Demco Flat-Tow Setup Instructions, with comparison to Blue Ox and Roadmaster

[MuleTrainMav]

Another follow up. I will be trying the aux power station method of powering the Blue Ox portable braking device. I bought a EcoFlow River 2 Pro, 768 wh power station, which has a 12v cigarette lighter port that the Blue Ox wants. I think that will provide enough juice to drive all day, plus it will be available for other outside power needs. I'll let you know how it goes.

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[epgrove]

Sorry the diodes are no longer there. I think it was some guy who put them together for years. He must have gotten tired. I know Roadmaster makes diodes, and I think Hopkins likely does as well. I should have bought another set!

I used these diodes and they worked great

Hopkins 48955 Towed Vehicle Diodes Kit https://a.co/d/6McJbea

 

[MuleTrainMav]

I used these diodes and they worked great

Hopkins 48955 Towed Vehicle Diodes Kit https://a.co/d/6McJbea

 

[MuleTrainMav]

I saw those and considered them, but decided to use the Roadmaster kit as it includes the flat wiring and buying from eTrailer as part of the package was just easy, and I'm lazy sometimes when it comes to shopping. I also bought a separate harness that was designed for Maverick trailer towing so I could scavenge the connectors. I didn't want to cut into the factory taillight wiring, so I am going to make my own harness including the diodes and just plug in to the factory harness. Hope it work.

 

[gwrace14651]

Brad, thanks for breaking all this ground for us. I have ordered all the parts from eTrailer to install the Demco base plate and tried to get all the necessary wiring materials too. I will use the Roadmaster Nighthawk bars and the Blue Ox Patriot Portable Flat Tow Brake System - Proportional. I ordered the battery charge kit and the tail light diode system also. I checked eBay for the diode set your recommended but they are no longer available. My question for you is did you need the brake light switch mod to separate the coach turn signal and brake lights from the Maverick lights? eTrailer seems to state that this is necessary but in all my readings, you and no one else seems to mention adding this mod.

That is one of the reasons I elected to go with cab mounted mag lights. Too much intrusive wiring on the truck and brake switch. The brake relay is necessary. I've already tapped the lights with resistors for the Diode Dynamics LED lights so did not want to add anything else to that loop. And once you try standing on your head in a contorted position for any length of time trying to get to that brake switch you will understand why. I just used my 6 pin to wire in a charge line to the RV. But overall like the Demco install. A special thanks to @phoneman01 for the idea about how to use the Demco bracket in combination with a 6 pin connector

 

[BradnChristine]

Another follow up. I will be trying the aux power station method of powering the Blue Ox portable braking device. I bought a EcoFlow River 2 Pro, 768 wh power station, which has a 12v cigarette lighter port that the Blue Ox wants. I think that will provide enough juice to drive all day, plus it will be available for other outside power needs. I'll let you know how it goes.

I was going to use a portable power station...but I decided to just wire a cord/socket directly to the battery under the back seat so I don't have to worry about it. I did also add a bluetooth battery monitor to keep track of the Maverick's battery. I used a victron SmartShunt knockoff in the Maverick, not to track electron flow, but just to watch the voltage. Was reassuring.

 

[martmav]

Brad, thanks for breaking all this ground for us. I have ordered all the parts from eTrailer to install the Demco base plate and tried to get all the necessary wiring materials too. I will use the Roadmaster Nighthawk bars and the Blue Ox Patriot Portable Flat Tow Brake System - Proportional. I ordered the battery charge kit and the tail light diode system also. I checked eBay for the diode set your recommended but they are no longer available. My question for you is did you need the brake light switch mod to separate the coach turn signal and brake lights from the Maverick lights? eTrailer seems to state that this is necessary but in all my readings, you and no one else seems to mention adding this mod.

 

[Tygger5]

Looks great! How did you attach the break away switch?

I finally completed my install. The 6 pin mount took some head scratching and wall staring but I figured out a good one...I hope. I used the huge bracket from Demco as a mounting plate for the much smaller bracket and "voila!" I have a front facing mount. Self tapping screws and bolts through both brackets secured everything well.

 

[phoneman01]

Looks great! How did you attach the break away switch?

I attached it directly to the bar with a self tapping screw.

 

[DaveTS]

Will the Demco base plate interfere with the Adaptive Cruise Control radar on the 2025 Lariat? The owner's manual shows 2 locations for the radar and the lower one appears to be close to the base plate. Also, I'm hoping that the design change on the front of the 2024s does not impact the fit of the Demco. Has anyone tried it yet?

 

[BradnChristine]

Will the Demco base plate interfere with the Adaptive Cruise Control radar on the 2025 Lariat? The owner's manual shows 2 locations for the radar and the lower one appears to be close to the base plate. Also, I'm hoping that the design change on the front of the 2024s does not impact the fit of the Demco. Has anyone tried it yet?

It absolutely will not fit with the Adaptive Cruise Control of the 2025 Lariat. Last I heard, Demco is still not ready for market for the 2025 baseplate.

To update this thread, Blue Ox has quietly modified its 2022-2024 baseplate to include a bolted on center crossbar, after multiple failures which they reportedly did not accept responsibility for. I think Blue Ox might have a baseplate for a 2025, but I would never use any more of their products after their treatment of the folks with failures on the earlier 2022-2024 vrsions without the crossbar... that they seem to have finally admitted was necessary.

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

It absolutely will not fit with the Adaptive Cruise Control of the 2025 Lariat. Last I heard, Demco is still not ready for market for the 2025 baseplate.

To update this thread, Blue Ox has quietly modified its 2022-2024 baseplate to include a bolted on center crossbar, after multiple failures which they reportedly did not accept responsibility for. I think Blue Ox might have a baseplate for a 2025, but I would never use any more of their products after their treatment of the folks with failures on the earlier 2022-2024 vrsions without the crossbar... that they seem to have finally admitted was necessary.

They also now seem to have a 2nd (new) design, that has the attachment points moved inward.

https://blueox.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/18120051/BX2913.pdf

HRG

 

[DaveTS]

I've been on the phone with Demco. They have a base plate that works for the 2025 XL and XLT but need to have someone with a 2025 Lariat volunteer it for them to design with. I'm too far away or I would do it myself! BTW, they are aware of the ACC radar unit in the lower front.

 

[Dave O]

Will the Demco base plate interfere with the Adaptive Cruise Control radar on the 2025 Lariat? The owner's manual shows 2 locations for the radar and the lower one appears to be close to the base plate. Also, I'm hoping that the design change on the front of the 2024s does not impact the fit of the Demco. Has anyone tried it yet?

I have been in constant communication with Demco and RoadMaster both have not completed the engineering to address the lower ACC Radar on the 2025 - I just recently took delivery of my 2025 Maverick Lariat AWD Hybrid and as of this time they both do not have a baseplate for this vehicle. BlueOx has gone to market with their baseplates but I am very skeptical being several vendors are selling the same baseplate for the 2024 models - I don’t won’t to risk it so I’m waiting on Demco historically they are less destructive to the front end - hopeful they get something figured out in the next month or so

 

[deputylynch]

In the menu for the '24 Maverick, there is a setting to turn off the 30 minute accessory by which the accessory stays on. Before I signed for mine, I had the manager come out to the vehicle and show me how to go about it. There is a check mark that can be removed there by allowing the accessory to stay live.

How do you find the 30 minute accessory mode override?

All I know of and can find is a 30-minute idle override.

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