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01-08-2013, 04:44 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 326
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tow bar hitch vs coupler style
need to get some opinions on tow bars- the coupler style vs the hitch style. really not sure which one to go with and was wondering what the advantage/disadvantage of each are.
I will also have a hitch mounted bike rack on the MH.
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01-08-2013, 05:20 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Vintage RV Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner Heartland RV Club
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Fairhope, AL / Reedley, CA
Posts: 483
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if you have a hitch mount bike rack I would go with the hitch style
I like them because its one less thing to worry about (ball comming lose), they have real good pivot, and I like how it stores on the motorhome
__________________
Good Sam Charter Lifetime Member 269454, FMCA 239141
2019 Heartland Mallard IDM33 Bumper Pull
1988 Mallard 27SB Motorhome P30 454/TH475/Banks Power
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01-08-2013, 06:28 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,024
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Not sure what you are calling coupler and hitch type.
The only tow bar system I've seen for use with a ball hitch is a basic "A" frame type hitch, Thiese require precision in hooking up.
The tow bar types where the motor home end is a 2" square bar that goes into the receiver,, usually they have telescoping arms making them about 1,000 percent easier to hook up, You need not be "Square" or "Centered" you can be off a few inches or several degrees and no problem.
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Home is where I park it!
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01-08-2013, 07:25 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Vintage RV Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner Heartland RV Club
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Fairhope, AL / Reedley, CA
Posts: 483
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wa8yxm
Not sure what you are calling coupler and hitch type.
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the style with a ball (coupler)
2" reciever sleeve (hitch type)
__________________
Good Sam Charter Lifetime Member 269454, FMCA 239141
2019 Heartland Mallard IDM33 Bumper Pull
1988 Mallard 27SB Motorhome P30 454/TH475/Banks Power
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01-09-2013, 07:08 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,968
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Using F239141's criteria I would definately go with a hitch type tow bar. As mentioned earlier it's much more difficult to hook up the ball style. You have to be aligned perfectly for the coupler to slip over the ball.
I have a 4 wheel equipment trailer that weighs in at a little over 2100 lbs. It's a beast to hook the coupler over the ball if you're more than an inch off center. The tongue of the trailer is just like the tongue on the tow bar. The only advantage of the tow bar is that you can attempt to move the toad by driving it rather than pushing or pulling it.
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Hikerdogs
2013 Adventurer 32H
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01-09-2013, 09:18 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Lake Havasu City, AZ
Posts: 1,393
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Both the Coupler and Hitch style tow bars can be purchased with telescoping arms so that is not an issue. I prefer the Hitch style because I can disconnect it from the Toad and it will latch to a storage position on the back of the MH.
__________________
2012 Monaco Knight 36 PFT
Towing either a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland or a car in a 20' enclosed car trailer.
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01-09-2013, 05:24 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 326
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I have it narrowed down to a Roadmaster Stowmaster coupler style or the Roadmaster Falcon 2 hitch mount style. the car has a Roadmaster base plate
both have the adjustable (telescoping) arms - basically the same except for coupler or hitch mount.
I want the one that will be easier to unhitch/hitch.
do you think the hitch mount will be in the way of the bikes when I take them on/off where as the coupler will just fold up at the car?
the majority of our "camping" is long weekends.
thanks for all the input!
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01-10-2013, 04:27 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Foley AL
Posts: 7,138
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SMRDNR
I have it narrowed down to a Roadmaster Stowmaster coupler style or the Roadmaster Falcon 2 hitch mount style. the car has a Roadmaster base plate
both have the adjustable (telescoping) arms - basically the same except for coupler or hitch mount.
I want the one that will be easier to unhitch/hitch.
do you think the hitch mount will be in the way of the bikes when I take them on/off where as the coupler will just fold up at the car?
the majority of our "camping" is long weekends.
thanks for all the input!
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I think you would be happy with either but ....
You'll need to decide whether you want the tow bar to remain on the RV (and where the RV is stored) or whether it's ok to have the tow bar remain on the front of the car when you are not RVing. You can take the tow bar off in either case but they are HEAVY. In other words, if your RV is in storage (not home) is your tow bar safe? ... or, do you mind driving the car on a daily basis with a tow bar on the front (not very pretty on your new Ferrari)?
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01-10-2013, 05:14 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 326
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do you think the one mounted on the MH will make it harder to get the bikes on/off the rack?
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01-10-2013, 06:56 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Full-timers - Home is where we park it.
Posts: 4,722
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dennis_K
Both the Coupler and Hitch style tow bars can be purchased with telescoping arms so that is not an issue. I prefer the Hitch style because I can disconnect it from the Toad and it will latch to a storage position on the back of the MH.
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Ditto. I use a lockable hitch pin to make sure it doesn't "walk away" from the MH.
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01-10-2013, 09:02 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,772
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bruceisla
I think you would be happy with either but ....
You'll need to decide whether you want the tow bar to remain on the RV (and where the RV is stored) or whether it's ok to have the tow bar remain on the front of the car when you are not RVing. You can take the tow bar off in either case but they are HEAVY. In other words, if your RV is in storage (not home) is your tow bar safe? ... or, do you mind driving the car on a daily basis with a tow bar on the front (not very pretty on your new Ferrari)?
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Is a Ferrari towable 4 down?😎
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Terry & Alice
2006 Bounder 38L DP
2012 GMC Terrain
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01-10-2013, 09:27 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: ON THE ROAD...SOMEWHERE
Posts: 6,973
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SMRDNR
do you think the one mounted on the MH will make it harder to get the bikes on/off the rack?
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Not sure what your toad is but we are adding a hidden hitch to our CRV for my bicycles. I doubt I will ever go anyplace with only the RV and bikes but I will definitely go places with the CRV to take the bikes to a ride/event.
__________________
Don, Sandee & GSD Zeus. Guardian GSDs Gunny (7/11/15) & Thor (5/5/15)
2006 2015 DSDP 4320 4369, FL Chassis, 2013 CR-V 2020 Jeep Overland, Blue Ox Avail, SMI AF1.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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01-10-2013, 10:06 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: May 2000
Location: California Central Coast
Posts: 2,034
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SMRDNR
do you think the one mounted on the MH will make it harder to get the bikes on/off the rack?
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No, the racks I have used and any I have seen would not be interfred with by the hitch. Do you really want a big ugly, heavy hitch riding around on the front of the toad. Get the one mounted on the RV.
Glenn
__________________
2006 Sea Breeze LX 8341 on a Workhorse W22 Chassis with 22.5 Alcoa Alum wheels,
2011 Chevy Colorado 4X4 with Ready Brake
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01-10-2013, 10:23 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 967
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SMRDNR
do you think the one mounted on the MH will make it harder to get the bikes on/off the rack?
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We use a "hitch" style Roadmaster for our toad and our bikes are mounted above the hitch. Bit awkward getting the Roadmaster " stowed" but all-in-all a good system.
__________________
Jack & Maggie
04-Rexhall Roseair (37)
Cummins ISC / Spartan
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