Installing Blue Ox tow plates

I use the HF cheapies on my HHR with no problem.

If you go with magnetic watch what you buy. I put the cheapies at harbor freight on trailer fenders and they fell off on the first corner.

jerseyjim wrote:
Hey...if the diode kit is not to your liking...get the magnetic lights! Maybe 25-30 bucks, if that. A flat 4 connector.
I have the diodes on my 2007 Chevvy HHR, and have the magnetic lights on my 2011 Ranger pickup. Available at any auto parts store.
Both work just fine. When i had the baseplate installed on the Ranger, I wanted the diodes on also...but the RV mechanic said not to. Claimed that on some of the new vehicles, the diodes could give a false "check engine" light. (Alarm) So I took his advise.

X2 on the magnetic lights, I've used them on my 2001 CRV and will be using them on my 2013 Ford Edge. It does take an extra minute to run the cables but they work great.

Chris

Hey...if the diode kit is not to your liking...get the magnetic lights! Maybe 25-30 bucks, if that. A flat 4 connector.
I have the diodes on my 2007 Chevvy HHR, and have the magnetic lights on my 2011 Ranger pickup. Available at any auto parts store.
Both work just fine. When i had the baseplate installed on the Ranger, I wanted the diodes on also...but the RV mechanic said not to. Claimed that on some of the new vehicles, the diodes could give a false "check engine" light. (Alarm) So I took his advise.

mrlightrail wrote:
On a side note, there was no electrical items included with the kit I ordered. Looks like another expense...damn. Liking the RV experience so far, but it sucks to not have a car available when you need to make a quick trip into town.

John ... not a big thing. It's only money! :) Pretend your spending your kids inheritance :B
The material for a plug in is very insexpensive it's more the labor. Find a small utility trailer dealer who does electrical installs. Here in Oregon I was fortunite to find an install guy for the plate and Embilicord plug install. Total cost was $375.

mrlightrail wrote:
On a side note, there was no electrical items included with the kit I ordered. Looks like another expense...damn. Liking the RV experience so far, but it sucks to not have a car available when you need to make a quick trip into town.

You had three wiring kit options: BX8869, BX88267, BX88269
see: http://blueox.com/bx-r-BaseplateProducts.aspx?ProductId=777. But those are for the toad. You can also do your own wiring and make up your own "kit". You should have gotten a 4 way or 6 way round electrical connector that attaches to the middle front of the baseplate. But you have to supply the electrical cord for between the coach and the toad. I set fabricated my own.

On a side note, there was no electrical items included with the kit I ordered. Looks like another expense...damn. Liking the RV experience so far, but it sucks to not have a car available when you need to make a quick trip into town.

I'm disabled, and no longer able to work on the car. Most places quote me 4 hrs labor, which comes to around 500.00. After paying 400 for the tow plate, 300 for the tow bar, I'm pretty much tapped.

I installed a Blue Ox baseplate on my 2008 Chevy Cobalt about 2 years ago,if i remember the instructions for this and the G6 were the same.It took me about 3 hrs. to install,pretty straight forward.

Many companies do not like to install baseplates because of the liability issue. That said, $500 seems a little much. An experienced mechanic should be able to do the job in about 3 hours. Just mmake sure the installer uses plenty of Loctite Red and torques the bolts to the correct level. Our baseplate came loose on the way back from Alaska this summer, sheared two bolts and destroted the front fascia, bumper cover and headlights on our Vue. I just installed a baseplate on our new Jeep wrangler and it took about 2 hours including time for the paint to dry where I drilled holes and cut off some metal for clearance. The Blue Ox instructions are very clear.