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10-19-2016, 08:03 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Urbanna, VA
Posts: 1,154
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Blue Ox tow bar maintenance
After a 13k mile trek to AK and back, our newly purchased Blue Ox Avail tow bar was looking and operating a little rough. I checked out their website to see what sort of maintenance I could do.
On the site I found that their recommendation was to have the tow bar serviced every two years or 10,000 miles. I e-mailed them to inquire about the service availability, cost, and turnaround. They informed me that the service could only be performed at the factory, the cost was $95.00 plus their shipping ($20.00, and of course I have to pay to get it there too), plus the cost of any parts that they find damaged, and the turn around was about 3 weeks.
So the bar is a bit rough to deploy, the main swivel bushing is partially missing, the paint is wrecked, and it is starting to rust. I am not sure if I want to put another $140.00 into my new $700.00 tow bar, after just one hard trip.
I was under the impression that blue ox was one of the best. Are there better, more resilient tow bars available, or are my expectations too high for this type of equipment?
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10-19-2016, 08:17 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Powell River, B.C.
Posts: 31,266
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Gravel rash will do strange things to any equipment.
There are; Blue Ox ; factory reps at the Quartzsite RV show every year , and they run a service special , will you be in that area ?
__________________
99DSDP 3884, Freightliner, XC, CAT 3126B, 300 HP /ALLISON 3060
2000 Caravan toad, Remco & Blue Ox.
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10-19-2016, 08:20 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Solo Rvers Club
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,831
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Quote:
Originally Posted by petrel
After a 13k mile trek to AK and back, our newly purchased Blue Ox Avail tow bar was looking and operating a little rough. I checked out their website to see what sort of maintenance I could do.
On the site I found that their recommendation was to have the tow bar serviced every two years or 10,000 miles. I e-mailed them to inquire about the service availability, cost, and turnaround. They informed me that the service could only be performed at the factory, the cost was $95.00 plus their shipping ($20.00, and of course I have to pay to get it there too), plus the cost of any parts that they find damaged, and the turn around was about 3 weeks.
So the bar is a bit rough to deploy, the main swivel bushing is partially missing, the paint is wrecked, and it is starting to rust. I am not sure if I want to put another $140.00 into my new $700.00 tow bar, after just one hard trip.
I was under the impression that blue ox was one of the best. Are there better, more resilient tow bars available, or are my expectations too high for this type of equipment?
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Blue Ox is present at many large RV rallies sponsored by FMCA, etc. and chances are they will service your Avail right at your rig , perhaps for zero cost. Whenever I have had an issue with my Blue Ox hardware, they have taken care of me for free at rallies.
Any towbar should have regular maintenance every few months, cleaning and lubricating the moving points. Mine has had regular maintenance and still works like new at two years. If yours has been un-maintained and has deteriorated to the point a major rebuild of some joints is needed then $ 95 to make a $ 700 tow bar like new may be a great deal.
__________________
Randy - Manhattan, Kansas
2015 Vista 27N
2020 Ford Escape Hybrid
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10-19-2016, 08:29 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SoCal
Posts: 15,749
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I have had two BO tow bars. About once a year I remove the boots, clean and lube the joints and arms. This keeps it working smoothly and easily. When at a rally where BO is providing service I have them inspect and repair as needed.
__________________
Vince and Susan
2011 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH (Cummins ISC/Freightliner)
Flat towing a modified 2005 Jeep (Rubicon Wrangler)
Previously a 2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37A and a 1995 Safari Trek 2830.
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10-19-2016, 08:34 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Port Orchard, WA
Posts: 4,215
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Quote:
Originally Posted by petrel
After a 13k mile trek to AK and back, our newly purchased Blue Ox Avail tow bar was looking and operating a little rough. I checked out their website to see what sort of maintenance I could do.
On the site I found that their recommendation was to have the tow bar serviced every two years or 10,000 miles. I e-mailed them to inquire about the service availability, cost, and turnaround. They informed me that the service could only be performed at the factory, the cost was $95.00 plus their shipping ($20.00, and of course I have to pay to get it there too), plus the cost of any parts that they find damaged, and the turn around was about 3 weeks.
So the bar is a bit rough to deploy, the main swivel bushing is partially missing, the paint is wrecked, and it is starting to rust. I am not sure if I want to put another $140.00 into my new $700.00 tow bar, after just one hard trip.
I was under the impression that blue ox was one of the best. Are there better, more resilient tow bars available, or are my expectations too high for this type of equipment?
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Try Roadmaster or Demco. I've heard really good things about Roadmaster, but we have a Demco tow bar. Life time guaranty, and you can send it to them anytime (you pay shipping there), they go through it, replace basic seals, etc for FREE and mail it back on THEIR dime. Ours took about 6 days round trip. Other option is if you are in the neighborhood, make an appointment, they will go through it while you watch and then send you on your way, no charge. Obviously if they find major damage, or have to replace wiring, or safety cables, they will charge you for those, but $95 PLUS shipping every time you send it in and a THREE WEEK turnaround?!? FORGET THAT! Just my thoughts . . . .but I'd be looking into another brand of tow bar!
__________________
Scot & Laura Kellersberger, U.S. Army (ret)
Newmar 4 wheel drive Dutch Star 3891, SOLD
Now RV'ing on the water in a Trawler!
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10-20-2016, 05:54 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: White Rock, BC
Posts: 782
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Blue Ox charges $30 to service your towbar at any of the rallies they attend. At most, they service it right on your rig but at some, like Quartzsite, you have to take it into the shop they have set up onsite.
BTW... there servicing does not include repainting.
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Retired and livin' the RV dream!
2005 Newmar 43 ft. MADP, Cummins ISL 400HP, 2018 Jeep Wrangler JLU Sahara
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10-20-2016, 10:06 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Somewhere On the Road
Posts: 1,210
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I just stopped at the Blue Ox factory in Pender, NE. They serviced our Avail tow bar for $30. Included some new washers, tightened up the swivel, cleaned and lubed everything, and replaced one of the retaining pins ... works like new.
Wonder if shipping is a large part of the quoted charge given a weight of ~ 35 lbs...
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Steve
2015 Itasca Ellipse QD | 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
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10-20-2016, 10:56 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Florida Keys
Posts: 2,687
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I was also at the Blue Ox factory back in July. They spruced up my very used tow bar (50,000+ miles). Well worth the detour if you're driving on Rt. 80.
__________________
Tom and Katharine
'07 Winnebago Tour 40TD, 400hp Cummins
'17 Winnebago View 24V, '02 R-Vision B+
RVing for 20 years & 200,000+ miles
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10-20-2016, 11:21 AM
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#9
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Registered User
Winnebago Owners Club Vintage RV Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Cherry Creek, BC Canada
Posts: 7,648
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I have a Blue Ox unit that is no longer serviced by Blue Ox. Took it apart and cleaned everything and lubricated all the parts. It worked perfectly again but one of the rubber seals (boots) is not quite all there so when I take it apart next I will see if Blue Ox has some somewhere in 'old stock' that they can sell me. If not I will chuck the unit and just use the heavier duty Roadmaster that used to be hooked to my Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Blue OX unit came attached to George when I bought him.
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10-20-2016, 12:16 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: AB
Posts: 7,587
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Possum
I have a Blue Ox unit that is no longer serviced by Blue Ox. Took it apart and cleaned everything and lubricated all the parts. It worked perfectly again but one of the rubber seals (boots) is not quite all there so when I take it apart next I will see if Blue Ox has some somewhere in 'old stock' that they can sell me. If not I will chuck the unit and just use the heavier duty Roadmaster that used to be hooked to my Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Blue OX unit came attached to George when I bought him.
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Give Jason a call at All Hitches by Dr. Hook in Penticton. He has them in stock for about $20.
All Hitches By Dr Hook - Opening Hours - 102-2595 Skaha Lake Rd, Penticton, BC
__________________
2019 Unity LTV CB, pushed by a 2013 Honda CRV, BlueOx Baseplate, Aventa Bar & Patriot Brake
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10-20-2016, 06:04 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Urbanna, VA
Posts: 1,154
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After reading up on the other options, it appears that all tow bars require some sort of periodic factory inspection and maintenance. My expectation was too high.
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10-20-2016, 06:23 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Snowbird - Waterford Mi and Citrus Springs Fl.
Posts: 3,609
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I would just add that if you are doing your own maintenance, consider the fact that an oil covered bolt is going to attract and hold road grime (think sand here) much better than a dry bolt. This can accelerate wear big time.
For this reason, when doing maintenance on ours (also a high mileage unit) I pull it down and clean all the bolts with an oily rag, which leaves a very thin layer of of oil. It gets nothing else until the next time it's serviced - every 6-7k miles, or once a year. That's me though, FWIW.
__________________
1997 37' HR Endeavor, 275hp Cat, Freightliner
03 CR-V Blue Ox, Ready Brake
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10-20-2016, 09:12 PM
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#13
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Registered User
Winnebago Owners Club Vintage RV Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Cherry Creek, BC Canada
Posts: 7,648
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dennis45
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Thanks Dennis
I called them for info (Blue Ox) and was told by them my unit was too old for them to service. I will check the serial/model number and call your the service centre in Penticton.
Dennis
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10-20-2016, 10:37 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: AB
Posts: 7,587
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Possum
Thanks Dennis
I called them for info (Blue Ox) and was told by them my unit was too old for them to service. I will check the serial/model number and call your the service centre in Penticton.
Dennis
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I can relate, I've been told I'm too old for service also...
__________________
2019 Unity LTV CB, pushed by a 2013 Honda CRV, BlueOx Baseplate, Aventa Bar & Patriot Brake
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