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Towbar failure...again

Yahoo Message Number: 109539
So it happened again....our BlueOx Avail tow bar broke. We were going VERY slow, turning into a gas station, thank God! The first one failed at less than a year old and this one is 18 months old. We got it when the last one failed. They both broke at the welds.
To our knowledge everything is within specs (towing weight, tow bar height, etc). I have already begun a conversation with BlueOx so that is in works but has anyone else had issue with this tow bar? I looked online and can't find anyone else who has had a failure with this bar.

Tammy Toalson
'06 Affinity 6611
2014 Ram 3500

Re: Towbar failure...again

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109540
Oh no. I just bought one of these. Keep us posted on what Blue Ox says. Glad nothing catastrophic happened.

2005 Intrigue Suite Sensation #11890 Cummins 400 ISL

Re: Towbar failure...again

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109541
We've also had this happen Tammy Toalson, and it was at a stop light in Port Charlotte, FL, when someone came up to the side of our MH that our car was breaking free! So you know the scene! Wow! We were able to disconnect the car at the stoplight, found a Blue Ox place and bought it and had them put it on the next day. Our kind is not an Avail, and not sure what our name Blue Ox is. It's made of steel my husband says.

Scary for sure, and for you two times!

Wishing you the best.

Mary and Mike Frederick
06 Inspire 51784

Re: Towbar failure...again

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109542
When you get the new set up, have the installers make sure that when your coach is at ride height everything is level. Having the tow bar at an angle can stress the welds and cause the problems you are describing. Our tow bar is a Roadmaster and we have not had any problems with this one (2 years old) or the one we had prior to it for about 5 years. We have had our installations done at Hitch Pro Tow in Eugene, Oregon and they do excellent work.

S. Brandt, '06 Intrigue, 11964

2015 GMC Yukon Denali

Re: Towbar failure...again

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109544
We have had roadmaster hitches for 20 years with never any trouble. Currently have a sterling.
Dave 2005 Allure #31284
--------

Re: Towbar failure...again

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109545
We had an Aventa II that we towed our previous truck with for over 100,000 miles with only one issue. We had a drop hitch (RoadMaster) break on us way back ('06 maybe) when we were still using a Brake Buddy for a breaking system. After that incident we are very careful about the set up. All of our two equipment is rated for 10,000 lbs. Our coach, when in gear, rides 2 to 2 1/2 inches above the truck. We have the AirForce1 braking system with a break away on our 2014 Ram 3500 since the M&G wouldn't fit the new truck.

Re: Towbar failure...again

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109548
Where exactly did the welds break? I've had a Blue Ox Adventa II and towed an 8000 pound vehicle including offroad and while I wore out two balls and other parts it never failed. Something is wrong.

Rich 2002 Magna

Re: Towbar failure...again

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109557
Interesting. FWIW: when setting up a Hydra-lift and my new TOAD last summer, I told my dealer that I wanted Blue Ox. He told me to go with Roadmaster because he's never seen one fail, but knows personally of Blue Ox failures. I took his advice and put the Roadmaster on. Reading this, I'm glad I did.

Don Hutchins

'08 Allure 470, 40' tag, Cat C-9, Cat Tranny, towing a Fiat 500 S-Turbo from a receiver on a Hydra-Lift which carries my motorcycle.
Don Hutchins
'08 Allure 470 #31613
40' w/tag, Cat C-9 & Cat tranny

Re: Towbar failure...again

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109558
Could it be possible the steering wheel is locking up occasionally? It happened to a friend with a RAM truck? See the link below, there have been reports of this happening while driving...

http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/07-5-09-3rd-gen-6-7-liter-general-discussion/338882-steering-wheel-locking-up-while-driving.html

Mike

Michael St. John
stjohn911@...

2005 CC Magna Matisse C13, #6501

Re: Towbar failure...again

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109561
Well, I got off the phone with BlueOx a few minutes ago. I asked about the design of this tow bar and if there was another option for us. BO Tech support told me this tow bar had been redesigned and the one she is replacing it with is the new design. She was surprised that we had this older design given the time frame we got it. In August of 2015, in an effort to get back on the road sooner we visited a dealer who had it in stock. He was willing to take the replacement from BO to help us get going. Apparently, they have had some issues with the design It was only introduced two years ago. Since then they have redesigned it. I asked why those of us with the older design weren't notified...no answer. Boy oh boy!

Tammy

Affinity 6611

Re: Towbar failure...again

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109562
My Roadmaster Sterling has been working as expected since we bought it new in 2003. 87K miles and all kinds of weather towing a Wrangler, Wrangler Unlimited, and now a Chevy Equinox.

Jeff Thurston

'04 Intrigue 42 Ovation
11630

Re: Towbar failure...again

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109563
I agree with Jim Lewis. If it was that serious an engineering flaw, Blue Ox would have had to deal with many other cases of those bars breaking and most likely horrible accidents as toads flew off the back. Having said that, from looking at the picture of your type of bar it looks inferior to the old Adventa II which had the big ball. Now I wore one of the Adventa balls out, but I was towing an almost 9,000 pound vehicle for eight years, but the bar did not fail, and all welds are fine. Many other wear parts had to be replaced.  In fact with a new ball, I'm still using it  now towing a lighter vehicle.  In my opinion  the Adventa, while rated at 10,000 pounds,  is really not up to  towing a 9000 pound vehicle a lot. Most people don't tow vehicles that heavy, and I don't know how the Roadmaster 10000 pound bar would hold up to long term use with a 9000 pound vehicle.. Are you towing a vehicle anywhere near that heavy?

Rich 2002 Magna

HWH Leveling lights

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109564
With the ignition on and engine running the red HWH Leveling light on the dash remains on when coach is in gear and brake released. The HWH reset button to the left of driver remains on, and travel mode light does not come on.

Pressing reset button, emergency stop, or air buttons get no change in the condition. The coach is level. The coach had to be driven to a different parking spot. All is normal in driving it. The condition remains the same after the 2 mile drive.

Suggestions welcomed! Thank you.

Michael, 2006 Inspire 360 #51748

Re: HWH Leveling lights

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109567
Michael:

Do your slide rooms still work when you are parked & the park brake is set?

Kevin Waite
541-953-6162

Re: Towbar failure...again

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109571
You didn't mention that. Exactly where did these welds break on the tow bar? What broke?

Rich 2002 Magna

Re: Towbar failure...again

Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109573
Mine is about 3 to 4 years old, now wondering if I need a replacement! I leave Monday.

Mark and Denise

Re: HWH Leveling lights

Reply #19 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109576
WOW! Tested the slides, they work. Came back and looked at the dash and the HWH lights and all are normal.

THANK YOU KEVIN!

Am I correct in assuming there is an interlock of some kind between the HWH system and the slides and how does it work?

Michael
51748

Re: Towbar failure...again

Reply #20 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109580
I have an older Blue Ox which came with coach. I am a little concerned since I will be pulling a new Ford F150. If the issue is the design or welding, shouldn't there be some kind of recall???

Richard

2001 Affinity #5972

Re: Towbar failure...again

Reply #21 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109587
Now I'm worried! I've been using a Roadmaster Sterling tow bar for close to 15 years. Probably 50,000 miles. I keep it clean, lubricated (silicon), and covered with the sleeve when not actually towing. I visually inspect it daily and, so far, have seen nothing to alarm me. I tow an '02 CR-V which weighs about 3,500 lbs.

Is my worry valid? Is there a "life" to tow bars? Should they be replaced? When?

Thanks,
Dave Glen

'06 Magna 6591

Re: Towbar failure...again

Reply #22 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109588
I try to visit a FMCA International rally every two or three years. Road master is always there to inspect and lubricate the tow bars. My Current Sterling Bar has been updated twice at N/C. Its 11 years old. They use to perform the same service at Home coming CC rallies. One year at a Friends Rally in Harrisburg, the hitches were serviced too. TWI 2004 Intrigue 11731

Re: Towbar failure...again

Reply #24 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109590

Blue Ox make several different tow bars. The most common ones seem to have the "knuckle". The newest one is the one we have and it does not have the knuckle. I added a folder with photos the other day. I attached two so you can see where it broke. These pieces should be intact. If you search the internet for the Avail tow bar you will see the bar that fits into the receiver in your hitch has a piece of steel welded on either side of that bar. That is where ours broke. I should have more info later this week when I get the new tow bar.

Tammy

Affinity 6611