Towbars July 25, 2019, 12:12:12 pm We are replacing our old Blue Ox towbar. Both Blue Ox and Roadmaster have the non-binding types. Anyone have suggestions between the two? Want to be able to be able to disconnect with one person is necessary. Our baseplate is Blue Ox on Jeep and understand we could get adaptors from Roadmaster if we chose that brand.
Re: Towbars Reply #1 – July 25, 2019, 02:05:25 pm I like the Roadmaster Sterling aluminum non-binding tow bar and I use the Blue Ox adaptors (available from Roadmaster) to attach to the Blue Ox base plate I installed on my 2017 Jeep Trailhawk Cherokee. I prefer the Blue Ox for the baseplate as there is little showing on the front of the vehicle and the connect brackets (I call them pedestrian skewers :-)) can be removed when not in use. 1 Likes
Re: Towbars Reply #2 – July 25, 2019, 02:18:50 pm I have the Roadmaster Falcon All Terrain tow bar. 2 base pins, 2 quick links, wire harness and breakaway cable can easily be handled by one person. Quite satisfied with it, although it sometimes has trouble releasing. Biggest drawback is the amount of hardware that stays on the tow. Blue Ox base plate leaves less to trip over.However, if you're touring the countryside and have need of cowcatcher, the Roadmaster wins.Joel 1 Likes
Re: Towbars Reply #3 – July 25, 2019, 02:35:05 pm "Biggest drawback is the amount of hardware that stays on the tow."Yes: a massive crossbar and large, complicated brackets on either side. I've had both Roadmaster and Blue Ox towbars (on different vehicles). Blue Ox's setup is much less obtrusive, and easier to connect as well.Before deciding, look at photos of both types and decide whether you want Roadmaster's "cowcatcher" on your toad. (Also check Roadmaster's website--they may have improved their gear since I bought their Sterling All Terrain towbar in 2009.)
Re: Towbars Reply #4 – July 25, 2019, 02:59:12 pm Quote from: Andy Baird - July 25, 2019, 02:35:05 pm Blue Ox's setup is much less obtrusive, and easier to connect as well.That’s our experience too. I can setup or disconnect by myself in just a few minutes. We store all the cables in a heavy canvas bag and the tow bar swings to the side and out of the way. I leave the tow bar vertical while parked or horizontal if driving without a tow. 2 Likes
Re: Towbars Reply #5 – July 25, 2019, 07:54:28 pm we use a roadmaster and the older models us a lot of hardware on the toad. the new models however are quite revised from what I have seen. go to u tub and e trailer and check out the videos on them on both models . e trailer sells both and have excellent videos on both. The adapters if you don't need them are about a hundred bucks so a thought on $$Good luck and safe travel. Grumpy
Re: Towbars Reply #6 – July 26, 2019, 09:28:54 am I believe (at least it used to be an option) you can put a Blue Ox baseplate on the toad and buy a Roadmaster Sterling tow bar with Blue Ox ends on it. Can be the best of both worlds That said, there are some really great other brands out there. Blue Ox and Roadmaster just market better.Take a look at ReadyBrute Elite - a non-binding, aluminum towbar with the tow brake built right in Ready Brute Elite Complete Tow PackageFriends of ours have this and recommend it highly. You can spec different ends on it as well.And don't forget Demco. Their Dominator is very highly rated and customer service is outstanding. I do believe their connection to Blue Ox or Roadmaster requires adapters, though. Dominator | Demco Products They bought SMI 2 years ago so own the Stay n' Play Duo tow brake.The latter two are what we are going to look at when it's time to replace our Blue Ox Aventa LX tow bar (which has already been fully rebuilt twice). 2 Likes
Re: Towbars Reply #7 – July 26, 2019, 11:56:57 am Quote from: Michelle C - July 26, 2019, 09:28:54 amThe latter two are what we are going to look at when it's time to replace our Blue Ox Aventa LX tow bar (which has already been fully rebuilt twice).We recently stopped at Blue Ox in Pender, NE, to have our Aventa LX inspected and maybe rebuilt. They indicated that the ball joint could not properly adjusted and since they no longer manufacture the Aventa LX they could not rebuild it and recommended replacement. We ended up with a Blue Ox Avail towbar which has non-binding lever releases. Not a lot of hookup/unhook experience yet, so too early to form an opinion. One nice thing we learned, anyone who owns Blue Ox tow equipment can stay in their nice full hookup campground up to a week for free (not just service visitors).Art 2 Likes
Re: Towbars Reply #8 – July 26, 2019, 05:40:02 pm Quote from: Older_Fossil - July 26, 2019, 11:56:57 amWe recently stopped at Blue Ox in Pender, NE, to have our Aventa LX inspected and maybe rebuilt. They indicated that the ball joint could not properly adjusted and since they no longer manufacture the Aventa LX they could not rebuild it and recommended replacement.Good to know. We've already had to replace the ball once due to wear. They had clearly redesigned it between the original and our replacement shank. Next time, we'll look at that ReadyBrute and Demco Dominator.
Re: Towbars Reply #9 – July 26, 2019, 07:58:24 pm I also have had the Roadmaster All Terrain for the last 5 years and hook up and unhook by myself all the time. No problems or issues that I've had with it except, in my experience, when you are ready to unhook if the toad is not lined up exactly perpendicular with the LD or not on level ground the two pins often become "frozen," needing a hammer and a wrench to release. A royal pain to work free.Mike Line'08 24' FL towing Subaru Forester '14
Re: Towbars Reply #10 – July 26, 2019, 10:08:33 pm "...the two pins often become "frozen," needing a hammer and a wrench to release. A royal pain to work free."No, no, no! Please put that hammer away.All that is needed is to take the pressure (due to misalignment) off those pins. Just rotate the steering wheel first one way and then the other and keep checking the pins to see where the binding releases. Moving the toad forward or backward just a smidgen will also help. I've never had to use a hammer! And perhaps a bit of lubricate will help as well.
Re: Towbars Reply #11 – July 26, 2019, 11:25:00 pm Quote from: Lazy Bones - July 26, 2019, 10:08:33 pm"...the two pins often become "frozen," needing a hammer and a wrench to release. A royal pain to work free."No, no, no! Please put that hammer away.All that is needed is to take the pressure (due to misalignment) off those pins. Just rotate the steering wheel first one way and then the other and keep checking the pins to see where the binding releases. Moving the toad forward or backward just a smidgen will also help. I've never had to use a hammer! And perhaps a bit of lubricate will help as well. Well, mine does the same thing on occasion. The worst offending spot is on the hill in front of the house. The only time extreme measures were needed is when I got the rig/tow'd stuck in the sand. A bit of WD40 and judicious tapping on the pin with a 6" extension for 3/8" socket set drifted it out. That freed the car - the rig was a bit more complex and pricey.
Re: Towbars Reply #12 – July 27, 2019, 08:34:25 am "Biggest drawback is the amount of hardware that stays on the tow."Here is the hardware that stays on our Jeep. Just the "baseplate that the Roadmaster bar hooks to.Of course, you do have to replace the Jeep bumper with a Rockhard one, but for offroad use the OEM bumper is going to have to be replaced at some point anyway.PS If anyone needs a Roadmaster baseplate for a JK Jeep I have one.
Re: Towbars Reply #13 – July 27, 2019, 06:53:37 pm Lazy Bones,thanks for the tip. I will definitely try it next time they are stuck.
Re: Towbars Reply #14 – July 27, 2019, 07:21:15 pm "Biggest drawback is the amount of hardware that stays on the tow."Here's the hardware on the Honda. As I don't need it for daily driving, it stays set up. Don, yours looks like what my next tow'd will look like. 1 Likes
Re: Towbars Reply #15 – July 27, 2019, 08:35:41 pm Joel,That’s my set up too and I love all the looks and questions that come with it. I usually start out saying “I’m a big game hunter and that where I carry my catch” 😂 😳🤯 2 Likes
Re: Towbars Reply #16 – July 28, 2019, 10:27:32 am Don, yours looks like what my next tow'd will look like. Joel, we are snobs, we think a Jeep is the ONLY proper toad. It's the only vehicle that can be towed four down with no restrictions, simply because the transfer case disconnects both axels. Ours is set up for rock crawling which took the place of hiking for us.See our Jeep 1 Likes
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