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RV Gear Pro

Tow Bars

Flat-towing a car behind a motorhome — four wheels down, no dolly — runs on a tow bar and a matched baseplate bolted to the towed vehicle. This category covers the Demco Commander 2 and Dethmers-series tow bars, Demco tabless baseplates cut for specific vehicles like the Jeep Wrangler JK and the Colorado/Canyon, plus the accessory kits from Blue Ox and Demco that handle wiring, locks, and adapters. Get the tow bar, baseplate, and wiring matched and the toad follows cleanly.

16 products

Setting up a flat-tow system

A flat-tow setup is three matched pieces: the tow bar that connects the two vehicles, the baseplate that bolts to the towed car's frame, and the wiring that carries lights and, usually, supplemental braking. Because the baseplate is vehicle-specific, that's where you start, then work back to the bar and accessories.

  • Vehicle-specific baseplate. The baseplate is engineered for one vehicle. A Demco tabless baseplate for a Jeep Wrangler JK won't fit a Colorado, and some fit standard bumpers only. Confirm year, model, and trim before ordering, and check that your car is actually approved for four-down towing.
  • Tow bar capacity and mounting. Match the bar's rating to the towed vehicle's weight. A self-supporting bar like the Demco Commander 2 stores on the motorhome and folds out to connect, and rise/drop receivers keep the bar level when the two vehicles sit at different heights.
  • Baseplate and bar compatibility. Tow bars and baseplates use different connection standards, so an adapter kit — like the Demco base plate adapter for running a Demco bar on a Blue Ox baseplate — bridges brands when they don't natively match.
  • Wiring and accessories. Accessory kits such as the Blue Ox Apollo and BX88308 bundle the 7-to-6 wiring, bulbs, sockets, safety cables, and covers you need to make the toad's lights work and keep the connection protected. A steering wheel strap keeps the wheel from flopping on the tow.

Flat-towing legally requires supplemental braking on the toad in most places, which lives with the brake controllers and wiring. Keep the connection pinned and locked with parts from couplers and locks, and see the full hitches and couplers lineup for everything else.

Frequently asked questions