Tow Bar for 4 down

[Dream_Chaser_]

What is the difference between a ball mounted simple A-frame and a $1500+ system?

How does the towed vehicle handle with each type of tow bar?

I am looking at a new-to-me vehicle that can be towed 4-down but I don't really want to spend another $2000 to get it behind my motor home.

Thanks

[Dream_Chaser_]

Thanks everyone for their suggestions. After a bit of research I was able to find a new (used once) Demco Excalbur tow bar for 1/3 of the original cost. Wish I could find a similar deal for the base plate.

[FIRE_UP]

Personally,
I wouldn't have one of those ugly a$$ "A-frame" tow bars if ya gave it to me. We towed our first Jeep, a CJ-5 about 35 years ago and yep, a pain in the a.. to hook up. The design and ease of use of today's modern, collapsible tow bars is so superior to those ancient things, it's not even funny. After spending as much as many of us do, to get a nicely deserved motorhome, then a nice Jeep or whatever, don't cheapen out and get a junk tow bar. You can find great deals on Craigslist and other classifieds for used collapsible tow bars that are in great shape with many, many tow miles left on them.
Scott

[mowermech]

I have been towing Jeeps (and a Datsun diesel pickup) with a "crude A-frame" towbar for years. I hook it up to the motorhome by myself, using the "GOAL" (Get Out And Look) method, quite frequently.
When I decided to tow my Dodge 1500 pickup, it seemed the 5000 lb. capacity A-frame bar wasn't adequate, so I bought a Roadmaster Stowmaster towbar from craigslist, and had my neighbor craft the baseplates to fit. ($75).
That towbar is hanging on the shop wall. I didn't find it to be easier enough to work with to make it worth while.
When I got another Jeep to tow, I went back to the old towbar. IMO, it is simpler, easier, with very little to wear out or requiring lubrication (not even silicone spray!). I use the safety chains to keep it upright on the front of the Jeep, with a bungee cord to keep it from moving (yes, in my state that is legal).
Yes, I am quite happy with my "crude A-frame". IIRC, it cost me $145 (new) many years ago, and was made by Reese. My Roadmaster bar cost $250, used, then I had to do a lot of polishing and lubing to make it work fairly easily.

[77rollalong]

I have towed with a crude a frame , and what a pita to line up. but only needed it to tow and antique car a few times. I now have a Saturn that I bought with a blue ox tow system setup , and what a difference to get hooked up.. I also have an extra Demco tow bar, very similar to hooking it up too..

[folivier]

I had an A-frame years ago on an old jeep. Very difficult to line up and hook up. I've been using a ReadyBrute Elite also and it is MUCH easier to hook up.
With the A-frame you had to do lots of jockeying back and forth to get the right position for hookup.
Look for used towbars and possibly used baseplates. Depending on which vehicle and if you're pretty handy the baseplate can be fairly easy to install.

[tragusa3]

I just spent the money myself. Wasn't fun.

However, the difference in A-frame to the fancy stuff isn't quite that much. With the A-frame, I assume you still need a base plate installed on the vehicle? If so, you're going to probably spend 600-1000? With a ReadyBrute Elite setup, I had $1600 in hardware.

[enblethen]

Much easier to hook uo using an extendable tow bar. Another big difference between tow bars in the priceir is whether it is MH mounted or toad mounted. If you have a very light toad as in small car you want the most weight on MH, but if you have an SUV type vehicle it can be toad mounted.
You can find used tow bars on ebay or the like. Then the pricey portion is the brackets.

[PNW_Steve]

I didn't notice any difference in towing down the road when I switched to a Blue Ox collapsible setup.

Hooking up and unhooking were MUCH easier with the Blue Ox. Also, the Blue Ox could be left on the RV stowed neatly.

It's a no brainier for me. When I get to the point of equipping to tow with my new rig I am going with a collapsible tow set up. Hopefully, I will find a deal on a gently used one.