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Installation of this baseplate requires removing the bumper.
1. Read the General Instruction Sheet included with this baseplate.
2. The baseplate mounts to the vehicle using the four bolts that mount the bumper to the frame and two bolts into the frame. All bolts are provided with the baseplate.
3. The bumper of the pickup will be removed during the installation. Before starting, take some measurements between the top of the bumper and the body of the truck so the bumper can be replaced in its original position.
4. The bumper is bolted on with four bolts on brackets just inside of the frame rails. Loosen the four bolts. Before taking the bolts out, remove the turn signal bulbs from the lenses in the bumper. Remove the bolts and take off the bumper.
5. The bumper bolts to brackets welded to the inside of each frame rail. When the baseplate is installed, the baseplate will be “sandwiched” between the bumper mounts and the frame brackets.
6. To make room for the baseplate between the bumper mounts and the frame mounts you will need to adjust the position of the bumper mounts on the bumper. The bumper mounts bolt to the bumper and are slotted to allow for adjustment. Before loosening these bolts make a reference mark on the bumper so you can accurately measure how much you have moved the mount. Loosen one side and move the bracket in 1/4″. Tighten the bolts back up. Loosen the other side, move it in 1/4″, but only tighten these bolts enough to hold the mount in the new position. You will completely tighten these bolts after the bumper is mounted to the frame again.
7. Hold the baseplate up between the mounts in its approximate mounted position. The slots in the upper baseplate mounts should align with slots in the frame brackets. The outside rear mounts on the baseplate will match up with a slot on the frame rail on each side. Set the baseplate aside and guide a nut plate up through the slot. Position the plate with the weld nut up. Additional access to the plate can be made through a triangular opening on the side of the frame.
8. Hold the baseplate back up in its mounted position. Temporarily bolt the baseplate in this position with two or three of the 12mm x 40mm bolts. There will be a gap between the outside rear mounts and the bottom of the pickup frame. The gap may or may not be the same on each side. Six 1/2″ flat washers and four 1/4″ thick washers have been provided to fill this gap. Stack the required washers in the gap and start a 1/2″ x 1 1/2 bolt and lock washer through the stack of washers into the weld nut in the frame. Use Locktite, but only snug up the bolts enough to hold the baseplate in position while the 12mm bolts are removed.
9. Remove the 12mm bolts installed in Step 8. Have an assistant hold the bumper up and slide the bumper mounts inside the baseplate mounts. You may need to slide the loose bumper mount in further to get all the bolts started. Apply Locktite and start the 12mm x 40mm bolts through the holes from inside out. Use a 1/2″ flat washer and a lock washer under each nut.
10. Check the position of the bumper with the measurements taken in Step 3. When the bumper is properly positioned tighten the four bolts completely. Tighten the bolts that hold the bumper mount to the bumper. Tighten the two 1/2″ bolts in the outside rear mounts.
11. The dimensional variations between otherwise identical cars can be considerable. While the location and size of the holes in the baseplate were designed to allow for easy installation, it may be necessary to file a hole slightly to allow a bolt to clear.
12. Install the tow bar and safety cables according to the instructions included in their packages.

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