Help identifying this tow bar set-up

[Ski_Pro_3]

I got this tow bar set up off craigslist. I can not find any information on it and hoping folks here will recognize it. Looks like a Blue Ox based on the locking arm mechanism. However, the way the arms bolt to the hitch and the whole stowing system, I do not know for sure. The arms also have a different method for attaching the ends of the arms. The Blue Ox welds on a double tang. This has a threaded arm with a locking nut. Here are photos with captions;

Here is an overall image;



Close-up of how the arms attach to the ball mount


Close-up of how the tow bar attaches at the passenger side. It lifts and drops into place;


Close-up of the arm assembly where there is a bolt set up instead of a weld on current model Blue Ox.


Another view of how tow bar attaches to the stowing device. At the top is a couple tabs that had a lock through it to keep the bar from coming off. The lock was exactly like those sold by Blue Ox.


This image shows the driver side attachment point. Notice it's a 'L' shape that slips behind a large vertical weld pin.


Sure hope someone can shed some light on what I got.
Thanks!!

[Ski_Pro_3]

My original photo shows that there is a Roadmaster/Duncan adapter. Listed here;
http://roadmasterinc.com/products/accessories/adaptors.html

Scroll down to the 038, I have that part. It allows the Duncan towbars to bolt up to the Roadmaster brackets.

[Reddog1]

This link, History of ROADMASTER, may offer a bit of info.

[Reddog1]

tatest wrote:
Looks like Roadmaster's Stowmaster, maybe an earlier version of it. AFAIK Roadmaster is the only vendor that included that angle-iron crossbar as part of the towbar. This is what gets bolted (safety-cabled) to Roadmaster's separate towing brackets.

It definitely is not a Roadmaster Stowmaster. I have one, and have been using it for over 10 years. You can see a photo of the Stowmaster here. Note the Stowmaster uses angle iron side-to-side the same as the Duncan.

I am of the belief the tow bar skipro3 posted is a predisser to the Roadmaster tow bars, as posted by j-d.

Wayne

[tatest]

Looks like Roadmaster's Stowmaster, maybe an earlier version of it. AFAIK Roadmaster is the only vendor that included that angle-iron crossbar as part of the towbar. This is what gets bolted (safety-cabled) to Roadmaster's separate towing brackets.

[j-d]

That "2000" does sound familiar. I might have the paperwork but haven't looked for it. I'm pretty sure when I spoke with them on the phone, they were in Pender.

And yes, the bar I have uses buttons on the bottom sides of the arms to release them.

[Ski_Pro_3]

That name is spelled different;

EAZ Aligner

However, the EAZ Aligner was slightly lighter weight and had a button of engaging the locking mechanism for the arms. It's full name was the EAZ Aligner 2000.

My model is the Towmatic II 5000 pound tow bar. I found these photos on another RV forum;

[j-d]

Made in Pender, Nebraska like Blue Ox. Took me awhile to remember the model name, but it's "Easaliner." At my age, my "desktop" is shrinking, so I have to mount a mental archive file. That's not the problem - I have to find that archive first...

[klutchdust]

Reddog1 wrote:

j-d wrote:
It's a DUNCAN. We have one and it's been trouble free. I might still have the instruction sheet. Duncan was the (or very close to) originator of the folding towbar. They were made by Automatic Equipment, who also makes Blue Ox. Blue Ox bought Duncan and then shut it down. I believe they did it to get a competitor off the stage.

Essentially same idea as a Roadmaster Stowmaster, and I'm sure Blue Ox has an equivalent. We're now using a Roadmaster Falcon RV mounted towbar because the only storage I had for the Duncan was inside the RV, under the Dinette.

The left end of the bar, the notchy part, is called the "claw" and it's held down in the bracket by a pin with a locking spring clip. We often used a long-hasp padlock.

The black bar is an adapter bar that lets the Duncan mate up to other brand baseplates. If anybody needs the Duncan bar, adapter bar, or extra brackets that I have, let me know.

It is really nice to see a constructive post. Thanks.

Wayne

X2 Just because a piece has some paint missing doesn't mean it's structurally unsafe. Keep in mind of how many items we use today were probably made off shore. Bright and shiny doesn't always rule.

[Reddog1]

j-d wrote:
It's a DUNCAN. We have one and it's been trouble free. I might still have the instruction sheet. Duncan was the (or very close to) originator of the folding towbar. They were made by Automatic Equipment, who also makes Blue Ox. Blue Ox bought Duncan and then shut it down. I believe they did it to get a competitor off the stage.

Essentially same idea as a Roadmaster Stowmaster, and I'm sure Blue Ox has an equivalent. We're now using a Roadmaster Falcon RV mounted towbar because the only storage I had for the Duncan was inside the RV, under the Dinette.

The left end of the bar, the notchy part, is called the "claw" and it's held down in the bracket by a pin with a locking spring clip. We often used a long-hasp padlock.

The black bar is an adapter bar that lets the Duncan mate up to other brand baseplates. If anybody needs the Duncan bar, adapter bar, or extra brackets that I have, let me know.

It is really nice to see a constructive post. Thanks.

Wayne

[Ski_Pro_3]

Thanks everyone and especially BIG thanks goes out to j-d!!!!

So, I've taken time disassemble everything and start the restoration. It was/is packed with grease on all the internal parts. Old grease that has hardened up a bit. What a mess! Then some 320 grit wet/dry on the shiny metal parts to knock off the surface rust, followed with 600 grit and then a good waterproof grease. I've ordered new boots and will repaint with rustolium.

All the parts are now quite free to move and seems to be quite solid. I have a '91 Suzuki Samurai that I have a fixed tow bar set up. This shoud make it a bit easier to attach/detach from behind my Truck Camper I use to tow with. Since a Zuke only weighs 2000 pounds (mine is bone factory original stock) I'm pretty sure this tow bar will be plenty. I'm a big believer in using safety chains, break-away brake and towing brake on my Zuke. If something should go wrong, I don't want anyone to get hurt!

Once I've got things restored, I'll post up more photos.

Again thanks. Anyone have photos or links to manuals, that would really be sweet!!

[j-d]

It's a DUNCAN. We have one and it's been trouble free. I might still have the instruction sheet. Duncan was the (or very close to) originator of the folding towbar. They were made by Automatic Equipment, who also makes Blue Ox. Blue Ox bought Duncan and then shut it down. I believe they did it to get a competitor off the stage.

Essentially same idea as a Roadmaster Stowmaster, and I'm sure Blue Ox has an equivalent. We're now using a Roadmaster Falcon RV mounted towbar because the only storage I had for the Duncan was inside the RV, under the Dinette.

The left end of the bar, the notchy part, is called the "claw" and it's held down in the bracket by a pin with a locking spring clip. We often used a long-hasp padlock.

The black bar is an adapter bar that lets the Duncan mate up to other brand baseplates. If anybody needs the Duncan bar, adapter bar, or extra brackets that I have, let me know.

[sch911]

rr2254545 wrote:
Wow looks scary- best of luck I would not use it

X 2

[rr2254545]

Wow looks scary- best of luck I would not use it

[imgoin4it]

Really have no idea as I have never seen anything quite like it, but some comments to think about. You are right that some things look like a blue ox. (I have use blue ox for nearly 20 years) The attaching piece looks like a roadmaster part that is on some road master hitches. Wonder if someone combined parts of different tow bars to make it "one of a kind". One thing I do know is I would not use it if I couldn't find out more details. Compared to my current 10,000 lb rated blue ox, this one looks very light weight.