2014 Honda CRV - What will the front-end look like?

Go to the Etrailer.com site and search for a Blue Ox BX2258 baseplate. I think your wife will be quite pleased with the appearance of the CRV using this baseplate.

Check the Roadmaster site. I think they have installation manuals that show the completed installation. I do think Blue Ox has a cleaner looking installation though.

I also have a Falcon 2 I've been using since 2003 and really like the new Roadmaster base plate with the turn lock feature on my 2013 CRV. PM me with you email address and I can send you pictures. Dick

I chose the Blue Ox BX2258 baseplate for our 2013 CR-V for that very reason...clean install.

I have the 2011 CRV w the Blue Ox baseplate. When the removable pins are installed they look like the machine guns on one of James Bond's old cars. Little to show when removed and very clean.

If you already have Roadmaster, look at the bracket types here. Then see which ones you like here.
Then you can look up the install instructions. You might even decide to install the bracket (base plate) yourself. In any case, every instruction sheet I've looked up, shows a pic of the finished installation.
BlueOx earned its reputation for cleaner looks back when Roadmaster was still doing all those "XL and "MX" brackets. Your 2003 has one of those. The 2014 CRV shows only "EZ" series brackets, EZ2 EZ4 and EZ5. Check'em out, you might be pleasantly surprised. Roadmaster has really cleaned up its look.

I have a 2014 CRV with a Roadmaster system. I love it. I previously had a 1999 CRV with a Roadmaster system. The new Roadmaster system is great. I fancy myself pretty aware of all the available systems. The following detail is the reason I am so pleased with the Roadmaster base plate. I ordered the -5 option. Sorry I'm too lazy to dig up the full number of the base plate but the -5 option is great. It's light (5#-8#) for each side. Easy to remove and reinstall. Does NOT require the cross bar usually required on Roadmasters. And it looks great when you remove the two pieces.

The only thing that is visible on the front of the CRV when you remove the attachments are two rings, about 1.5" each. There are also two tabs that project for attaching the safety cables. (These two tabs are nearly invisible.) I want to add that it is incredibly easy to remove or reinstall the attachments. You bend down, pull a spring loaded pin, rotate the attachments 180 degrees and pull out. You don't need to get on your knees to disconnect.

Good luck on your choice.

Eric
currently in Las Vegas