$3900 INSTALLED ,kinda of heafty to me, what do you think.
blue ox tow bar 10000 lb cap. SMI braking system, installed.
Is it easy enough for a dyi person to do.
Is it worth the money, vrs. a trailer.
Thanks, Rich
SKIPPERS_1 wrote: $3900 INSTALLED ,kinda of heafty to me, what do you think.
blue ox tow bar 10000 lb cap. SMI braking system, installed.
Is it easy enough for a dyi person to do.
Is it worth the money, vrs. a trailer.
Thanks, Rich
I bought and self-installed a Blue Ox baseplate, Blue Ox Aladdin tow bar, SMI Stay-N-Play braking system and Cool-Tech wiring harness in my 2008 Jeep Wangler for $2200.00. Not rocket science but very labor intensive. If you are handy with tools and cars and do your research, it can easily be done yourself and know it's done right.
I think its an expensive way to go and money you don't have to spend.
I have a Ready Brute aluminum and stainless steel self locking tow bar with built in surge brake system that cost about $750.00. I have towed tens of thousands of miles with it and it works fine. It is simple, easy to connect and easy to inspect. You can use any baseplate you choose as they support all of them.
So if it makes you feel better to spend an extra thousand dollars, go for it.
Sounds maybe a little bit on the high side to me. I just recently had the same set-up installed for me (SMI Stay-In-Play, Aventa LX towbar, toad wiring, drop receiver, receiver extension and bike rack, underskirt) for a little less than that.
The SMI system is great, just the flick of a switch and I am ready to go. I also installed a switch for the fuse I have to pull. I have never used any other system as this is my first MH, but the thought of lugging a box around and installing it everytime I want to tow is not appealing to me at all.
2007 Four Winds Hurricane 34B (Ford Chassis) Bunkhouse
2007 Chevrolet Cobalt LT (5-speed manual)
SMI Stay-In-Play & Blue-Ox Aventa LX
I went with a ReadyBrute / ReadyBrake towbar and aux braking. I found a set of Roadmaster brackets on eBay and used the Cooltech wiring harness for the Jeep. To finish I bought a Roadmaster coiled Umbilical cord. I did a full day of labor to install it all. The whole thing cost me less than $1400.00. CW quoted me 3900.00
Rick and Julia...Living Life Without Limits...
2005 Dolphin 5367
2007 Jeep Wrangler Toad.
www.livesafeandhealthy.net
SKIPPERS_1 wrote: $3900 INSTALLED ,kinda of heafty to me, what do you think.
blue ox tow bar 10000 lb cap. SMI braking system, installed.
Is it easy enough for a dyi person to do.
Is it worth the money, vrs. a trailer.
Thanks, Rich
Can't say if that set up is worth $3900 as I don't have that set up. I will add there are less expensive alternatives. I use the Ready Brute tow bar/ brake set up like a couple other posters. My bar is 8000lb capacity not 10,000lb but my toad is only about 3500lbs.
My tow bar w/brake, brake away, all installed by them was about a third of your estimate. Works like a champ.
mscamping wrote: Rich, we just had a SMI Stay-n-Play Duo installed at a rally and it was $1211, SMI did the install..
Had a base plate and lights hooked up in July of '05 and it was $2250..
You didn't by chance use a certain RV dealer in Greenwood In. did you?? Just curious..
We were over charged by them $250.50.. Another couple had the same
thing done on the same type car and was overcharged the same amount..
Since then the name has changed but they may still be running it the same way..
No I went to a trailer hitch center in Indiana, $1200 for the SMI is reasonable, my place wanted $1900, I know it cost $900 on the internet + shipping.
Thanks for your input, I will keep looking for a better place or a rally locally
If you are in Indiana, SMI is in Evansville. I can't say enough good things about them. Just installed the stay and play and it took me about 4 hours by my self from the time I opened the box.
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