Replacing rubber boots on Blue Ox Tow Bar
The rubber boots on my Blue Ox Tow Bar split. Ordered replacement boots from Blue Ox. They come with two boots, four zip ties and two locking nuts. Found a couple YouTube videos, one not so good and one helpful.
Not recommended: Long and not recommended
Useful: RVGeeks clean and lube
The video by RVGeeks is short and useful for yearly cleaning and lubrication of slide arms. You will need two heavy duty zip ties and two regular zip ties, side cutters, cleaner, lubricant and paper towel. Watch the video.
To replace the boots, you need to remove the bolt, nut, and two nylon washers of the attachment end of the arm. Take a picture showing the relationship of the attachment end with the up arrow sign visible as a reference for reattaching. You will need a 19mm wrench and socket to remove the bolt. Don't lose the washers, they are not provided. Next cut the zip ties on the damaged boots and then cut them off. You will need to clean the arm as described in the RVGeeks video. Get some silicone and lubricate the end of the arm attachment, the part remaining on the arm after removing the piece with the up arrow. Place the larger end of the boot over the arm end and work it down the arm. Lubricate the arm. Attach the big end of the boot with the large zip tie. Attach the narrow end with the smaller zip tie. Attach the end piece with both washers in place and using the new nut.
I've put about 30,000 miles on my tow bar in the last two years and should have cleaned and lubed it a couple times. Recently noticed both boots were broken near the big end, so ordered replacement and started learning how to install and service the slide arms.
Topic: Replacing rubber boots on Blue Ox Tow Bar