Community Forums

bandmbrown · 07-19-2010, 07:21 AM

have been considering getting the blue ox bike rack and the hitch extension for the back of the motorhome. so ... i go on line and the hitch extension is
in the area of 120 to 140 bucks. a quick look at the product gave me that "you got to be kidding me" feeling. a google search of "2 inch hitch extensions" results of getting various lengths for a price of less that $50.
am i missing something here?

AFChap · 07-20-2010, 09:44 AM

Just make sure whatever you get is rated to tow what you will be towing and you should be good to go. Cost may or may not correspond. The first 4" drop I got cut my tow capacity in half. I later found a Blue Ox drop that is rated for the 10k my hitch and tow bar are rated for.

speed racer · 07-20-2010, 09:51 AM

Look at Harbor Freight.com or at a store if you have one near you.

wa8yxm · 07-20-2010, 11:48 AM

While I can not comment on the hitch extensions.. I can on what are called Anti-Rattle clamps for said hitch (By the way, I recommend at least one of these with your bike rack)

I got a "knock off" one.. which broke almost before I could tighten it down.

I have a genuine BLUE OX designed one.. I don't think I could break it if I tried.

That is one difference.. Blue Ox towing adapters are top quality, (So by the way is Roadmaster) BUT with the Google product you do not know what you got till it arrives.

So, what's the difference between the blue ox anti-rattle and the knock off.

Well, the knockoff relies on the strength of a weld, that broke

The Blue Ox either has no weld, or the weld is under compression (They do not fail under compression) (As I recall there is a strip of metal welded to the plate.. Given it's location if you stuck it on with model airplane cement it would be more than strong enough)

If you go with the low-cost unit.. Pay very close attention to the welds.

NOTE: This does not mean the Google product is bad.. Only that you need to pay close attention.. Sometimes the price is low because someone ordered 100 when he wanted 10, or 1000 when he wanted 100. And having thus gone belly up, a liquaditor got his stock for cents on the dollar and is passing on the savings.

lucky leo · 08-02-2010, 02:17 PM

I agree with wa8xym... The trouble with buying through google and ebay and markets like this is you DON'T know what you you're buying. Blue ox is a very reputable company with guaranteed products... HUGE difference. If there is a defect with the blue ox it'll be covered and you will get a replacement but if you're one from google is defected... you are sorry out of luck.

RickO · 08-03-2010, 09:41 AM

You've gotten some good advice that I won't add to but here's the thread on my Blue Ox set up which sounds similar to what you're looking at. I stayed with Blue Ox for all components and just swallowed hard at the price. All components are VERY stout and after 7 months of constant use and 5000 miles all have worked flawlessly.

Good luck.

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f52/blue-...ack-62125.html