Installing Baseplate

[too smart one]

y cant a tow bar be used with two two tow bolts from front of car i had second one drilled in appropriate spot on front right side so I now have 4 drilled openingsif i screw in two bolts in front can that take place of tow plate?

[Counselor]

I really wonder why a towing attachment/ baseplate has not been designed to take advantage of the obvious threaded connection points on the bumper of the smart. In looking at a frame display at my dealer I noticed that both sides have threaded holes even though there is only a cap over one of them.

[Dunerunner]

The forces generated by 1800 pounds of car being jerked around by a 30,000 pound RV are substantial. If you believe that two single bolts are enough to hold the vehicle without it breaking away and becoming a rolling projectile on the highway, think about the shear strength of those bolts. The threads on the 'Tow' hook are rounded (read that somewhere here) and for me fabricating something that was not engineered and designed specifically for towing the vehicle presents too much liability and risk. For the money and piece of mind, I bought Roadmaster and had them professionally installed at the manufacturer in Portland, Or. JMHO

[Counselor]

Thanks for your input Dunerunner. You are certainly correct in what you have pointed out, but I'm not suggesting that the two threaded bolt holes be the only points of connection to the car. It just seems that these attaching points could be incorporated into a baseplate that would spread the stress of towing across several attaching points.

[fortow]

Originally Posted by Counselor

Thanks for your input Dunerunner. You are certainly correct in what you have pointed out, but I'm not suggesting that the two threaded bolt holes be the only points of connection to the car. It just seems that these attaching points could be incorporated into a baseplate that would spread the stress of towing across several attaching points.

If the baseplates that the tow bar will connect to are attached to the frame there is no need to use the tow hooks at all. Those tow hooks are for temporary use only.