Kevin P. showed me a near serious accident. He took a coach to a tailgate, about 100 miles. When he got there he found that one of the quick pins had fallen out and the 1/2 inch pin holding the tow bar to the baseplate assembly was just hanging on. Barely.
He asked me if I thought the quick pin was installed backward, that caused the loss? I told him I thought I could not do that, that the quick pin is off center with the loop, you have to install it correctly but if the wire loop failed, it could simply fall out. I think. Blue Ox warns about installing that pin backwards.
I think I recall Dave or another wrote about this possibility of the quick pin falling out, and a solution, but I did a search and did not find. Anyone use zip ties or such to help secure that quick pin in place? Or some other method?
Mike
I believe Blue Ox will replace the pins free of charge if the are the type with a spring loaded locking tab as they are subject to failure and falling out. A good substitute can be found at Tractor Supply in the lock pin section.
Blue Ox used to have quick pins with spring ball instead of the loop, and they recommend the spring ball style not be used anymore. We have not had a pin fall out, but we do carry extras. Also we remove the two round baseplate inserts when driving around with our Jeep because we figure that it saves a shin injury and does not keep us from towing if someone decides they need the insert more than us. We do have a Tattle-Trail vibration monitor that will alarm in motorhome if Jeep has excessive movements, like when a towbar is loose, or tire problem, etc.
I think I posted that at any rally where any Blue Ox booth is located they will (for $25) service your tow bar and replace all bad parts. Recommended done every 10,000 miles of towing. They replaced my pins as I had the spring loaded ones free of charge. Got extra set and I also remove my tow hook up parts so someone does not steal them as I have no spares. DAN
At any rally where Roadmaster has a booth they will inspect and service their hitch at no charge.
I was at the Good Sam rally at Daytona last year and the roadmaster people told me that they were going to charge me to repair my tow bar, so might depend what they do to service the towbar. Maybe to clean and lube for free, but not sure.
Barry and Cindy and Dan, I hope somewhere there is a big flag about this subject and the need to change out those spring pins!!
They seem as I read what you wrote and Kevin P. experience to be a real hazard. I have carried extras just in case I lost one but certainly not because I thought one might fall out. Going to tractor supply to get the other design.
By the way, Blue Ox told me to annually cut the zip tie, clean below the rubber sleeve and relubricate, and to never put oil on the ball joint.....I reported elsewhere on the forum that I learned to clean that ball joint with soap and hot water, worked well. Blue Ox said if I just had to lubricate it, silicone spray lightly.
But the spring pins, I hope everyone hears your advice. THANKS. Mike
Spring pin falling out is what apparently happened to me. 1/2 inch pin fell out, too.
The Blue Ox bar damaged the bottom of the ladder. The Honda Element was damaged, too - by the FT exhaust pipe. (The pipe was not damaged ;o)
I don't solely rely on the spring pins any more. I tie the 1/2 inch pin and spring pin in after putting the spring pin in.
Even before this failure I did a 360 around the FT before starting out. And returned to the hitch to focus on each connection in the tow bar and break away cables to confirm the connections were correct. And confirm the Honda stick shift was in neutral, hand brake off, ignition on "one click," and steering wheel free to rotate.
best, paul
Paul,
What do you "tie" the 1/2 inch pin and spring pin in with? Zip ties?
Grant
I tie with a double loop of 1/4 inch cord.
It looks a little strange but nothing has fallen out (yet ;o)
I must admit it was not a little bit freaky to see the Honda in the passenger's side rear view mirror and then in the driver's side rear view mirror...
And then to slow down slowly and find a place to park...
best, paul