Towbar Baseplate Problem

[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
> > >
> >
>