Leaving tow bar connected to MH

[RRTom]

How many of you leave the tow bar on the motor home after you return from an outing? What are the possible cons?

[Gjac]

One possible con not mentioned is if you forget to put the locking pin in after you fold it can fall and drag on the road if no tow car is attached. This happened to me once when I went to get gas for the MH, thankfully a passing car told me that sparks were coming off the tow bar. I now use a bungee cord to keep the two legs from extending when no car is hooked up as well as the locking pin. Another minor problem is if left on for several years the lock going through the pin can rust and penetrating oil is need to open the lock.

[JoeH]

Mine was put on the current coach 7 years ago... hasn't come off since.

[Elk_traveler]

I have the Blue Ox and I always leave on. I place a cover on when I return home and detach the tow. Blue Ox has the rubber grommets and plastic spacers which enable movement of the tow bar these certainly would be affected by the heat and sun but once covered I think they're ok.

[Dutch_12078]

Other than occasionally removing the tow bar for cleaning/lubing, it stays in place year round since we travel year round. I do install a weather cover when we're parked for awhile.

[TS21sso]

I have a Blue Ox tow. bar, keep it on MH, covered with accessory vinyl cover. Remove it from MH once a year for cleaning, inspecting, and new grease on bars. Always clean and lube receiver before reinstall.

[STBRetired]

Installed with a locking pin, sprayed with silicone lubricant according to manufacturer's instructions, and kept covered when not in use. Goes on when MH comes out of storage, comes off when MH goes to storage. No problems at all.

[RRTom]

wa8yxm wrote:
The cons are:
Weather exposure if the RV is stored outside
Legs.. If it not bolted on and locked (As in with a key) it the can grow legs .

It would be in a protective covering, and it would be locked. The motor home is backed in between our house and a block wall so the motor home (let alone the tow bar) is not noticeable.

[wa8yxm]

The cons are:
Weather exposure if the RV is stored outside
Legs.. If it not bolted on and locked (As in with a key) it the can grow legs .

[magicbus]

gbopp wrote:
We traveled quite a bit with the bar attached and folded up. It caused no problems and was not in the way.
When I finally removed it, I needed some penetrating oil and a big hammer.

Exact same thing happened on my first class A. I now use a receiver bike rack on my class B and I lube it well because I leave it on for 10 weeks in the winter but then pull it off when home.

Dave

[CA_Traveler]

My joints and bar are sprayed with silicon lube as recommended which is less dirt attracting. Attached for 16 years with a lock which keeps honest folks honest. In recent years I've been leaving the car cross bar attached as well.

[RRTom]

Ed C wrote:
I spray it with anti-corrosion oil and cover it.

When you spray with anti-corrosion oil, do you spray the entire tow bar or just pivot points and bar that goes into the receiver on the motor home?

[lryrob9301]

I installed my tow bar 12 years ago and the only time it's been removed was when I switched coaches 7 years ago.

[Ed_C]

I spray it with anti-corrosion oil and cover it.

[Flute_Man]

I am a full timer and left mine on for the past 16 years.