Used Tow Bar Values

I'm sure there are lots of opinions on this, but for me, I wouldn't take the chance buying a used towbar. The manufacturer of mine recommends "service" every year or two if I remember correctly. If a new one cost $1k and a used one was $500, I personally couldn't justify saving $500 for something that has a lot riding behind it! For others, it's an acceptable risk.

Don't get me wrong, I buy used stuff all the time, but in my mind, some used things just aren't worth the risk. Fire Extinguishers are another thing that comes to mind!

Just went thru this for a friends wife. He pass away and she was getting rid of the rv. My friend had damage his tow bar and he repaired it himself . Found some paper work where he order some new seals and pins but the worse part the rod he had x-rayed and it show crack no just a few but many and the main part with many cracks it self. He had taken the unit to the machine shop and had the rods straighten and had been using it for years that way. I was shock that he spent over half of what a new one cost to jerry-rig it. I took it apart and put it piece by piece in the re cycle bin. So buy have the one you are looking at x-rayed and go from there.

I bought my Roadmaster Stow Master 5000 for $300. it was like new. the guy said he only used it once for a 1200mile trip. It sure looked like was never used. and came with the cables and 2 drawbars for a baseplate for a different car (no baseplate included though). For the $300 I also got an older brake system.

I agree though that if I`m only saving a couple hundred bucks over new its not worth it. I think mine new is around $600 or $700.

I consider the used price of an item, its age and condition. Also the supply and demand. Forty to sixty percent would be a high offer and twenty to thirty percent a low price.

I do a lot of bundling items when at a second hand sale. Just recently, wife and I bundled a list of items we were interested in and made an offer to the owner. He accepted. Included in our purchase was a nice electric bicycle which cost me zero.

I purchased a nice electric wheel chair and repaired it for a total investment of $150.00 and a friend wanted to trade me a like new 10,000 lb. Blue Ox Adventa II tow bar for it. We made an even trade and both were/are happy and both of us have enjoyed many years of service from our items. He had no use for the tow bar and I had no use for the wheel chair.

A bargain is when both the seller and the buyer are happy with the transaction.

The price is going to be somewhere between what the seller is asking and what a buyer is willing to pay. Could be pennies on the dollar or all the way up to retail. The variables are numerous and will be different for each item and each sale.

My Demco in fifteen years I sent it in to be looked at or be serviced. They rebuilt it like new at no charge. It does have a life time warranty do not all company's have this kind of service. I hear so many say how good other brands are?

rdhetrick wrote:
I'm sure there are lots of opinions on this, but for me, I wouldn't take the chance buying a used towbar. The manufacturer of mine recommends "service" every year or two if I remember correctly. If a new one cost $1k and a used one was $500, I personally couldn't justify saving $500 for something that has a lot riding behind it! For others, it's an acceptable risk.

Don't get me wrong, I buy used stuff all the time, but in my mind, some used things just aren't worth the risk. Fire Extinguishers are another thing that comes to mind!

I very rarely buy used equipment - but in an unusual move, bought a used tow bar. Horrible mistake. 5K miles later, it failed and is costing me a little over $3K to fix.




It left an impression from where the main pivot bolt hit the hood and grill.



This happened at the very end of a 10hr travel day -- at least we were close to our destination.

jshupe wrote:

rdhetrick wrote:
I'm sure there are lots of opinions on this, but for me, I wouldn't take the chance buying a used towbar. The manufacturer of mine recommends "service" every year or two if I remember correctly. If a new one cost $1k and a used one was $500, I personally couldn't justify saving $500 for something that has a lot riding behind it! For others, it's an acceptable risk.

Don't get me wrong, I buy used stuff all the time, but in my mind, some used things just aren't worth the risk. Fire Extinguishers are another thing that comes to mind!

I very rarely buy used equipment - but in an unusual move, bought a used tow bar. Horrible mistake. 5K miles later, it failed and is costing me a little over $3K to fix.




It left an impression from where the main pivot bolt hit the hood and grill.



This happened at the very end of a 10hr travel day -- at least we were close to our destination.

I don't think that's because they were used. That looks like they were never locked.

dodge guy wrote:
I don't think that's because they were used. That looks like they were never locked.

If that were the case, this would have happened in the first 10 hours of driving that day. You can hear what I presume are teeth rattling around in one of the sleeves where they sheared off, and the passenger side arm won't lock in place at all now.

My Demco have a large green ring when locked if not locked a red ring is there, also they don''t have those built in release leavers mine come off after you release arms. Yes keeping track of them a pain but they always work.