Mixing tow components.

Question

I will be buying and installing the tow components on a recently purchased 2012 Jeep Wrangler and doing a lot of reading on the forums about what people have. Many times I see where someone has components of different makes. Blue ox base plate and Roadmaster tow bar for example. I realize that if you already own one part you might likely mix, but what advantage is there to mixing the parts? A disadvantage I see is having to buy adaptors between the tow bar and base plate.
Thanks

enblethen · Answer

Only real benefit to mixing, is getting used portions.get a tow bar at good price, maybe find different brand of brackets for better price then new.Remember in any case you may need adapters.

dutch_12078 · Answer

Our "mix" is a ReadyBrute Elite combined tow bar and brake system coupled to a Blue Ox base plate. NSA, the ReadyBrute manufacturer, does not make base plates, although they do now sell Demco's as I recall. With the ReadyBrute, no adapters are needed since you specify which base plate you're mating it with when you order, and they supply the correct arm ends.

drwwicks · Answer

Dutch, I looked at the ready brute on line and wonder how well it works compared to other brake pedal pulling/pushing systems. I likely will tow 2 different vehicles, Jeep and Ford F-150 so I suppose the "toad" parts are available separately. I also wonder how it supposedly knows when you are going down hill and not braking. Are there adjustments for vehicle size?

rjstractor · Answer

drwwicks wrote:I also wonder how it supposedly knows when you are going down hill and not braking. Are there adjustments for vehicle size?IIRC there are adjustments to control how much toad braking is applied.   As far as going downhill and not braking, it doesn't really matter.  The brakes on the toad activate when the toad pushes against the tow vehicle.  When going down hill and not braking, the speed between the two vehicles is equalized, and as long as the tow vehicle is not slowing down, the brakes on the toad aren't activated.  It's very similar to surge brakes on trailers.

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Mixing tow components.

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