Installing Blue Ox tow plates

I wonder....seeing you bought the baseplate elsewhere.....if the shops might "overcharge" for installation seeing they didn't get their markup from the sale of the baseplate?
I've not done that....any "toad" I have (have 2 now) my RV dealer took care of the whole thing from ordering the baseplate to install)for about (if I recall) 600-700 dollars.

Could be wrong....memory is like that anymore......

mrlightrail wrote:
Just bought a tow plate assy for my 07 Pontiac G6, looking for someone in OK to install it under 500.00. That's what I'm getting quoted, which seems high.

Ask someone to do the plate exchange on an hourly rate and ask them how much per hour. Make sure they know how to wire in the electrical plug that connects to the coach.

Install was about $500 here when I checked a couple years ago. '07 Malibu which is the same platform as the G6. I installed it myself. The whole front clip has to come off, bumper, grill, headlights, air damns. Inner fenders have to be popped loose as well. Then you have to cut the lower air damns to fit around the base plate. Drill holes through the 'frame', it's not really a frame. Snake some nut plates up inside the frame to screw the bolts into that hold the base plate. If you're handy you can do it but it's not a trivial task. At least not on the Malibu and I'm sure the G6 is pretty similar.

As a note, I do all my own vehicle maintenance. Brakes, oil changes and much more. Just a reference point when I say it's doable but not trivial.

Some cars, Saturn for instance, it takes nearly 5 minutes to completely remove the front end and trial place the baseplate for a trial fit. Unbelievably simple.
My Suzuki took me about an hour and a half from start to finish with normal handyman tools.
My Ford Aerostar, about 2 hours as I recall....a long time ago.
Today's cars are held together with plastic snap rivets. I'd bet that most can be disassembled in minutes and re-assembled in minutes also. Hardest part is drilling the holes in the tin frames of todays cars :) :)
I'm bettin a dollar to a Krispy Kream Donut that the most time consuming job of an installation is the wiring a MH and toad for towing.

X2 on going to an autobody repair shop.

The shop I am going to use will do the install for the hours indicated on the installation guide, in my case 3 hours. Cost, $75.00 per plus they will use all new push pins (connectors) for the bumper cover and fascia. The current push pins are plastic and they claim the pins weaken when taken apart and reused (he described it as the pins being tired). The pins are bought as a kit from Ford and cost $35.00.

The shop will not reuse friction fit connectors as the results are often not perfect.

Cost $260.00 in total

I have taken interior panels off my cars in the past to install speakers and agree that they never seem to go back on as snug as the original install.

Body shops remove body panels and reinstall them everyday. They know what they are doing and you end up with a rattle free front bumper.

The G 6 makes an excellent toad as the 08 we have now is our second G-6 we have towed. I do not pull any fuses and it does not register any mileage when towing.I think I paid about $600 to install it the last time.
The instructions on the Blue Ox web site are very good at describing what you must do.
Great combo.

where this side of the moon is MAUD..?? If some one knew where you were they MIGHT be able to direct you to an installer

From their website:

IR - (Installation Rating) is a rough measure of the time required for baseplate or bracket installation by a trained installer. These numbers can be used as rough suggested installation time by a trained installer. The first installation of a particular baseplate, and installation by untrained individuals will likely increase installation time substantially.

The rating for the G6 is a 3. This means it's not a simple installation. From the instructions the entire front of your car must be removed, some portions trimmed, the base plate installed then everything reassembled. I am guessing at least 3 hours for the work barring any unforeseen issues.

Your install price seems reasonable if you can't do the work yourself.....Dennis

My neighbor owns a body shop. He did mine. They are very familiar with how to remove what needs to be removed and how to attach the baseplate, and put everything back together. Usually do it much quicker than someone else, cause they know their way around auto body assembly.

if it's a blue ox, you can go to their web site for excellent installation instructions. I've installed on 2 Avalanches, a Malibu and a Traverse -- it is fairly straightforward and simple.