Cross bar or not - A tow bar question

[Warrenjo]

I have a 36' diesel pusher and just purchased a 2010 Honda CR-V to use as a towed vehicle. I have pretty much decided on a Demco Falcon tow bar but I do not know if there is an advantage to using a cross bar or direct connect version. I would appreciate the corporate wisdom of this forum.

[Lt Dan]

I have a Demco Excalibar II tow bar with a Demco base plate and there is no reason to have an external cross bar. The base plate has the cross bar built into the design.

[Teamfoxy]

Look on E-trailer.com for suggestions on your spacific car and tow setup. They have excellent videos that explain everthing.
We don't need the cross bar that came with the falcon II for our 2017 Equinox.

[Mr_D]

The cross bar is necessary in some installations as the cars frame is deemed not strong enough.

[lrgomez1976]

I use a cross bar because I pull a full size F-150. The cross bar helps in support of both connecting point/sides of the toad.

[96 Wideglide]

Like others have said, lot's of toads have the cross-bar mounted out of sight, behind the front facia / bumper.

[Dutch Star Don]

When you order a Roadmaster tow and base plates, you get a choice. They have three or four baseplate styles, depending on the vehicle. The EZ model is a hidden base plate that has connectors that twist lock into the mounts on the vehicle (this is the only kind I use/like). Once you disconnect the tow bar, you can remove the connectors from the vehicle and basically hide any evidence of the base plates.

As stated by another poster, some vehicles, often those with unibody construction, need the extra strength of the crossbar. On my very first purchase, 15 years ago, I bought the Roadmaster with the crossbar setup by accident. I hated having to deal with extra work of installing and removing the crossbar.

Again, on the Roadmaster units, the crossbar gives you the ability to use their safety cables with a metal ball on one end. The ball simply slides through a hole and into a slot on the crossbar, simplifying the cable connection. I believe the crossbar also allows for a place to mount a shield to protect the toad front end. The crossbar is also up in a more prominent area and easier to access then some of the hidden models.

[Fiesta48]

The crossbar is ugly but it adds a lot of strength. I prefer to have a stronger system.

[mustangman]

I tow a Wrangler 4 door with a Roadmaster with a cross bar. Never had any problems with it, Actually I leave it all together as one unit when I pull it out of the two points on the base plate,

[JBDISCOVERY]

ROADMASTER.
CROSS BAR---EXTRA STRENGHT.
JimB