Tow Bars

Topic: Tow Bars (Read 1078 times) previous topic - next topic

Tow Bars

August 18, 2015, 08:30:34 pm

My neighbor gave me a 93 Jeep Cherokee Sport. I'm going to use it for a toad. I've been looking at tow bars online. What are you guy's recommendations on them. Brands etc. I'd love to find a cheap used setup. We mainly pull the bikes but this Jeep I think is going to open more fun doors doing some trail, beach riding, etc.

Re: Tow Bars

Reply #1 – August 18, 2015, 08:41:29 pm

I love my blue Ox. Works well.

Re: Tow Bars

Reply #2 – August 18, 2015, 09:32:11 pm

Secondhand check out Craigslist & hitchtrader.com

Roadmaster or Blue Ox

Hitch Trader - Buy - Sell -Trade - Free Classified Ads

Re: Tow Bars

Reply #3 – August 19, 2015, 12:46:28 am

I bought a used Road Master Stowmaster 5000 towbar for my Jeep with brackets for a Honda Civic un Craig's list for $225. The Civic brackets were easily adapted to the front bumper and frame of the Jeep. Then i got an NSA ReadyBrake setup and a drop ball hitch of the appropriate height for the Jeep for about $500. The brakeaway kit and the dash light kit were included when I bought it. Works great. No modifications to the coach except for lighting wiring. Easy braking set up on the Jeep.

Look at all of the options and choose one that fits your needs best as you see it.

Roger

Re: Tow Bars

Reply #4 – August 19, 2015, 07:58:44 am

When I was considering a tow bar and baseplate purchase, I carefully evaluated the available brands and chose Blue Ox. I've been extremely pleased with my choice.

Re: Tow Bars

Reply #5 – August 19, 2015, 09:44:46 am

I got a new tow are and this one does not bind up at all. It is the new blue Ox

Re: Tow Bars

Reply #6 – August 19, 2015, 10:36:07 am

For what it is worth: I found most of the newer baseplates were on 18" centers for the tow bars.
Others had recommended that I strive for 24" centers. I ended up making my own base plate as a baseplate with 24" centers was "not available" for our 2006 Saturn Vue.
We got a deal on a late model Blue Ox Adventa tow bar. It stows on the coach so I didn't have to lift it once it was mounted on the coach. So, we now have one of the older, collapsible Blue Ox tow bars that folds up & can remain on the towed vehicle.
It is only for the 24" centers. No rust, I used it to tow our '96 Geo Tracker, but if I recall, it was rated for 5000#. $75
I was told the 24" centers are better for towing. I cannot attest to whether this is true or not, but mfrs offering 18" center baseplates only must count for something.

Re: Tow Bars

Reply #7 – August 19, 2015, 11:19:46 am

Blue Ox frequently has "refurbished" tow bars in stock. I got one of these after wearing out my previous unit. I have put about 40000 miles on this one towing my CR V. It works well.

Re: Tow Bars

Reply #8 – August 19, 2015, 01:01:42 pm

I have a Roamaster, used about one year after Roadmaster overhaul that I will sell.
JD

Re: Tow Bars

Reply #9 – August 19, 2015, 03:49:50 pm

I just use a Harbor Freight $79 towbar on our Jeep Wranger TJ (99). I have a custom front push-bumper with a winch and we welded (and fastened!) the HF plates to the bumper 26" apart. We've put about 4,000 miles on this combination with no issues. Rated at 5,000 lbs. You can often find after-market bumpers that will work for this sort of thing cheaper than a baseplate and capable of mounting a winch, too. This is just one example: Rusty's Offroad Products RA-PRE2-XJ - Rusty's Offroad Products Pre-Runner...

Add a second-hand Brake Buddy (which is what we did) and set it to only activate under heavy braking (it's operated by a pendulum) for about $300 and a set of LED taillights by HF for about $40 and you'll be good-to-go.

Craig

Re: Tow Bars

Reply #10 – August 19, 2015, 04:52:36 pm

Quote from: Doug Weil – August 18, 2015, 09:32:11 pm

Secondhand check out Craigslist & hitchtrader.com

Roadmaster or Blue Ox

Hitch Trader - Buy - Sell -Trade - Free Classified Ads

If you are considering a previous owned tow bar of any make ensure that the rods have not been bent i.e. due to backing up. The only way I would buy a used is if the unit was factory refurbished. My refurbished Blue-Ox does just fine. my 2 cents. David

Re: Tow Bars

Reply #11 – August 19, 2015, 05:10:23 pm

BlueOx is the best for how we use a tow bar.

KISS

Re: Tow Bars

Reply #12 – August 19, 2015, 05:41:28 pm

We've used a Blue-Ox Aventa for 60K towing a CRV and Wrangler. Love it.

Re: Tow Bars

Reply #13 – August 19, 2015, 07:06:45 pm

So where do you have to go to get a refurbished tow bar? Factory??

Larry

Re: Tow Bars

Reply #14 – August 20, 2015, 01:27:44 pm

Quote from: ohsonew – August 19, 2015, 07:06:45 pm

So where do you have to go to get a refurbished tow bar? Factory??

Larry

Larry, contact Blue Ox @ 800-228-9289. David

Re: Tow Bars

Reply #15 – August 20, 2015, 05:58:24 pm

Thanks David

Larry

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Tow Bars

August 18, 2015, 08:30:34 pm

Re: Tow Bars

Reply #1 – August 18, 2015, 08:41:29 pm

Re: Tow Bars

Reply #2 – August 18, 2015, 09:32:11 pm

Re: Tow Bars

Reply #3 – August 19, 2015, 12:46:28 am

Re: Tow Bars

Reply #4 – August 19, 2015, 07:58:44 am

Re: Tow Bars

Reply #5 – August 19, 2015, 09:44:46 am

Re: Tow Bars

Reply #6 – August 19, 2015, 10:36:07 am

Re: Tow Bars

Reply #7 – August 19, 2015, 11:19:46 am

Re: Tow Bars

Reply #8 – August 19, 2015, 01:01:42 pm

Re: Tow Bars

Reply #9 – August 19, 2015, 03:49:50 pm

Re: Tow Bars

Reply #10 – August 19, 2015, 04:52:36 pm

Re: Tow Bars

Reply #11 – August 19, 2015, 05:10:23 pm

Re: Tow Bars

Reply #12 – August 19, 2015, 05:41:28 pm

Re: Tow Bars

Reply #13 – August 19, 2015, 07:06:45 pm

Re: Tow Bars

Reply #14 – August 20, 2015, 01:27:44 pm

Re: Tow Bars

Reply #15 – August 20, 2015, 05:58:24 pm

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