i have been searching the archives for info on this, cant find alot of opinions other than stowmaster and blue ox seem to be preferred brands, and stowmaster brackets easier to mount? can you guys post opinions on best brands and why, what you have, like dont like, and what you would recommend? i have a 2001 ford escort zx2 i want to tow behind my bus.....i have been told the one from stowmaster that stays on the car is best, and it is better to have it stay on the car than on the bus cause that one is stronger>>>>????agree? disagree???? thoughts???
i need to buy it this week.
along the same lines of the towing, i know i need to get a smaller ball for my bus and the magnetic lights for on top of the car, obviously the hitch for the car, ...AND? i know i need a lock so my hitch doesnt get ripped off or my car and hitch,and am looking into safety cables, which there are a number of options as well, thoughts on those? also searching archives on this..but is that the whole schabang? or am i forgetting something?
So many options, so little time. I have a BlueOx. It mounts on the Bus, I chose this setup becuse there is less chance of damage with the bus parked somewhere than there is with the toad in traffic and parking lots ect. I am happy with this setup.
The lock I would think is important. It is a good idea to stuff it with grease. The outside may be stainless steel but the innards are capable of rotting away.
To add more confusion try hitchtrader.com for some used stuff.
Hi kristine,
I have had 2 different tow bars in the past, both Roadmasters. I have been told by friends that they wished they had
my tow bar because of the ease of connecting and disconnecting. With no expierence with other bars, thats all I can give you.
I'm very happy with my current Black Hawk, I just upgraded to tow my GMC Yukon. With a large vehicle, I'm very glad that it is
easy to connect.
Good Luck to You!
Nick Badame
thank for the info and thoughts guys!!!
anyone else????? :o :o :)
Based on many years of experience and many tow bars over the years, I would recommend the stow master that stays connected to the coach. Having the tow bar in front of the toad all the time while driving around is really a nuisance in my opinion.
Ease of mounting brackets should not even enter into your decision. It is a one time job and if it takes 20 minutes or 30 minutes, what difference does it make.
Strength is based on the rating of the unit. Get one that is rated to tow your vehicle.
Richard
Quote from: kbunnystarr on February 10, 2007, 01:28:42 PM
i have been searching the archives for info on this, cant find alot of opinions other than stowmaster and blue ox seem to be preferred brands, and stowmaster brackets easier to mount? can you guys post opinions on best brands and why, what you have, like dont like, and what you would recommend? i have a 2001 ford escort zx2 i want to tow behind my bus.....i have been told the one from stowmaster that stays on the car is best, and it is better to have it stay on the car than on the bus cause that one is stronger>>>>????agree? disagree???? thoughts???
i need to buy it this week.
thouse were my thougths exactly!!! i thougth staying on the bus would be so much better, but then when i heard the ones that stay on the car are stronger, i couldnt figure that out?
are they harder to hook up? the ones that stay on the bus? i was told that too that the stowmaster that stay on the car hook up in a snap but the ones that stay on the bus are more of a butt pain.true? not true? ??? :-\
...and im referrinf to hooking up the car to the bus to tow ( in the prev. post)...i was told it is alot easier to align on the one that stays on the car
Quote from: kbunnystarr on February 10, 2007, 05:15:01 PM
thouse were my thougths exactly!!! i thougth staying on the bus would be so much better, but then when i heard the ones that stay on the car are stronger, i couldnt figure that out?
are they harder to hook up? the ones that stay on the bus? i was told that too that the stowmaster that stay on the car hook up in a snap but the ones that stay on the bus are more of a butt pain.true? not true? ??? :-\
QuoteQuoteare they harder to hook up?
Absolutely not. They are easier to hook up. Just get the toad into range of about two feet and you can hook it up. The arms will be of different lengths, but as soon as you pull away, they come out even and lock. Really a piece of cake for
anyone.
Richard
I have an older Blue Ox that I bought from the hitch guy at Q. I think I paid him $100 & it works great so you don't have to pay a bunch of bux for a working hitch but.....
I think the newer versions may have solved this problem but mine is very difficult to disconnect. There is no easy way to relieve the pressure on the arms in order to get the pins out. Hooking up is a breeze cause everything is loose at that point but, when you get to where you are going, it is a major PITA to get unhooked. I think the newer ones have little levers that release the arms to take the pressure off the pins.
I have had both brands that were mentioned above. I had the sterling which is the top of the line for roadmaster and I have had and have a blue ox Avanti now and believe me the Blue ox is far superior than any other tow bar out there. Blue ox will be at any major RV rally and give free service when no other tow bar company is there. Get a tow bar that stays attached to the Bus.
The newer BlueOx do have a lever to release the tension when you unhook. Hitch guy at Q? Quartzsite maybe? I do not know about the ones that stay on the toad. But the one on my bus is not any problem. A little trial and error at first. But learnable.
any more opinions? ;D ;D ;D :-\ ::) ;D ;D :D :)
My vote is for Blue-ox, that attaches to the coach
Ron
My vote is for Blue Ox. I have one and like it very much, easy to hook up and disconnect. The + is it stays on the bus at camp grounds. My Wife helps me hook up, because she likes to do things like that, and around the Bus she is a great helper.
Pete & Jean
Fantasy
One thing I forgot to mention earlier, if you buy a Blue Ox and have it attached to the bus, you should never unhook the towed and leave the Blue Ox arms lying spread out and resting on the ground. And if you should happen to do that then under NO circumstances should you ever get in the coach and back up without first walking around the coach to see if you have stupidly left the tow arms lying on the ground. The Blue Ox is VERY well built but it will not happily tolerate being backed up with the arms lying on the ground.
The Blue Ox swings back and locks in a groove, I fold up the saftey cable and power cord, I rap it around the Blue Ox with a bungle cord. And have no problem's back in up.
Pete & Jean
Fantasy
Quote from: bobofthenorth on February 13, 2007, 04:08:52 PM
One thing I forgot to mention earlier, if you buy a Blue Ox and have it attached to the bus, you should never unhook the towed and leave the Blue Ox arms lying spread out and resting on the ground. And if you should happen to do that then under NO circumstances should you ever get in the coach and back up without first walking around the coach to see if you have stupidly left the tow arms lying on the ground. The Blue Ox is VERY well built but it will not happily tolerate being backed up with the arms lying on the ground.
Bob, you should never,never unhook the safety chains and then unhook the tow bar either. This is especially important if you are on an up slope. LOL
Richard
Richard it sounds like between you and me we could probably write a fairly good manual about how NOT to use a Blue Ox. ::)
does the one that stays on the back of the coach fold up like the one that stays on the front of the car?
Yes, it folds up. And should be folded as soon as you unhook. So you do not back up on it, or trip over it. Drag it to yore site ect ect ect.
OOPS!!! My BlueOx folds up, not sure about the rest.