Community Forums

tbomn · 08-13-2013, 10:34 PM

Has anyone used a good place to have a baseplate installed on a new vehicle in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area? I want someone that knows how to do it, and doesn't want my first born for payment. If you can help, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

jackfish · 08-14-2013, 12:33 PM

Camping World in Rogers, MN will install baseplates. If you can find trailer hitch installers who have been around a long time, they often have done many baseplate installations and are cheaper.

**CountryFit** · 08-14-2013, 02:41 PM

check your local craigslist, i am sure there will be a lot of people willing to do it for you for about half price of a formal shop's. i did for mine and no pain, a level of difficulty similar to changing brake pads on a car..

Easyrider · 08-16-2013, 02:24 PM

My son and I installed a Blue Ox base plate on my Captiva. While not technically hard to do it is a dirty hard job and will take even professional installers the better part of a work day to get it done. After doing ours I decided it was a pretty good deal charged by Camping World to put it in and if or when I need another vehicle set up with a base plate I will let Camping World do it.

rhlvr1 · 08-26-2013, 09:13 PM

I need to get a baseplate installed on a 2010 Lincoln MKX. I called the Roger's Camping World store and talked to the service dept. I had researched the needed model number and found CW to be $50 higher than prices I found online. My wife insisted I have it installed (not trusting my talents). The plate was $429 and install was 3 hrs. or about $480. He asked "do you want electrical too?" I responded, " guess so" not thinking too much about what that entailed. I jotted down some $ he was giving me and he asked for a credit card number and would call me to make an appointment. A couple days later I noticed my card charged over $1100 to CW. A week later they called to come and get the work done. By then I had researched the electrical stuff and cancelled that portion. I drove 2 1/2 hrs to have the work done last Monday. At check in nor check out did I ever see the work order or any detail of the charges. All I got was a cash register print out of the final price. I called back later to request the details. I was told I was given them. After arguing and 3 phone calls, I finally got it emailed to me. I complained about the policy of charging me first before the work was even started. " WE have done it that way for 17 years" was the only response. The bill showed I was charged $49 shipping for the bracket. I was outraged. I would have never dealt with them had I known I was now $100 over market price. A corporate customer service rep has tried to smooze it over with me, but they have lost me as a customer for ever. Ever bring a car to a dealership for work and not have to sign a dozen places before the work is done ? Ever to Home Depot and have them charge you shipping for the grill they sold you ? I think it is a blatant attempt to conceal their policies. I did promise them I would discuss the issue on all the RV forums, so I have done my part.

tbomn · 08-26-2013, 10:03 PM

I also called Camping World in Rogers, was very dissatisfied with their prices as well as their demeanor on the phone. I was going to buy the baseplate and wiring kit and only wanted them to install it. They quoted me $650 for the installation. Not going to happen. I ordered the baseplate and wiring from eTrailer online(no shipping charge), got it and installed it myself. It was really no big deal, pretty easy really, just took some time. I had more problems wiring in the supplementary braking system, AddaBrake system from Roadmaster. All is good now for a grand total of $379.(baseplate) $52.(wiring) and some extra wire and connections ($12)... Sorry you had to go through what you did, I also will never use Camping World for any of my RV needs, they seem to be a pretty good rip-off outfit.

Mr_D · 08-26-2013, 10:12 PM

We had CW install a 2,500 watt inverter to replace the OEM 400 watt one. Thought for the couple hundred install that they charged (in 2001) they would do it correctly. Turns out they didn't and I could run the heat pumps off the inverter. I was going to correct the install when we decided to trade the unit in on our present 2002. Have not been back except to buy a few accessories since.
Legally they can't charge your credit card in advance, that's against the CC companies contracts! They can get preauthorization but not actually charge you. I file a written complaint with the CC company if they did it to me.

I don't think the Addabrake system is from RoadMaster either. They list BrakeMaster (which is what we have), Even Brake, Invisibrake and the 9700 on their website.