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02-03-2019, 04:34 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 38
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Blue Ox towbar
Good Morning, I have had a blue ox towbar for pulling our toad that has 30000 tow miles on it. My question is do I have to do any maintenance on it? I did oil the ball joint as it was getting stiff. Thank You in advance.
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02-03-2019, 07:28 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,670
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jimloeh
Good Morning, I have had a blue ox towbar for pulling our toad that has 30000 tow miles on it. My question is do I have to do any maintenance on it? I did oil the ball joint as it was getting stiff. Thank You in advance.
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HTH
Happy Trails
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2004 HR Navagator 500 ISM
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02-03-2019, 07:50 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 558
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if the tow bar is in working condition, you can pull the rubber sleeves back and wipe the shafts down with a little white lithium grease. after rubbing it on, work the shaft back and forth several times. use a couple zip ties to put the rubber sleeves back in place. I also spray a silicon lubricant inside my base plate receivers, and spritz the electrical connections with the same .
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2008 monaco monarch 33sfs
workhorse chassis
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02-03-2019, 08:38 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: AB
Posts: 7,587
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You mention lubricating the ball because it was stiff. If you contact BlueOx I think they will tell you not to lubricate the ball. If it's stiff it may need to be replaced.
You might give them a call anyway.
A couple of years ago I sent my Aventa to them for inspection. They found the area where the ball attaches to the receiver was cracked. They replaced the receiver and ball, lubed and new rubber sleeves etc, prepaid return shipping all for under $200. Basically a new tow bar.
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2019 Unity LTV CB, pushed by a 2013 Honda CRV, BlueOx Baseplate, Aventa Bar & Patriot Brake
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02-03-2019, 08:56 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Manning, South Carolina
Posts: 1,854
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Never put grease on the shafts. It will attract and collect dirt no matter how hard you try to seal the boot. They can be cleaned and wiped down with a silicone spray lubricant. We took ours to the local Blue Ox service center near us and had them do an inspection and maintenance. It came back like new and we felt better having it inspected. The cost was less than $40.00. Your Blue Ox Manual gives instructions for regular maintenance. You can download one online if you don't have it. Chuck
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1999 Fleetwood Bounder 34J
Triton V10 Gas
2010 Chevy HHR Panel
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02-03-2019, 09:21 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: AB
Posts: 7,587
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chuckbear
Never put grease on the shafts. It will attract and collect dirt no matter how hard you try to seal the boot. They can be cleaned and wiped down with a silicone spray lubricant. We took ours to the local Blue Ox service center near us and had them do an inspection and maintenance. It came back like new and we felt better having it inspected. The cost was less than $40.00. Your Blue Ox Manual gives instructions for regular maintenance. You can download one online if you don't have it. Chuck
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I believe the OP was referring to the swivel ball on the Aventa bar being stiff not the sliding arms. Lubricating the ball is not advised for the reason you mentioned because it is exposed to the elements.
However, when I sent mine to BlueOx for rebuild they used lubriplate on both arms and installed new boots. I have also used lubriplate every year for many years. Never a sign of dirt.
The boots are sealed on each end with a black tie wrap so unless the boot is cracked or somehow damaged there is no way to get moisture or dirt inside the boots. Just saying.
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2019 Unity LTV CB, pushed by a 2013 Honda CRV, BlueOx Baseplate, Aventa Bar & Patriot Brake
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02-03-2019, 12:02 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Quitman MS
Posts: 2,967
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Walt & Will
2000 Dynasty
2017 Ram Big Horn Crew C 4X4 w/ M&G
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02-03-2019, 12:06 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: AB
Posts: 7,587
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Quote:
Originally Posted by walt2137
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That's the doc I was thinking of. Thanks
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2019 Unity LTV CB, pushed by a 2013 Honda CRV, BlueOx Baseplate, Aventa Bar & Patriot Brake
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02-04-2019, 11:51 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,920
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Interesting discussion. Contrary to what many have been told by Blue Ox, and contrary to the instructions (DO NOT LUBRICATE BALL SWIVEL), mine was so stiff a few years ago that I had to jump on the arms fully extended to move it.
Called Blue Ox and they suggested squirting in some dish detergent. Didn't make a bit of difference, still needed two strong men to move the hitch. Called them back and they said go ahead and spray it with penetrating oil. Got it moving and it has been fine since.
Now I pull in winter in bad weather so the corrosive de-icers do take a price, and a pretty cover won't make a difference given that it is dangling down in the dirt stream under my coach (very low hitch position).
Incidentally, recently I had the retainer latch and spring pin (parts 24 and 25 on the parts list) fail and one of my arms wouldn't latch. Found out from a Blue Ox dealer that the Aventa has been dropped and Blue Ox doesn't have all the parts anymore. Didn't like hearing that but a new pin and a little hammering on the retainer latch put things right.
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Paul
2006 Patriot Thunder C13 Allison 4000
2010 Ford Flex Ecoboost AWD
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02-05-2019, 05:24 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 122
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Quote:
Originally Posted by distaff
Interesting discussion. Contrary to what many have been told by Blue Ox, and contrary to the instructions (DO NOT LUBRICATE BALL SWIVEL), mine was so stiff a few years ago that I had to jump on the arms fully extended to move it.
Called Blue Ox and they suggested squirting in some dish detergent. Didn't make a bit of difference, still needed two strong men to move the hitch. Called them back and they said go ahead and spray it with penetrating oil. Got it moving and it has been fine since.
Now I pull in winter in bad weather so the corrosive de-icers do take a price, and a pretty cover won't make a difference given that it is dangling down in the dirt stream under my coach (very low hitch position).
Incidentally, recently I had the retainer latch and spring pin (parts 24 and 25 on the parts list) fail and one of my arms wouldn't latch. Found out from a Blue Ox dealer that the Aventa has been dropped and Blue Ox doesn't have all the parts anymore. Didn't like hearing that but a new pin and a little hammering on the retainer latch put things right.
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i agree. these things are brass on steel, not a rocket. when they get stiff, i give them a little motor oil[or whatever is close to hand] until it loosens up. some things are real easy to over think
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2008 40' Beaver Contessa
Fulltime RVers with toys.
Sandcar, Razor, and a Jeep. Where we play is where we sleep.
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