DIY Baseplate and Braking System Install from Hell

[hohenwald48]

Originally Posted by BCam

But the info I read online said the baseplate was a four hour job and the Ready Brake was an hour and a half (plus the break-away brake).

That's after you've done a dozen or so installations on that particular vehicle, have a full shop with a lift, an array of air tools and a paid helper .

[lockinload]

I installed a Demco base plate recently on a Saturn Ion. Pics were absolutely terrible and it was a learning process however the kicker was the last hole I needed to drill. Once drilled it was literally impossible to insert the bolt because of the gusset on the edge of the bolt hole. The bolt would go in but the head of the bolt hit the gusset. One hour of grinding that gusset overhead was really fun. I called Demco and complained and they told me they would pass it on to the engineering department. Really piss poor service. I would never buy another Demco product.

[BillB100]

I'm really impressed that you would do it yourself. My Suzuki was a piece of cake to install the ready brake in. Our Nissan PU already had one installed in it when we bought it from a friend but it was also an easy install. Out Saturn was a nightmare and I didn't do it. But our CRV (2014) was the worst. I drove it to IOLA KANSAS to the Ready Brake people there. When I called them for an appointment they said they never had a car they couldn't do the install in. A friend of mine went with me as he also was getting an install in a 2014 CRV. The Team at READY BRAKE did the 2 installs in 2 full days of work. There was much cussing and discussing by the installers. Mine was the first that they did and I came out perfect. My friends was next and he has been a little less than satisfied with his install. To say it was difficult is an understatement!

[AKIQPilot]

Originally Posted by BillB100

I'm really impressed that you would do it yourself. My Suzuki was a piece of cake to install the ready brake in. Our Nissan PU already had one installed in it when we bought it from a friend but it was also an easy install. Out Saturn was a nightmare and I didn't do it. But our CRV (2014) was the worst. I drove it to IOLA KANSAS to the Ready Brake people there. When I called them for an appointment they said they never had a car they couldn't do the install in. A friend of mine went with me as he also was getting an install in a 2014 CRV. The Team at READY BRAKE did the 2 installs in 2 full days of work. There was much cussing and discussing by the installers. Mine was the first that they did and I came out perfect. My friends was next and he has been a little less than satisfied with his install. To say it was difficult is an understatement!

A Ready Brake system took a full day to install? Come on. I get it that some vehicles can be worse than others but I installed the Ready Brake system on my Jeep in under an hour. I’ve been under the hood of hundreds of different vehicles in my lifetime and I cant imagine it taking even 4 hours to install on any of them.

About a week ago I looked at a buddy’s 2008 CR-V. He is trying to decide if he wants to make it his Toad (he needs to buy a motorhome first). A Ready Brake install on a 2008 CR-V looked simple.

[AKIQPilot]

Hmmm.

3 hrs according to NSA.

https://youtu.be/FF2Dw1UgKwY

[BCam]

Originally Posted by AKIQPilot

Hmmm.

3 hrs according to NSA.

https://youtu.be/FF2Dw1UgKwY

Having done it and (now) knowing how to remove and install the front end fascia, I don't think three hours is out of line for two experienced installers. This assumes they don't have to re-do anything because it just didn't seem right the first time. I was working alone and the over 100 degree temperatures didn't help.

I also talked with the installation tech at NSA before starting and he told me that he'd never done an Odyssey before. It's probably similar to the CRV but it has a shorter hood meaning it's more tightly packed.

[deeojoe]

Did my own toad base plate too. Took me and my 11 year old son 8 hours. Easy day.

[Oldman5145]

I purchased a used Roadmaster Sterling tow bar. For about $40 eTrailer had all the parts to rebuild the bushings in the bar. Very simple job. I bought a new Roadmaster base plate for my Chevrolet Traverse. It took about 4 hours to install the plate and I supplement the car battery with the constant hot wire from the MH. The air pump on my Roadmaster Even Brake can work on a battery in heavy traffic. My car battery is in the rear floorboard and I use magnetic add on tail lights. I have thought about the diodes, but my system works well. I keep it all in a blue plastic tub when not in use.
I have been very happy with my system and I have added two switches under the hood instead of pulling fuses. In less than 15 minutes I can be hooked up, brakes tested and ready to ride.