Just had a Blue Ox baseplate installed on our 2002 Honda Civic.? I was looking through the materials that came with it and one item was a "Service Bulletin" dated 1/5/2006.? In general, it is 4 pages of safe towing guidelines that Blue Ox includes with every purchase, but one of the figures caught my eye.? It says, "PERMANENT BASEPLATE SAFETY CABLES NEED TO BE INSTALLED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BASEPLATE."? The figure shows "permanent baseplate safety cables to cross member or frame of towed vehicle."?
These are NOT the breakaway safety cables you connect from the MH to the toad, but permanent cables under the front of the toad connecting the baseplate to the frame.? The RV dealer that installed my baseplate didn't do this and I'm wondering if folks really do this.?
Is this just some liability concern run amuk?? How far do you carry this?? If you are inspecting the baseplate each tow day to make sure the bolted attachment is firm, the chances of the baseplate separating from the frame are miniscule unless there is some kind of accident, IMO.? And an accident of that magnitude isn't likely to be helped by a couple more safety cables.
It seems at some point in the unexpected & unlikely failure between MH and toad, you let the toad go and let the breakaway supplemental braking system stop it.
These are NOT the breakaway safety cables you connect from the MH to the toad, but permanent cables under the front of the toad connecting the baseplate to the frame.? The RV dealer that installed my baseplate didn't do this and I'm wondering if folks really do this.?
Is this just some liability concern run amuk?? How far do you carry this?? If you are inspecting the baseplate each tow day to make sure the bolted attachment is firm, the chances of the baseplate separating from the frame are miniscule unless there is some kind of accident, IMO.? And an accident of that magnitude isn't likely to be helped by a couple more safety cables.
It seems at some point in the unexpected & unlikely failure between MH and toad, you let the toad go and let the breakaway supplemental braking system stop it.