Blue Ox vs Roadmaster Base Plate---more than just what looks good...

[realshelby]

I have towed with the Blue Ox towing setup for many years. Now that my new Maverick is here I have to set it up to flat tow.
So, ordered a new Maverick Blue Ox baseplate. But instead of using the Blue Ox towbar I have, I wanted to go with the Ready Brake manual braking built in towbar. This eliminates the Patriot brake box that sits in the drivers floor. That will make starting and running the Maverick at rest stops, per what Ford wants, as there is nothing in the way. It will also make hooking up much easier.
Got it all set up yesterday and took a first test drive. That is where the problems started...
The problem is that the distance between centers of the Blue Ox baseplates is 41". That is VERY wide compared to other typical towbar hook up points. 24" is common. I think I read the Roadmaster is 31", but please verify that.
This spreads the tow bar way out. Which takes up clearance when turning as the tow bars are already much closer to the back of the yoke area. Mine hit the yoke when turning out of my street. Put it in quite a bind. I can only imagine what would happen when doing full lock pull outs from a pull through rv site. This is with the Ready Brake Elite II towbar. I am going to test the Blue Ox later, but it looks like there might be an issue with it too. I called Ready Brake and they said they had not heard of this. Basically didn't want to take any responsibility. They promote how their product fits the Blue Ox baseplates onsite. I am doing some machine work on it myself. Don't have time to screw with begging for help on an expensive product that should work. All they need to do is make the yoke about an inch longer from the back to the bolt hole.
More on this as I progress. But right now the Roadmaster baseplate looks to me to be the only way to go were I shopping for a Maverick baseplate again. I will be calling Blue Ox to get their take on it later....

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[PapaRed]

I experienced a similar situation with my Maverick using the Blue OX base plate and Blue Ox tow bar. The wide spread of the tow bar connections makes hook-up difficult. The tow car must be almost exactly centered on the motorhome in order to connect both arms of the tow bar.
With my Jeep, connecting was easily accomplished - even with the vehicle slightly off center and not precisely aligned with the motorhome. Though I understand the reason, I can't say I'm all that happy with the wide spread of the Maverick base plate.

 

[realshelby]

Just got off the phone with Blue Ox. They are aware of the issue. They don't care. There is nothing on the Maverick base plate instructions or literature that says you must use a special tow bar. Blue Ox said you can use their "Avail" system as it has 2" longer legs. BUT nothing ever mentions that. 2" longer legs would help, but looking at it and measuring I think it would still bind up. All they say is that their info says this has a non standard width between mounting points. OK. Why not say that most tow bars won't work with it? I asked why they don't put on the Maverick base plate page of the website that this requires a certain towbar to work? They said, "the Maverick isn't the only vehicle like that"! Well, why not put that on every page where it is required?

So, I am finishing up the machine work on the Ready Brake tow bar. I had to take some material off. I am sure they won't approve of that due to liability. I am comfortable with it. It has an 8000 lb rating, I probably would never have over 4500 on it even with stuff in the Maverick.

Bottom line: in my opinion buying the Roadmaster base plate system is the correct way to flat tow your Maverick. I think if done right, removing the louvers required by the Roadmaster will NOT be any problem at all. The geometry of the Roadmaster is far superior, and I imagine it is plenty strong. It certainly would have saved me MUCH work and worry.

 

[realshelby]

Well, there is a LOT more to this story....
I do have another story to tell. In time. My Blue Ox baseplate failed. No injury and minimal damage.....Need to contact them to see how they want to handle it.

 

[Palms]

Interesting and following. I’ve now towed about 1,700 with my BlueOx tow plate and bar. . Yes it’s harder to connect than on my 16 Cherokee if you’re not centered but not a show stopper. Agree that the Patriot is a pita but have saved cost of 2 permanent systems or more so I put up with that as well. Biggest favorable difference for me was selling the Avail and substituting with Ascend and lighter safety cables. Much easier.

 

[realshelby]

Interesting and following. I’ve now towed about 1,700 with my BlueOx tow plate and bar. . Yes it’s harder to connect than on my 16 Cherokee if you’re not centered but not a show stopper. Agree that the Patriot is a pita but have saved cost of 2 permanent systems or more so I put up with that as well. Biggest favorable difference for me was selling the Avail and substituting with Ascend and lighter safety cables. Much easier.

Have you tried cutting a sharp turn ( full wheel lock), then getting out mid turn and looking at your tow bar where the two bars connect? I am betting they have no clearance left. Likely in a severe bind. I was told the "Avail" would work with the Blue Ox baseplate ( with the 51" center to center on connectors) but I could not see where only 2" longer would help.

The wide centers do make hooking up a lot more difficult than a more common center to center distance I have had on other vehicles.

 

[realshelby]

Maverick is back on the 4 post lift. Taking off the front fascia today to see what is bent up underneath where I cannot see.....

I have a new Roadmaster base plate here. I went with the crossbar type, not the direct fit type. Roadmaster offers both styles at same price.

The Ready Brute Elite II towbar says to have no more than 2" drop to the towed vehicle. I had to go to a 6" drop hitch using the Blue Ox tow base plate. The Roadmaster connections are even lower, about 1/2" to 1" than the Blue Ox. The crossbar style Roadmaster adaptor setup adds just over 3" of connection height to your tow bar. That will let me go back to the 4" drop hitch on the motorhome. I never drug the towbar with the 4", but the 6" does drag. So, the Roadmaster setup will be well within the 2" from level specification and allow the 4" instead of 6" drop hitch.

Fingers crossed........

 

[Adrienhyatt]

I have towed with the Blue Ox towing setup for many years. Now that my new Maverick is here I have to set it up to flat tow.
So, ordered a new Maverick Blue Ox baseplate. But instead of using the Blue Ox towbar I have, I wanted to go with the Ready Brake manual braking built in towbar. This eliminates the Patriot brake box that sits in the drivers floor. That will make starting and running the Maverick at rest stops, per what Ford wants, as there is nothing in the way. It will also make hooking up much easier.
Got it all set up yesterday and took a first test drive. That is where the problems started...
The problem is that the distance between centers of the Blue Ox baseplates is 41". That is VERY wide compared to other typical towbar hook up points. 24" is common. I think I read the Roadmaster is 31", but please verify that.
This spreads the tow bar way out. Which takes up clearance when turning as the tow bars are already much closer to the back of the yoke area. Mine hit the yoke when turning out of my street. Put it in quite a bind. I can only imagine what would happen when doing full lock pull outs from a pull through rv site. This is with the Ready Brake Elite II towbar. I am going to test the Blue Ox later, but it looks like there might be an issue with it too. I called Ready Brake and they said they had not heard of this. Basically didn't want to take any responsibility. They promote how their product fits the Blue Ox baseplates onsite. I am doing some machine work on it myself. Don't have time to screw with begging for help on an expensive product that should work. All they need to do is make the yoke about an inch longer from the back to the bolt hole.
More on this as I progress. But right now the Roadmaster baseplate looks to me to be the only way to go were I shopping for a Maverick baseplate again. I will be calling Blue Ox to get their take on it later....

I encountered a comparable issue with my Maverick when using the Blue Ox base plate and Blue Ox tow bar. The wide placement of the tow bar connections made the hook-up process challenging. I had to ensure that the tow car was almost perfectly centered behind the motorhome to connect both arms of the tow bar.
In contrast, connecting my Jeep was a breeze, even if the vehicle was slightly off-center and not perfectly aligned with the motorhome. While I understand the rationale behind the design, I can't say I'm particularly pleased with the wide positioning of the Maverick base plate.

 

[realshelby]

I encountered a comparable issue with my Maverick when using the Blue Ox base plate and Blue Ox tow bar. The wide placement of the tow bar connections made the hook-up process challenging. I had to ensure that the tow car was almost perfectly centered behind the motorhome to connect both arms of the tow bar.
In contrast, connecting my Jeep was a breeze, even if the vehicle was slightly off-center and not perfectly aligned with the motorhome. While I understand the rationale behind the design, I can't say I'm particularly pleased with the wide positioning of the Maverick base plate.

Like I have written before....PLEASE check if your towbar is binding in a tight turn. Go somewhere where you can initiate a tight turn...get out and check before you are very sharp. Continue the turn and getting out to check the towbar till you are at full lock on the steering wheel ( I highly doubt you will get that far...).

Yes, hooking up is a lot harder with the Blue Ox. Just no "fudge room" available. But that I could have lived with.

 

[realshelby]

Well, there is a LOT more to this story....
I do have another story to tell. In time. My Blue Ox baseplate failed. No injury and minimal damage.....Need to contact them to see how they want to handle it.

Well, after all the information and parts I sent to Blue Ox they denied my "claim". All I asked for was a refund for the purchase price of the Blue Ox baseplates and $39 to pay for the ebay covers I used to patch over the holes in the fascia that were ripped open when the base plate failed.

YES..FAILED. After having to hit the brakes hard coming out of a slot in a rest area the base plate was spread way apart. This is due to more than one factor. BUT THE MAIN FACTOR IS THE SPACING OF 41" BETWEEN THE TOWBAR MOUNTING POINTS! I have mentioned before to check clearance in a turn if using this base plate. Now I think this product should be pulled from the market. I will make a separate post here about the failure......

 

[DiverUtah]

Would like to see the Fail pictures

 

[realshelby]

There is another thread I started with a couple pics. I am not going to post everything at this time.....

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