Forum Discussion

petlvr's avatar
petlvr
Explorer
Jul 27, 2017

Towbar suggestions

Hi everyone, we are looking for some suggestions on purchasing a towbar.

Several years ago we bought a 2000 Holiday Rambler and had the Blue Ox towbar installed to haul our Honda CRV. It worked well, but the Blue Ox was very stiff to handle and very heavy. I don't know if all Blue Ox towbars are like that but we dreaded hooking it up every day.

We sold that motorhome in 2009 and recently purchased a 2011 Winnebago Adventurer. Once again, we are looking to purchase a towbar. Someone we met mentioned the Falcon but there is no dealership near us (we live in RI). My husband's back is not good (and neither is my own). We want something reliable, but fairly easy to hook up.

Any recommendations are greatly appreciated. We do not want to go with a dolly. Thank you for your time. Christine
Class A
  • JR45's avatar
    JR45
    Explorer
    Jul 27, 2017
    I got everything for my coach from etrailer free shipping. I like RoadMaster so I got the BlackHawk 10k
    https://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Tow_Bars-sf-Hitch_Mount_Style.aspx
    JR
  • Louandsal's avatar
    Louandsal
    Explorer
    Jul 27, 2017
    Roadmaster Blackhawk All Terrain. I am a female that travels solo and I haven't had any problems hooking or unhooking my Jeep for the 12 years I have been rving
  • lryrob9301's avatar
    lryrob9301
    Explorer
    Jul 28, 2017
    Roadmaster or Demco, have seen too many Blue Ox bad welds and failures.
  • sundancer268's avatar
    sundancer268
    Explorer
    Jul 28, 2017
    Roadmaster Sterling, it is Aluminum and still tows 8000 Lbs. Had mine since 09 and love it. I have Muscular Dystrophy so ease of use is paramount and when I can no longer do it the Wife will have to handle it alone and she has no problems.
  • tropical36's avatar
    tropical36
    Explorer
    Jul 28, 2017
    petlvr wrote:
    Hi everyone, we are looking for some suggestions on purchasing a towbar.

    Several years ago we bought a 2000 Holiday Rambler and had the Blue Ox towbar installed to haul our Honda CRV. It worked well, but the Blue Ox was very stiff to handle and very heavy. I don't know if all Blue Ox towbars are like that but we dreaded hooking it up every day.

    We sold that motorhome in 2009 and recently purchased a 2011 Winnebago Adventurer. Once again, we are looking to purchase a towbar. Someone we met mentioned the Falcon but there is no dealership near us (we live in RI). My husband's back is not good (and neither is my own). We want something reliable, but fairly easy to hook up.

    Any recommendations are greatly appreciated. We do not want to go with a dolly. Thank you for your time. Christine

    Not sure I'm getting this with the weight and are you not leaving the bars on the coach?
    Anyway, our choice has been the NSA READYBRUTE/ELITE that comes with a simplified toad braking system, is all Alum. and rated at 8K lbs.
    Order online and have a hitch shop install it for you, if not able to do so, yourself. Depends on your toad for the base plate and with our Wrangler, we feel that DEMCO is the best. Your bars will come with the proper adapters already installed for the base plate.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Jul 28, 2017
    Do you already have aux braking system installed on the towed?

    IF not then the Ready Brute tow bar comes with Ready Brake, a surge braking system.. This system works well when new but has one problem in that the cable that operates the brakes is like a parking brake cable.. It can rust and size up like a parking brake cable does if you live in the wrong part of the country.

    (The solution is regular testing)

    OTher wise I can not recommend a brand. MOst all makes have much the same offering.. I can however ecommend a TYPE

    I use the kind where it has extendable arms so I can hook up "Off center" of at an angle. and it "Stows" on the RV with only the base plate left on the car.

    Mine is a blue ox.. But as I said several other companies are like it.
  • hohenwald48's avatar
    hohenwald48
    Explorer
    Jul 29, 2017
    wa8yxm wrote:
    This system works well when new but has one problem in that the cable that operates the brakes is like a parking brake cable.. It can rust and size up like a parking brake cable does if you live in the wrong part of the country.


    I've heard this before about the Ready Brake. Usually from folks who don't own one. I've never experienced this problem on mine and can't figure out how a stainless steel cable running inside a plastic conduit could possibly "rust" regardless of where you might live.
  • Mondooker's avatar
    Mondooker
    Explorer
    Jul 29, 2017
    Have any of you looked at or used "Ready Brute Elite" tow bar? I like the surge braking system it offers. Here's the web site;

    Click
  • tropical36's avatar
    tropical36
    Explorer
    Jul 29, 2017
    hohenwald48 wrote:
    wa8yxm wrote:
    This system works well when new but has one problem in that the cable that operates the brakes is like a parking brake cable.. It can rust and size up like a parking brake cable does if you live in the wrong part of the country.


    I've heard this before about the Ready Brake. Usually from folks who don't own one. I've never experienced this problem on mine and can't figure out how a stainless steel cable running inside a plastic conduit could possibly "rust" regardless of where you might live.

    X2.....and the cable is constantly being exercised when the toad is is in regular use, unless you disconnect it from the pedal that is. I applied grease to ours, before sliding it into the sheath, as well.
  • Hikerdogs's avatar
    Hikerdogs
    Explorer
    Jul 29, 2017
    sundancer268 wrote:
    Roadmaster Sterling, it is Aluminum and still tows 8000 Lbs. Had mine since 09 and love it. I have Muscular Dystrophy so ease of use is paramount and when I can no longer do it the Wife will have to handle it alone and she has no problems.


    If you're buying new I would suggest the Sterling All Terrain. It's advertised as the lightest towbar on the market. It replaced the Sterling in 2005.

    As for longevity we had a Sterling (not the newer All Terrain version) for 12+ years and well over 100,000 miles. It was destroyed when the Jeep we were towing was rear ended by a kid in a pickup truck.

    We replaced it with the Sterling All Terrain and have put a nearly 30,000 miles on it with no problems. As mentioned they are available on e trailer for a reasonable price. The price includes free shipping.

    https://www.etrailer.com/Tow-Bars/Roadmaster/RM-576.html

    Safety cables and wiring are also included.

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