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Blue Ox Aventa II-De-rating
Friends wintering at River Bend in Labelle Fl fired off an email yesterday. Evidently Blue Ox was there during an RV show to do tow bar tune ups. Our friends, like us own several of tow bars. You might wonder why multiple tow bars. It’s having a spare, when primary towbar has issue.
While Blue Ox has an excellent reputation for sending rescue parts, not everywhere is convenient. So we carry a spare
We have used and carried a pair of B.O. Aventa II tow bars which when we bought them were rated to tow up to 10,000 lbs (dating back to 1999)
Upon having a “tune-up” completed on their Aventa II, which is 11 years old, the Blue Ox tech informed our friends the Aventa II has been “DERATED” to 6,500 lbs. They asked Blue Ox where the 3,500 lbs went, and really didn’t get satisfactory answer other than “it went away”. Really????Granted our Aventa LX they still make as well as the Avail tow bars are rated up to 10,000 lbs, I would have expected an announcement of some sort from Blue Ox, that the original tow capacity of the Aventa II has been DOWN-GRADED We are on their records owning these towbars
Who on this forum has been happily , unknowingly towing heavy vehicles with the Aventa II. (Blue Ox no longer has the Aventa II listed on their website , it’s possible the replacement is the “Alpha” rated at 6,500
I haven’t called Blue Ox yet, but figure a “hands-on Blue Ox technician offering tune up services at a “show” would have the up to date manufacturing informationYikes!!!!!
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3 Replies
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It never occured to me to carry a spare tow bar. Would probably do so going on Alaska trip. Do carry extra pins and clips. When parking in rest areas or Walmarts I put locks on attaching pins.
I can recall a fellow RV ‘er in a campground in Iowa waking up to find his tow bar had walk off during the night. That’s when I went to locks.
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The only issue we ever had was with our first Roadmaster Stowmaster 5000# tow bar. One arm would not lock due to a failed spring. There was no issue of the car separating but when the arm does not lock it allows the arm to go in and out and the car moves around behind the bus accordingly.
I wouldn’t want to carry a spare because of all the extra weight to be dragging around so I have disassembled my tow bars (I have three) and inspect them periodically. They are pretty simple. I have bought the internals from Roadmaster if I see any indication of wear.
I have the original Stowmaster #5000 unit, a #6000 All terrain that uses the bumper hitch, and a #10,000 all terrain that goes in the coach receiver. Depending on which toad we bring dictates which tow bar we use.
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Talk with our friend today and he said the Towbar in question of de rating wasa the Aventa. Talked to Blue Ox and they said the Aventa II remains at 10K cap.
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