Currie JK and Demco tow bars

[jpmihalk]

I am asking this question here since I didn't get any replies in the towing forum. I apologize if you read this before.

I am looking to install a Currie JK tow mounting kit in my 2010 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited to be able to flat tow behind my 34 foot Itasca Sunflyer. Currie's website and instructions say that the Currie plate works with Blue Ox, DrawTite, Valley and Friedl tow bars but doesn't mention Demco by name.

Since this is my first experience towing, I want to know if anyone has any experience with a Currie tow plate and Demco tow bar combo. It looks like it should work or may require an adapter, but I want to know if anyone has used these two products together and what they think.

Thanks!

[jpmihalk]

Thanks everyone for the responses and suggestions. I did order the Currie JK baseplate and the Demco Commander tow bar (with the Demco Blue Ox adapter clevis, which definitely fits better!) and also got the CoolTech wiring harness. Now to set aside some time to get the baseplate and wiring harness installed and tested.

I liked the idea of keeping the cutting and modifying of the Jeep frame/bumper to a minimum, so the Currie baseplate made a lot of sense to me. The last part of the solution is what to get for a toad braking system.

[zmotorsports]

I have seen several people use the Currie baseplate at various Jeep outings and the owners seem to like them. The most common towbar I have seen in conjunction with them is the Blue Ox.

There is another option that you could get some adapters that will attach to your "D" ring mounts and tow off of them, that is another very common option.

My 2011 Rubicon is a little too high for the "D" ring mounting so I fabricated a new crossmember to tow from that sits just below and behind the custom winch bumper that I fabricated. It does not impede my approach angle at all and now after two full years of driving/wheeling I have never made contact when climbing an obstacle.


Here is a build thread where I show the process in which I fabricated my towbar crossmember/bracket.
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/25704761.cfm

Mike.

[Davehrn]

I have the Currie baseplate on my '09 jk .. I use the ready brute elite (brake included) if you go this route make sure you get the blue ox clevis ... the demco do NOT fit ... I had found on Currie's web site that certain demco tow bars fit ... so I ordered the demco clevis ... but ready brute was super to work with.. immediately shipped me blue ox clevis... the blue ox is tight on the passenger side so I used a 8 inch sander and took the paint off the center finger of the aluminium clevis and it fit perfect

The Currie baseplate may require a little triming of some non-structural frame (mine did not) and if you want to run wires / cables through the baseplate ... get extra drill bits... that plate is thick ... I did have to use a big screw driver to line up the holes when Installing.. took me 4 hours to bolt in the baseplate..

Private message me if you have any questions.. or I can send pics

[polar76]

I vote for the Ready Brute /Ready Break setup.
Saves a lot of hassle with "some " break systems and saves money too.

My baseplates are Blue Ox so when i bought the tow bar I specified Blue Ox adapters.

[gone2dadesert]

Currie Tow Skid plate mounted on a Mopar winch bumper, I use a Blue Ox Adventa LX tow bar

[jpmihalk]

After doing some more looking, I am narrowing down my choices to the Demco Commander or the Blue Ox Alpha receiver mounted tow bars. Thoughts?

[JimM68]

you for sure want a reciever style, stowed on the motorhome tow bar, I would never ever use anything else.

"Most" of those tow bars use a compatible hookup. the tow bar has 3 fingers, the baseplate has 2, they fit together and you slam a pin thru them, easy peasy.

With a wrangler, the best setup is a good solid aftermarket bumper,and some of blue ox's $52 brackets.

No "baseplate" no nuttin, just a good solid aftermarket bumper with some small cheap sturdy brackets.

[jpmihalk]

I like the Ready Brute tow bar and hadn't heard of them before your post. The Elite version with the ReadyBrake looks pretty awesome and simple. Thanks for the info!

[jpmihalk]

Probably true, wny_pat. I am a Jeep guy and know a bit about he additional options that are available for Jeeps that a typical toad wouldn't have available. I like the Currie base plate option since it doesn't require modding the existing Jeep frame or skid plates, it is basically a replacement skid plate that has tow bar mounts in front. It is simple to self-install and will look like an OEM product.

[wny_pat1]

I guess because no one is familiar with the base plate brand you are asking aobut. In the RV world, it is Blue Ox, Roadmaster, and Demco for baseplates. I have noticed that Jeep guys who tow with their motorhomes do some different towing setups. There are only 31 matches on two pages.
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/search/parms/sw%7BCurrie%7D%7Ckm%7Bexact%7D%7Ckl%7Bm%7D...

[jpmihalk]

I did post in the dinghy discussion forum but didn't get any replies. I appreciate the responses!! Good points to consider so far.

[wny_pat1]

I've got no problem switching brands in a towing setup. Most have adaptors available to make that switch. My baseplate on my toad is a Blue Ox and my tow bar is a Ready Brute. My tow bar use to be a Blue Ox until it got damaged and was out of warranty. The ReadyBrute has a lifetime warranty. Have heard of Demco tow bars, but would not pick that one because it is set up for a ball hitch, and most motorhomes have a hitch receiver and not a tow. Have not heard of Currie as it must be a Jeep enthusiast thing. I think there are cheaper ways of doing it for you, but you should check on the Dingy Discussion Forum

[ArchHoagland]

I haven't heard of Currie but there's a lot of things I haven't heard of.

I'm curious why you don't stay with all one company's product.

If you mix products and a problem arises there's a chance company A will say it's company B causing the problem and Company B will say it is company A causing the problem.

So my advice to a new person towing is: Stay with one company for all parts.