Using Gladiator As A Toad?

[TJDave]

Our little class A Ford V10 powered motorhome pulls our JTR. A little slow up really steep grades, but otherwise does fine. On moderate grades, I can keep it at 55-60 mph.
We used to trailer our built TJ on a steel PJ car hauler and it did fine also. We also towed the same combo behind our previous 26' F450 Class C, and I honestly can't tell the difference.
Supplemental brakes in the Jeep is a must IMO.

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[Dan in Pasadena]

Our little class A Ford V10 powered motorhome pulls our JTR. A little slow up really steep grades, but otherwise does fine. On moderate grades, I can keep it at 55-60 mph.
We used to trailer our built TJ on a steel PJ car hauler and it did fine also. We also towed the same combo behind our previous 26' F450 Class C, and I honestly can't tell the difference.
Supplemental brakes in the Jeep is a must IMO.

Good info to know you guys with the Class A's are towing JT's. I would assume your coaches HAVE to be heavier than my 26 ft. Class C. I have a brake controller in the Fiat 500 - yeah, it weighs only like 2300 lbs but in California you have to have it over 1500 lbs. No car I know of weighs that little.....maybe a Smart car? I don't know.

Does anyone know if the Roadmaster baseplate currently on my 2017 JK two door will fit on my 2020 Rubicon? I kinda doubt it - I assume the frame on the JT's are heavier. I ask because I'm not going to get any more money selling my JK to Carvana with or without the baseplate so I plan to remove it.

 

[Kevin_D]

I don’t think the baseplate is compatible, but I’m not sure. However, you can get Roadmaster adapters to use the Maximus-3 tow loops…

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/maximus-3-jl-tow-loops-front-rear.31718/

That’s what I’m using. A pretty easy install.

Kevin

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I don’t think the baseplate is compatible, but I’m not sure. However, you can get Roadmaster adapters to use the Maximus-3 tow loops…

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/maximus-3-jl-tow-loops-front-rear.31718/

That’s what I’m using. A pretty easy install.

Kevin

Hmmm, I'm a little confused by your suggestion. The baseplate on my JK connects to my RV using a crossbar then the Roadmaster Falcon 2 tow bar connects to that.

Are you saying that these adapters would be instead of a baseplate and the Falcon 2 would connect to these Maximus 3 things directly somehow?
OR are you suggesting to install these Maximus 3 things and then there is another adapter that goes on them to connect to the Falcon 2?

(Or maybe I have the entire idea wrong!)

 

[Kevin_D]

OR are you suggesting to install these Maximus 3 things and then there is another adapter that goes on them to connect to the Falcon 2?

This.
You put the tow loops on the JT, then Roadmaster has adapters to connect the Falcon 2 to the tow loops.
Same setup I’m using, with a Falcon All Terrain.

Kevin

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Ok, got it. Hopefully this would save me another $400+ for a new baseplate! I did a quick search on eTrailer and on Roadmaster and could not find them. Do you know what they're called? A part number by any chance? I found these
Roadmaster 031 adapters that are for attaching a Falcon 2 to a Blue Ox baseplate. They're not the right ones but I can at least get an idea how such would work by seeing these.

https://www.amazon.com/Roadmaster-0...ocphy=9031224&hvtargid=pla-574321169212&psc=1

EDIT: I just found these Maximus 3 things at $294 a pair. If they're that expensive and I'd need these adapters it doesn't sound like I'd be saving anything over just buying a baseplate that fits, or am I wrong?

 

[Kevin_D]

Ok, got it. Hopefully this would save me another $400+ for a new baseplate! I did a quick search on eTrailer and on Roadmaster and could not find them. Do you know what they're called? A part number by any chance? I found these
Roadmaster 031 adapters that are for attaching a Falcon 2 to a Blue Ox baseplate. They're not the right ones but I can at least get an idea how such would work by seeing these.

https://www.amazon.com/Roadmaster-0...ocphy=9031224&hvtargid=pla-574321169212&psc=1

EDIT: I just found these Maximus 3 things at $294 a pair. If they're that expensive and I'd need these adapters it doesn't sound like I'd be saving anything over just buying a baseplate that fits, or am I wrong?

The Roadmaster 035 adapters are what you need. While you won’t save much money, the tow loops are much less obvious than a traditional base plate, which is why I went that route.

Kevin

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Kevin D - I really appreciate your help with this. Thanks so much.

I searched the 035 and found it quickly. Looks like $100 to $125 a pair. That plus Maximus-3 loops = $425 +/-. Equal to the baseplate price but a lot simpler to install. I have no real issue with the cost. Using these & M-3 loops eliminates the cross bar. (Not sure if that's a plus since I already own it.)

The baseplate on my J is hardly noticeable until l you insert the arms because the receiving tubes are black where the Maximus-3 loops are red - so more noticeable. Though they do match the factory hooks. What IS noticeable is the electrical connection and I'll need that either way.

I have to wonder if these adapters (or the M-3 loops) are as safe as the arms/crossbar? Do you know if the loops are forged rather than cut from plate or cast? With the baseplate the arms have to turn 90 degrees to release and the cross bar prevents that. The cross bar is also "pinned" in 2 places on each arm. Hmmmm....

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Coming back to this old thread I posted 9 months ago.

Due to COVID quarantine and now having mother-in-law living in our home under hospice care we've gone Nowhere in 2-1/2 years. About to take a short 1 week trip so I JUST ordered the Maximus-3 tow loops in red and the Roadmaster 031 adapters to tow my JTR in a couple weeks on a relatively short 500 mile round trip.

I called Maximus-3 (Michigan) from SoCal at 6:30pm local time and he answered all my questions: Even though their site doesn't say the tow loops will fit a JT, they will. He also advised me to get their tow tie rod - a straight bar with what appears to be heim joints on each end to tie the two adapters together instead of them "spreading" wide on braking. I'm not sure I need it but better to "have it and not need it".....etc!

Pic's when I get the stuff and install it.

 

[Alan_Hepburn]

I'm interested - like to see how the tie rod gets installed.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Well, it looks like I screwed up again! I ordered/received the 031 adapters when I meant to order the 035 adapters. DUH, I can be such a dumbschit sometimes.

Good thing I'm NOT towing the Gladiator anyway. The electrical interface I need to mount on the Jeep has to be ordered and takes a week. I if I had the correct adapters I COULD tow it but the brake actuator would work. The fiat weighs between 2300 and 2500 lbs. The Gladiator weighs 4600 - 5000 lbs. Neither is legal to tow in CA w/o a brake system but obviously the Jeep would be a way bigger concern. The gray ones are the 031's and the black ones are the 035's I should have gotten.

Time to return and re-order.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Kevin D - My tow bar is the Falcon 2. My brake controller is the Freedom 9700. I understand it has been discontinued and replaced with something else that functions the same but has a small monitor to put on the dash.

 

[Blackjeepjk]

Very similar setup for me. I’m using the Raodmaster direct connect baseplate, an older sterling all terrain bar, and blue ox portable brake. No issues with the f-53 chassis as long as wind isn’t above 15mph. Anything above that just have to slow down. I did have to add a 10” riser due to lift on jt.
I am at max weight on gcvwr when loaded for travel.

 

[Rowdiebryan]

Coming back to this old thread I posted 9 months ago.

Due to COVID quarantine and now having mother-in-law living in our home under hospice care we've gone Nowhere in 2-1/2 years. About to take a short 1 week trip so I JUST ordered the Maximus-3 tow loops in red and the Roadmaster 031 adapters to tow my JTR in a couple weeks on a relatively short 500 mile round trip.

I called Maximus-3 (Michigan) from SoCal at 6:30pm local time and he answered all my questions: Even though their site doesn't say the tow loops will fit a JT, they will. He also advised me to get their tow tie rod - a straight bar with what appears to be heim joints on each end to tie the two adapters together instead of them "spreading" wide on braking. I'm not sure I need it but better to "have it and not need it".....etc!

Pic's when I get the stuff and install it.

I tow my Gladiator with my 26’ F350 class C with the 460. I get a bit of a sway, how is yours doing? I used the blue ox tow bar and base plate.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I tow my Gladiator with my 26’ F350 class C with the 460. I get a bit of a sway, how is yours doing? I used the blue ox tow bar and base plate.

Yours has the 460? Mine has the Triton V10, I thought all the E350/E450 RV chassis did.

Anyway, I'm using the Roadmaster Falcon II tow bar but it doesn't hook up the way it does to our Fiat 500 - the earlier toad. We still have it and we installed a baseplate on it. Haven't towed it since we got the Gladiator. On the Gladiator it's attached to Maximus tow loops instead of a baseplate. They offer an optional cross bar thingie so I got it too. The one thing I use to help with the tow is rear air bags on the RV. Not for weight but for stopping side to side body movement over driveways and speed bumps. But on ordinary highway driving, no sway. I don't find the weight the Gladiator an issue at all so far. In May we are heading to Yellowstone among other places. A 6-7 week trip. That will test it.

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