Tow car hookup by single person

i like roadmaster but all work well. it takes practice to get used to where to stop an where to center it,a trip or two and it will be a non issue

I believe in the KISS method for doing most things and hooking up by myself is very easy. I follow rk911's suggestions almost to a "T", the only difference is that I follow Howdy35's way of checking the brake lights.

Even now after 18 years of towing a car or truck, we follow the same routine. The check list changes but it is always read aloud. When I am solo that is my only problem. The DW reads the list when we are together. I miss that and suddenly there are two things happening. I am reading and checking, I like it when the DW reads and I listen and go check if I have any question. Solo, I carry the check list around and check each item in order. It may mean several in and out of the MH to check everything but it is better for me that way.

A well written response from rk911, simple and as close to bulletproof as possible.

PS, if I am hooking up the towed, I am breaking camp and the list is pretty long. Hooking up is a pretty short part of that.

rk911 wrote:

Mile High wrote:
But how do you hold the tow bar out in front the toad so you can line up? That part was the one I struggled with for a fixed tow bar.

you don't. what I do is extend the arms and lay them on the ground in a ^ pattern that approximates the distance between the hookup points on the baseplate but narrower than the distance between the front tires. I then pull forward to a point where I believe the hookup points are at or a little bit forward of the ends of the arms. I get out and check and, if necessary, move the car forward or back a bit. with practice and experience I can usually hit the correct point on the first or certainly the second try.

I shut off the car and engage the parking break. I first connect the tow bar arms to secure the dinghy to the MH. on my particular vehicle it's easier to then connect the umbilical cord, the aux braking system break-away connection and then the safety chains.

I double check everything with the check list and then prepare the dinghy for towing which in my case is simply putting the tranny in park and the transfer case in neutral but I use a checklist for that as well.

I was actually asking olfarmer, because he uses the magnetic rods with balls on top I used to use for my boat and I'm curious how he does it.

Mile High wrote:
But how do you hold the tow bar out in front the toad so you can line up? That part was the one I struggled with for a fixed tow bar.

you don't. what I do is extend the arms and lay them on the ground in a ^ pattern that approximates the distance between the hookup points on the baseplate but narrower than the distance between the front tires. I then pull forward to a point where I believe the hookup points are at or a little bit forward of the ends of the arms. I get out and check and, if necessary, move the car forward or back a bit. with practice and experience I can usually hit the correct point on the first or certainly the second try.

I shut off the car and engage the parking break. I first connect the tow bar arms to secure the dinghy to the MH. on my particular vehicle it's easier to then connect the umbilical cord, the aux braking system break-away connection and then the safety chains.

I double check everything with the check list and then prepare the dinghy for towing which in my case is simply putting the tranny in park and the transfer case in neutral but I use a checklist for that as well.

I watched my neighbor RV guy do it all the time by himself. His tow bar moved around and was extendable. Then once hooked up he just pulls forward and everything then locks into place.

Have no idea what brand of hitch this was...

Roy Ken

olfarmer wrote:
I have always done it alone and I have a rigid (no adjustment) tow bar. I use 2 magnetic, extendable, rods with a ball on top. Just drive forward until the balls touch and hook it up. Pretty easy and simple. They are available from RV dealers.

How do you hold the rigid tow bar up while you are driving forward?

I have a Demco rigid tow bar. On previous toad I was able to raise it to vertical position and with practice could line it up but with current toad bumper will not allow this.

olfarmer wrote:
I have always done it alone and I have a rigid (no adjustment) tow bar. I use 2 magnetic, extendable, rods with a ball on top. Just drive forward until the balls touch and hook it up. Pretty easy and simple. They are available from RV dealers.

But how do you hold the tow bar out in front the toad so you can line up? That part was the one I struggled with for a fixed tow bar.

My patriot through the set up depresses the brake 3 times so I stand back to to see the brake lights work. Turn on rv lights and 4 way flashers to check signals and lights on toad. Quick and easy.

Mandalay Parr wrote:
Blue Ox works for me. Do it all the time by myself.

X2 very easily done also. 5 minutes

I have always done it alone and I have a rigid (no adjustment) tow bar. I use 2 magnetic, extendable, rods with a ball on top. Just drive forward until the balls touch and hook it up. Pretty easy and simple. They are available from RV dealers.