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08-18-2023, 09:56 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Southeast, Louisiana
Posts: 72
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After reading about a few lost toads, I added cables..
After reading about a few lost toads due to base plat, tow bar or receiver issues I added some more 13,000 lb. safety cables to the base plates and my motorhome receiver hitch. A few months ago, I had found loose bolts on the passenger side of my receiver hitch where it mounts to the chassis. Note: 2 of the pictures turned 90 degrees.
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08-18-2023, 10:23 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 37,214
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I just got my new baseplate from BluOx and it came with safety cables for each side to wrap around structure.
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08-18-2023, 10:37 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: On the continental divide
Posts: 3,466
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Dan,
I see yours is a "Hidden Hitch" with the round cross tube.
FYI there is a thread here showing where the round cross tube was torn away from the side plates (welds failed) and his braking system was hooked to the tube, so the toad (Jeep) tow bar and cross tube rolled across an intersection as a unit.
I think I see your cables going thru the frame rail. That's good.
Mike in Colorado
__________________
2004 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37c, 8.1 gasser, (Jezebel) Ultra RV ECM / TCM, plugs wires, and rear track bar, PPE deep Tx pan w/ temp gage, Bilstein's, Sailun's & Sumo's all round, pushed by a 2002 Grand Caravan, on a Master Tow Dolly OR a WR-250 on a rail.
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08-18-2023, 12:17 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Redmond, Or.
Posts: 1,880
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I've really been wondering why Blue Ox has felt the need to add "safety cables" to a towbar that is bolted to the frame??
__________________
2017 Tiffin Allegro Red 33AA
Cummins ISB 6.7 L
2020 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited
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08-18-2023, 12:31 PM
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#5
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Registered User
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Oregon
Posts: 2,976
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HighDesert
I've really been wondering why Blue Ox has felt the need to add "safety cables" to a towbar that is bolted to the frame??
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Bolts fail, some installers do too. And CYA if there is an unexplained failure.
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08-18-2023, 02:12 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 7,070
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by HighDesert
I've really been wondering why Blue Ox has felt the need to add "safety cables" to a towbar that is bolted to the frame??
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Very few cars actually have a real frame anymore, apparently. The Demco baseplate I installed on my 2020 Equinox has two points of attachment on each side and also has internal safety cables. One attachment point on each side is a 1/4" steel plate bolted to the baseplate with two 1/2" bolts and secured by the impact beam a.k.a. the bumper.
But the Roadmaster baseplate for the Equniox does not have safety cables yet it is not attached as strongly as the Demco.
Ray
__________________
2020 Forest River Georgetown GT5 34H5
2020 Equinox Premier AWD 2.0L/9-speed
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08-19-2023, 09:20 AM
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#7
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Member
Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Feb 2022
Posts: 54
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Good advice above but if you are going to use cables and mall clips you should use them correctly. First there is a live end of a loop (the side that goes to the other end) and a dead end (the short side that is left over). The cast side of the mall clip goes on the live end and the u-bolt goes on the dead end. Two are recommended.
__________________
Vicki and Van
2008 40' Newmar Ventana
no toad
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08-19-2023, 10:33 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 37,214
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HighDesert
I've really been wondering why Blue Ox has felt the need to add "safety cables" to a towbar that is bolted to the frame??
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Frame, you mean formed sheet metals !
If the installer leaves out the spacers, washers, locktite and torques by grunts, it may loosen up and slowly tear away. That's the pictures I've seen on this site.
People also abuse the base plate connections by backing up with the toads wheels cocked.
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08-19-2023, 10:58 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Clovis, CA, USA
Posts: 13,789
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Good idea...an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
__________________
2004 Monaco La Palma 36DBD, W22, 8.1, 7.1 MPG
2000 LEXUS RX300 FWD 22MPG 4020 LBS
Put a tent over this circus.
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08-20-2023, 06:21 AM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Southeast, Louisiana
Posts: 72
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VanK
Good advice above but if you are going to use cables and mall clips you should use them correctly. First there is a live end of a loop (the side that goes to the other end) and a dead end (the short side that is left over). The cast side of the mall clip goes on the live end and the u-bolt goes on the dead end. Two are recommended.
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I had these clips. I have 6 "Fist Grip Clips" ordered. I don't think I have a live and dead end, being the cable is making a loop.
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08-20-2023, 07:01 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 37,214
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan104
I had these clips. I have 6 "Fist Grip Clips" ordered. I don't think I have a live and dead end, being the cable is making a loop.
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If your creating a circular cable, your right, no dead end.
Put one each way or get double saddle clips. 
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08-20-2023, 07:02 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Urbanna, VA
Posts: 1,173
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Whatever it takes to give you peace of mind. You cannot be too safe.
I did not like the arrangement for safety cables on my setup either. Fortunately the bumper manufacturer offered frame mounted safety cable mounts. I added the mounts and switched from cables to 3/8” grade 100 chains. Overkill, I know, but the DW liked the purple chain and hooks 
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08-22-2023, 11:05 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 200
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FWIW, after reading some of the posts about "base plate failure" I contacted Roadmaster about adding safety cables between the base plates and frame on our Equinox. Their response: "Our kits not designed that way and (safety cables) are unnecessary.”
__________________
Hermes: 2021 Winnebago Adventurer 29b | 2020 Chevy Equinox, Premier AWD, 2.0 L turbo
It's Wine-O'clock Somewhere!
2014 Itasca Impulse Silver 26QP
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