Help! New Dinghy Set Up Confusion...

[msd5052001]

Hello all, I am new to the forum and have purchased a 2016 Jeep Wrangler. We bought the Jeep with the specific purpose of towing it behind our class C rv. The problem is I am getting blown away with all of the information that goes into this! After 3 months of research I believe I found the components or at least narrowed down what I "think" I want but now can't find anyone that will install it as they only want to install their own products. I am not mechanically inclined enough to take on a project like this let alone have the tools to do the job. Any suggestions on how to get this accomplished in the Marietta, GA area or any warnings about the choices or additions to the "forgotten" items I have not considered yet would be very much appreciated.

The list of what I "think" I want:

Blue Ox or Currie baseplate, like the looks of the Currie more but have seen some issues with installation and cutting.

Mopar or Cooltech wiring harness. Seems that Cooltech has some issues with the turn signals not working properly on a lot of reviews, so that is a concern.

Readybrute Elite tow bar with surge brake system.

Oh and FYI, just in case it helps, our new camper is not here yet but it is a 2017 Forest River Forester 3051.

[Golden_HVAC]

I would have the baseplate installed by a local dealer, and worry about the braking system later.

Then with the baseplate in place, it will be easy enough to find someone to install the braking system. You do not need to have them both done by the same installer. Of the two items, the baseplate is far more difficult than the braking system.

For what it is worth, I installed the braking system a week after I installed by baseplate, and towed a while without the braking system. The Honda CRV was only about 3,000 pounds, and normally I was towing without the Honda brakes connected, and my 17,000 pound motorhome stopped the combo just fine.

With the heavier 4,200 pound Edge, I always use the braking system. With my 1,500 pound dune buggy, I never considered hooking up brakes for it, as the front axle is only 150 pounds, and rear one 1,300. The brakes would probably skid if applied, and that insignificant weight presents no problem to the all wheel disk brakes on my RV. Also I am smart enough to know how to downshift and take it out of overdrive while going down a mountain grade.

Good luck!

Fred.

[msd5052001]

Thunder Mountain wrote:
Jeeps are among the easiest to set up and tow. Just take a few deep breaths and do your research. Blue Ox base plate is easy to install with proper tools, time and some mechanical skills. Otherwise, a good mechanic that can read directions can do it in 2-3 hours. Cooltech is dumb easy to do unless you have a dealer installed aftermarket Mopar towing harness. Then it does take some head scratching. If your towing harness is factory installed, just read the directions. Believe me, I know from both experiences. I have a classic Brake Buddy braking system which has been through three Jeeps.

So there is no issue with Cool tech and turn signal/brake light issues? I was leaning towards that one and then second guessed using the mopar instead...

[Thunder_Mountai]

Jeeps are among the easiest to set up and tow. Just take a few deep breaths and do your research. Blue Ox base plate is easy to install with proper tools, time and some mechanical skills. Otherwise, a good mechanic that can read directions can do it in 2-3 hours. Cooltech is dumb easy to do unless you have a dealer installed aftermarket Mopar towing harness. Then it does take some head scratching. If your towing harness is factory installed, just read the directions. Believe me, I know from both experiences. I have a classic Brake Buddy braking system which has been through three Jeeps.

[dahkota]

msd5052001 wrote:

Great info! Can you tell me what's included with the Mopar harness? I know it's probably a dumb question but obviously they give you the wiring harness, but does the plug that goes under the jeep bumper get included and installed with that harness? The reason I ask is I have a credit at the Jeep dealership and they said they and put a wiring harness in for me. But I wasn't sure if whoever would have to install the tow bar and base plate would touch it if anything else is needed.

On ours it did. The two are not related (the wiring harness and the tow bar) so they can be installed separately.

[msd5052001]

dahkota wrote:
We had our ready brute elite and mopar harness installed at LaMesa RV in Sanford, FL. They also wired the 'brake activate light' in the RV. They did a good job. We didn't need a baseplate as we had a custom bumper installed. We preferred the ease of the wiring harness over the magnetic lights - less stuff to bother with. The set up has been hauled from Florida to Alaska and back with no problems whatsoever.

Great info! Can you tell me what's included with the Mopar harness? I know it's probably a dumb question but obviously they give you the wiring harness, but does the plug that goes under the jeep bumper get included and installed with that harness? The reason I ask is I have a credit at the Jeep dealership and they said they and put a wiring harness in for me. But I wasn't sure if whoever would have to install the tow bar and base plate would touch it if anything else is needed.

[dahkota]

We had our ready brute elite and mopar harness installed at LaMesa RV in Sanford, FL. They also wired the 'brake activate light' in the RV. They did a good job. We didn't need a baseplate as we had a custom bumper installed. We preferred the ease of the wiring harness over the magnetic lights - less stuff to bother with. The set up has been hauled from Florida to Alaska and back with no problems whatsoever.

[F1bNorm]

Couple thoughts:
1. The Ready Brute web site has videos and instructions showing the install.
2. They also have a list of RB dealers that will do the work.

We did option 2 and were happy with the result. Ours was a two day affair, but they matched the height of the baseplate to our hitch and did the lights.

Norm

[msd5052001]

Golden_HVAC wrote:
Check with Blue Ox and see if they have a local installer.

I have a Roadmaster hitch on my motorhome (with arms that fold down to attach to my towed car). I installed the Roadmaster baseplate on a 1999 Honda CRV and on my Ford Edge.

For braking, I used a cruise control motor from a junkyard car, and ran a vacuum line from my gas engine motorhome to run it. So I have power brakes, and when the RV brake light comes on, the CC motor gets vacuum and pull's it's cable, so the brake pedal is pulled toward the floor. The cruise control motor is about 3" diameter, so it can pull with about 25 pounds of force, just about right to pull the brake pedal arm toward the floor. Total cost was only about $35. But it takes a huge page to write about how to install the system, and the required vacuum check valves so that it all works right.

Enjoy your new motorhome and happy camping!

Fred.

There are three local dealers, which will do the base plate for me but won't do the work required on the Ready Brute Elite because they don't sell it. Thank you, we are currently in a travel trailer so we are anxiously awaiting the upgrade RV to arrive!

[Golden_HVAC]

Check with Blue Ox and see if they have a local installer.

I have a Roadmaster hitch on my motorhome (with arms that fold down to attach to my towed car). I installed the Roadmaster baseplate on a 1999 Honda CRV and on my Ford Edge.

For braking, I used a cruise control motor from a junkyard car, and ran a vacuum line from my gas engine motorhome to run it. So I have power brakes, and when the RV brake light comes on, the CC motor gets vacuum and pull's it's cable, so the brake pedal is pulled toward the floor. The cruise control motor is about 3" diameter, so it can pull with about 25 pounds of force, just about right to pull the brake pedal arm toward the floor. Total cost was only about $35. But it takes a huge page to write about how to install the system, and the required vacuum check valves so that it all works right.

Enjoy your new motorhome and happy camping!

Fred.

[Dutch_12078]

I did both of our Blue Ox base plate installs in the driveway at our vacation cottage. Any reasonably competent shade tree mechanic that's able to follow the included directions should be able to do it. We also have the ReadyBrute Elite tow bar, and installing the cable for that was as said, about a one hour project. I prefer having all of the toad lights functioning normally while in tow, including the high center brake light, so I tied in a diode set to the rear lighting wiring behind the driver's side kick panel rather than running everything all the way to the rear.

[msd5052001]

John Wayne wrote:
Do you have a mobil RV tech. in the area he may be able to help or any independent garage the items you want to install all come with instructions. So they should be able to do it.

I haven't had luck on finding a garage that would want to do it but didn't think at all about a mobile RV tech. Will add that to my list of research items.

[msd5052001]

RedJeep wrote:
Ready Brute elite with surge brakes is what we have. The install of the conduit cable from Jeep (Land Rover in our case) front bumper to brake pedal is an easy one hour project. We used a Road Master base plate. Had it professionaly installed. Also has to get a Blue Ox clevis to connect tow bar to base plate.

We're not using any integrated wiring harness with the toad. For lights we have a simple magnetic tow light. Very easy and no mucking about with the toads wiring.


Good luck!

Hmmm, didn't think about the magnetic lights and skipping the wiring... Off to research. Thanks! Do you like your Ready Brute Elite? Do you think a novice could handle the brake cable project? I am very capable with following instructions, just makes me nervous to drill on the Jeep!

[John_Wayne]

Do you have a mobil RV tech. in the area he may be able to help or any independent garage the items you want to install all come with instructions. So they should be able to do it.

[RedJeep]

Ready Brute elite with surge brakes is what we have. The install of the conduit cable from Jeep (Land Rover in our case) front bumper to brake pedal is an easy one hour project. We used a Road Master base plate. Had it professionaly installed. Also has to get a Blue Ox clevis to connect tow bar to base plate.

We're not using any integrated wiring harness with the toad. For lights we have a simple magnetic tow light. Very easy and no mucking about with the toads wiring.


Good luck!