Tow Bars & Base Plates
Tow Bars & Baseplates for Flat Towing
Traveling by RV opens up the country, but your motorhome can't go everywhere. A tow bar system lets you bring a smaller vehicle along for the ride, flat towed directly behind your rig with all four wheels on the ground. H&H Truck & Outdoor carries tow bars and baseplates from trusted brands including Blue Ox, CURT, Demco, ARB, and Smittybilt.
Find Parts for Your Vehicle
Measuring your bed
Put a tape measure inside the bed, from the inside of the bulkhead (front wall) to the inside of the closed tailgate. Round to the nearest inch — a 69" measurement is a 5'8" bed.
Bed length is measured inside the box, not along the outside of the truck.
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What Is Flat Towing?
Flat towing, also called dinghy towing or four-down towing, is the practice of towing a vehicle behind a motorhome with all four wheels rolling on the road surface. Unlike a trailer, which lifts the towed vehicle's wheels off the ground, flat towing requires no separate trailer or dolly. The result is a simpler, lighter setup that's far easier to maneuver and store.
What You Need for a Complete Flat Tow Setup
A proper flat tow system requires three core components working together. First, a tow bar connects the motorhome's hitch receiver to the towed vehicle's baseplate. Second, a baseplate mounts directly to the towed vehicle's frame, providing the structural attachment points the tow bar needs. Third, safety cables or chains provide a backup connection between the two vehicles. Most setups also require a supplemental braking system in the towed vehicle, required by law in many states, as well as a wiring harness to power the towed vehicle's lights.
Types of Tow Bars
Motorhome-Mounted Tow Bars
The most common configuration for RV travelers, motorhome-mounted tow bars attach to the hitch receiver on the back of the motorhome. When not in use, these bars fold up neatly against the back of the rig. They're available in a range of weight ratings, typically from 5,000 to 10,000 lbs gross towed weight, and many feature self-aligning arms that make hitching up solo much easier.
Car-Mounted Tow Bars
Car-mounted tow bars are stored on the towed vehicle rather than the motorhome. They're a popular choice for travelers who flat tow with multiple motorhomes, since the bar travels with the car. The trade-off is that the bar is more visible when the vehicle is driven independently.
What Is a Baseplate?
A baseplate is a vehicle-specific bracket that mounts to the frame or unibody of the towed vehicle, giving the tow bar's arms a solid, engineered attachment point. Baseplates are not universal; they are designed for specific year, make, and model combinations. Using the correct baseplate is critical for safe flat towing, as it ensures the tow forces are transferred directly to the vehicle's structural frame rather than to body panels or bumper fascias.
H&H carries baseplates from Blue Ox, CURT, and Demco to fit a wide variety of flat-towable vehicles, including Jeep Wranglers, Chevy Equinoxes, Ford Escapes, and many more. Use our vehicle selector to find the right baseplate for your specific car or SUV.
Trucks and RVs can take you anywhere, but sometimes the places you travel to aren't equipped for large vehicles. Bringing a smaller vehicle along opens up places an extra-large rig cannot reach. Whether you're setting up your first dinghy tow or upgrading an existing system, our team is here to help you get the right components. Visit a store location for expert guidance.