Which Roadmaster towbar to buy?

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Which Roadmaster towbar to buy?

August 03, 2011, 10:44:38 pm

Believe it or not, after 26 years of RVing, I am about to get a towed vehicle and all the stuff needed to tow it.

First question:

I think I want a Roadmaster "all terrain" towbar. What do you think of that? Is their hype real or false about it being easier to unhook than an other than "all terrain" model? Real world experiences?

Second question:

Should I get the Stowmaster model that rides on the towed vehicle when not in use of one of the other models (Sterling, Falcon, Blackhawk) that ride on the coach when not in use?

Thank you

Re: Which Roadmaster towbar to buy?

Reply #1 – August 03, 2011, 10:59:32 pm

Tom, I have had a Stowmaster for three years and like it very much. The fact that it stays on the towed allowed me to use a double decker hitch so I could put my bike rack on the back of the coach. The Stow Master was very easy to hook up and unhook. However, I had a chance to buy a Falcon II for a price I couldn't refuse and it turns out to be much better for my back. The components are much lighter than the Stow Master and equally easy to hook up although I can't use the bike rack on the coach any longer. The car looks better with the majority of the hitch staying on coach. Ether one works just fine.

Re: Which Roadmaster towbar to buy?

Reply #2 – August 03, 2011, 11:06:24 pm

I personally prefer the Stowmaster as it affords a lot of benefits that the motorhome mounted units do not provide.
The tow bar is always with you in the event you have a vehicle problem anyone with a 2" ball can tow you to a service center.
You can very easily spot two vehicles when canoeing and kayaking on the river.
It also seems much easier to hook up that the other type, at least for me.
Regards,

Re: Which Roadmaster towbar to buy?

Reply #3 – August 03, 2011, 11:10:48 pm

We have had 2 Roadmaster Sterling bars, one we sold with our previous coach and toad and the one we have now. So 10 years (and over 60K miles) with a Sterling.

We would get another one, especially now that they have the All-terrain version (ours predates that). We have occasionally been in a situation where we couldn't release the bar levers and had to free the car at the mounts. The all-terrain wouldn't have had this problem.

I might suggest the Sterling with the Blue Ox ends and a Blue Ox baseplate on the toad. The mounts/pins on the Blue Ox baseplates are cylindrical bayonet mounts and release with the pull of a ring and a twist of the bayonet. This gives you even more flexibility to detach in less-than-optimal conditions. And the Blue Ox baseplates (at least a few years ago) were more visually discrete when the car wasn't being towed.

Michelle

Re: Which Roadmaster towbar to buy?

Reply #4 – August 03, 2011, 11:26:22 pm

I guess I should have added my Falcon II setup has Blue Ox ends and a Blue Ox cross bar on the towed. Maybe that's why it so easy to hook up.

Re: Which Roadmaster towbar to buy?

Reply #5 – August 03, 2011, 11:54:45 pm

Four years and around 40K miles with All-Terrain with no service failures. Like most other hitches, I imagine, it prefers to be pretty straight and level when you disconnect it - and when things are not lined up so favorably, I have occassionally needed to give a lever a bang with the heel of my hand to get it to release. A lever has stuck a couple of times - and spraying some Voom RV Cleaner right alongside it loosens it up almost immediately.

I do not remove the car portion of the hitch. Negligible extra weight on the front, and always ready to go. Don't really mind that it alters the look a bit - and I suspect that I get a little more respect in parking lots....

Re: Which Roadmaster towbar to buy?

Reply #6 – August 04, 2011, 12:02:28 am

We strongly recommend Blue Ox baseplate and towbar over Roadmaster gear. Much easier to get tow car ready for driving around town without having a shin banger hunk of metal hanging off the front of the tow car. Aventa LX is very popular and what we have.

Re: Which Roadmaster towbar to buy?

Reply #7 – August 04, 2011, 12:11:42 am

Quote from: Barry & Cindy – August 04, 2011, 12:02:28 am

We strongly recommend Blue Ox baseplate and towbar over Roadmaster gear. Much easier to get tow car ready for driving around town without having a shin banger hunk of metal hanging off the front of the tow car. Aventa LX is very popular and what we have.

Is the Aventa LX easy to disconnect under all conditions like the Roadmaster "all terrain". I would hope the ball joint would help.

Re: Which Roadmaster towbar to buy?

Reply #8 – August 04, 2011, 12:30:14 am

Tom,

We have the Blue Ox. Until we learned to turn the Honda steering when pins don't come out easily, it was sometimes hard for us to disconnect. Now it is easy. Can't speak to the other brands.

Re: Which Roadmaster towbar to buy?

Reply #9 – August 04, 2011, 02:30:26 am

Eight years and 70,000 miles of using a Falcon All-Terrain and not a single issue. If the release lever doesn't free a bar we simply start the toad, move it a couple inches and it has always freed up. The only time I ever remove the car portion of the hitch is when we are back home for several months. While traveling it stays on the car.

Re: Which Roadmaster towbar to buy?

Reply #10 – August 04, 2011, 04:28:21 am

Tom,
Towbars seem to be like religion and politics, strong feelings for Blue Ox and Roadmaster.

I have the All terrain - 5 years on a Honda Element (2003) - Lve the ease of hook up, ease of unhook. I can hitch or unhitch y myself in about 45 seconds.

I choose Roadmaster because Camping world was close and they would install. I used all the Sterling parts - and I never remove anything from the Element. IT does protrude out from the bumpber about 6 inches - het - it is an RV toad, not a Lincoln Limousine!

I think the All Terrain is rated for a lot of weight, and the Element only goes 3200 pounds. If I was towing a big pick up truck I might take a look at Blue Ox, but for how I use it I have been very happy with the Roadmaster.

TIm Fiedler
2000 U-320 4010

Re: Which Roadmaster towbar to buy?

Reply #11 – August 04, 2011, 06:06:10 am

Had the Roadmaster Stowmaster, wound up hating it, seems the locking tabs and slides need much attention with WD40 of silicone spray to keep them working nicely.
The bigger issue is make sure you do not get close to the weight rating of the unit or you most likely will need a metal shop to rebuild and reweld the light structure.
Keep DW in good humor to drive the toad until you reach Blue Ox equipment.
Know most folks tow light weight toads.
Switched to the Blue Ox 10K lb rating, now I see the light clearly.
Correct, strong opinions here, do what makes you smile.

Re: Which Roadmaster towbar to buy?

Reply #12 – August 04, 2011, 11:46:22 am

I use the R stowmaster and find it fine for what I need it for-towing. No one I drive past has ever pointed to it and remarked how plain it looks, or cheap I am (at least I have not noticed!)
I was even more frugal and made my own frame plate etc from 1 1/2" angle iron, welded and bolted and this stays on the car (who cares what it looks like, its just a car to get from A to B). It also provides some strength for car lots. It has worked great for the price.
(I know the car in pictures needs a wash!!)

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Which Roadmaster towbar to buy?

August 03, 2011, 10:44:38 pm

Re: Which Roadmaster towbar to buy?

Reply #1 – August 03, 2011, 10:59:32 pm

Re: Which Roadmaster towbar to buy?

Reply #2 – August 03, 2011, 11:06:24 pm

Re: Which Roadmaster towbar to buy?

Reply #3 – August 03, 2011, 11:10:48 pm

Re: Which Roadmaster towbar to buy?

Reply #4 – August 03, 2011, 11:26:22 pm

Re: Which Roadmaster towbar to buy?

Reply #5 – August 03, 2011, 11:54:45 pm

Re: Which Roadmaster towbar to buy?

Reply #6 – August 04, 2011, 12:02:28 am

Re: Which Roadmaster towbar to buy?

Reply #7 – August 04, 2011, 12:11:42 am

Re: Which Roadmaster towbar to buy?

Reply #8 – August 04, 2011, 12:30:14 am

Re: Which Roadmaster towbar to buy?

Reply #9 – August 04, 2011, 02:30:26 am

Re: Which Roadmaster towbar to buy?

Reply #10 – August 04, 2011, 04:28:21 am

Re: Which Roadmaster towbar to buy?

Reply #11 – August 04, 2011, 06:06:10 am

Re: Which Roadmaster towbar to buy?

Reply #12 – August 04, 2011, 11:46:22 am

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