Just bought my TOAD

[Don and Reyne]

Just purchase a 2010 Chevy Equinox for a tow vehicle. Now the question is which tow bar? Demco, Blue Ox RoadMaster. Any suggestions as to which is the best? Thanks for any help.

Don

[hardy1000]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don and Reyne Just purchase a 2010 Chevy Equinox for a tow vehicle. Now the question is which tow bar? Demco, Blue Ox RoadMaster. Any suggestions as to which is the best? Thanks for any help. Don

Blue OX Aventa...second one no problems Sold my first one with my old MH.

[az bound]

The only one I have experiance with is the Demco Aluminator. #6500 tow capacity and only weighs in at #25 so DW can handle it by herself if need be.

[Not a Clue]

I don't think you can go wrong with any of the big three you have mentioned. I choose Demco because it was $100.00 cheaper at the time. The hitch place carried both Demco and Blue Ox and when I ask the difference the guy said $100.00

[Luv2go]

Like Not a Clue said, you can't go wrong with those brands. We chose the Blue Ox Aventa LX because it was $529 (with free shipping) RV Tow Bar Blue Ox Aventa LX w/safety cables FREE SHIP : eBay Motors (item 380197719847 end time Feb-14-10 06:01:01 PST) These people are a dealer located in TN.

Of course you may get a better package deal when you shop around for baseplates, electrical and brakes, we already had them.

Stewart

[Don and Reyne]

Thanks for all of the responses. Blue Ox is out since they do not make a base plate for the 3.0L V6 engine configuration of the TOAD.

[Chuck 1935]

Go online and look up the installation instructions. The different manufacturers have different methods and some can be quite complicated to install.

[D in Davie]

Hi Don and Renye
Congrats on the new Equinox. It is getting rave reviews but I sure would like your opinion after a few miles. How much does it weigh and what are you towing it with? I want to buy American and this new vehicle looks good.

Denis

[Don and Reyne]

Base curb weight of our vehicle is approximately 3800lbs with the V6 engine. I believe it is lighter with the standard four cylinder. So far we have driven it about 100 miles so the jury is still out on the car. We will be pulling the Toad with our 2009 HR Arista (see our Logo), with the Ford Chassis and Triton V10 engine. We will keep the forum posted as to our experience with the Equinox. Hope this helps.

Don

[fatguy57]

I started with the base plates and decided based on cost and ease of installation. I went with Blue OX. I was able to install the base plate myself. Honda CRV is very RV-tow-install-accessories friendly. Shopped on line for the best prices for the rest of the components including Ebay where I got my Blue OX Aventa LX. I believe they are all good.

[Dr4Film]

I actually own two different Blue Ox tow bars. I bought the Aventa LX from a private owner who had never used it so it was brand new. He had it listed on eBay sometime ago. It came with 10,000 lb. safety cables, 3 keyed-alike shaft locks for the hitch and receiver, and a vinyl cover. I paid $600 including shipping charges. I was upgrading from an older 5,000 lb. Blue Ox Aventa BX7330 that I had sold for $250 with cables and cover. Then recently, I purchased a Blue Ox Alanddin 5000 lb. barely used tow bar, cover, shaft locks, and 5000 lb. safety cables for $100. They had sold their RV and were moving to another state so they just wanted to get rid of it. I couldn't pass up the deal. The Alanddin is still so new that when I used it last week, it was still very stiff. They said that they had only used it once.

You can still use a Blue Ox tow bar even though you have a different manufacturer's base plate. Depending on what base plate you end up with, you can buy the adapter to bolt onto the end of the shaft that fits your base plate exactly. That's what the people did who purchased my old Aventa tow bar. They had a PT Cruiser with a Demco base plate if I remember correctly. I believe the adapter was around $50.

I am a firm believer of using Blue Ox. They hook up in seconds and unhook in seconds. What takes a few minutes longer are the safety cables and the electrical cord which you will have with any tow bar system. Then lastly checking the lights to make sure all are working correctly. But the tow bar itself takes less than 30 seconds.

And the customer service is extraordinary. I have heard that at rally's they attend, they will perform service for free. I can't verify it but I've read that on other RV forums.

No, I am NOT a Blue Ox sales representative, although I sure wish I was 'cause I would make a ton of money selling their products.

Dr4Film ----- Richard.