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Flat towing

Yahoo Message Number: 105381
I got an estimate of $4000 to supply and install tow bar and aux braking in my Hummer H2 and coach. Seems to me this is way past unreasonable. The brake and tow bar are less that $2000. The brake is the air operated cylinder type. Am I off base? Any suggestions for doing it cheaper? I'm in north Alabama and prefer not to have to drive over couple of hundred miles. Thanks.

John

06 Inspire 360 #51919

Re: Flat towing

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 105382
John that sounds high to me but I had mine done 10 years ago on a different vehicle. Once I bought our unit I found a business that wired trailers with similar units. Just a though.

Re: Flat towing

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 105383
I am out of Atlanta, and have always used Mike's Trailer Hitches in Riverdale Ga. http://www.mikestrailerhitch.com (770) 472-3777

He has done three vehicles over the last ten years... He just installed a new tow bracket and Air Force One for on a 2016 Ford Explorer; about $2,600.00. I have no association with him. He is just a great guy and his shop does quality work.

Scott & Debbie Phillips
2006 Endeavor &

2016 Ford Explorer Toad.

Re: Flat towing

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 105384
I paid about 1400 for the towing hitch, tow plate and power disconnect. the Auxiliary braking and emergency braking disconnect system, another 1200. But that said you will have to travel, M&G braking systems in Athens Texas, Hitch pro tow in Eugene Oregon. They can install the slightly more expensive US Airforce braking system too in Eugene. I purchased the tow bar at an FMCA rally for 40% off. I bought my CR-V in Oregon so had the work done there. No sales tax and discounted retail prices helps pay for the fuel from my home in West Texas. Plus I got $3000 more for my rust free Odessey in Bend Oregon than offered at home. I saved over $4000 by traveling on a trip to Oregon I was going to make anyway and I travel to east Texas each year to visit family anyway. TWI 2004 Intrigue 11731

Re: Flat towing

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 105386
Yes it did... and the installation of both the base plate and Air Force One and plumbing the lines on the coach..

Re: Flat towing

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 105387
Yes it did... and the installation of both the base plate and Air Force One and plumbing the lines on the coach..

(With the correct signature)



Scott & Debbie Phillips 
2006 Endeavor &

2016 Ford Explorer Toad.

Re: Flat towing

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 105388
$2,600 sounds about right. Mine was between $1,000-$2,000 10 ago. So, John's $4,000 quote sounds high I guess.

Lee (leozbrowski@...) President, CCI

2007 Country Coach Intrigue 12153
CAT C-13

Repair help in Port Charlotte that was above and beyond excellent

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 105389
To anyone who ever might need any rv or even home repair help in the Port Charlotte, FL, area, I want to suggest this fellow.  This past early March when we had just arrived at the RV park in Port Charlotte, and had to have our rear AC replaced and then a few days later our inverter quit, we SO lucky. When Mike called a specific repair fellow who suggested we call another because AC was more that fellow's specialty, we called the 2nd man. 

He was great with the AC, and then with the inverter, he came to our campsite at the beautiful Myakka River Motorcoach RV Resort in Port Charlotte on a Saturday afternoon and spent at least 2 hours figuring out how to get us power to the Samsung refrigerator and for the tv, etc.  He came back on Sunday afternoon to see how it was working and did some more stuff so that we had power to more things.  It took ten days for the inverter to get to us due to a mistake in where it was being shipped from, and the RV park was very kind and let us move around a couple of times and we were able to stay there. 

I want to recommend our excellent repair person.  His business is called RV and Home Repair, his name is Mike, and his cell number is 941-234-6196.  My husband just checked with him to make sure that the insurance company had gotten the money due him to him, and he thanked Mike for asking and then mentioned hi to me and to our two little dogs.  A good guy.

Mary Frederick
06 Inspire 51784

Re: Flat towing

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 105394
We recently paid $3500 for all the equipment and installation on the motor home and the car, including a braking system on the car. We got another estimate of closer to 4,000. We're in Northern California.

Darrell and Marsha
2007 Intrigue 12075

Re: Repair help in Port Charlotte that was above and beyond excellen

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 105397
Are there still Alligators in the lakes at the resort? Found a moccasin there once as we!! You are right, it is a great park to rent in! watch your dogs and cats

Brian H Morrow

Re: Flat towing

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 105399
I think I was about $3700 when all done -- Blue Ox Aventa LX, Kar Guard II, 4” drop hitch (important to get level tow bar), Air Force 1, some misc accessories, locks. It’s expensive… I would be more interested in getting a quality install, and by a shop that does a lot of Air Force 1 installs. I went to Motor Homes of Texas in Nacogdoches Texas, not cheap but superior quality of work.
 
Greg
2006 Magna 6642
2006 Magna Rembrandt C13
2016 Jeep GC toad

Re: Flat towing

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 105404
I would seriously consider the Roadmaster Blackhawk All terrain bar over the Blue Ox. After using both for an extended period, I would never go back to Blue Ox. Blue Ox has a great marketing program, but the product cannot really compete with Roadmaster when placed side by side.

I know many here have Blue Ox. I also had it until I had 2 failures and had to replace it due to a bent arm. I bought Roadmaster and am much happier.

The components are much heavier duty, both the tow bar and the adapters that you put on your vehicle. The adapters are easily 2x thicker and larger where they attach to the vehicle frame. On my full sized Chevy truck the attachment points were much better engineered, larger bolts and more secure fastening. I installed both adapters myself and there really wasn't any comparison, not even close.

The cross bar on the Blackhawk makes it MUCH easier to hookup and more secure. The built in channels for the cables and chains are amazing at keeping everything neat and tidy. I also have the easy hook safety cables that is the cleanest most secure safety cable system made. It has the little ball on the vehicle end that goes into a slot on the tow bracket. Very ingenious!

http://www.rexandsonsrvs.com/content/images/thumbs/0014575.jpg

I will look for my pictures that I took of both tow adapters side by side. The difference is startling! Yes one might say that as long as it is engineered then no need to be built oversized. But my experience is that given the rigors of towing a 6000lb vehicle at 75mph and all the forces involved, I will take the heavier duty, better engineered system any day.

Of course this is just one mans opinion, and I know there are those that have a different opinion, which is ok.

As always, my opinion is worth exactly what you paid for it! :-)

Good luck in your choice! 
Dan

2006 Allure with tag
31344

Re: Flat towing

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 105405
Quote
Dan writes: "I would seriously consider the Roadmaster Blackhawk All terrain bar over the Blue Ox. After using both for an extended period, I would never go back to Blue Ox. Blue Ox has a great marketing program, but the product cannot really compete with Roadmaster when placed side by side."

I have the Roadmaster Blackhawk All terrain II - I used it for a year on my former Country Coach and for two years now on my Allegro Bus. At the time I went to Hitch Pro in Junction City OR where they do a LOT of tow bar systems and they recommended hands down the All Terrain II coupled with Air Force One. I have never regretted it. All terrain II has a 10,000 lb rating and like Dan I like ratings beyond the actual need. I tow a Chevy Suburban which weights close to 7000 lbs. The Blackhawk is also quick to attach and detach which is a big plus.

Joseph Burkle

2010 Tiffin Allegro Bus 43QRP

43' quad slide tag axle ISL 425 HP pusher
formerly:

2008 Country Coach Inspire 360 Founders Edition
Wind-seeker.com

Re: Flat towing

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 105407
I used the same BlackHawk to pull my Mercury Grand Marguis and Odessey from Honda. Now I use a Sterling All Terrain for the CR-V. The older BlackHawk could bind up if the car and coach were not level with each other especially coming out of a curve. I would want the All Terrain BlackHawk for heavier vehicles. It also helps that the hitch is horizontal while towing the car. There are fewer jolts and less torquing being transferred between the vehicles and there fore less banging and noise generated and transmitted to the driver and co-pilot. The Sterling models with the two torque release handles make disconnecting the towed vehicle much easier, too. TWI 2004 Intrigue 11731