Re: TOAD stuff ordered

On 8/20/2024 6:18 PM, George Anthony wrote:

On 8/20/2024 5:09 PM, sticks wrote:

I decided to go with the Blue Ox TOAD setup and got it ordered today. The tow bar, Patriot Brake, and wiring/accessory kit will all be here Sunday.  Unfortunately, the Base Plate for the Bronco is gonna take time.  I'm hoping it won't be as long as their page said, which was 9-11 weeks for delivery.  I called to ask if this was true, and they said they are really backed up trying to get them out.  So, I guess all I can do is wait until it arrives.
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Some of it I was able to get off a dealer on Amazon and saved quite a bit of money.  The base plate I had to order from Blue Ox.
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Total for everything came to $3256.  This is about half of what the local RV dealer wanted to do it.  I wouldn't mind having them do it, but there is a little trimming and drilling necessary, and I don't know how many of these Broncos they've done and I just wasn't comfortable letting them hack up my new vehicle.  So I'll do it myself I guess.  Gotta get it all on before winter hits.
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 I have installed base plates on a Nissan Frontier and a GMC pickup, which is what I'm towing now. They both took some time but if you are half way mechanically inclined it's not that difficult. The hardest part way laying on my back while drilling half inch holes. Of course yours may be a straight bolt-on application. I even had my seven year old (at the time)grandson helping me with the second one.

I believe there is only one 1/2" hole on each side that needs to be drilled.  You do have to trim a little bit where the tow hooks are now. I think that is all the cutting and drilling.  I'm not worried about the base plate install at all.  What I am not looking forward to is all the electrical stuff.  You have to take the tail lights off to install the wiring system, and I always manage to break the tangs off those pieces somehow.  I also read the diodes don't fit very well in the housing and you might be better off doing them outside somehow.  I"ll have to wait until I get the stuff.  On the brake system you have to wire it from the back all the way up into the cab on the drivers side for the controller setup.  I'm just gonna take my time and double check everything before I do anything.  I'm guessing it will take 1 day for the base plates, 1 day for the wiring harness, and 1 day for the brake controller.  I used to enjoy doing this kind of stuff.  Now I'm just glad when I get it done.
Going a little off topic, I was trying to figure out why it seems to me things have gotten so complicated.  I'm retired now, but when I worked I was under enormous pressure running huge construction projects with many employees.  I loved it and had no problem making decisions and getting things done.  Now, everything always seems so complicated.  It finally dawned on me that it was easier because I was always spending somebody else's money.  If I'd screw something up, the boss paid to fix it.  Now it's all on me, and only me.  I'm glad I finally figured that out.  It doesn't change anything, but now when I get stressed out I know why and have to just take a breather and get back at it.
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