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Blue Ox question

How do you tell if the Blue Ox is latched? I have been using a Roadmaster for years but it is only a 6000 lb. rating. Bought a Blue Ox with a 7500 lb. rating and used it for the first time last trip. The Roadmaster latches drop down when latched so a visual tells me all is well. The Blue Ox latch is in the same position whether latched or unlatched. When leaving an overnight stop I did the usual left and right turns then got out and looked at the tow bar and all seemed ok. 2 miles down the road I though the coach engine had developed a miss from the seat of my pants. Looked in the right and left mirrors and the backup camera and thought something might be wrong. Pulled over and the right arm was fully extended and the left arm was fully retracted from my stopping. The miss I felt was the tow bar hitting the collapsed position periodically. I unhooked both arms and positioned the car to make the left arm able to be hooked up while latched and backed up the car while turning the wheel to latch the right arm. Now at home I find the right arm latches easily and the left arm has to be yanked to latch. Are users of the Blue ox setting the backup camera to watch the latches go down and up to tell if they are latched? A visual does not tell anything.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Blue Ox question

Reply #1 –
I can "feel" ours lock into place and confirm in the camera that the car is tracking properly.
Never had a problem...so far.
Frank & Connie Williams
1999 U320 '36
Build: 5466
MC: 18335

Re: Blue Ox question

Reply #2 –
Craneman, hose the mechanism and shafts with CorossionX.  Let sit for a while.  Very penetrating and very lubricating stuff
Rudy Legett
2003 U320 4010 ISM 450 hp
2001 U320 4220 ISM 450 hp
1995 U320 M11 400 hp
1990 Granvilla 300 hp 3208T
Aqua Hot Service Houston and Southeast Texas

Re: Blue Ox question

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Rudy –
Craneman, hose the mechanism and shafts with CorossionX.  Let sit for a while.  Very penetrating and very lubricating stuff

Did that and it helped but right still latches easier than the left. Maybe ok now will find out when we leave. My Roadmaster latches much easier than both the Blue Ox arms though.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Blue Ox question

Reply #4 –
I'd give Blue Ox a call. Mine latch without a problem.
1998 36 foot U270 Build No. 5328 WTFE, 900 watts solar, Victron controller, B2B, bat monitor, 600 AMPH lithium with 2018 Chevy Colorado toad, SKP #110239, Motorcade #17781, 2021 Escape 17B for when Coach is broken down and campsites are too small, retired and full-timer since Dec. 2020. Part of RV family since 1963.

Re: Blue Ox question

Reply #5 –
chuck I have one of the 10K blue ox hitches and both sides slide very easy
I think i would be calling Blue ox
Chris
1999 U 320 DGFE
Build Number 5523
Chris & Elka Lang
In the field, Lonoke AR

Re: Blue Ox question

Reply #6 –
The arms both slide easily it is cocking the latch that is the problem. Blue Ox doesn't help much from what I have read on other forums as they want you to buy a new one after the warrantee expires which this one has long passed. I think it is going to get better with use as it had sat for 3 years since I bought it.

1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Blue Ox question

Reply #7 –
Is it possible that the arm is bent and that is why it is not waning to lock?  It does not take any effort to lock.  Sometime while I am getting ready to hook up I will move the arm out to connect to the Tahoe and arm will lock if I pull it all the way out.

The only time I had a problem with mine not locking is when I had the safety cable going on top of the release arm and was causing it to not latch.
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: Blue Ox question

Reply #8 –
Chuck, not sure if this helps, but when we hook up car, wife is still in the car and I have her back up slightly and watch the levers lock in place on the blue ox.  Have not had an issue doing it that way!
Joe & Dottie Allen
Sold!  December 2023.      2000 U320; build # 5645
Our coach " Maxine"
Motorcade #  15922;  Escapee 150950; FMCA F330833; Boondockers Welcome;  Harvest Hosts;  Thousand Trails
'98 U320 from 2000-'06
USAF '62-'66

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." ―Epicurus

Re: Blue Ox question

Reply #9 –
After I hook up I always back the car up. However only one locks as it is too time consuming to get the car perfectly centered to latch both that way. I only started the post to see if there was any secret procedure to the Blue Ox. I will refresh this post after my trip as I believe use is going to end the issue.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Blue Ox question

Reply #10 –
I used to do a couple of S turns after hooking up, but found that it was always latching anyways.  May start looking at it closer again.  I had Roadmaster for years, but now have Blue Ox as it came with my coach.
Herb and Willie
Escapees 90802
2014 IH-45 Build 6581
2002 U320 40' AGDS Build 6021 Sold
1999 U320 36' No Slides Sold
2007 Monaco Dynasty Diamond IV Sold
2005 Discovery 39 Sold
1986 20' Wilderness TT,  Died a natural death after floods, etc.
Walldog's Journeys
And Willie Said

Re: Blue Ox question

Reply #11 –
We have someone at rear of coach looking at tow bar to see it locked and Jeep tires to see free left & right movements, every time we start out driving a short distance with coach moving right & left a little. Then that person gets back in coach.
 

Re: Blue Ox question

Reply #12 –
Quote from: Barry & Cindy –
We have someone at rear of coach looking at tow bar to see it locked and Jeep tires to see free left & right movements, every time we start out driving a short distance with coach moving right & left a little. Then that person gets back in coach.

Not applicable to use due to Lynda's condition. That was the way we used to do it with her driving the car into position while I guided her then I would pull ahead while she checked the arm locks. That was with the RoadMaster that the arm locks came down when latched. Not the case with the Blue Ox
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean