I'm looking into outfitting my Class B+ Phoenix Cruiser and 2010 Chevy Malibu for 4 wheels down towing. For the tow assembly, modifications to Malibu, and a braking system I was quoted $6,000. Quote was from a local RV retailer with a service department. That seemed quite a bit more than the sum of the parts.Curious what people have paid to outfit their rigs in a similar fashion?

By the time I was done it cost me $2,800.And I had it done at an overpriced RV dealership!That INCLUDED the tow bar, base plate labor to install base plate,wire the toad with with diodes in toad tail lights.Price also included my Brake Buddy.And some pretty expensive coiled tow chains and 3 locking hitch pins which weren't cheap either! ALL for under $3,000.So NO don't go there! $6,000 is way too high a cost!

go to a hitch shop- we paid 600.00 for the roadmaster base plate, installation and wiring. I was able to get a used blue ox aventa hitch and brake buddy for 500.00 (from my boss) and another 100.00 for the blue ox to roadmaster adapter6000.00 is way too much. check out the escapee and other forums for used equipment

Agree with previous post. 6K Sounds a little high. Less than $2500 for tow bar, base plate and wiring, sounds about right. Now if you need to modify your toad (lube pump etc..)and add breaking system, add another 2K. There are used tow bars and braking systems for sale all the time. You can save a lot by buying used.

I have less than $1200 in my 2011 Silverado setup. That includes new magnetic wireless lights, base plates from a hitch shop and everything else, like towbar & aux brake system, were purchased used off either ebay or craigslist. Any dealer that quotes a price of $6000 is a thief, nothing more. Even the stealerships around here will do the complete job for under $3000.

Figure about $3K if you go with high-end braking system, maybe a little more. If you go with used towbar and more economical braking system total cost will be about what other posters have noted. Hard to find used base plates so you probably can't avoid the cost of a new one of them including labor.

Cost to Outfit for Dinghy Towing | Good Sam Community

rockhillmanor
Explorer
May 05, 2015
By the time I was done it cost me $2,800.
And I had it done at an overpriced RV dealership!

That INCLUDED the tow bar, base plate labor to install base plate,wire the toad with with diodes in toad tail lights.

Price also included my Brake Buddy.

And some pretty expensive coiled tow chains and 3 locking hitch pins which weren't cheap either! ALL for under $3,000.

So NO don't go there! $6,000 is way too high a cost!
rav
Explorer
May 05, 2015
go to a hitch shop- we paid 600.00 for the roadmaster base plate, installation and wiring. I was able to get a used blue ox aventa hitch and brake buddy for 500.00 (from my boss) and another 100.00 for the blue ox to roadmaster adapter
6000.00 is way too much. check out the escapee and other forums for used equipment
Valkyriebush
Explorer II
May 05, 2015
Agree with previous post. 6K Sounds a little high. Less than $2500 for tow bar, base plate and wiring, sounds about right. Now if you need to modify your toad (lube pump etc..)and add breaking system, add another 2K. There are used tow bars and braking systems for sale all the time. You can
save a lot by buying used.
The_Texan
Explorer
May 05, 2015
I have less than $1200 in my 2011 Silverado setup. That includes new magnetic wireless lights, base plates from a hitch shop and everything else, like towbar & aux brake system, were purchased used off either ebay or craigslist.
Any dealer that quotes a price of $6000 is a thief, nothing more. Even the stealerships around here will do the complete job for under $3000.
Islandman
Explorer
May 05, 2015
Figure about $3K if you go with high-end braking system, maybe a little more. If you go with used towbar and more economical braking system total cost will be about what other posters have noted. Hard to find used base plates so you probably can't avoid the cost of a new one of them including labor.
Big_Katuna
Explorer II
May 05, 2015
Labor at most shops is $120/hr. Figure 3-6 hours plus retail for parts.

I bought a Ready Brute aluminum
Locking tow bar with braking built in for $750.
Demco baseplate from PPL (20% discount) $350.
Magnetic lights from Harbor Freight wired in $10.
I installed baseplate. $0.
I installed brake cable $0.
WyoTraveler
Explorer
May 05, 2015
I agree with previous posts my cost was about $2500 for all the parts. Some vehicles may be more difficult than others to install but $3500 labor on top of their profit on parts is pretty steep.
Billinwoodland
Explorer
May 05, 2015
I bought a blue ox base plate new for about $350, used blue ox alladin tow bar off CL for $200, then new ready brake system and break away brake. I bought my new stuff from hitchsource.com, they were great and had good prices. I did the install myself and I am your average weekend mechanic. If you can read and follow directions, the install for the ready brake system and base plate is doable for the average Joe. My total cost was about $1200.
rvindave
Explorer
May 05, 2015
Thanks everyone for the detailed input...I'm going to shop around more, and will report back what I end up spending. $6k just seemed way too high.
az99
Explorer
May 05, 2015
They will be disappointed. They were planning on paying for this years trip to Jamaica from your job only.