How to hook up a toad to an RV using a tow bar?

[jornvango]

I just installed base plates on my 2002 Wrangler and have purchased a Smitty Bilt tow bar to connect to the tow hook on my RV.

Before I do something wrong, I wanted to ask ...

1) Is there a right or wrong way to connect the Wrangler to the RV, as in, do you connect the tow bar first to the RV and then drive the Wrangler in position to attach the tow bar arms? Or, vice versa, where you first connect the arms to the Wrangler and then hook it onto the RV's tow hook (much like a regular trailer would work)?

2) The base plates on the Wrangler sit a little higher than the tow hook on the RV, so the tow bar will not be completely level to the ground. Is this a potential problem?

Thanks!

Jorn


P.S. Yes, I have already installed a lighting kit on the Wrangler to connect to the RV (so the blinkers, running lights, ... will work while towed) + I have a braking system (BrakeBuddy) in the Wrangler.

[jsmart]

We used a Reese rigid arm tow bar hooked to an aftermarket bumper on our 2009 Jeep wrangler for over 3 years. DW would pull the jeep up to the back of the MH while I guided the tow bar onto the 2" ball at the back of the MH. Many times I wondered if my life insurance was up to date as we had a manual transmission in that jeep, and the DW is not good at manual/clutch/etc. We actually used a riser on the back of the MH to get the tow bar almost level, most info I read on the net said not to have more than 3" up or down on a tow bar as this would put additional stress on both the towed and the tow vehicles. This set up worked well for us. We recently traded the jeep for a Ford C-Max, got the Blue Ox set up with base plate and extendable arms tow bar so that now I can hook up the toad by myself. Lots more money, but also easier to hook up.

[mowermech]

"Unless you have very, very excellent depth perception and an accurate aiming point, a solid arm towbar is most likely a two person hookup."

Based purely on personal experience, I don't find that statement to be true. That is what the GOAL method is all about, you Get Out And Look to see where you need to move, then get back in and move there. I frequently hooked mine up by myself with no trouble. HOWEVER, I had a hoop above the winch on my custom bumper, and I could hook the safety chain on that loop to support the towbar at the proper level to just miss the ball when I had it in the right position. when not in tow, I could also tie the towbar to that loop in a vertical position for travel, using the safety chains (but NOT in California, I understand that is illegal there).

[Off_Pavement]

I use a 10" up/down adaptor to tow our Jeep behind our Class C...

[wilanddij]

Unless you have very, very excellent depth perception and an accurate aiming point, a solid arm towbar is most likely a two person hookup.

As Blue Ox says, the towbar should be level to no more than 4" higher on the MH end. It should never be higher on the toad than it is on the MH for a very good reason. If it is higher on the toad, the front end could lift in a panic stop situation and make a mess of the MH rear fiberglass.

[Ramair]

I believe they say it needs to be within 3 inches from level. Any more needs a drop hitch or if your high flip the drop hitch over and now its a riser hitch.

[jornvango]

I have a different hitch now; it's currently only about 2 inches lower than the connections on the Jeep. That's within the range so I'll go with that.

Just like the first time I hooked up a travel trailer with stabilizer bars, I guess it'll take some experience to get good at hooking up the Jeep. Thanks!

[cooper841]

Not being smart a$$ but buddy of mines had one and the bolts keep coming loose.He even try locktite but just wouldn't' stay tight.No trying to scare you but be careful. That jeep has some weight.. Most of the time you get what you pay for.

[jornvango]

I just measured and the (middle of the) tow hitch is about 5 inches lower than the Wrangler's base plate connectors.

It's tough to find a 'good' answer but 5 inches seems to be pushing it. I will go buy a hitch that can be raised at least a few inches.

[mowermech]

I used a Reese Towbar almost exactly like that one (the bumper brackets were a little different) for many years on various Jeeps and other vehicles.
I used to hook it up by myself with minimal problems, but I had the capability of hanging the towbar on the safety chains to hold it at the right height, then I would use the GOAL method (Get Out And Look) to get lined up properly with the ball on the motorhome. Drop the hitch on the ball, hook up the lights and safety chains, put the transfer case in NEUTRAL, the transmission in 6th gear, and we were good to go.
Now, I have a Roadmaster Stowmaster telescoping towbar for the truck (I figured I needed the 6000 lb. capacity). I don't find it to be all that much easier to use. Luckily, I got it used, so I only paid twice what the Reese bar cost, instead of 6 times. It IS rather nice to have it folded on the front of the truck instead of standing up like the old bar did on the Jeep (besides, they say that is illegal in CA. I don't know for sure).

[dan-nickie]

I think we should be very careful making recommendations as most of us have a very different tow bar than this one.

[enblethen]

The Smitty bar looks very similar to the Tracker from Roadmaster. If no directions were provided, these from Roadmaster should be of help.
Roadmaster Tracker

[tenbear]

Here is what Blue Ox says about leveling the tow bar.

"Verify the baseplate attachment tabs are level or no more
than 4” lower than the receiver hitch. Adjust with a drop/rise
receiver as necessary."

[tenbear]

tenbear wrote:
I have a Blue Ox tow bar but I suspect the principals are the same.

My tow bar assembly is attached to the MH and stays there all season. The toad is driven into position behind the MH.

Ideally the tow bars should be level. I use a drop receiver to accomplish his. It seems that different manufacturers have different requirements. Check your tow bar owners manual.

I take it back. Clearly, you couldn't leave the towbar attached to the MH or the toad.

[Big_Katuna]

You drive up. It is tricky getting it aligned if you have fixed arm tow bar. I had one like that and it didn't last too long.

I got one with arms you could unlock so you could be off several inches and still connect.

Watch Craig's List.