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tow bar

Yahoo Message Number: 97182
I hope this saves someone I was on my way from Buffalo Wy to Thermopolis Wy when I lost my toad well I lost half my toad which is a F350. I have a blue ox tow bar and I installed the pins from the inside out and then installed the spring load clip and I think going around the curves the safety cables must have flip the spring loaded clip and lost the pin not much damage but had to buy new tow bar and pay $110.00 shipping to get it before we started home so now I install the pins from the outside in that way the safety cables can not release the clip but to make things better I am gong to buy bicycle locks and lock them on



Marvin Hardy 2008 Intrgue 12249

Re: tow bar

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97183
They should have locks on them. It prevents someone from removing the pins. Sad to say it does happen.

Mkee

Re: tow bar

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97184
We had ours fail too and in Charlotte, FL, honking cars around us alerted us to the fact that indeed half of our Buick Enclave was lose. Scary for sure. We do not know what made ours fail, and tried to figure it out. Mike installs the pins from the outside too. We had to buy a new tow bar for $900, and we were lucky I guess that they had one in stock. Wonder if this happens more than we'd like to think.

Mary Frederick
06 Inspire 51784

Re: tow bar

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97189
A while back I read that it's been done before as a Prank/Vandalism !

John

08 Intrigue
10 Ford Escape

Re: tow bar

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97193
See my earlier post about locking all connection points. it happens, no lock the toad can leave...

Mikee

Re: tow bar

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97195
This happened to me using a Blue Ox...twice. Yes I know and believe the stories of vandalism and pranks, but in one of our failures that was absolutely not possible. Fortunately I caught the failures before any real damage occurred.

My gut tells me that the design of the Blue Ox or the way it is used with the safety cables being in very close proximity to the clips results in failures. Yes locks will prevent this, even with a poor design.

I can't prove this and I know there are many that like Blue Ox, but I am no longer one of them. When I had to buy a new bar after the last failure I eliminated the Blue Ox and bought a Roadmaster Blackhawk 2 All terrain. I replaced everything including the tow adapters on my full size Avalanche. Cables and safety chains too. I am happier than happy!

The difference in the two systems is astounding! If I wasn't able to see them side by side I would never have believed it. My Blue Ox was a 10,000 lb capacity, same as the new Roadmaster. The Roadmaster is heavier duty by a wide margin, and much better engineering and design. There is NO comparison.

Here are some pics that show the 2 adapters side by side. The Blue Ox is the rusty one. The Blue Ox is only held on by 2 - 1/2"? bolts through the very front of the frame. The Roadmaster uses those same 2 bolts, but also adds another 1/2"? bolt below and a heavier duty 3/4"?bolt further back on the frame. I think you could pull 2 times the weight with their adapters.

http://imgur.com/a/MlmBp#0
If you have Blue Ox and it is working for you, great, I am not a fan. Just be very vigilant with Blue Ox, secure it well and check it often.

Hope this helps someone!
Dan

2006 Allure 430 with tag
#31344

Re: tow bar

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97200
Marvin


Take one of the pins with you to the Hardware store and fit locks to the pin. I have used locks on my tow bar for many years. Try and get locks with the same key . makes it easy er to unlock when you disconnect the toad.

Bo & Kathy Lee

2000 Magna #5896 40 FT

2006 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
Rubicon



On Wednesday, August 27, 2014 11:32 PM, "danspangenberg@... [Country-Coach-Owners]" wrote:

This happened to me using a Blue Ox...twice. Yes I know and believe the stories of vandalism and pranks, but in one of our failures that was absolutely not possible. Fortunately I caught the failures before any real damage occurred.

My gut tells me that the design of the Blue Ox or the way it is used with the safety cables being in very close proximity to the clips results in failures. Yes locks will prevent this, even with a poor design.

I can't prove this and I know there are many that like Blue Ox, but I am no longer one of them. When I had to buy a new bar after the last failure I eliminated the Blue Ox and bought a RoadmasterBlackhawk 2 All terrain. I replaced everything including the tow adapters on my full size Avalanche. Cables and safety chains too. I am happier than happy!

The difference in the two systems is astounding! If I wasn't able to see them side by side I would never have believed it. My Blue Ox was a 10,000 lb capacity, same as the new Roadmaster. The Roadmaster is heavier duty by a wide margin, and much better engineering and design. There is NO comparison.

Here are some pics that show the 2 adapters side by side. The Blue Ox is the rusty one. The Blue Ox is only held on by 2 - 1/2"? bolts through the very front of the frame. The Roadmaster uses those same 2 bolts, but also adds another 1/2"? bolt below and a heavier duty 3/4"?bolt further back on the frame. I think you could pull 2 times the weight with their adapters.

http://imgur.com/a/MlmBp#0
If you have Blue Ox and it is working for you, great, I am not a fan. Just be very vigilant with Blue Ox, secure it well and check it often.

Hope this helps someone!
Dan

2006 Allure 430 with tag
#31344