Community Forums

vettenuts · 02-21-2018, 04:43 PM

I much prefer the Roadmaster baseplate design but it will place the tow bar attachment too low for my gas coach hitch. I have been looking at the Blue Ox, which places the tow bar in a more favorable higher position. After watching the etrailer installation video, they appear to cut away a lot of the plastic baffles for the radiator and the two support arms on the metal bumper. Some of their cutting appears to be for ease of installation rather than post installation interference.

Has anyone installed their own Blue Ox baseplate and found all that cutting to be absolutely necessary, especially the metal bumper?

glarnold · 02-21-2018, 04:57 PM

They do make drop bar receivers (about two to ten inches) to level the tow bar.

vettenuts · 02-21-2018, 05:47 PM

Yes, but that decreases the hitch capacity so I want to minimize the receiver drop distance.

redcolorado · 02-22-2018, 07:58 AM

Blue Ox installed the base plates on my 2015 Colorado. They used my Colorado as their EDM. Look at the installation instructions on their website and compare them to the video. The red Colorado in the instruction book is mine. I did not see the install being done there was a blizzard and I was stuck in the hotel in Pender. The reason the attach points are that high is I asked them to put them there. This also allows you to keep the OEM towing hooks. My previous toad was a Chevy HHR and with a 6" drop and I would drag going in and out of driveways. If your receiver is low turn the drop up and you and you still will not drag.
If you do the install or have it done consider reversing the clip nuts that hold the air dam to the fascia. If you do any off roading you will want to remove the air dam and the way the clip nuts are installed on the air dam the screws go in from the top. They are very difficult to remove with the fascia installed. With the clip nuts attached to the fascia the screws go in from the bottom and it is a 5 minute job to remove the air dam. Good luck.

Dutch Star Don · 02-22-2018, 11:12 AM

I did the install of the Roadmaster base plates on my GMC Canyon (Colorado twin) and the Blue Ox base plates on my neighbor's GMC Canyon. They're pretty much the same install as the Colorado. I don't recall doing all that cutting. There may be a plastic rib in the grill that is in the way, but that's about it.

I've been advocating the use of the Blue Ox with gassers and the Roadmaster with DP's because of the height issue.

The install is pretty easy. There are a number of screws, but just follow the instructions and it's an easy job. Have a blanket ready to lay the front end on as it comes off in one piece. I also like to blue tape the seam between the bumper and fender, as this is where the front fascia separates away. The tape protects the edges during reinstall.

vettenuts · 02-22-2018, 06:23 PM

Thanks for the responses. I will check the instructions against the video. When I watched the video it just appeared to me that some of the plastic was cut that wouldn’t actually interfere with the base plate once installed.

Robf · 02-23-2018, 08:12 AM

Last weekend I installed a roadster base plate on my ( new to me) 2015 Kia soul.
I used the road master with the cross bar because it got me a little more height and the angle of tow bar to hitch is perfect. I did my home work like you are to achieve the height I wanted to eliminate or decrease the use of a drop hitch. Having said all that, the instructions indicated a fair amount of cutting on the plastic grill, turns out no cutting at all was necessary. Of course I know each vehicle is different. Btw the install was easier than expected, get ready to get dirty and I found a piece of old carpet was very helpful since you will be on the ground a bit.

vettenuts · 02-24-2018, 06:03 AM

Thanks for the information. I had a Soul for a rental car once and I really liked it. It would actually make a good vehicle, especially since we travel with a large dog. Just not sure I want a manual transmission for a daily driver though. The Soul does still remain on my list of vehicles though so this is good information.

Hit_the_Rhod · 02-24-2018, 06:19 AM

You might consider a Demco tow bar and baseplate. I installed the Demco baseplate on our 2005 GMC Canyon (same as the Chevy Colorado). Simple job, no plastic cutting, although the instructions called for a small 1/2" "divot" to be cut out, it wasn't really necessary, but would have made the install slightly easier to fit together. I looked it over, didn't cut it, and found it wasn't really needed.

Robf · 02-24-2018, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vettenuts

Thanks for the information. I had a Soul for a rental car once and I really liked it. It would actually make a good vehicle, especially since we travel with a large dog. Just not sure I want a manual transmission for a daily driver though. The Soul does still remain on my list of vehicles though so this is good information.

Vettnuts, When I was shopping for a tow Dolly I ran across some of your helpful posts and I do appreciate your info on the tow dolly as well. We ended up getting an acme and it was a great dolly. Now we have gone to flat tow since we are traveling more. Hey I do know what you mean about the Manual Transmission, it had been a while for me but surprisingly I jumped in and took off like I did when I was in High school HA HA. At least it is not a 3 in the tree ......, these Souls are great little cars, I got a 2015 37k miles clean, one owner, life time power train warranty for $11000. it is a 3rd car for us so we can live with the stick.

Vato · 03-03-2018, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vettenuts

I much prefer the Roadmaster baseplate design but it will place the tow bar attachment too low for my gas coach hitch. I have been looking at the Blue Ox, which places the tow bar in a more favorable higher position. After watching the etrailer installation video, they appear to cut away a lot of the plastic baffles for the radiator and the two support arms on the metal bumper. Some of their cutting appears to be for ease of installation rather than post installation interference.

Has anyone installed their own Blue Ox baseplate and found all that cutting to be absolutely necessary, especially the metal bumper?

I assume you're referring to a late model Collie, 2015-2018?

The BlueOx does require cutting of the outer legs of the metal inner bumper bar

They legs would interfere with the BP brackets

The inner bumper bolts back into the OG location w/o the outer leg brackets

If you're concerned with compromising your front end protection, the base plate cross bar reinforces the front area as well