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tow bars

Yahoo Message Number: 109757
Hi Guys;

Starting a new thread on tow bars. I am sure this conversation happened a million times, but I am new to the group and new to RVing, so I am going to need a refresher course. Not looking to start a war over the best tow bar to use, though I would welcome any advice on brand names. My specific question for starters, is the tow rating. I am thinking of towing a 2014 Dodge 3500. I believe the vehicle weight hovers around 7500 lbs. empty. My thought is an 8000 lb. rated tow bar won't be enough, as I am pretty much bringing it to full rate. Wouldn't I be better off going to a 10,000 rated tow bar? I appreciate any input on this.

Dave

04 Intrigue 42' Ovation

Re: tow bars

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109761
Thanks mike. As I think about it, since I'm coming in at 7000 plus, I mind as well get the 10000 lb .

Dave

Re: tow bars

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109798
Here's my two cents. First, buy the biggest towbar you can. Remember, the rating isn't for the weight of the vehicle, its for the stress. There may be times when you have to max brake your coach, then the inertia of an 8,000 pound vehicle slowing down from 60 to 0 is a lot more than 8,000 #. I use an Airforce Braking system. Braking system choices are always hotly debated. I researched the different systems and read a ton of boards. I wasn't wild about the types that have a box that sits on the floorboard, I wanted something that didn't require a lot of messing around to connect and disconnect. The Airforce fit the bill - one air hose from the coach and an emergency line. Additionally, I have never read anything, anywhere that is negative on the Airforce.

One of the things that Jona and I have always planned on and practiced is an emergency disconnect - for example, when we are trying to turn the coach on a busy highway or street and we can't make the turn without backing up the coach. We can't back up because we are towing a toad. We can cut loose our toad, start it and move it in 45 seconds. Everything we do with our toad is with that in mind. The Aventa towbar we have is from 2001 and its holding up great. I had it mothballed from 2002 until 2016 - so I called Blue Ox and sent them pictures, they said go ahead and use it, it won't ever break. I bought a kit with a couple new (cosmetic) parts and we were good to go. I have 20,000 miles of towing on it this year and it's worked like a champ.

Let me know if you have more questions.

Jim and Jona Seifert

jim.jona.seifert@... 2007 Country Coach Intrigue Ovation 530 42' Coach #12150

525 Cat C13 Allison 6spd

Toads: 2014 Ford F150 / 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser w/ REMCO DS Disconnect.
Airforce 1 Brake system
Blue Ox Aventa II Towbar
Jim and Jona Seifert
2007 Intrigue 530