in that time without rushing. I'd bet I spent less than 15 hours total.

I'd be looking for someplace besides CW to do the install!!

[sdennislee]

I agree $4K sounds like government pricing. Did this go through the GAO?

Seriously shop the price, even with modifying the front of the Milan it should come in around or under $2,500.00.

[173dave]

I did two things so far.
1. bought a dolly for the Milan
2.) got a tow bar for my Bronco 2 and magnet lights.

I'm all set now.

[Gary RVRoamer]

I think there had to be some confusion about what was quoted at CW. Baseplates for a Milan run about $370 + shipping from the discount places, so the $450 is probably ok for the CW price. Pulling the front fascia off can't be more than a couple hours. The same was done on my GMC Acadia and the hitch shop charged $275 + the cost of the base plates. That was about 3 hours of labor.

[173dave]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer I think there had to be some confusion about what was quoted at CW. Baseplates for a Milan run about $370 + shipping from the discount places, so the $450 is probably ok for the CW price. Pulling the front fascia off can't be more than a couple hours. The same was done on my GMC Acadia and the hitch shop charged $275 + the cost of the base plates. That was about 3 hours of labor.

No, the Camping World quote was exactly $3,985.00 and included the bracketd mounted and the base plates. The tow bar was not included as I already have one. Based on the Road Master instructions, there is allot of stuff to take off and put back on. I actually like using the tow dolly for the Milan as it gets the front up higher where the rocks don't hit it as much.

[Gary RVRoamer]

I wasn't suggesting you read the quote wrong, but rather that CW must have quoted too much. 30-35 hours of labor is enough to rebuild a totally destroyed front end!

[ditto]

We purchased 2012 Lincoln MKZ.. RV guy qutoed 4 hrs labor to install a blue ox base late @ $110 hr .. ..also requires pullng front end off!

[173dave]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ditto We purchased 2012 Lincoln MKZ.. RV guy qutoed 4 hrs labor to install a blue ox base late @ $110 hr .. ..also requires pullng front end off!

Where did you have it done?

[173dave]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer I wasn't suggesting you read the quote wrong, but rather that CW must have quoted too much. 30-35 hours of labor is enough to rebuild a totally destroyed front end!

I understand, that's why I bought the dolly. I thought it was way too much but it did look like allot of work.