Recently I replaced my 2008 Ford Explorer toad with a new 2014 Ford Explorer. Since the Camping World in Willsonville Oregon installed the base plates for our Roadmaster Stowmaster 5000 tow bar on the 08 I took the new Explore there to have new base plates installed. The sales person at the parts desk said he would have to check the weight of the new Explorer before he would sell me base plates and went to the parking lot where he looked at the door plate and said he could not sell me base plates for my Stowmaster 5000 since my new vehicle weighs too much. He then proceed to sell me a Roadmaster Falcon All Terrain tow bar including base plates and installation. During all this he was telling me what a great deal he was giving me what with the $39 dollar installations, my Good Sam discounts etc. When the ink was dry I was into this for $1470.07.Fast forward to today and I received my new copy of the 2014 Guide to Dinghy Towing published by Motorhome magazine. On page 5 is an ad for Roadmaster All Terrain tow bars that shows the Falcon All Terrain tow bar is rated at 6000 pounds. This is exactly the same rating as my Stowmaster 5000 which he refused to sell me base plates for. Looks to me like I was ripped off big time.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the Stowmaster 5000 rated to 5000 pounds, whereas the Falcon All Terrain tow bar is rated at 6000 pounds?:h

Look it up, the Stowmaster 5000 is rated at 6000 pounds Stowmaster 5000 specs.Funny thing is in checking the 2014 Explorer is even a little lighter than our 08 was and they had no problem installing the base plates on the 08 when it was new.

I believe that the stowmaster 5000 is rated for 6000 pounds

If you go to the Roadmaster website and look at the Stowmaster 5000 in large letters it states that it is 6000 pound-capacity car mounted tow bar. JMT

You have been had!Stowmaster is rated 6000 pounds.Stowmaster 5000

Looks Like I was Scammed by Camping World | Good Sam Community

Executive45
Explorer III
Mar 08, 2014
Medico wrote:
I always take the opportunity to research all larger purchases. If I'm changing toads or coaches I research before spending my money. As consumers we have to take this responsibility.

AMEN!

I'm tired of only a very few taking responsibility for their actions.

I'm glad CW made the OP happy, but I also fault him for not doing his homework beforehand. Heck, I can use my cell phone to check the product specs right there in the store.....Dennis
Medico
Explorer II
Mar 07, 2014
It is my belief that the baseplate used for an Explorer is the same whether it is used for a Stowmaster or the Falcon. The baseplate is made for the auto, not the towbar used. The towbar adapters (In my case the EZ Adapters) are what connects between the baseplate and the towbar.

I wonder if this salesperson was either new to CW or perhaps new to toad towing.

The Stowmaster 5000 is definitely rated at 6000 pounds. This also confused me at first, but I took the responsibility to research what I had, and what I needed to connect the Stowmaster that came with my coach to my new Jeep. This allowed me to get the correct baseplate and towbar adapter for my Stowmaster.

I always take the opportunity to research all larger purchases. If I'm changing toads or coaches I research before spending my money. As consumers we have to take this responsibility.
wbwood
Explorer
Mar 07, 2014
CW is trying to make a customer happy now. Plain and simple. Whether who is/was in the wrong or the right, doesn't really matter. The OP thought that the employee was wrong to the point of checking it afterwards. The employee could of been misinformed or confused about the previous product with the 5000 number, or might of been told by someone else there the same thing. Who knows. It's all hearsay to all of us as it is. And as I mentioned, CW is just doing what it can to keep a customer happy. Whether they lose out on the deal or not.
RandACampin
Explorer II
Mar 07, 2014
God the refusal to accept responsibility in the country is truly astounding. Even worse are the cheeleaders who condone and patronize it.
Bird_Freak
Explorer II
Mar 06, 2014
wbwood wrote:
phnguyk wrote:
wbwood wrote:
If your current explorer is lighter than your old one, then why didn't you bring that up at the time? If they didn't want to install it, then I would of went elsewhere. I agree with some of the responses here, I think you might of done more homework before hand. Sounds like your mad more at yourself for not confirming before agreeing to the price you paid. I think it's crazy to expect them to give you a discount on the tow bar you got and expect to keep it. Perhaps they will let you swap it out and refund you the difference. But since it's been used, I don't know.

HOLY CRAP!
These people are employed at CW, they are trained in these things. Why would the OP question a professional CW employee. Come on people, if they don't know what they're doing then they should change the name from CW to Maybe Camping World. This isn't the first time they've seen a stowmaster 5000, and if by chance it was his first a competent employee would have researched, this employee did just enough research to find the right base plates for the OP's new truck.

He questioned them afterwards.....what's the difference? If he felt he should go merely on their expertise, then he would of never even checked afterwards and would of never known the difference, right?
So if he never finds out about it, That makes it ok in your eyes? Don't think so! CW knows there was a mistake made and tried to make it right. I think they did good in the end but they know their staff could use more training. Now they know and can handle it. Good for you CW!!!
KilroyGuy
Explorer
Mar 06, 2014
Good job CW. The true bottom line in any business is satisfied customers.
phnguyk
Explorer
Mar 06, 2014
What's the difference? CW miss informed/lied to him. That's the difference. One day you might get ripped off then have people tell you what "you" did to deserve it.
RandACampin
Explorer II
Mar 06, 2014
bdpreece wrote:
Recently I replaced my 2008 Ford Explorer toad with a new 2014 Ford Explorer. Since the Camping World in Willsonville Oregon installed the base plates for our Roadmaster Stowmaster 5000 tow bar on the 08 I took the new Explore there to have new base plates installed. The sales person at the parts desk said he would have to check the weight of the new Explorer before he would sell me base plates and went to the parking lot where he looked at the door plate and said he could not sell me base plates for my Stowmaster 5000 since my new vehicle weighs too much. He then proceed to sell me a Roadmaster Falcon All Terrain tow bar including base plates and installation. During all this he was telling me what a great deal he was giving me what with the $39 dollar installations, my Good Sam discounts etc. When the ink was dry I was into this for $1470.07.

Fast forward to today and I received my new copy of the 2014 Guide to Dinghy Towing published by Motorhome magazine. On page 5 is an ad for Roadmaster All Terrain tow bars that shows the Falcon All Terrain tow bar is rated at 6000 pounds. This is exactly the same rating as my Stowmaster 5000 which he refused to sell me base plates for. Looks to me like I was ripped off big time.

Looks like you ripped yourself off by making an uniformed purchase. Next time do your homework. The responsibility lies with you.
wbwood
Explorer
Mar 06, 2014
phnguyk wrote:
wbwood wrote:
If your current explorer is lighter than your old one, then why didn't you bring that up at the time? If they didn't want to install it, then I would of went elsewhere. I agree with some of the responses here, I think you might of done more homework before hand. Sounds like your mad more at yourself for not confirming before agreeing to the price you paid. I think it's crazy to expect them to give you a discount on the tow bar you got and expect to keep it. Perhaps they will let you swap it out and refund you the difference. But since it's been used, I don't know.

HOLY CRAP!
These people are employed at CW, they are trained in these things. Why would the OP question a professional CW employee. Come on people, if they don't know what they're doing then they should change the name from CW to Maybe Camping World. This isn't the first time they've seen a stowmaster 5000, and if by chance it was his first a competent employee would have researched, this employee did just enough research to find the right base plates for the OP's new truck.

He questioned them afterwards.....what's the difference? If he felt he should go merely on their expertise, then he would of never even checked afterwards and would of never known the difference, right?
bdpreece
Explorer II
Mar 05, 2014
One of my biggest gripes on this and other forums is, when people post a problem and then never return to give an update. Hey, Camping World resolved a problem to my satisfaction; people should know that they really made the effort.