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man hooking up flat tow.
man hooking up truck to flat tow.

Tow Bars and Flat Towing Parts

Flat Towing Components

1. Tow Bar Base Plates 2. Tow Bars 3. Safety Cables 4. Flat Tow Wiring Harness 5. Flat Tow Brake Systems6. Additional Wiring Components
White SUV connected to tow bar.
Can I Flat Tow my vehicle.
Can I Flat Tow my vehicle.
Blue Ox Base Plate Kit on front of Jeep.
1. TOW BAR BASE PLATESA base plate is the critical link between your RV and your vehicle, providing a secure mounting point for your tow bar. Designed to match your vehicle’s exact make and model, base plates ensure a strong, stable connection that keeps your vehicle aligned while flat towing. With the right base plate, hooking up is faster, easier, and gives you the confidence to hit the road without second-guessing.
etrailer adpaters for roadmaster tow bar.
BASE PLATE ADAPTERS
Blue Ox replacement pins and spacers.
BASE PLATE PARTS
Roadmaster Nighthawk Tow Bar attached to RV.
2. TOW BARSTow bars create the solid bridge between your vehicle’s base plate and your RV’s hitch, making flat towing controlled, smooth, and reliable. A properly connected tow bar ensures proper tracking behind your RV and minimizes sway, so you can tow safely mile after mile. Whether you need a telescopic tow bar for easy hookup or a fixed model for simple operation, there's a setup for every towing style.
Roadmaster Falcon All-Terrain Tow Bar.
HITCH STYLE TOW BARS
etrailer SD non-binding tow bar.
TELESCOPIC TOW BARS
Curt adjustable tow bar.
COUPLER STYLE TOW BARS
Roadmaster Tracker tow bar.
FIXED TOW BARS
Demco Kar Kaddy SS tow dolly.
TOW DOLLIES
Roadmaster EZ Hook Safety Cables in blue.
3. SAFETY CABLESSafety cables act as a vital backup if your tow bar ever disconnects during travel. Designed to keep your towed vehicle secured to your RV, these cables offer peace of mind for any trip. Coiled, straight, snap hook, or quick-link styles are available depending on your setup, all built to add an extra layer of protection for every mile you tow.
Roadmaster coiled safety cables in red.
COILED SAFETY CABLES
Roadmaster straight safety cables in blue.
STRAIGHT SAFETY CABLES
Dutton-Lainson safety cables in grey.
SNAP HOOK SAFETY CABLES
Blue Ox Permanent base plate safety cables in black.
QUICK LINK SAFETY CABLES
Demco Safety Cable Extensions.
SAFETY CABLE EXTENSIONS
Blue OX Tow Bar Wiring Kit being install in truck.
4. FLAT TOW WIRING HARNESSA flat tow wiring harness synchronizes your vehicle’s lights with your RV’s signals, ensuring brake lights, turn signals, and tail lights all function properly while towing. Wiring is not just a safety feature—it's a legal requirement in most areas. From removable tail lights to diode kits and wiring adapters, we offer easy solutions to keep your flat tow setup safe and compliant.
EZ connector magnetic extension cord.
WIRING EXTENSIONS
Blue Ox 7-wire to 6-wire coiled electrical cord in blue.
WIRING ADAPTERS
Hopkins magnetic tow lights.
REMOVABLE TAIL LIGHTS
Roadmaster diode 7-wire to 6-wire flexo-coil wiring kit.
DIODE KITS
Roadmaster tail light wiring kit with bulbs.
BULB AND SOCKET KITS
Brake Buddy Brake System in cab of truck.
5. FLAT TOW BRAKE SYSTEMSA flat tow brake system applies braking power to your towed vehicle, easing the load on your RV and creating safer, smoother stops. Essential for controlling momentum on descents and during emergency stops, these systems are required by law in many states. Choose from proportional, pre-set, fixed, or portable braking systems depending on your towing setup and preferences.
Roadmaster Even Brake portable braking system.
PROPORTIONAL BRAKING SYSTEMS
Roadmaster InvisiBrake braking system.
PRE-SET BRAKING SYSTEMS
Demco Air Force One braking system.
FIXED BRAKING SYSTEMS
Brake Buddy portable braking system in red.
PORTABLE BRAKING SYSTEMS
Blue Ox replacement RF controller for Patriot braking systems.
BRAKING SYSTEMS ACCESSORIES
6. ADDITIONAL WIRING COMPONENTSComplete your flat tow setup with wiring components designed for convenience and safety. Stop light switch kits, fuse bypass switches, battery charge lines, and battery disconnect kits help ensure a smoother towing experience while protecting your vehicle’s electrical system.
Roadmaster stop light switch kit.
STOP LIGHT SWITCH KITS
Roadmaster Brake-Lite relay kit.
BRAKE-LITE RELAY KITS
Roadmaster Battery Disconnect with switch.
BATTERY DISCONNECT
Roadmaster Fusemaster fuse bypass switch.
FUSE BYPASS SWITCH
Roadmaster battery charge line kit.
BATTERY CHARGE LINE KITS
TOW BAR ACCESSORIESCustomize and protect your setup with tow bar accessories. From protective covers and storage bags to hitch adapters and locking systems, these extras make towing easier and safer. If you're flat towing multiple vehicles, second vehicle kits make it simple to share your braking system across cars.
Blue Ox accessory kit.
TOW BAR ACCESSORY KITS
etrailer Universal Tow Bar Cover.
TOW BAR COVERS AND STORAGE
Roadmaster replacement tow bar quick disconnect kit.
QUICK DISCONNECTS
Roadmaster High-Low Adapter.
HITCH ADAPTERS
etrailer lock and keys for tow bars.
TOW BAR LOCKS
Roadmaster second vehicle kits for Invisibrake braking system.
SECOND VEHICLE KITS
 FLAT TOW HELP ARTICLESNeed help getting started? Check out our helpful resources written by people who've flat towed themselves:
Must-Have Flat Towing Components article.
What is Flat Towing article.
Guide to Hooking-Up to Flat Tow article.
Ensuring Safe Travels: Flat Towing or Using a Dolly with Your RV Check out our selection of tow dollies, or choose from our wide array of flat tow products to create a world-class setup. We have everything you need, from hitch-style and coupler-style tow bars to wiring to braking systems. Not only do we have the tow bars, we also have the accessories you need to hook it up and function properly, from the wiring down to the brake systems. With trusted brands like Roadmaster, Curt, Demco, Blue Ox, and Tow Ready, you can travel with peace of mind that you have a high quality product that will do its job right. With over 75 years of assisting our neighbors and customers, over 1 million photos and videos taken to make sure you’re getting exactly what you need, and over 35 thousand installations completed, we’ve got the product know-how and experience to help you make the right choices for the job at hand.What is flat towing?Flat towing, or dinghy towing, is when you tow a vehicle with all four wheels on the ground behind another vehicle, like an RV. It’s a simple way to bring your car along for the ride without using a trailer or dolly.What’s the difference between flat towing and using a tow dolly or trailer?Flat towing is simpler—no bulky dolly or trailer to store or deal with. As long as your car is flat towable, it’s faster to set up and easier to disconnect when you reach your destination.Can I flat tow my car?Not every car can be flat towed, so it’s best to check your owner’s manual. Look under “Recreational Towing” to see if it’s approved and find any special instructions. For more information, be sure to check out our Flat Tow Index to see which vehicles are compatible and any additional tips! What do I need to flat tow a car?You’ll need a few key things:
  • Tow Bar Base Plates: These attach to your car to connect it to the tow bar.
  • Tow Bar: This links your car to the RV.
  • Safety Cables: A backup connection in case the tow bar fails.
  • Wiring Harness: To sync your car’s lights with your RV.
  • Supplemental Braking System: A braking system for your towed car, which is required in most states.
Why do I need a supplemental braking system?A supplemental braking system helps your car stop safely while it’s being towed. It reduces wear on your RV’s brakes and is often required by law. It’s all about keeping everyone safe! For more information, check out our FAQ. Can I flat tow an automatic car?Sometimes. Certain automatic cars can be flat towed, but it depends on the make and model. Check your owner’s manual to be sure, as some might need modifications or have special procedures.How do I hook up my car’s lights for flat towing?You’ll need a wiring harness to connect your car’s lights to your RV. Some are plug-and-play, while others might need splicing. Either way, it ensures your car’s brake and turn signals match your RV’s.Are there speed or distance limits when flat towing?Possibly! Some vehicles have restrictions, like not exceeding a certain speed or towing for too long without stopping. Your owner’s manual will have all the details. How do I keep my flat towing setup in good shape?Regularly check your tow bar, base plates, safety cables, and wiring for wear or damage. Test your braking system before every trip to make sure it’s working perfectly.