This is NOT an offer to buy or sell a tow bar.In that there is a current post asking about tow bars, I'm encouraged to ask how to determine the value of a used one.Somewhere between what the seller wants and what a buyer is willing to pay is a starting point. I'm assuming most people want to "horse trade" on something of this nature.Is it a percentage of the original price, percentage of the same new,age, miles used for towing? All assuming no damage and in fair to good cosmetics. Whether buying or selling starting at the wrong point could mean no interest or unwittingly making it a give-away.Thoughts or experience out there.Thanks, Don Parrish

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.

Used Tow Bar Values | Good Sam Community

crawford
Explorer
Sep 15, 2021
every tow bar I have seen once you pull forward they lock in place. So braking device has nothing to do with it. sounds like they either never locked or was broken.
n0arp
Explorer
Sep 15, 2021
crawford wrote:
every tow bar I have seen once you pull forward they lock in place. So braking device has nothing to do with it. sounds like they either never locked or was broken.

Exactly. They were locked in, but one of the locks broke during the incident. That was mentioned on the first page:

Also, with the InvisiBrake there is a small but notable delay (<1s) in the braking of the TOAD. And soft, long springs don't do you any favors when it comes to preventing the TOAD from diving.
Thunder_Mountai
Explorer II
Sep 15, 2021
We just purchased a Blue Ox Alpha II with safety cables, 8" Blue Ox hitch lift, and 7 to 4 pin cable for $500 on Craigs List. It came with original purchase receipts. It was obviously very lightly used as advertised. So, we were in it for a bit over 40% of original cost. Also bought a Brake Buddy II unused in the box for $500. Again that is under 50% of the original price.
2manytoyz
Explorer
Feb 26, 2022
I purchased a used Roadmaster Falcon 2 tow bar for our Jeep. Got if for $357 on eBay. This worked fine, but I eventually bought the complete service kit for it from Etrailer. https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Roadmaster/RM-910003-60.html The video showing the process is here: https://www.etrailer.com/tv-review-roadmaster-service-kit-for-falcon-2-towbar-rm910003-65.aspx

I also purchased a used Roadmaster EvenBrake 9400 from eBay. Paid $497. Worked well for a year or two, then a seal started leaking, causing the compressor to cycle quickly. The replacement seal was under $10, and took less than an hour to take the unit apart, fix the issue, and clean up the inside. Details here: http://2manytoyz.com/RoadMaster-EvenBrake-Repair.html

Both items work perfectly, but did take some effort on my part. I used to work in the aerospace field as a tech, so this type of work is very easy for me. You can take a look at the links above, and decide if you're willing to potentially do this type of work, or look into having it done. But even buying it new, eventually this type of equipment needs servicing.

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