what type of tow bar to use
Purchased 2003 Four Winds 5000 29'. Love the RV. Just camped for a week without a car. Never towed one before so thought I'd ask other campers. Started asking questions at this campground and was sh...
Forum Discussion
If your Maxx has 4 speed OD automatic and is not the high performance model, the automatic is one that can put up with four-down towing.
You need brackets or baseplate to connect a tow bar, a tow bar, lighting, and for a car that size behind a C, a braking solution. Tow bar can be as little as $100 or over $1000, braking from a few hundred to more than a thousand, lighting from $20 what I paid for a magnetic base light set) to a couple hundred (installing wiring and diodes to integrate RV and car). Not a lot of variation in baseplate or bracket costs for a Malibu, $200 to $600 depending on installation costs, not like you can bolt a couple tabs to the bumper as on sold old Jeeps.
Overall cost depends on who does the work, typically as much as half the cost of towing prep might be labor. I installed my own baseplate, was ten hours work sitting and laying on a hot driveway, should have paid the shop $300 to $400 to do it but didn't want to wait. Braking and lighting installation cost can be low or high, depending on your choice of solution.
A lot of people towing choose a car specifically for the task, older GM compacts certain midsize are a common choice, so you got lucky there.
You need brackets or baseplate to connect a tow bar, a tow bar, lighting, and for a car that size behind a C, a braking solution. Tow bar can be as little as $100 or over $1000, braking from a few hundred to more than a thousand, lighting from $20 what I paid for a magnetic base light set) to a couple hundred (installing wiring and diodes to integrate RV and car). Not a lot of variation in baseplate or bracket costs for a Malibu, $200 to $600 depending on installation costs, not like you can bolt a couple tabs to the bumper as on sold old Jeeps.
Overall cost depends on who does the work, typically as much as half the cost of towing prep might be labor. I installed my own baseplate, was ten hours work sitting and laying on a hot driveway, should have paid the shop $300 to $400 to do it but didn't want to wait. Braking and lighting installation cost can be low or high, depending on your choice of solution.
A lot of people towing choose a car specifically for the task, older GM compacts certain midsize are a common choice, so you got lucky there.
