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mowermech's avatar
mowermech
Explorer
Jul 13, 2014

Telescoping towbar

After all those years of towing with an inexpensive fixed arm adjustable width towbar, I finally got a telescoping arm unit.
For the pickup, I found a Roadmaster Stowmaster 5000, 6000 lb. capacity towbar on craigslist for what I thought was a good price.
I took it for the maiden voyage today.
While it is a little easier to hook up than a fixed arm unit, the old "Get Out And Look" system is still required. Maybe after I get used to it I can get closer the first time.
However, UNhooking is just as difficult as the old fixed arm rig! The release buttons aren't easy to work at all! Newer ones may be better, but this old Stowmaster is a little difficult!
Maybe I will take advantage of the easier hook up, and forget about trying to release it to unhook.
Other than that, the maiden voyage went just fine. The truck follows just fine, the rig accelerates adequately, and I think I am ready to tackle Marias Pass next week.
  • mowermech wrote:
    After all those years of towing with an inexpensive fixed arm adjustable width towbar, I finally got a telescoping arm unit.

    ...never thought I'd see the day! :B I find it hard to believe that you're going to give up "old faithful". Those old fixed-arm bars do have their place, and are reliable, simple and cheap.
  • Jagtech wrote:
    mowermech wrote:
    After all those years of towing with an inexpensive fixed arm adjustable width towbar, I finally got a telescoping arm unit.

    ...never thought I'd see the day! :B I find it hard to believe that you're going to give up "old faithful". Those old fixed-arm bars do have their place, and are reliable, simple and cheap.


    Well, the old towbar went with the Jeep, and I found this Stowmaster on craigslist for only slightly more than a new Reese fixed arm would cost, and I thought I needed the 6000 lb. capacity, so that's what I got.
    I can't say that I am overly impressed so far. We'll see. I have only connected and disconnected it twice. The coming trip will be the "proof of the pudding" as the saying goes.
    The fact that it folds up on the front of the truck is a plus, though.
    I can always get a piece of light chain and a couple of harness clips so I can hang it in position for hookup, and use the GOAL method like I used to.
    Again, we'll see...
  • I have a Blue Ox Aventa LX. The bars have rubber boots so stay lubed for several years, it is an all terrain type of hitch that has a hoizontal ball coupler. The only problem I had was unhooking uphill. Now I wrap a ball bungee around the release levers to hold them down & drive the toad forward a few inches & pull the pins. This also insures that the brake is set so the toad will not roll down the hill. We watched a Jeep break the owners leg when he tried to catch it & roll into a fiver in Pahrump, Nv
  • For "mowermech".

    If you should ever be near Vancouver, WA you should visit the Roadmaster factory and have them overhaul your Stowmaster towbar for free.

    I have an original Stowmaster 5000 that is 23yr. old and have had it overhauled several times.

    I get there at 8.00 am and I am usually gone by 11:00am.

    P.S. I have never had an appointment, just showed up and they took good care of me. They even replaced a burnt out tail light for me when I did my pre road trip check after hooking up.
  • If there ever was a rally in Montana, and the Roadmaster rep was there, perhaps I could get it overhauled. It is doubtful I will ever have reason to go to anywhere near the factory, though.
    However, I have read the instructions for installing the rebuild kit, and it doesn't look all that difficult, other then the fact the the bushings are FTF (File To Fit)! I just might have enough skill left to handle it.
    I did have one time when the telescoping feature worked for me on my recent trip. While lining up to connect, I got a little too far forward. I punched the buttons, seated the hitch, then backed the truck up to latch the bar. It worked!

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