|
|
10-06-2016, 10:50 AM
|
#15
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 149
|
I have been using my Roadmaster Falcon II for two years, it never failed, but was to hard to release if I was not absolutely straight and level. My new system; I have ordered a Blue Ox Alpha for my 2016 Jeep Wrangler and I am going to the M&G Brake System. JH
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
10-06-2016, 11:48 AM
|
#16
|
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,209
|
tow bar tension on disconnect
Just a quick tip that I picked up somewhere on releasing the tension on tow bar arms at disconnect. I have a Roadmaster Sterling, purchased in 2003. And that tip is to start your tow car and turn the steering wheel to full lock. I can't recall which way to turn the steering wheel depending on whether you out of parallel either left or right. But it does work to significantly reduce that lock force. Try it.
|
|
|
10-06-2016, 12:07 PM
|
#17
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,679
|
While you can mix and match tow bars and base plates, I prefer the Blue Ox baseplate andthere is almost nothing to see. the tow bar attachment. It is easy to pull the tow connections and the
__________________
Dale & Mark Bruss
13 Years Full-Timing Now with a 2016 Bounder 33C
40' Travel Supreme winter residence
Lots of RV Information at www.dmbruss.com
|
|
|
10-06-2016, 02:55 PM
|
#18
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,083
|
my vote for roadmaster. have been to factory and very impressed with quality. i have the roadmaster steerlng and as long as you clean and lube it ,it works great.
|
|
|
10-06-2016, 03:04 PM
|
#19
|
Senior Member
Damon Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Annapolis,MD
Posts: 1,458
|
Wow, so many opinions. I've towed an Explorer (4800lbs) with
BlueOx aventa for 80,000 miles over 7 years without any issues.
I do have it serviced every other year, keep it covered when not
being used, and keep it clean when needed. I prefer the Blue Ox
system in that there is nothing left on the toad when disconnected.
It is also very easy to connect, in fact my 10 year old grand kid
can do it in 3-4 minutes.
|
|
|
10-06-2016, 04:02 PM
|
#20
|
Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Medford, OR
Posts: 744
|
RV Geeks were sold on RoadMaster after using another brand for many years. They did a great video on it.
__________________
2007 42' Country Coach Intrigue #12149 CAT C-13, 2014 SRX, Roadmaster Sterling, SMI AirForceOne
FMCA, Good Sam, CCFI, CCI, NWCC
|
|
|
10-06-2016, 04:30 PM
|
#21
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 251
|
50,000 miles with Roadmaster Sterling. Great tow bar with no wires or cables dangling as there are channels for them. Easy to hook and unhook. Drive a few feet and both arms lock. Highly recommend. If fully disconnected there are no components left on the car other than the base plate.
__________________
2011 Monaco Knight 36', MaxForce 10, 350HP, 1150 lbs. Torque.
2008 Saturn Vue Toad, SMI Duo Brake, Roadmaster Sterling Tow Bar
San Antonio, TX Home Port
|
|
|
10-06-2016, 06:16 PM
|
#22
|
Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Lake Charles (domicile)
Posts: 1,064
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pigman1
HIGHLY recommend the Roadmaster Blackhawk. An additional positive point for the Roadmaster is that it can be disconnected without the coach and tow having to be in the same straight line.
|
We just had the Roadmaster Blackhawk II (10k lbs) tow bar/hitch setup together with the SMI Air Force I brake sys. installed on our new 2016 Jeep GC 4x4 Summit and it all works seamlessly well, easy to hook up & release, quality goods well engineered to last.
__________________
Finding The Roads That Await Us
Rick & Lydia Williams
2018 Newmar Essex 4553
NKK Member 21619 / FMCA Member 465836
|
|
|
10-06-2016, 06:47 PM
|
#23
|
Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Peach Bottom, PA
Posts: 421
|
Used Blue Ox since 1999
I have used the same Blue Ox tow bar since 1999. 2 different base plates (99 Saturn SL2 and 2009 Saturn VUE). No problems but could not find a baseplate installer for the VUE. Wife and I installed it ourselves using Blue Ox's instructions.
__________________
Ken & Monica, Peach Bottom, PA
2021 Allegro RED340 33AL ISB 6.7 Powerglide, Jeep Cherokee, Blue Ox, FMCA# F520682
|
|
|
10-06-2016, 07:15 PM
|
#24
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: FT on the Road
Posts: 3,832
|
Like the Blue Ox Avail. Blue Ox baseplate is a nice clean install. The Avail is non binding so no worries about being level or turned. Better turning radius than most others too. Very simple to setup and disconnect.
Happy with my decision to go Blue Ox
__________________
I don't subscribe to threads I reply to so will not see your reply to my comment. Drop me a direct message if you want a reply from me.
Cheers!
|
|
|
10-06-2016, 10:44 PM
|
#25
|
Community Moderator
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Between the Oceans
Posts: 8,026
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by micpib1
I have been using my Roadmaster Falcon II for two years, it never failed, but was to hard to release if I was not absolutely straight and level. My new system; I have ordered a Blue Ox Alpha for my 2016 Jeep Wrangler and I am going to the M&G Brake System. JH
|
maybe you didn't do it right? i have the same unit and never had a hard time on con/discon for 4 years. the key is - i use a string to hold the levers up and drive my car forward a little. it guarantees a loose-up.
back to the po question, there will never be short of praises in either camp - pride of ownership may come to play. the determining point is - which has less occurrences of broken failure. toad being orphaned and wandering on the highway is no fun...
__________________
Steven & Polly
2000 Country Coach Intrigue 40' ISC 350
2018 Ford Explorer 4WD
|
|
|
10-07-2016, 05:36 AM
|
#26
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Port Orchard, WA
Posts: 4,215
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by trimacon
My N=1 with Blue Ox Aventa on first trip, about 1200 miles travelled. Buyer beware.
|
Can you provide more information on what occurred?
What type of vehicle were you towing?
Approximate weight?
Sharp turn?
Towing straight?
Safety cables functioned as designed?
Speed at time of incident?
I am assuming that you contacted the company, what was their response?
Was their any inspection of the failed system? Metallurgy etc?
I really appreciate the pictures, but without context, they are pretty much just pretty pictures! Oh, by the way, my background is Aviation Safety and Accident Investigation.
__________________
Scot & Laura Kellersberger, U.S. Army (ret)
Newmar 4 wheel drive Dutch Star 3891, SOLD
Now RV'ing on the water in a Trawler!
|
|
|
10-07-2016, 08:26 AM
|
#27
|
Senior Member
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 325
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by micpib1
I have been using my Roadmaster Falcon II for two years, it never failed, but was to hard to release if I was not absolutely straight and level.
|
I've had the Roadmaster Falcon All Terrain for 2 years [14K miles] & it works great. The manual says you don't have to be perfectly straight, but like micfib1 experience says other wise. It's rated for 6000 lbs and we tow a 2014 Wrangler Unlimited that weights 4500 lbs. So far it has been great, just make sure you're straight before releasing the latches. Highly recommended.
__________________
2022 Imagine 2670MK - ProPride - TV Ram 1500
2018 Isata-3 24FW - Toad 2019 Wrangler 2.0 Turbo
2015 Tiffin Allegro 36LA/Spree 323RLS/Zeppelin 281
|
|
|
10-07-2016, 08:36 AM
|
#28
|
Senior Member
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Lakewood Ohio
Posts: 568
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by awol50
Just a quick tip that I picked up somewhere on releasing the tension on tow bar arms at disconnect. I have a Roadmaster Sterling, purchased in 2003. And that tip is to start your tow car and turn the steering wheel to full lock. I can't recall which way to turn the steering wheel depending on whether you out of parallel either left or right. But it does work to significantly reduce that lock force. Try it.
|
this does work.
__________________
WIT# 34347
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|