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02-13-2017, 05:57 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Montgomery, TX (Home Sweet Home)
Posts: 2,501
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Check your towbar lately?
Good morning,
A few days ago, I needed to return the coach to storage solo, so I began hooking up my pickup to the Blue Ox Aventa LX tow bar.
I noticed a significant amount of up and down movement, in spite of the use of a tow bar clamp.
I haven't had time to remove the towbar from the receiver to determine which has loosened up, but something certainly has.
I post this as a PSA to others to take the time to perform a check of your towbar.
On paper, we are due for a new towbar but we shall see. We got the towbar used in late 2011 with an unknown life prior to that. In 2014, we went to the Blue Ox factory for a complete rebuild.
I can only hope our receiver isn't damaged.
-Matt
__________________
Currently Motorhomeless
2017 Entegra Aspire 44R (bunks) towing 2019 F-350 LB (Sold)
2012 Tiffin Phaeton 40QKH (Our Phaeton was so nice, we bought it twice)
2016 Open Range RF376FBH (Sold)
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02-13-2017, 06:05 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 635
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Please post your findings.
__________________
Larry and Stacey
2016 Entegra Anthem 42 RBQ
2016 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
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02-13-2017, 06:35 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Entegra Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SW FL
Posts: 31,717
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Matt, EXCELLENT post and reminder. Here is my personal experience with a 10 year old tow bar that died of metal fatigue. Happened on the way to Entegra to take the factory tour in 2013. Not saying the Ohio Turnpike is rough or anything. I have moved on to a lifetime warranty tow bar that I lube and service annually. Like tires, I will no longer let a tow bar age out. Once was enough.
Matt's post is right on, again, just my personal experience.
__________________
Chuck in SW FL
Digital 2021 Cornerstone "B"
A "Digital" 2019 Cornerstone "B" Traded
A "Classic" 2014 Anthem 42 RBQ---Sold
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02-13-2017, 07:31 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,130
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt D
Good morning,
A few days ago, I needed to return the coach to storage solo, so I began hooking up my pickup to the Blue Ox Aventa LX tow bar.
I noticed a significant amount of up and down movement, in spite of the use of a tow bar clamp.
I haven't had time to remove the towbar from the receiver to determine which has loosened up, but something certainly has.
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Matt,
If you find the issue is the shank of the towbar that goes into the coach receiver, replacement shanks are available (as are rebuild kits for the arms). The Blue Ox rebuild is generally just the plastic washers, not the full shank.
We bought our parts from etrailer. Of course since you mention not knowing the exact age of your towbar, a new one could give you better peace of mind. IIRC Blue Ox has a trade-in program.
Michelle
__________________
2017 LTV Unity U24CB
2003 Foretravel U320
1999 Lazy Daze 30IB
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02-13-2017, 07:37 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Montgomery, TX (Home Sweet Home)
Posts: 2,501
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Chuck, I know you mentioned it elsewhere, but I'd like to know what bar you're using now?
Michelle, thanks for that tip. This tow bar is pretty old and frankly I'm inclined to simply replace the assembly, but I will let you all know.
I'm trying to line up replacement parts while I'm out of town. Can anyone with a late model Aspire give me the manufacturer and P/N of the receiver?
Thanks in advance,
-Matt
__________________
Currently Motorhomeless
2017 Entegra Aspire 44R (bunks) towing 2019 F-350 LB (Sold)
2012 Tiffin Phaeton 40QKH (Our Phaeton was so nice, we bought it twice)
2016 Open Range RF376FBH (Sold)
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02-13-2017, 07:42 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Winnebago Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 5,292
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brobox
Matt, EXCELLENT post and reminder. Here is my personal experience with a 10 year old tow bar that died of metal fatigue. Happened on the way to Entegra to take the factory tour in 2013. Not saying the Ohio Turnpike is rough or anything. I have moved on to a lifetime warranty tow bar that I lube and service annually. Like tires, I will no longer let a tow bar age out. Once was enough.
Matt's post is right on, again, just my personal experience.
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Hello Chuck,
I remember your tow bar failure thread, I too have an aging Blue Ox. I don't recall the make/model of the new one you just mentioned. Could you refresh my memory on that? I like the sound of a lifetime warranty and a unit I can service myself, does it have zirks to grease etc?
Thanks, and thanks OP for this thread.
Regards,
W.D.
__________________
BILL {aka-"Admiral"-"Deuce"-"W.D."}
2014 Itasca Ellipse 42QD, Freightliner Maxum, 450HP Cummins ISL, 3000 Allison, Roadmaster Nighthawk II, 2011 Lincoln MKX.
2012 Newmar Canyon Star (first coach) FMCA F428511.
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02-13-2017, 08:02 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Entegra Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SW FL
Posts: 31,717
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The tow bar that broke was a Blue Ox Aladdin. I upgraded to a Ready Brute Elite tow bar that has lifetime warranty. The CS of Ready Brute has been fantastic compared to the experiences I have had with Blue Ox. I also had one of their brake systems that was a complete flop and was pulled off the market without any customer satisfaction, $1,200 in the trash.
Yes the Ready Brute does have Zerks and I spray silicone all of the moving joints before each long trip inspecting the tow bar as I go along.
Matt, I did have the pin hole in my drop down receiver woller out causing the type of play you are experiencing. Changed toads got rid of the drop down. If your receiver is bad, it should still be under warranty, hopefully it is a worn out tow bar that is easily replaced and probably due.
__________________
Chuck in SW FL
Digital 2021 Cornerstone "B"
A "Digital" 2019 Cornerstone "B" Traded
A "Classic" 2014 Anthem 42 RBQ---Sold
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02-13-2017, 08:59 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Entegra Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 790
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While at Quartzsite this year we traded our Aladdin (purchased in 2011) for a 10,000 Hitch. Blue Ox gave us $250 for the Aladdin. The rep stated they were trying to get the Aladdin Tow Bars, which are aluminum, off the road.
__________________
Senior Member
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02-13-2017, 09:11 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Entegra Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SW FL
Posts: 31,717
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Grower15
While at Quartzsite this year we traded our Aladdin (purchased in 2011) for a 10,000 Hitch. Blue Ox gave us $250 for the Aladdin. The rep stated they were trying to get the Aladdin Tow Bars, which are aluminum, off the road.
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They should, they are an accident waiting to happen. You did much better than I did, they gave me the number of the nearest dealer 65 miles away where I could replace the tow bar at full retail.
__________________
Chuck in SW FL
Digital 2021 Cornerstone "B"
A "Digital" 2019 Cornerstone "B" Traded
A "Classic" 2014 Anthem 42 RBQ---Sold
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02-13-2017, 09:57 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Hilton Head Island, SC
Posts: 1,347
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2" BlueOx BX7445
Hi Matt,
This should be the part number for the entire tow bar assembly.
The part number for what they call the hitch connector is "84-0097".
http://blueox.com/wp-content/uploads...1/BX7445-1.pdf
Hope this helps.
Jeanne
__________________
Jeanne & Rosko
2017 Cornerstone 45B
2014 Anthem 44B Classic (traded)
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02-13-2017, 10:05 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: The Bluegrass State
Posts: 8,889
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Grower15
While at Quartzsite this year we traded our Aladdin (purchased in 2011) for a 10,000 Hitch. Blue Ox gave us $250 for the Aladdin. The rep stated they were trying to get the Aladdin Tow Bars, which are aluminum, off the road.
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They are still making them and still selling them.
Tow Bars | Blue Ox
__________________
Good Luck, Be Safe and Above All, Don't Forget To Have Fun
Pete
Central Kentucky
2006 Fleetwood Discovery 35H, 2014 Honda CR-V, M&G Engineering Braking System
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02-13-2017, 10:18 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigd9
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It's also possible they have redesigned the bar and are just trying to get the older ones replaced.
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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02-13-2017, 01:26 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,130
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Magic-carpet
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Jeanne,
There are 3 different shank lengths available as well, in case anyone needs to order a slightly longer one than what comes standard on the tow bar, "BX84-0098" is the part
Blue Ox Aventa Shank | etrailer.com
Michelle
__________________
2017 LTV Unity U24CB
2003 Foretravel U320
1999 Lazy Daze 30IB
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02-13-2017, 01:35 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sonoma County, CA
Posts: 6,401
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When I arrived at Indio last month, I found my Blue Ox Aventa to be very sloppy. It looked like something was missing from the ball that the arms rotate on. I had the tow bar inspected and serviced at the FMCA Rally where they found the ball was in fact "coming apart". Blue Ox replaced the shank and ball assembly under warranty. The new ball is made of a different material.
I have had the tow bar serviced every January since purchase 4 years ago.
__________________
Wayne & Roberta
08 Winnebago Destination 39W Gas UFO Workhorse Chassis......It's really weird being the same age as old people. I thought getting old would take much longer.
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