[Suzanne]

DKO, I would suggest a tow bar other than Blue Ox. Their removable tab system lends a lot to be desired. We’ve used Blue Ox since 2000. Back then most baseplates had fixed tabs. Currently, we use the new “Avail” over the Aventa 2. It has a longer reach. It has one redeeming factor, soft release levers which makes disconnecting easier. But the whole “removable tabs idea” stinks

we tow occasionally a 2011 GMC Denali Duramax 4 dr 4X4. Sure it’s heavy at 7700 lbs but within our towbar rating. But my gripe is with the removable tab system.

The “slop” these attachment points create is astounding. First measurable movement is at the hitch receiver

Add the slop you have in our receivers, combined with slop or looseness at the claw attachment point, added with removable tab slop, telegraph that our 42 inches out or towbar extension, and our truck’ s side to side wandering motion is astounding. (3-4 inches) depending on road Crown and ruts, our truck slams from side to side creating a noticeable shutter feeling in a 50,000 lbs bus. .Wow,, Watching in the back up camera we see the truck wandering. Passing other RVs towing a car, if the toad is wandering side to side like there’s a drunk behind the steering wheel it’s a guarantee the towbar in use is Blue Ox. I’ve gone around and around with these folks about returning to fixed tabs, to help eliminate tab wiggle, to no use

On our 2004 Discovery II we use Roadmaster adaptor to our Avail towbar, which has less slop. Once we wear out this Avail, we will switch completely. . That is our opinion. Another gripe is we wish to tow our 2001 Mercedes SLK 230 coupe. It’s the same platform as 2004-07 Chrysler Crossfire. Blue Ox has a baseplate for the Crossfire. Blue Ox won’t allow dealer to install or sell baseplate for this application when it’s the same car. Nor will they warrantee it.

[DON]

We bought the Roadmaster Nighthawk when we got the pickup. This is the third Roadmaster Sterling towbar we have owned. I wanted the increased tow capacity and the removable tow hooks. The truck tracks perfectly with no wander.

[Todd]

Thank you, Jim, for lots of good information. My baseplate is Blue Ox and does have the removable tab inserts. Maybe it is because our toad is small and light, but I have no noticeable movement when pulling. It tracks great and we never feel the 2400 lbs back there.

I am keeping the same toad for now and I am not going to go through the trouble to change the baseplate. Any tow bar I buy with have to be adapted which does not seem to be a problem.

Thank you, Per, for the recommendation of the Nighthawk. I will check it out.

Davy

[Larry]

Switched from Blue Ox to a Roadmaster this year. A hugh improvement. much easier to hookup and unhook. Highly recommend it.

[glen]

You can get a Roadmaster with Blue Ox ends. This makes it easy…

I use the Roadmaster All Terrain 10,000 lb tow bar and have had others in the past. I like this one bestest, lol

[Ronald]

My Roadmaster Blackhawk is 15 years old. Used it with 4 coaches and 4 different toads. Only some cosmetic and lubrication maintenance. Still works like new.

[Andy]

We bought our Blue Ox tow bar and baseplate in 2014. We tried to get it maintenanced at the Big Florida RV show this past winter, but they were booked. Returning to Wisconsin on I-80 I planned on stopping at Linden, Nebraska for the maintenance.

Called Linden. They said just stop at our facility in Lincoln. So I called them, made an appointment.

Tech came out and looked at the tow bar. Over 45,000 miles of towing the tow bar had been beaten up pretty hard and had some surface rust. The tech said he wouldn’t rebuild it because of the rust on the bar, especially the welds which he said had been weakened and could lead to failure of the bar (what he saw in my opinion was surface rust) and the bar should be replaced. My wife was standing there and that of course was all she had to hear! She said something like, “its a good think we came here before we had a catastrophe!”.

The tech offered to let me “trade-in” our existing tow bar on a new one. (What would they do with it?) and give me a discount on the list price. I had recently bought some parts from a Blue Ox retailer in Minnesota so I told the tech “Let me think about it a few minutes.” He said fine, I’ll be in the office.

Of course my wife couldn’t understand why “you just didn’t buy it! He’s giving us a discount and a trade-in! I don’t want to use that lousy rusted tow bar. It isn’t safe.” I said, “Let me call this Blue Ox retailer and see what his price is. I haven’t said NO yet.” I knew at this point, I was probably buying a new tow bar come hell, high water, or marital disharmony … you know the drill.

I called the Minnesota guy, explained the situation. He gave me his price plus shipping to Wisconsin (probably could have had it dropped shipping to the Hilger Farm in Iowa where we were going to spend a few days and Cathie could have followed me with the toad so we weren’t using the tow bar so we didn’t have a “catastrophe” on the road). The retailer price was more than Blue Ox-Lincoln price due to the trade in and shipping.

While I was on the phone, Cathie had followed the tech into the office. I don’t know what was said in the office, but she came out and said that he lowered the price because being the factory warehouse they had “factory seconds” that he could sell us for even a lower price. Hmmmmm … she was OK with a “factory second” but not with a little surface rust. So that’s what we bought.

Have any of you ever bought a leather jacket in Tijuana? I haven’t, but I suspect the experience is very similar to what we had at Blue Ox.

So we bought a “factory second”, apparently it probably has some issues with the the powder coating/paint, etc. I followed the tech to back of the building, he worked up the invoice and I paid it, then he pulled the “factory second” from a pallet, opened the box, took it out, and explained some of the upgrades in the tow bar since I bought ours (which are somewhat material). Just before we went back to the coach to install it I mentioned I had just bought a new cover for our old tow bar. The tech walked over to a bin, pulled out a new cover in the packaging (“factory second”?), and tossed it to me. I thanked him.

I like the new Blue-Ox tow bar. Easier to hook up. The HHR pulls nice and straight.

I could go into a long discussion about my perceived no-impact of surface rust on the integrity of well penetrated welds done in an industrial setting … but that is a moot issue.

[Archived]

So, what is your point, Dick? You like Blue Ox cause it was cheap or it’s a good tow bar?

[Andy]

This may help…

[Dan]

And, how long does it take to connect?

[Davy]

Larry: I’m happy with the Blue Ox tow bars, both the original Blue Ox and the apparently new, updated, improved model (especially the nice dark brown color).

What puzzles me is the experience I had at Blue Ox in Lincoln. I felt like I was at the state fair and someone was trying to sell me hot tub or special orthotic inserts for my shoes.

But I don’t think that is a reflection on the quality of the Blue Ox products. I see Blue Ox tow bars on the hitches lots of Prevost coaches, many much, much newer than ours.

[Chuck & Katrina]

I do like the LEDs on the Nighthawk, but Wow, the Nighthawk’s must be gold lined.

Still taking in information and deciding. Thank you.

Davy

---

2000 Featherlite H3-45

2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Leesburg, FL

[Archived]

Davy, I have the Roadmaster Sterling 10,000 pound unit and I love it. Quick connect and disconnect, can be easily unhooked when in a turn or other time when the Blue Ox gets in a bind. You press down on the levers instead of pulling up. You can also get the Blue Ox ends for the Sterling making it an easy exchange. Good luck, as you know we all are glad to help you spend your money.

[Harry]

I’m looking at the Roadmaster 576 Sterling All Terrain aluminum 8000 lb non binding with cross bar safety cables Amazon $9590

[Archived]

You might want to look at this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Roadmaster-422-BlackHawk-All-Terrain-Tow/dp/B003YJLU7G