Tow Bar In or Tow Bar Out?

hohenwald48 wrote:
Where I'm sitting in this RV park just happens to be the place where everybody connects their toad on the way out. I get to watch 6-12 folks connect up every morning.

Blue Ox tow bars seem to be the most popular. However, about half the Blue Ox users latch the arms extended and half latch them compressed before they take off. Does it matter or are half the folks doing it wrong?

been towing our jeeps since 2003 always with a Blue Ox tow bar. we've done it both ways but I prefer this way:

I extend the arms all the way, spread them and lay them on the ground while my wife moves the jeep into position. I stand off to the side and motion her to stop when the connect points are just past the arm ends. that way I can compress the arms enough to connect them. it's just easier for me that way.

the last thing I do before we depart is a final walk-around. during that we do what we call a "light check". that includes making sure that the toad's brake lights, tail lights and turn signals are all working. my wife will activate each of those in the MH while I watch the rear of the toad. after that she pulls the MH forward a few feet while I watch the tow bar arms to make sure the arms lock. we do this prior to every departure regardless of whether the toad stays connected overnight or not.