gonna buy a towbar this week.opinions on best brand? blue ox, stowmaster,OR??

kbunnystarr · 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.

kbunnystarr · February 10, 2007, 02:31:19 PM

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?

jjrbus · February 10, 2007, 04:41:53 PM

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.

Nick Badame Refrig/ACC · February 10, 2007, 04:48:07 PM

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

kbunnystarr · February 10, 2007, 05:09:46 PM

thank for the info and thoughts guys!!!

anyone else?

?

DrivingMissLazy · February 10, 2007, 05:10:17 PM

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.

kbunnystarr · 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?

$:-\$

kbunnystarr · February 10, 2007, 05:16:27 PM

...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

DrivingMissLazy · February 10, 2007, 05:19:56 PM

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? $:-\$

Quote
Quoteare 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

bobofthenorth · February 10, 2007, 05:50:36 PM

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.

Eagle · February 10, 2007, 06:55:48 PM

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.

jjrbus · February 11, 2007, 02:40:41 PM

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.

kbunnystarr · February 13, 2007, 02:48:24 PM

any more opinions?

$:-\$

prevost82 · February 13, 2007, 02:59:42 PM

My vote is for Blue-ox, that attaches to the coach
Ron

pete81eaglefanasty · February 13, 2007, 03:41:17 PM

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