Four Down Fail

Looks like the bumper came off with it,the bumper is normally connected pretty good. The last one I did the base plate bolts go through the frame.I did a Demco and Blue ox and both had bolts through the frame.

Bumpyroad wrote:

robatthelake wrote:
This is becoming a common occurrence to many people not following simple instructions!

real men don't read directions/instructions.
bumpy

Until everything else fails to work. :)

Bumpyroad wrote:
but I remember the guy coming on here and asking, "they want $300 to install my baseplate. can't I do it myself and save money? after all, it is just a couple of bolts to fasten the whatchamacalit to the thingamabob."
bumpy

That can work both ways and we did all our own work for towing 4 down, because I wanted to be absolutely sure it was done right.

tatest wrote:

That would be specific to a particular installation. Many of the vehicles now being towed do not have a subframe for front suspension components, everything attaches to locally reinforced sheet metal. Designing a good baseplate or bracket installation becomes more of a problem, more of a risk.

When we get into questions of "is that towable" we get hung up on transmission durability when not normally lubricated. When a manufacturer says "this car is not approved for recreational towing" the issues are deeper. Could be because the when the caster is right for front wheels driving, it will mean the car is unstable or may eat up tires, when front wheels are in trail. It could also mean "we don't think there is any place to safely fasten towing equipment."

an excellent analysis, IMHO.
bumpy

Dutch_12078 wrote:
I don't see the safety cables that Blue Ox has supplied for the last several years for securing the base plate to the sub-frame in the event of a failure such as this one. Perhaps it was an older installation, or the installer chose not to use them.

That would be specific to a particular installation. Many of the vehicles now being towed do not have a subframe for front suspension components, everything attaches to locally reinforced sheet metal. Designing a good baseplate or bracket installation becomes more of a problem, more of a risk.

When we get into questions of "is that towable" we get hung up on transmission durability when not normally lubricated. When a manufacturer says "this car is not approved for recreational towing" the issues are deeper. Could be because the when the caster is right for front wheels driving, it will mean the car is unstable or may eat up tires, when front wheels are in trail. It could also mean "we don't think there is any place to safely fasten towing equipment."

Dutch_12078 wrote:
I don't see the safety cables that Blue Ox has supplied for the last several years for securing the base plate to the sub-frame in the event of a failure such as this one. Perhaps it was an older installation, or the installer chose not to use them.

I did not receive such cables with my install, do not recall any instructions or such that recommended them, nor do I know of any way to actually use such a safety measure on my vehicle with my BO baseplate. Maybe that design is only for certain installations.

Dutch_12078 wrote:
I don't see the safety cables that Blue Ox has supplied for the last several years for securing the base plate to the sub-frame in the event of a failure such as this one. Perhaps it was an older installation, or the installer chose not to use them.

or perhaps the safety chains, if any, were fastened from the base plate to the motorhome.
bumpy

I don't see the safety cables that Blue Ox has supplied for the last several years for securing the base plate to the sub-frame in the event of a failure such as this one. Perhaps it was an older installation, or the installer chose not to use them.

Looks like one of those baseplate/bracket designs where the towing equipment simply replaces the hidden bumper bar. Bumper bar is bolted to those points for location, and load is impact (one time only) rather than multiple pulls and bending.

Designer doesn't know whether that part of the front end sheet metal (not really a frame on unibody cars) is going to hold up until a few failures say NO.

For my Fit, i chose on the basis of how it would install. I chose the baseplate that bolted to the reinforced sides behind the bumper mounting plate, rather than the one that simply repaced the bumper. Engineering training, and a few years experience autobody repair, behind that choice. Most customers probably don't have the experience or training to evaluate how their baseplate attaches, and the manufacturers don't always get it right.

PS, when I remounted the hitch on the Jetta with my own plans, it will never come loose or break again, checked last yr when I sold the car and still rock solid. Just my thoughts.