Towbar Baseplate Problem

[Rick A.]

This is a reminder for everyone to check their towbar system on a regular
basis,
especially the baseplate where it bolts to the tow car frame. After returning
from a trip
this past weekend the front of my wife's 2003 Jeep Liberty literally fell off!
Luckily it
happened within 1 block of where I park the bird.
Studying the Blue Ox towbar system, which has been on for over 3 years, I see
a
possible design flaw in the baseplate system. The baseplate itself has 3/8inch
holes and
calls for 3/8 inch bolts to go into the frame, which mine had. But the frame on
the Jeep
Liberty is a unibody type, very thin stamped steel, with 1/2inch holes. Looking
closely at
the Jeep frame the 1/2inch holes are now very elongated from the bigger hole
size and
movement related to 3 years/20,000 miles. The bolts on one side of the baseplate
came
completely out causing the towbar frame to pull the front end of the Jeep off
and causing
the Jeep to swerve to one side. Again, luckily all this happened at 10mph and
within 1
block of my parking spot. Another disturbing discovery is the 10,000 lb safety
cables do
nothing in this case to prevent a runaway vehicle as they are attached to the
same
baseplate.
So, this is a reminder to everyone to check your baseplate bolts for
tightness on
whatever vehicle you might tow.....and if you tow a Jeep Liberty.....check the
bolts and
bolt holes immediately.

Rick Archie
85PT40 "Fort R"
Fort Worth

[birdshill123]

Rick:

All current Blue Ox bas plates call for cables to be attached from the
frame to the baseplate.

Bruce
1988FC35

[Gardner Yeaw]

Rick,
My 1995 jeep Blue Ox did the same thing, except I discovered it a
little sooner. I ended up making backing plates out of heavy angle
iron with nuts welded to them. I was able to insert them through the
front of the frame. So far it has held well, but I do check regularly.
I put some pictures up on the old wanderlodge forum I think. I will
check. It might have been on this forum.

Gardner

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Rick A."
wrote:
>
> This is a reminder for everyone to check their towbar system on
a regular basis,
> especially the baseplate where it bolts to the tow car frame.
After returning from a trip
> this past weekend the front of my wife's 2003 Jeep Liberty
literally fell off! Luckily it
> happened within 1 block of where I park the bird.
> Studying the Blue Ox towbar system, which has been on for over 3
years, I see a
> possible design flaw in the baseplate system. The baseplate itself
has 3/8inch holes and
> calls for 3/8 inch bolts to go into the frame, which mine had. But
the frame on the Jeep
> Liberty is a unibody type, very thin stamped steel, with 1/2inch
holes. Looking closely at
> the Jeep frame the 1/2inch holes are now very elongated from the
bigger hole size and
> movement related to 3 years/20,000 miles. The bolts on one side of
the baseplate came
> completely out causing the towbar frame to pull the front end of
the Jeep off and causing
> the Jeep to swerve to one side. Again, luckily all this happened at
10mph and within 1
> block of my parking spot. Another disturbing discovery is the
10,000 lb safety cables do
> nothing in this case to prevent a runaway vehicle as they are
attached to the same
> baseplate.
> So, this is a reminder to everyone to check your baseplate bolts
for tightness on
> whatever vehicle you might tow.....and if you tow a Jeep
Liberty.....check the bolts and
> bolt holes immediately.
>
> Rick Archie
> 85PT40 "Fort R"
> Fort Worth
>

[Gardner Yeaw]

Rick,
Try this URL. It has some pictures of what I did. These just show
the basic idea. It is in the WanderLodge Owners Group Forum.

http://www.wanderlodgeownersgroup.com/fo...hread.php?
t=829&highlight=blue+elongated

Gardner
1983 FC 35

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Gardner Yeaw"
wrote:
>
> Rick,
> My 1995 jeep Blue Ox did the same thing, except I discovered it a
> little sooner. I ended up making backing plates out of heavy angle
> iron with nuts welded to them. I was able to insert them through
the
> front of the frame. So far it has held well, but I do check
regularly.
> I put some pictures up on the old wanderlodge forum I think. I
will
> check. It might have been on this forum.
>
> Gardner
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Rick A."
> wrote:
> >
> > This is a reminder for everyone to check their towbar system
on
> a regular basis,
> > especially the baseplate where it bolts to the tow car frame.
> After returning from a trip
> > this past weekend the front of my wife's 2003 Jeep Liberty
> literally fell off! Luckily it
> > happened within 1 block of where I park the bird.
> > Studying the Blue Ox towbar system, which has been on for over
3
> years, I see a
> > possible design flaw in the baseplate system. The baseplate
itself
> has 3/8inch holes and
> > calls for 3/8 inch bolts to go into the frame, which mine had.
But
> the frame on the Jeep
> > Liberty is a unibody type, very thin stamped steel, with 1/2inch
> holes. Looking closely at
> > the Jeep frame the 1/2inch holes are now very elongated from the
> bigger hole size and
> > movement related to 3 years/20,000 miles. The bolts on one side
of
> the baseplate came
> > completely out causing the towbar frame to pull the front end of
> the Jeep off and causing
> > the Jeep to swerve to one side. Again, luckily all this happened
at
> 10mph and within 1
> > block of my parking spot. Another disturbing discovery is the
> 10,000 lb safety cables do
> > nothing in this case to prevent a runaway vehicle as they are
> attached to the same
> > baseplate.
> > So, this is a reminder to everyone to check your baseplate
bolts
> for tightness on
> > whatever vehicle you might tow.....and if you tow a Jeep
> Liberty.....check the bolts and
> > bolt holes immediately.
> >
> > Rick Archie
> > 85PT40 "Fort R"
> > Fort Worth
> >
>

[mbulriss]

> I ended up making backing plates out of heavy angle
> iron with nuts welded to them. I was able to insert them through the
> front of the frame.

I thought all the Blue Ox base plates came with backing plates for
added support inside the frame rail? I know my two units did for my
1995 and 2005 Jeep GC.

By the way, I have a Blue Ox base plate for a 95-98(?) Jeep GC if
anyone needs one. (with backing plates)

Mike Bulriss
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
San Antonio, TX



--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Gardner Yeaw"
wrote:
>
> Rick,
> My 1995 jeep Blue Ox did the same thing, except I discovered it a
> little sooner. I ended up making backing plates out of heavy angle
> iron with nuts welded to them. I was able to insert them through the
> front of the frame. So far it has held well, but I do check
regularly.
> I put some pictures up on the old wanderlodge forum I think. I
will
> check. It might have been on this forum.
>
> Gardner
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Rick A."
> wrote:
> >
> > This is a reminder for everyone to check their towbar system on
> a regular basis,
> > especially the baseplate where it bolts to the tow car frame.
> After returning from a trip
> > this past weekend the front of my wife's 2003 Jeep Liberty
> literally fell off! Luckily it
> > happened within 1 block of where I park the bird.
> > Studying the Blue Ox towbar system, which has been on for over
3
> years, I see a
> > possible design flaw in the baseplate system. The baseplate itself
> has 3/8inch holes and
> > calls for 3/8 inch bolts to go into the frame, which mine had. But
> the frame on the Jeep
> > Liberty is a unibody type, very thin stamped steel, with 1/2inch
> holes. Looking closely at
> > the Jeep frame the 1/2inch holes are now very elongated from the
> bigger hole size and
> > movement related to 3 years/20,000 miles. The bolts on one side of
> the baseplate came
> > completely out causing the towbar frame to pull the front end of
> the Jeep off and causing
> > the Jeep to swerve to one side. Again, luckily all this happened
at
> 10mph and within 1
> > block of my parking spot. Another disturbing discovery is the
> 10,000 lb safety cables do
> > nothing in this case to prevent a runaway vehicle as they are
> attached to the same
> > baseplate.
> > So, this is a reminder to everyone to check your baseplate
bolts
> for tightness on
> > whatever vehicle you might tow.....and if you tow a Jeep
> Liberty.....check the bolts and
> > bolt holes immediately.
> >
> > Rick Archie
> > 85PT40 "Fort R"
> > Fort Worth
> >
>

[Gardner Yeaw]

Mike,
I know that mine did not have any backing plates supplied.
Gardner Yeaw
83FC35

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "mbulriss" <mbulriss@...>
wrote:
>
> > I ended up making backing plates out of heavy angle
> > iron with nuts welded to them. I was able to insert them through
the
> > front of the frame.
>
> I thought all the Blue Ox base plates came with backing plates for
> added support inside the frame rail? I know my two units did for
my
> 1995 and 2005 Jeep GC.
>
> By the way, I have a Blue Ox base plate for a 95-98(?) Jeep GC if
> anyone needs one. (with backing plates)
>
> Mike Bulriss
> 1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
> San Antonio, TX
>
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Gardner Yeaw"
> wrote:
> >
> > Rick,
> > My 1995 jeep Blue Ox did the same thing, except I discovered it
a
> > little sooner. I ended up making backing plates out of heavy
angle
> > iron with nuts welded to them. I was able to insert them through
the
> > front of the frame. So far it has held well, but I do check
> regularly.
> > I put some pictures up on the old wanderlodge forum I think. I
> will
> > check. It might have been on this forum.
> >
> > Gardner
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Rick A."
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > This is a reminder for everyone to check their towbar system
on
> > a regular basis,
> > > especially the baseplate where it bolts to the tow car frame.
> > After returning from a trip
> > > this past weekend the front of my wife's 2003 Jeep Liberty
> > literally fell off! Luckily it
> > > happened within 1 block of where I park the bird.
> > > Studying the Blue Ox towbar system, which has been on for
over
> 3
> > years, I see a
> > > possible design flaw in the baseplate system. The baseplate
itself
> > has 3/8inch holes and
> > > calls for 3/8 inch bolts to go into the frame, which mine had.
But
> > the frame on the Jeep
> > > Liberty is a unibody type, very thin stamped steel, with
1/2inch
> > holes. Looking closely at
> > > the Jeep frame the 1/2inch holes are now very elongated from
the
> > bigger hole size and
> > > movement related to 3 years/20,000 miles. The bolts on one side
of
> > the baseplate came
> > > completely out causing the towbar frame to pull the front end
of
> > the Jeep off and causing
> > > the Jeep to swerve to one side. Again, luckily all this
happened
> at
> > 10mph and within 1
> > > block of my parking spot. Another disturbing discovery is the
> > 10,000 lb safety cables do
> > > nothing in this case to prevent a runaway vehicle as they are
> > attached to the same
> > > baseplate.
> > > So, this is a reminder to everyone to check your baseplate
> bolts
> > for tightness on
> > > whatever vehicle you might tow.....and if you tow a Jeep
> > Liberty.....check the bolts and
> > > bolt holes immediately.
> > >
> > > Rick Archie
> > > 85PT40 "Fort R"
> > > Fort Worth
> > >
> >
>

[david brady]

Rick,

Thanks for the heads-up. I tow a 2006 Honda Pilot. The Honda's
have had a history of baseplate issues. Thanks for the reminder to
go out and check it again.

Another parameter which can really put a lot of strain on the
baseplate is the angle of the tow bar. It should be as close to
level as possible. If it's not, the bar can transmit tons of force
into the baseplate.

David Brady
'02 LXi, NC

Rick A. wrote:
>
> This is a reminder for everyone to check their towbar system on a
> regular basis,
> especially the baseplate where it bolts to the tow car frame. After
> returning from a trip
> this past weekend the front of my wife's 2003 Jeep Liberty literally
> fell off! Luckily it
> happened within 1 block of where I park the bird.
> Studying the Blue Ox towbar system, which has been on for over 3
> years, I see a
> possible design flaw in the baseplate system. The baseplate itself has
> 3/8inch holes and
> calls for 3/8 inch bolts to go into the frame, which mine had. But the
> frame on the Jeep
> Liberty is a unibody type, very thin stamped steel, with 1/2inch
> holes. Looking closely at
> the Jeep frame the 1/2inch holes are now very elongated from the
> bigger hole size and
> movement related to 3 years/20,000 miles. The bolts on one side of the
> baseplate came
> completely out causing the towbar frame to pull the front end of the
> Jeep off and causing
> the Jeep to swerve to one side. Again, luckily all this happened at
> 10mph and within 1
> block of my parking spot. Another disturbing discovery is the 10,000
> lb safety cables do
> nothing in this case to prevent a runaway vehicle as they are attached
> to the same
> baseplate.
> So, this is a reminder to everyone to check your baseplate bolts for
> tightness on
> whatever vehicle you might tow.....and if you tow a Jeep
> Liberty.....check the bolts and
> bolt holes immediately.
>
> Rick Archie
> 85PT40 "Fort R"
> Fort Worth
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
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6:16 PM
>

[ronmarabito2002]

Sorry to hear about the base plate. Glad no one was hurt.

R.E. (Ron) Marabito, Dallas, TX 92WB40

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Rick A." wrote:
>
> This is a reminder for everyone to check their towbar system on a
regular basis,
> especially the baseplate where it bolts to the tow car frame. After
returning from a trip
> this past weekend the front of my wife's 2003 Jeep Liberty literally
fell off! Luckily it
> happened within 1 block of where I park the bird.
> Studying the Blue Ox towbar system, which has been on for over 3
years, I see a
> possible design flaw in the baseplate system. The baseplate itself
has 3/8inch holes and
> calls for 3/8 inch bolts to go into the frame, which mine had. But
the frame on the Jeep
> Liberty is a unibody type, very thin stamped steel, with 1/2inch
holes. Looking closely at
> the Jeep frame the 1/2inch holes are now very elongated from the
bigger hole size and
> movement related to 3 years/20,000 miles. The bolts on one side of
the baseplate came
> completely out causing the towbar frame to pull the front end of the
Jeep off and causing
> the Jeep to swerve to one side. Again, luckily all this happened at
10mph and within 1
> block of my parking spot. Another disturbing discovery is the 10,000
lb safety cables do
> nothing in this case to prevent a runaway vehicle as they are
attached to the same
> baseplate.
> So, this is a reminder to everyone to check your baseplate bolts
for tightness on
> whatever vehicle you might tow.....and if you tow a Jeep
Liberty.....check the bolts and
> bolt holes immediately.
>
> Rick Archie
> 85PT40 "Fort R"
> Fort Worth
>

[timvasqz]

Rick If you look at blue ox liberty 2005there is a design change over the two bolt per side arangement on your 2003 unit.If the jeep uniframe remained the same during that model year change,, could be that the loose bace plate situation proved typical and the newer design was a correction.

the third hole per side on o5 blueox does not line up to a uniframe hole. in 05 you bolt the platewith the Jeep 2 holes(as in 03?) then drill an exact third hole in the frame. I think the 3rd hole exact lineup keepsthe ox from shifting and rotating the bolts lose.

grade 5 and 8 bolts differ in strength but they also differ in character. stronger grade 8 snapunder stress that would twist and bend grade 5a bit. I try and mix up 5 and 8's when mounting crap in vaurnarable positions. leaves you with strength and flexability. I say thisbecause everyone goes for 8's as an assumed added protection costing only $0.70 per the bolt. ..must be a reason grade 5 was the choice for this application by ox engineeres.?????

flex is built into the unibody frames. that is why the cross bar is necessary between the docking points for the pins. prob with overbuilding a repair is loosing jeep designed flex. all stress is then transfered toan eventual crack .

GregoryO'Connor ofTim&Greg

94ptca