Forum Discussion

GeeJay's avatar
GeeJay
Explorer
Sep 23, 2017

Stowing Hitch Mounted Towbar

I am in the process of switching from an all aluminum tilt deck car hauler to a tow bar for towing our “towd”. The car hauler was dual purpose, used for our daily driver/towd, a Fiat Abarth 500c Cabrio or our vintage sports car which I would not tow 4 down. The sports car is no longer in the picture



Age, combined with restricted mobility and chronic cervical pain,, resulting from a severe whiplash injury 20 years ago, are now making loading and tying down the Abarth more work than I am willing to cope with.

Sooooo….. After much online research we have decided to go with the NSA Ready Brute Elite Tow Bar with Integrated ReadyBrake using a Blue Ox® BX2805 Baseplate.

I understand that, when not in use, a tow bar mounted to a motorhome should be secured to the rear of the coach to prevent it moving around. It seems that most users secure the bars to the coach’s rear ladder.

The problem I have with that is our coach does not have a rear ladder. Any suggestions other than installing a rear ladder?

Thanks
  • RebeccaC's avatar
    RebeccaC
    Explorer II
    Jan 20, 2024

    I don’t have the NSA brand… I have a Blue Ox Avail towbar. I can NOT stow it because my bike raxk is in the way so I have to find a good way to secure it when not in use. Bungy cords? Ropes? Anyone have any clever quick consistent ways to stow it when not able to lock in to its stowing position when driving without the Toad?  

  • j-d's avatar
    j-d
    Explorer II
    Sep 25, 2017
    x many many

    Lock it and leave it. Get a vinyl cover if you don't already have one.

    One warning: Check periodically and make sure there's still a little wobble between the drawbar of the tow bar and the inside of the hitch receiver. You do not want to come back after a span of years, and find RUST has locked the two together.
  • F1bNorm's avatar
    F1bNorm
    Explorer
    Sep 23, 2017
    Go to the last page of the Ready Brute instructions. Shows the tow bar when in stowed position Link

    There is a latch that holds the bar in an upright position. If you think you need additional tiedown you could run a bungee to the hitch frame or safety chain attachment. Get a locking hitch pin, you don't want to be removing the tow bar anymore than you have to!

    Norm
  • Kennyg's avatar
    Kennyg
    Explorer
    Sep 23, 2017
    I have the same set up as you describe and its secured as everyone has described. In addition, I use a bungee cord between the arms and bumper to minimize vibrations which may occur over rough roads. Have done this last two years with no problem. Have never removed the tow bar when in storage.
  • Dutch_12078's avatar
    Dutch_12078
    Explorer II
    Sep 23, 2017
    After much digging through photos, I finally found one that I could zoom in on and show our ReadyBrute Elite tow bar in the stowed position before I put the cover on it. Not shown is the strap that holds the wires and cables in place if we were going to go down the road without the toad hooked up.

  • rk911's avatar
    rk911
    Explorer
    Sep 23, 2017
    philandterri wrote:
    Why would you want to remove the tow bar from the receiver, ours stays mounted and locked.

    agreed. been doing this a long time and can't say i've ever seen a tow bar secured to the rear ladder. i don't have specific experience with the NSA towbar but if its like most of the others it will fold up and to the side of the receiver. ours is secured with a locking hitch pin.
  • Bumpyroad's avatar
    Bumpyroad
    Explorer
    Sep 23, 2017
    IIRC my blue ox and other tow bars had a position where it "locked" into the up/folded position while in the receiver.
    bumpy
  • philandterri's avatar
    philandterri
    Explorer
    Sep 23, 2017
    Why would you want to remove the tow bar from the receiver, ours stays mounted and locked.

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