I've never posted on anything before so I hope I am doing this right. I have been a member of RV.net for a couple of years and always found my answers to questions I had. I got to post because I don't see much about this towpal thing and it saved my butt. I was driving west on U.S. Route 34 in Colorado and I kept seeing this car trying to pass me on the shoulder. I didn't know what this fool was trying to do so I sped up a little and this Subaru kept peaking over on the shoulder. I was barking at my wife about this idiot when her phone rang and it was the towpal calling from a fella behind me saying that my tow car was swerving all over the place. We pulled over and my Blue Ox Aladdin tow bar had broken on one side! My wife quickly reminded me of my language and that SHE got me to get the towpal. I think about what could of happen and I'm glad I listen to her once in awhile. I called Blue Ox, told them what happened, and they are sending me a new one free of change. I told them they should be lucky I had towpal or they would be paying for alot more than a new bar!

Didn't check out the cost but wouldn't the same thing work if you just put your phone number on the back of your RV? bumpy

I thought about that when my wife suggested towpal but I don't want my cell phone on display at some of the campgrounds we end up staying at. we've never got a prank call but I remeber that the towpal can block people if you want it to.

Glad it turned out well, I just cant figure out why he just didn't come along side and inform you- OH WELL either way it worked out.No where near the same situation as I was on a side road going about 5mph when it happened and I was driving a suburban, but we were towing one of our VW beetles back from a car show, just after we left a McD. about 10 miles from the house the tow bar broke (bad weld job) away from the front suspension on the right hand side of the vw, hearing a loud noise I looked in the mirror while at the same time applying the brakes to my supprise I see my car come into full view in my driver side mirror as if it was going to pass me. I can't even tell you all the thoughts that rushed through my head but I was expecting the car to come around us and crash or at best hit the burb, thankfully once I got stopped and none of that had happened I realized it was still attached on one side. Having no damage done to the car I chose to drive it home and later that day my wife and I lovingly named it spirit as it is reminded us of one of our daughters meaning it can't stand to follow the rules and stay in line just like her. The name stuck and to this day I have never forgotten that experience.I would be willing to bet from now own you will double and even triple check every connection to that car from that event forward.It just does something to you I can't explain besides scares you to death.Thankfully no one was hurt during the making of this life experience. but let this be a wake up call to us all to check everything even the welds and all components.Thanks for posting your story

Glad you and spirit made it home safe! We were on a stretch of two lane road so that's way I was so bothered by my own car trying to pass me. I'm glad to this day for towpal. My tow bar broke on one side too. When I pulled over there were quite a few people behind us. Must of been a good show while it lasted!

Moved from Forum Technical Support

Towpal saved my rear and Blue Ox comes through! So worth it!

17 Replies

jassrnj
Explorer
May 18, 2013
I have my rear view camera set so that I can see my toad and several feet behind it. Both my DW and I keep an eye on it as we travel.
az99
Explorer
May 18, 2013
willald wrote:
Dutch makes an excellent point - using a free Google voice number that forwards to your cell phone, you get exactly the same thing as Towpal offers, yet at basically zero cost.

LOL, why pay $$ (whether it be for $35 or $49 a year) for something you can so easily set up for free? :)

Will
X3
Can't believe someone would pay anything except the price of the sticker to have a phone # on the back of their toad.
In the future,when you see your toad car trying to pass you on the shoulder, pull over before someone has to call. Maybe a big orange dot on each headlight will help identify it.:)
willald
Explorer II
May 16, 2013
Dutch makes an excellent point - using a free Google voice number that forwards to your cell phone, you get exactly the same thing as Towpal offers, yet at basically zero cost.

LOL, why pay $$ (whether it be for $35 or $49 a year) for something you can so easily set up for free? :)

Will
kevin81
Explorer
May 16, 2013
I use TowPal and I have been very pleased with it. I got a call when my 32' fifth wheel threw a tread on it's rear driver side tire. It was banging away at the side of my trailer for what couldn't have been too long when I got a call about it. I pulled over and was able to change it before it did any serious damage to the side of my trailer or just blew entirely.

I pay the $49.95. I going to start asking around to see if any of my friends are KHC members. $35 a year sounds good to me!
Dutch_12078
Explorer III
May 16, 2013
If you don't want to post your cell number on your rig or toad and don't want the expense of TowPal, just post a free Google Voice number that's forwarded to your cell instead. Google Voice lets you filter and block any numbers you need to. If the number starts getting too many prank calls, just drop the account and sign up for another one with a new number.
Durango81
Explorer
May 16, 2013
We got our towpal from the Kentucky Horse Council, where my Daughter is a member. The KHC has a special sign that my Wife and Daughter like better than the standard one and it helps support the council. If you are a member the price is $35 a year.

I talked to my wife about the tracphone and she reminded me how often our walkie talkies are charged when we need them, that's never. I have a cell phone so why make it harder than it needs to be, plus I'm helping out my daughter with her organization.
Popsie
Explorer
May 16, 2013
My RV has a camera on the back which I use as an assist while backing into a camping spot, and I refer to it often (like a rear view mirror) to check that our toad is copacetic while going down the road.

It was built into the RV when we bought it so there is no extra cost, and it doesn't require action on someone else.s part.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
May 16, 2013
Durango81 wrote:

I appricate your thought Bumpy but towpal is $35 bucks a year. the tracfone thingy would be $71.40. Sign was part of the cost.

I don't want to argue, I'm just saying it saved me.

the current prices on their site are $9 a week, $13 a month, or the special $49.95 for one year with sign, at least as far as I can determine.
don't know where $35 comes from but with towpal you are paying for something, not unlike insurance, that you hope you never use. at least with a tracfone you have something that can be used if necessary.
bumpy
Beverley_Ken
Explorer
May 15, 2013
I agree with Will and Angela, use the rear view monitor. Ours is on all the time we are towing, just glance up at it, as you would with the mirrors.

Beverley and Ken
Durango81
Explorer
May 15, 2013
Bumpyroad wrote:
Durango81 wrote:
I thought about that when my wife suggested towpal but I don't want my cell phone on display at some of the campgrounds we end up staying at. we've never got a prank call but I remeber that the towpal can block people if you want it to.

if one is worried about putting their cell number on the back, you could always just buy a $19.95 tracfone with a $5.95 a month cost and only use it for this use and leave it off when you don't want "crank" calls. would be cheaper in the long run.
bumpy

I appricate your thought Bumpy but towpal is $35 bucks a year. the tracfone thingy would be $71.40. Sign was part of the cost.

I don't want to argue, I'm just saying it saved me.