Should I have base plates professionally installed?

I'm trading in my current vehicle (close to 100k miles anyway) and leaning towards a 2012 Chevy Traverse or Explorer of same year. I'd really like Honda Pilot because it's lighter but honda and Remco do not warrranty (although the site also says it can be done).

I may try to do it myself if I can find time. It gives my boys an opportunity to learn these things. :)

I installed a Blue Ox baseplate by myself on my 2013 C-Max, along with the tail light wiring and Ready Brake installation. I've never been much of a do-it-yourselfer, but I was able to quickly work up my confidence after watching YouTube videos for each item I installed. The scariest part was when I had to cut some plastic out of the front grille on my new car, but it looked fine once I finished, and I'm proud of my handiwork and found that it's something I enjoy doing. As for your situation, I'd suggest downloading instructions and watching installation videos to help you make up your mind.

20 month old baby + long trip = professional

I built and installed base plates on both my 2 different Jeeps.
The hardest part is R&Ring the front bumper/coweling assy.
Both had good U-tube videos of the installations,.....made it a bunch easier.
But overall, it is a rather complex procedure.

I installed the Blue ox base plate on my Ranger in about 2 hours. Just read the instructions.

You can print the instructions off their website and look at them then decide for yourself how difficult it will be and whether you want to sub it out.....Dennis

My wife's old CRV took about two hours of simple labor. My Echo took a day, and included many refits and significant grinding of pinch welds and of the brackets.

The first one seems too easy to hire out. The second one seems too complicated to afford hiring out.

Matt B

The mechanic is going to do what you or anyone would, and that is take out the instructions and read them. As long as the work is guaranteed, I would go with the lowest bidder. I did all of mine and they are pretty easy. Taking of the entire front clip of my Grand is something a body shop may be used to so they may be a little more adept at the process thus doing it faster. Other than that, it is a step by step thing anyone with a little mechanical inclination can take care of.

I've my own twice. Two different generation Grand Cherokee's. The Blue Ox Base Plates come with great instructions. Each took about 4 hours or so. Pretty basic tools needed also.

If you list the year, make and model of the vehicle you're going to install them on, then someone with the same vehicle can probably tell you how difficult they are for your specific vehicle. Otherwise the answers may not have any real relevance.

My 2002 Jeep Wrangler took about 4 hours to install while I got sidetracked with moving the sprinklers around the lawn. You can probably do them yourself.

On edit - if you're thinking of Roadmaster, they have their instructions on line. The others may also. Pull down the ones for your toad and see how difficult they look to be.

Bill