isy450 wrote:
At what age would you consider replacing your tow bar? I have had my Blue Ox since 2004, It stills seems solid and bends like it always did, just curious. Changed toads from 98 Wrangler to 15 Cherokee.
isy450,
None of us can accurately and efficiently answer your question. Tow bars endure some of the most physical exertion upon just about any part of the link between the RV and the toad. Yes, other parts are subject to the same type and amount of stress. But, the tow bar is the longest part, has the most moving and potentially failure prone parts. Some will agree and some won't.
Yes, you can rebuild them. I have taken two Blue Ox tow bars all the way down to the last nut, bolt, pin, lock, and spring. Waaaaaaaay farther than Blue Ox does at any rally. They may do it at the factory. You can replace pivoting pins, nylon bushings, springs, pivot and connection bolts but, what you don't replace is the parts that for the most part, don't show wear and stress, the main tubes and slides.
Now, with the exception of maybe one, possibly two, reports of actual weld and or structural (tube and slider) failure on here and other RV forums, there's almost no concern for replacement of an entire tow bar due to potential structural failure, due to age and whatever kind of mileage is on it. This is simply a decision that faces the owner. No one knows just when, any part of the main sections of a tow bar will either completely fail or, partially.
It's one of those notions that, if an owner has owned his/her tow bar since new and, has accumulated a given amount of miles on it, which is different for each individual, has towed either one or numerous toads with it in a given amount of time, again, different for each individual, and, may have had it serviced at one or more rallies in the life of the tow bar to present, only they can determine that, the tow bar has reached the end of its dependable
service life.
Now that can be whatever the individual thinks is the service life. The manufacturer CAN recommend a given time frame. But, what do they do for a living, SELL TOW BARS! So, with all this "doom and gloom" talk, many of us have had our tow bars for 10, 12, 15 or more years and feel they're still good for more years and miles of towing. There is no definitive answer here. Just a reasonable judgement.
Scott
I got a Blue Ox Aventa off Craigs List and ordered the rebuild kit from Blue Ox. I think it was $35. It came with new boots, nylon washers and Nylock nuts for all the connections. Disassembled the tow bar, sand blasted and painted the ends and knuckles and reassembled.
The one thing it did not contains was the main bolt holding the tow bar to the receiver. I found that at a local fastener store.
The one thing it did not contains was the main bolt holding the tow bar to the receiver. I found that at a local fastener store.
