Cost to install apparatus for Flat-towing

[obiwancanoli]

While I've had and used a Tow Dolly for a couple years, I've always found it inconvenient, requiring me to have storage when not in use. As a result, been considering replacing this with a towing apparatus for my Class A, and called Camping World to research, and get an estimate...

WHOA!

At $5,400+, it was quite a bit more than I anticipated... but is it accurate? Looking for input, experience, and anything else that will help me decide if this is an option I should consider...

At this price, I think I'd continue with the dolly...

Your thoughts?

Thanks, MIchael

[dodge_guy]

The LED taillights are 12V. They work the same as the standard incandescent bulbs. Just wore them up like normal. I used a kit with diodes so it doesn’t back feed into the cars system. No one makes a plug and play for my year Explorer. I believe they make them for yours though.

[univmd]

We paid $4700 which included the expensive tow bar, braking system, wiring for rear lights, base kit, etc.

[down_home]

Around $5,000.00 is what we paid for equipment, air line from coach to car Roadmaster air brake, Sterling hitch and subframe and hitch wiring etc for our first toad a Saturn. about 1500.00 each time to change it from one car to the next.
If you are in good shape you can d it yourself.
Roadmaster did not sell direct only through Dealers an fair pricing.
i read her sometime that they bought direct. but freight would be high.

[Big_Katuna]

obiwancanoli wrote:
Been made aware of another issue I need to address... my current Ford Edge has LED brake lights & signals, and I've been told they're difficult to wire to a typical wiring harness.If that's the case, what about alternatives?

I wired in a set of mag lights. Harbor Freight $10.

[travisc]

If you don’t do the work yourself this gets expensive

I paid
Road master tow bar $1100
Road master brackets $400
Demo stay and play $1100
Towed wiring $75

I installed myself. Over several hours. But it does get expensive and it’s the cost of what we do.

[obiwancanoli]

Been made aware of another issue I need to address... my current Ford Edge has LED brake lights & signals, and I've been told they're difficult to wire to a typical wiring harness.If that's the case, what about alternatives?

[H___E]

Here is a used base plate for Ford Edge.
Search classified ad's for items you need. Lots of good items out there.

https://www.irv2.com/rvclassifieds/showproduct.php?product=15559&title=blue-ox-bx-2657-base-plate&cat=23

[dodge_guy]

obiwancanoli wrote:
By the way, the current Tow Dolly has electric braking system, so I have a brake controller in the RV cockpit. A friend who's installed these systems asked if I'd looked into a Road Master Stinger for the tow bar, and an Air Force One brake controller...

Anyone with experience here, or an opinion as to how they might compare?

The electric brakes on the dolly are completely different than the braking system that gets installed in the toad!

[STBRetired]

Make sure you pay attention to the options on your Edge when you buy your baseplate. Mine has the active air shutters in front of the radiator and the dynamic cruise control that maintains the following distance so you don't run over the car ahead. Those options required a different baseplate (from Roadmaster) than if I didn't have them. I read the installation instructions for the baseplate, then paid my RV dealer $1500 to install it. They had to take apart almost the entire front end of the car. When the cruise did not operate correctly after they put it back together, they paid Ford to fix it.

[obiwancanoli]

By the way, the current Tow Dolly has electric braking system, so I have a brake controller in the RV cockpit. A friend who's installed these systems asked if I'd looked into a Road Master Stinger for the tow bar, and an Air Force One brake controller...

Anyone with experience here, or an opinion as to how they might compare?

[crawford]

Bill.Satellite wrote:
While I mean no disrespect to anyone who has previously posted, I am not buying any used equipment from anyone for any reason to tow a car. What if it goes bad and the car gets loose and kills someone? Yep, saved $1000 but I am now broke due to all the lawsuits. At least if everything is new and installed by professionals I have some legal cushion to fall back on. I will also sleep really, really well every night knowing that what is installed on my coach is the best quality and done the way the company specs require.

I just want to throw this out I been using my system 15 year never a problem If I sold it at 8 years what would be the problem? Just saying buy a name brand and you do know you also have safety chains to car and a braking system if it ever came loose. You base plate your would be really lucky if you found a used one so most likely a new one. Mine after bolted it was also welded on. So buying use doesn't mean not safe and I am just explaining it to you not trying to be mean.

[way2roll]

jarata1 wrote:
You also need the in car break about 1500

Not with the ready brute elite. It's built in.

[jarata1]

You also need the in car break about 1500

[Alan_Hepburn]

obiwancanoli wrote:

Of course, I'll need a baseplate for my car, the towing mechanism for the RV, and a wiring harness to connect the two... I like the idea of the ReadyBrute, but what else do I need to complete the task?
I suppose what I need is a list, and will review the posts to see if I can compile one myself...

Here's my shopping list when we bought our Wrangler a few months ago - got everything from rvupgrades.com:

Ready Brute RB-9050 Elite Tow Bar With Blueox Clevis $1,150.00
Readybrake RS-5000 Readystop Towed Vehicle Break Away $97.99
Hopkins 56200 Wrangler 2007-2017 Towed Vehicle Wiring Kit $52.95
Blue Ox Base Plate BX1126 Jeep Wrangler 2007 - 2018 $414.52


Subtotal: $1,715.46
Tax: $0.00
Shipping Cost: $0.00
Grand Total: $1,715.46

[obiwancanoli]

Thank you all so much for your input! It seems clear that I can do this effectively at a lower cost than CW quoted... so, I know what to do, just not sure how...

I have a friend who's installed these, so I need only to gather the necessary parts. Ford says my Edge is flat-towable, so, I can do the research and look for parts on Craig's List and elsewhere...

Of course, I'll need a baseplate for my car, the towing mechanism for the RV, and a wiring harness to connect the two... I like the idea of the ReadyBrute, but what else do I need to complete the task?
I suppose what I need is a list, and will review the posts to see if I can compile one myself...

By the way, the MH is a Newmar Ventana LE DP (2017), the toad is a 2017 Ford Edge 3.5L, FWD