Need education - Tow Bar

[plyonsMC9]

Greetings busfolk!  Been a while since I've been able to post bus stuff - but here I am.   

So, working w/ my mechanic on a setup for our MC9 to pull my old 2001 Jeep Wrangler (standard trans).

He will mount the bar to the jeep, hook up lights - probably magnetic setup - convert from 24v to 12v if necessary. 

He recommends just getting this unit:

http://www.harborfreight.com/5000-lb-capacity-adjustable-tow-bar-94696.html

I've seen satisfied customers w/ this, at the same time, I don't want to jeopardize safety to save a couple hundred dollars.  Especially as this cost will be dwarfed by brake system, etc..   Don't care as much about convenience.  I searched our threads, maybe I missed something directly related to this?

What says the group?  Thanks folks!   

Kind Regards,
Phil

[wildbob24]

Phil,

When I was in the driveaway business, I towed an Astrovan with a tow bar like this for many years without any safety issues. The only drawback is it is difficult to hook up by yourself. With 2 people, no problem.

Bob

[saddleup]

Phil, pretty much the setup we have on our jeep, dam sure not as easy to hookup as the blue ox setup by myself, and i am going to change it as soon as i can get some new blue  ox tabs welded on it.
I have seen that same style tow setup in 10,000# for not much more money.
Good Luck Matt

[Lin]

I like our Stowmaster 5000.  They are about $400. new but easily available used for $100. They are not hard to hookup and fold up on the bumper when not in use.

[Jerry32]

Make sure you use friction lock nuts on it though as i had a 4X4 shake the bolts loose on one. Jerry

[zubzub]

I have one like that...If you don't use Nylocks or similar you will have bolts/nuts shake loose.  Or you could pean the end threads for extra security.  Would prefer a blue ox or something but this one works.  I have hitched up a few times solo...but had to be clever...also if the bumper ain't just right it may not stow vertical.

[plyons]

Great information and much appreciated.  thanks very much folks!  I'll keep checking on the thread, but this gives me a good head start.

I will double check w/ the mechanic to make sure the friction bolts will indeed be in place.   

Kind Regards, Phil

[mugsytrpt]

I just bought one like that and pulled my Honda to Miami and back to GA.  We had a great time and the car towed without any problems.  It really isn't that hard to hook up and unhook by yourself.  I travel with my wife and two young girls.  If it is going to get done on the bus, car etc....it is up to me.  Good luck.  Great tow for the money.  Remember to watch for the 20% off one item and you can even save a little more.

Take care,
James

[JackConrad]

We use the Stowmaster 5000 from Roadmaster.  Check www.hitchtrader.com for used ones.  Jack

[usbusin]

We also use a Stowmaster 5000.  Pulled our Ford Explorer behind our GM4104 for about 150,000 miles.  Then a Toyota Tacoma for approximately 50,000 miles behind our truck conversion and are now towing a Ford Taurus X (crossover) for about 75,000 miles so far.  I sent it back to the factory to be re-bushed before the Taurus X. They did a fantastic job on the re-build.

So, we have about 275,000 miles on ours!  No problems ever and easy for one person to hook-up.

[luvrbus]

That looks like the same tow bar as the Blue Ox Adventruer or the Demco I towed Jeeps all over the USA with that type the one Matt has was one they are not that hard to hook up I had a reference spot on the bus for alignment and guessed the distance very seldom missed it but left the Jeep in neutral I could roll it forward or backward by myself easy 3 minutes I was on the road. Must be a young guys thing practice buddy lol, Mike aka Red Ryder has one on his Jeep he hooks up fast also me I am not going to spend big bucks for a tow bar for a Jeep no need too the brackets cost more each than that tow bar lol

good luck

[gumpy]

Make sure you use good quality chains or cables attached to the frame of the Jeep, but not where the brackets of the hitch attach.

I like the blue ox setup I have, but it's expensive.

Also, I prefer wiring my tail lights with diodes. I run them off my toad converter. I mount a trailer connector to the front of the vehicle to plug in the lights.

Hookup time is less than 5 minutes.

[bobofthenorth]

As others have said the problem will be getting it aligned for hookup.  It won't be dead simple but my Blue Ox sometimes doesn't lock in and that can be frustrating as hell so I'm not sure which was worse.  We used to have the style you are looking at but I replaced it one winter at Quartzsite.  There's a guy that used to show up there with a pile of salvaged hitches at pretty good prices.  Lately it seems like he doesn't bring as many hitches so maybe his deals aren't as hot as they used to be but when I bought mine I think I paid him less than $200 so it was pretty much a no-brainer.  Whatever you get used to will work just fine and none of them are completely idiot proof.  As long as you can roll the Jeep a bit by manpower you'll be fine.

[artvonne]

  I dont know anything about the bar in question, but virtually everything sold at Harbor Frieght is Chinese. I dont have a problem with stuff from Taiwan, S.Korea or Japan etc., but something like that I wouldnt want from China.

  I bought this one:
  http://www.roadmasterinc.com/products/towbars/tracker.html

  I got it several years ago from Camper world, was about $100 then. Its simple, takes two people to get it on the ball, aint nothin fancy, but its strong and doesnt have any moving parts to jam up and stick ya. Looks about $200 today with the mount bar. I use cables rather than chains (looks better), and ran diodes in the tail lights so I plug in the Jeep just like a utility trailer. I also took the lock bolt out of the ignition switch so I dont leave the keys in it.

[pipopak]

I agree with artvonne, Harbor Freight sells what looks like cheap knockoffs. No big deal on some items, but I would not trust my frog to that tow bar. Go and take a hard look at it, the finish will speak volumes...