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Topic: Blue Ox Alpha Tow Bar for 36' FT Nimbus (Read 648 times) previous topic - next topic

Blue Ox Alpha Tow Bar for 36' FT Nimbus

We are in the process of looking into towing our 2011 Jeep Liberty with a Blue Ox Alpha (up to 6500 lbs.) tow bar system and using a SMI Air Force One vehicle braking system.  I thought I read somewhere (in the forum??) that ForeTravel no longer recommends this. I plan on calling FT to get the skinny tomorrow. However, does anyone use Blue Ox tow bar for their toad and if so any problems?? We have been led to believe that it is a high quality system. Any comments or helpful advice would be appreciated.
RollinO's - Bruce & Pat Olson
2007 40' Nimbus 340
2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Re: Blue Ox Alpha Tow Bar for 36' FT Nimbus

Reply #1 –
Myself and a bunch of members use or have used the Blue Ox systems for towing.  I have towed my Avalanche with a 10,000# rated, (name escapes me), with out issue for several years.  I installed the M&G air braking system, with it's one moving part on the Avalanche as well.  Easy hook up.  M&G does not fit all vehicles, so check their site for application.
Dave Cobb
Buckhorn Lake Resort The Club, #6202, Kerrville TX
check the map.  I do rent it out when I am traveling!
2001, U320, 36' #5887, in Kerrville, FT Club #17006, (7/23 to present)
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Summit, white
EX: 98 U295, 36' #5219, (mid door), (4/13-10/23)
EX: 93 U225, 36' (4/11 to 4/13)

Re: Blue Ox Alpha Tow Bar for 36' FT Nimbus

Reply #2 –
Quote from: RollinO –
................Foretravel no longer recommends this. I plan on calling FT to get the skinny tomorrow. However, does anyone use Blue Ox tow bar for their toad and if so any problems?.......................................
RollinO,
Blue Ox Aladdin,
light to handle, aluminum construction,
7500# tow rating,
Well over 100K miles towing Honda Odysseys and an Acura MDX (4500 to 4900# w/payloads),
M&G braking on same,
Blue Ox has serviced it 3 or 4 times, one time it was $54, others were absolutely free at RV shows,
ZERO PROBLEMS
Blue Ox has been the "gold standard" in light weight, reliable and easy to use towing setups for many of us -- I'm anxious to hear why FT doesn't recommend them anymore,
Let us know, please.
Neal
 
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Neal (& Brenda) Pillsbury
'02 U320 SPEC, 4200, DGFE, Build #5984
'04 Gold Wing
'07 Featherlite 24'
'14 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit
MC #14494
Exeter, NH & LaBelle FL
Quality makes the Heart Soar long after Price is Forgotten

Re: Blue Ox Alpha Tow Bar for 36' FT Nimbus

Reply #3 –
360,000 miles on two blue Ox bars.  No issues other then wearing them out.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Blue Ox Alpha Tow Bar for 36' FT Nimbus

Reply #4 –
Quote from: John S –
360,000 miles on two blue Ox bars.  No issues other then wearing them out.

My hero.  Seriously
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Blue Ox Alpha Tow Bar for 36' FT Nimbus

Reply #5 –
We think Blue Ox is the best, but we like the 10,000 lb capacity steel tow bar. We quickly remove the two tabs that stick out from Blue Ox baseplate and you may not know our Jeep is towed and there are no knee bangers either. Foretravel is not in a position to evaluate towing equipment and they push what they sell.

The most popular is Roadmaster, but I see way too many tow cars with a mess of steel hanging off the front of their car. If someone likes a Roadmaster tow bar, it can be connected to the invisible Blue Ox baseplate.

Re: Blue Ox Alpha Tow Bar for 36' FT Nimbus

Reply #6 –
We did a bit of research on this topic and ended up with a Blue Ox towbar and baseplate. We went with an Invisibrake for our 2012 Jeep Liberty. So far we're happy with the combination. On our last trip one of the set screws fell out. I called Blue Ox to find out the size of the screw and instead of telling me the size they sent a bag full of spare parts - no cost. Since this was right after the Pilger tornado I asked whether it had affected them any. They said it didn't affect their operation but some of their people had suffered some loss. Pender, NE (where Blue Ox is located) is just east of Pilger, NE (which was destroyed).

Re: Blue Ox Alpha Tow Bar for 36' FT Nimbus

Reply #7 –
Have always used BlueOx tow bar.  No issues whatsoever.  Serviced by Blueox at Rally for $25. This cks for any worn parts, greases all parts needed even gave me a cover.  Great company.  I use M&G brakes out of Athens, Texas installers all over for my braking which I have had on two tow cars and work great.  You should be pleased with Blueox as the towbar is easy to hook up.
Dan & Shirley Stansel
2002 U295 4020 AGDS Build#6054
Towing Buick Enclave & M &  G Braking
Emerald Bay, Lake Palestine, Texas
MC# 16650

Re: Blue Ox Alpha Tow Bar for 36' FT Nimbus

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Neal Pillsbury –

Blue Ox has been the "gold standard" in light weight, reliable and easy to use towing setups for many of us -- I'm anxious to hear why FT doesn't recommend them anymore,
Let us know, please.
Neal

Neal,

Kemahjohn posted about it in this thread

Picked up our "new" coach

Quote from: Kemahjohn –
Don't know what tow bar you have, but Foretravel advised us a week ago that they no longer sell Blue Ox tow bars OR parts--- they have had two cases of broken (failed) pins that apparently fell out after breaking. Just an FYI, I was looking for parts on the one that came with my "new" 96 U320.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Blue Ox Alpha Tow Bar for 36' FT Nimbus

Reply #9 –
We have a Blue Ox on the 96' U320 we recently purchased--- I was trying to buy some pins for the unit from Foretravel while there, and the parts department told me that they no longer handled the tow bars or parts due to 2 pin failures on units that they had furnished.  That's all I know about it.  Until I get the pins, I'm towing "Old School" with a conventional $79 tow bar.  It works great and is no trouble.  We tow a 2000 Jeep Wrangler, and a 2009 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited.
Current coach 1996 U320 40'
Previous coach, 1990 36' U280

Re: Blue Ox Alpha Tow Bar for 36' FT Nimbus

Reply #10 –
I also tried Motor Homes of Texas, they still handle Blue Ox, but didn't have the pins I needed in stock.  They knew of no problems.
Current coach 1996 U320 40'
Previous coach, 1990 36' U280

Re: Blue Ox Alpha Tow Bar for 36' FT Nimbus

Reply #11 –
The original pins that came with my tow bar were returned to BlueOx at a rally and they replaced with the pins with rings.  Available anywhere.  The original had small parts which slide inside the pin to install and then pop out to stay in place.  These are to be replaced and not used.  They were trying to get all these back as they had caused problems.  If I am on a long travel trip and not removing the tow I will use an electrical tie to secure the pins.  But they usually work fine.  I always ck at every stop to ensure the tow bar is secure and correctly done.  Some times I see locks on the pins and this is a great idea.  Keeps someone else at a stop from pulling a pin. 
Dan & Shirley Stansel
2002 U295 4020 AGDS Build#6054
Towing Buick Enclave & M &  G Braking
Emerald Bay, Lake Palestine, Texas
MC# 16650

Re: Blue Ox Alpha Tow Bar for 36' FT Nimbus

Reply #12 –
I tie mine in with 1/4 inch cord and a square knot.

best, paul
1999 U320 40' 1200 watts on roof. 12cf AC/DC Cold plate fridge/freezer. VMS 240 CL Honda Element

Re: Blue Ox Alpha Tow Bar for 36' FT Nimbus

Reply #13 –
Quote from: Michelle –
.........................Kemahjohn posted about it in this thread

Picked up our "new" coach................................


 I understand, Michelle.
I was hoping to understand if the "FOT broken, then lost pins" could have possibly been vandalism or owner/operator error or if FOT had some irrefutable evidence that defective pins were being supplied with Blue Ox products, which subsequently broke and caused the pin to be lost.
Blue Ox has widely advertised the free replacement of the ball-detent pins originally supplied by them.  I had heard about that.  That didn't seem to be a logical reason for FOT to stop handling Blue Ox Products.
 
To me, and obviously Blue Ox, the ball detent application was a poor choice on their part.  The tow bar pins and the hitch receiver are in a location that will likely render a ball detent problematic or inoperative sooner rather than later.  I wasn't surprised that owners had problems nor that Blue Ox had to take replacement actions.
 
What surprises me is that even if owners didn't think through a poor ball detent pin application, they make the second mistake of not thinking through how tempting an unlocked tow hitch is to thieves and vandals.  A tow hitch pinned with easily removed pins attached to a tow vehicle with a key inserted in the ignition (or ignition in the "Accessory" position), is a glaring, open invitation to thieves or vandals.  About the only thing that an owner could do to make it easier for the "ne're-do-wells" is to roll the windows down and hang flags from the antenna.  Don't kid yourselves that most thieves don't know more about your vehicle than you do.
Although, I have to say that FT owners do make the error.  I even witnessed one at an FMCA event where an arriving FT coach lost a tow bar pin just as they arrived.  The errant tow car "quartered" and then continued to sideswipe another tow car in the congested staging area.  Both (very nice) tow vehicles had to be hauled away on ramp trucks.  In that case, the missing bow pin locking clip was found in the FT owner's tow bar accessories bag.  So the tow survived many miles of tow before the tow bar pin fell out in arrival staging.
 
Blue Ox (and several others) sell locking hitch pin kits that are robust, absolutely foolproof, are just as easy to use as the quick ball-detent pins, are far easier to use than zip ties or cords/knots and all three locks are keyed alike.  I put my key on a detachable key ring attached to the handle of my tow bar "duffle bag" so the key is always right there for each "hookup" and "unhook" evolution.
 
To me, this is all part of "Motorcoaching 101" common sense.  But then, I have also never towed boats or trailers with less than a locking device on the hitch.  I've seen some nice messes where owners didn't have common sense, though.
 
Easy to solve, and help others lower risks.  I just don't understand FOT's position, if it really is their position.  They could just as easily sell Blue Ox locking pins/kits.  That would help those that haven't thought it through become safer and enjoy life, instead of errors.
Neal
 
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Neal (& Brenda) Pillsbury
'02 U320 SPEC, 4200, DGFE, Build #5984
'04 Gold Wing
'07 Featherlite 24'
'14 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit
MC #14494
Exeter, NH & LaBelle FL
Quality makes the Heart Soar long after Price is Forgotten

Re: Blue Ox Alpha Tow Bar for 36' FT Nimbus

Reply #14 –
It is not normal for tow bar sellers to stock tow bar parts. Always call the manufacturer who normally will send small parts at no cost.

Re: Blue Ox Alpha Tow Bar for 36' FT Nimbus

Reply #15 –
FWIW, Lost locking arms can be replaced with 3/8 stainless steel round stock cut to length.  I am talking about the round bar that releases the locking mechanism so the arms will slide. No rubber cover with it but who cares.
Gary B
 

Re: Blue Ox Alpha Tow Bar for 36' FT Nimbus

Reply #16 –
Wow! I love this forum! Thank you all for your comments and suggestions. We are going ahead with the Blue Ox tow bar and plate as we, too, feel its a great system and will indeed take precautions to insure a secure and lock pins. Thank you.
RollinO's - Bruce & Pat Olson
2007 40' Nimbus 340
2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee