Community Forums

krivanj · 07-19-2014, 06:43 AM

Everyone here hopefully knows that if you take your Blue Ox to any show where the company has an appearance, which is most RV shows, for $25 they will inspect it and re lube and tighten everything while you are at the show.....

PushedAround · 07-19-2014, 06:59 AM

Interesting. Maybe it is the rotational movement on your main pins that has something to do with it. My Roadmaster towbar has the large main pins and retention pins with the circular rings, but the connections from the tow bar adapter to the permanent base plate are through large pins with spring clips. They never seem to move though.

Easyrider · 07-19-2014, 07:05 AM

An added benefit of locking pins is you don't have to worry about someone messing around with them when you're parked and taking a break somewhere out of sight of your mh and toad. I was more concerned about that than I was a pin coming out on it's own while traveling.

huntnski · 07-19-2014, 07:40 AM

I have considered a locking pin that attaches bar to my Tahoe but didn't want to add to the hitch and unhitched time so here is what I did.

Purchased at tractor supply thin cable with crimp holders and attached to the bail on the clivis pen. On other end of cable a snap connector. Once pin in place and clivis pen inserted and locked ( bail flipped down ) I then run cable around arm and attach snap connector to the bail on clivis pin.

I don't have a pic but using this pic from above you can get the idea of what I'm saying.

PushedAround · 07-19-2014, 07:43 AM

That's the way Roadmaster does it on their main pins.

huntnski · 07-19-2014, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PushedAround

That's the way Roadmaster does it on their main pins.

They must have stole my idea!

Lol

Dr4Film · 07-19-2014, 08:22 AM

For those people who are using the quick release pins for both the receiver where the tow bar is attached to the hitch and also for the tow-bar where the toad is attached, you are just asking for problems.

Those are not failures but simply wrong choices. I have used three different Blue-Ox tow bars with no failures whatsoever towing thousands of miles. I now have the Blue-Ox Aventa II 10,000 lb tow bar with ALL locking pins.

By using the locking pins and making sure they are LOCKED securely there is no chance of them falling off and better yet, there is no chance of vandals pulling the pins just for kicks while you are having lunch someplace. Trust me this has happened and luckily people have caught it when doing their walk-around before taking off or they caught it before getting up to speed on the highway.

There are consequences for our choices and blaming a mechanical failure on losing a quick release pin is blaming the wrong source.

JMTCW.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

Mekanic · 07-19-2014, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easyrider

I've drilled a hole in the ends of my hitch pins in order to use padlocks on them. Now I have no fear of the pins accidently or otherwise coming out and losing control of the toad.

Very good idea

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr4Film

For those people who are using the quick release pins for both the receiver where the tow bar is attached to the hitch and also for the tow-bar where the toad is attached, you are just asking for problems.

Those are not failures but simply wrong choices.
..........
Dr4Film ----- Richard

X2 agree completly. I despise those types of pins. Even on the Farm.

I do NOT trust one at all.

I like the pad lock type pin idea. You can see for sure if the lock is locked.

I keep mine K.I.S.S. I'll use a long grade 8 bolt and put 2 nuts on the other side. Torque the nut against each other.
A long 5/8ths bolt is what my Hitch receiver is held in place with.
all you have to carry is 2 wrenchs for the long bolts.

walt2137 · 07-19-2014, 12:18 PM

I think you have figured out it was never a problem with the Blue Ox equipment only the type pin used the answer is Lynch Pins that is what I have always used.

MSHappyCampers · 07-19-2014, 03:55 PM

I highly recommend the ReadyBrute towbars!

Tha_Rooster · 07-19-2014, 06:26 PM

I used a roadmaster 8000 for 7 years I just purchased a roadmaster all terrain 10,000 on amazon and love it.

Brockx · 07-19-2014, 06:38 PM

I lost a couple of "Hairpins" on a utility trailer and just started shoving the hairpin all the way on to the big diameter. Now it had to get past 2 detents to fall out, worked good.

stearn · 07-19-2014, 06:53 PM

Never had problems with hitch pins, but found the yoke can also fail. Just an FYI something else to check.

Dr4Film · 07-19-2014, 07:41 PM

Stearn,

Now THAT is what I call a true failure. I would bet that Blue-Ox would have replaced it for you without charge, correct?

This is a wake up call to all owners of tow bars regardless of brand to check your equipment often to catch potential problems before they become disasters.

Dr4Film ----- Richard