Tow Bars

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by dennis45

Question,
How do you know it was "Like New"? Did you take it apart to see what condition the lock pins are in? Do you know that the previous owner had not used it to Back Up and thereby compromised the locking pins and arms?

Well, if he was like we are he could drive over to RoadMasters HQ, drop it off and come back the next day to pick it up.

[navychaps]

Originally Posted by dennis45

Question,
How do you know it was "Like New"? Did you take it apart to see what condition the lock pins are in? Do you know that the previous owner had not used it to Back Up and thereby compromised the locking pins and arms?

Like New can be deceiving. Unless you are a person that understands how the device works and what can cause it to fail, I suggest buying a new one that is installed by a qualified person that can explain the do's and don't s
It's not always about the cheapest way out. Safety does have a roll to play.
IMHO,,,

I would think stopping would put as much or more pressure on the pins than a simple strait line backup. They are round hardened steel that really don't give a care from which direction the pressure is coming...JMHO

[wa8yxm]

Towing with the basic "A" frame is kind of like towing a trailer, As you know, if you have ever towed a trailer. you must line up PERFECTLY in both right/left and foward/backward dimensions. if you are off even 1/2 inch you can't hook up.

With my Blue Ox tow bars which I used for four years as a part timer, then 1 year full time, then took 3 years off towing and am using again.. I think I hit perfect one time. I can be several inches off, I can come in at an angle, and too far forward/backward is not a problem either.

PLUS... You missed something. The ready brute comes, I believe with the ready brake (At least as an option if not part of the tow bar) and that is half the cost of the tow bar all by it's lonesome. You MUST have a braking system for the jeep. that's it.

[wa8yxm]

Oh, as for "Stopping would put as much pressure on the pins as straight line back up"

Well, NO, you see, you have the thing the law in many states (if not all) requires called AUX Braking Systems, and those kick in when you go to stop the motor home.

On the Ready brute it's fully automatic, when the car presses up against the motor home.. The car's brakes come on,,,Just enough to ease the pressure.


But if you are backing up, the brakes come on and it INCREASES the pressure.

[navychaps]

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

Oh, as for "Stopping would put as much pressure on the pins as straight line back up"

Well, NO, you see, you have the thing the law in many states (if not all) requires called AUX Braking Systems, and those kick in when you go to stop the motor home.

On the Ready brute it's fully automatic, when the car presses up against the motor home.. The car's brakes come on,,,Just enough to ease the pressure.


But if you are backing up, the brakes come on and it INCREASES the pressure.

Not on a stowmaster 5000, which was referred to in the post......also, just because the law may require aux brakes, many do not use them.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

Well, NO, you see, you have the thing the law in many states (if not all) requires called AUX Braking Systems, and those kick in when you go to stop the motor home.

Not always a true statement either because in some states (WA, OR and CA come to mind) a motorized vehicle being towed by another motorized vehicle is not, by definition, a "trailer".

RCW 46.04.130
Combination of vehicles.

"Combination of vehicles" means every combination of motor vehicle and motor vehicle, motor vehicle and trailer or motor vehicle and semitrailer.

RCW 46.04.165
Driveaway-towaway operation.

"Driveaway-towaway operation" means any operation in which any motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer, singly or in combination, new or used, constitutes the commodity being transported when one set or more wheels of any such vehicle are on the roadway during the course of transportation, whether or not any such vehicle furnishes the motive power.


RCW 46.04.620
Trailer.

"Trailer" includes every vehicle without motive power designed for being drawn by or used in conjunction with a motor vehicle constructed so that no appreciable part of its weight rests upon or is carried by such motor vehicle, but does not include a municipal transit vehicle, or any portion thereof

Under the laws of WA, OR and CA, the "combination vehicle" braking requirements become a performance spec.
WA and CA have the same spec. Stop from 20 mph in 50 ft. OR is tougher, stop from 20 mph in 35 ft. If you can do this then no aux. braking is required.

[sswilson]

Whatever tow bar you prefer and Whether or not you can avoid the requirement of aux brakes, I would not like to have any vehicle I am towing to have the opportunity to break away and somehow kill someone because I did not have the aux brake with this safety feature. That would be a tough one to live with and should be kept in mind when deciding the purchase or not.
IMHO

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by sswilson

Whatever tow bar you prefer and Whether or not you can avoid the requirement of aux brakes, I would not like to have any vehicle I am towing to have the opportunity to break away and somehow kill someone because I did not have the aux brake with this safety feature. That would be a tough one to live with and should be kept in mind when deciding the purchase or not.
IMHO

I agree, which is why my KK-460 has surge brakes (for when I tow on the dolly) and a BrakeMaster setup with breakaway for when I tow four down. Yes, I tow both ways with the same towed behind the same MH. Frankly I prefer the dolly.

[JohnRR]

Let's stay on topic and not start one of the age old debates again.