Roadmaster Tow Bar 10 Years Or 70,000 Miles

"want-a-be".....This is more of a common sense issue. Everyone is using different tow bars, towing different loads and maintaining their equipment differently. I don't think you can realistically ask what others think. It was a good question with some good discussion, but you probably have to decide if your tow bar is worn out.

Don't forget metal fatigue that is difficult to spot. Roadmaster would probably still take it in on trade and give you a good deal on a new one. I was surprised at how much credit they gave me for my 6K bar when I bought a 10K bar.

Gjac wrote:
I have the Demco tow bar steel with a 10,000 lbs capacity. It is 10 years old with 75,000 miles on it. It has a life time warranty. Having said that my tow car only weights 2,600 lbs and I have taken it apart to clean and inspect it for wear. If you are way under the towing capacity, most of you towing has been on hiways and is set up at the right towing height I would take it apart and clean and inspect the parts, reassemble and feel good about it. What is the capacity of your tow bar vs your tow car wt?

Tow bar 6000 lbs. tow car 3000 lbs. always made sure it was level and all towing on highways. Thanks

I have the Demco tow bar steel with a 10,000 lbs capacity. It is 10 years old with 75,000 miles on it. It has a life time warranty. Having said that my tow car only weights 2,600 lbs and I have taken it apart to clean and inspect it for wear. If you are way under the towing capacity, most of you towing has been on hiways and is set up at the right towing height I would take it apart and clean and inspect the parts, reassemble and feel good about it. What is the capacity of your tow bar vs your tow car wt?

want-a-be wrote:
Sent a e-mail to Roadmaster about getting my tow bar look at, told them it was 10 years old and I was told that it was time for a new one. Has any one heard of this before,
10 years or 70,000 miles, time for a new one?
Thank for all comments

They probably told you it was time to get a new one because they don't stock repair parts for units that old. We had a Sterling (not the all terrain) we purchased in 2006. I wanted to replace some of the bushings late in 2012. I had to give them the serial number because even at that time they only stocked parts for the latest generation of the Sterling tow bars.

I was able to get parts, but was also told they were no longer manufacturing replacement parts, so when they ran out of stock no more parts would be available.

We had over 100,000 miles on the tow bar when it was destroyed last February. The Jeep we were towing was hit from behind when traveling south on Interstate 57 near Springfield ILL. The tow bar looked like a pretzel but still held tight. In all there was nearly $15,000.00 damage to the Jeep and towing gear, but not a scratch on the motorhome.

I have a Demco tow bar that I take apart every year to inspect, clean, and grease for another year of travel. Since I take it apart every year, it is easy for me to see if parts are wearing out or breaking from stress, etc.
Every year, after things are clean and greased, the tow bar feels just as tight as it did when the tow bar was new. This tow bar is at around 60,000 miles and it appears it could go for many many more miles before it, or just a part of it, needs to be replaced. When I take it apart next year, we will see.

My Falcon tow bar is 10 yrs old w/60K miles on it and I rebuilt it myself 2 yrs ago. Does this mean I need to replace it?

Of course that is what they told you, but it has nothing to do with the expected life of the tow bar and such. It does have everything to do with liability. If somewhere in the paperwork they say that it has a service life of ten years and/or 70K miles (and they probably do), then somebody wrecks with a piece that over either one then they can stand up in court and say, "We told him it was over aged." That puts them in the clear.

I know my towbar has no build date or serial number because I sandblasted and painted it. So, how would they know? Unless they can find a sales record (good luck there, I the third owner that I know of), the only handle they have is the last date that model was sold.

Matt

gbopp wrote:
That's what they say, it has a Life Expectancy of About 70,000 Miles.

Thank for the clickie. May be I should call Roadmaster, a person could have a tow bar for 10 years and tow way less then 70,000 miles!

That's what they say, it has a Life Expectancy of About 70,000 Miles.