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07-23-2018, 07:26 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Various
Posts: 51
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Blue Ox Tow Bar Failure
Thankfully this happened at low speed and close to home. Factory reminded me that tow bars have 10 year 70,000 mile lifetime. This one was purchased in 2006.
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07-23-2018, 07:29 AM
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#2
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by teekay
Thankfully this happened at low speed and close to home. Factory reminded me that tow bars have 10 year 70,000 mile lifetime. This one was purchased in 2006.
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Had you had it serviced? Just curious if that would extend its life.
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07-23-2018, 07:35 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,881
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That towbar looks like it has seen better days.
__________________
2010 Phaeton 40QTH on a PG Chassis.
2017 Lincoln MKX.
Air Force One brake system and Blue OX Towbar.
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07-23-2018, 07:38 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Plantation, Fl
Posts: 1,874
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Wow Was it just the tow bar that went bad or did it also damage the base plate? Never knew about that 10 year 70,000 mile lifetime - thanks. I started using a Blue Ox tow bar last Nov. and have about 7,000 miles on it.
__________________
2024 Jayco Redhawk 26 M (OCCC challenged)
2017 RWD F 150 with a drive shaft disconnect
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07-23-2018, 07:43 AM
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#5
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RV Mutant #14
Winnebago Owners Club Texas Boomers Club Freightliner Owners Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 17,184
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Looks like i'm due for a new one.
__________________
Wayne MSGT USMC (Ret) & Earlene (CinCHouse) RVM14 (ARS: KE5QG)
Lexi - Goldendoodle
2015 Winnebago Tour 42QD - 2020 Lincoln Nautilus Reserve
It is what it is, and then it is what you make of it.
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07-23-2018, 07:55 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Western NC
Posts: 590
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Quote:
Originally Posted by teekay
Thankfully this happened at low speed and close to home. Factory reminded me that tow bars have 10 year 70,000 mile lifetime. This one was purchased in 2006.
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What model tow bar is that, and what do/did you tow with it? Just curious as I have one that is 6 years old and about 50,000 miles on it.
__________________
Seeing this country from ground level.
2016 Allegro Bus 40AP
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07-23-2018, 08:05 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,679
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We got our first Blue Ox Aventa in 2006 but it was the version before the ball connection. We only had the bar services one when we were at an Escapade.
In 2016 we replaced the bar with a new Aventa with the ball connection. We replaced the original bar but not because it wasn't working. We wanted to do some rebuilding, new bolts, washers, spacers, and new claws. By the time we added up the parts, it was getting to be a big number.
We got a good price on the Aventa and got new 10K safety cables to boot.
I guess we just meet the 10 year mark.
I would recommend that if you are ever in an event where Blue Ox has a booth, take advantage of the inspection deal. It is well worth it.
With the exception of some rust on the claws, the bar in the photo didn't look that bad, just the shaft lock didn't hold.
__________________
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
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07-23-2018, 08:17 AM
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#8
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Registered User
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 7,114
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Is it possible the safety cables snagged the release lever??
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07-23-2018, 08:19 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Plantation, Fl
Posts: 1,874
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dale & Mark Bruss
With the exception of some rust on the claws, the bar in the photo didn't look that bad, just the shaft lock didn't hold.
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Or perhaps it just never locked ?
__________________
2024 Jayco Redhawk 26 M (OCCC challenged)
2017 RWD F 150 with a drive shaft disconnect
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07-23-2018, 08:56 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Florida Keys
Posts: 2,687
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Here's my Blue Ox towbar cracked saga from a few years ago:
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f85/blue-...ph-155643.html
Did you make a real tight turn just before it failed?
__________________
Tom and Katharine
'07 Winnebago Tour 40TD, 400hp Cummins
'17 Winnebago View 24V, '02 R-Vision B+
RVing for 20 years & 200,000+ miles
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07-23-2018, 09:07 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,807
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Yeaaah, I'll stick with my $90 Reese towbar with lifetime warranty.
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07-23-2018, 09:12 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Plantation, Fl
Posts: 1,874
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RVThere
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Did you ever hear anything from Blue Ox on that failure.
__________________
2024 Jayco Redhawk 26 M (OCCC challenged)
2017 RWD F 150 with a drive shaft disconnect
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07-23-2018, 09:20 AM
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#13
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RV Mutant #14
Winnebago Owners Club Texas Boomers Club Freightliner Owners Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 17,184
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The original poster picture looks like something on my Blue Ox from the other day. After I hook up I back up the TOAD gently and DW watches the release handles. One will always click and sometimes both. According to Blue Ox, just turn the wheel in the direction of the one that did not click in place and pull forward and that should lock it in place.
Well, either by mixed signals or just plain my fault (not really) I turned the wheel towards the one that did lock. Pulled forward and the tow bar looked like the one the OP posted. Got in the car, turned the wheel toward the collapsed bar and pulled forward with the MH again. All was well with both bars extended and locked.
__________________
Wayne MSGT USMC (Ret) & Earlene (CinCHouse) RVM14 (ARS: KE5QG)
Lexi - Goldendoodle
2015 Winnebago Tour 42QD - 2020 Lincoln Nautilus Reserve
It is what it is, and then it is what you make of it.
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07-23-2018, 12:57 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 4,025
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A few year ago we were leaving for Q and just like the OP one of my levers would not lock. I created a crude Rube Goldberg device with some hose clamps and wire ties. Used a square tube under the lever. Made it to Q and took the TB to the Blue Ox tent. Next day and $25.00 later was like new. Whenever we go to Q I take the tow bar to their tent and have it checked out.
__________________
Moisheh
2008 Dynasty 42' Diamond IV
1988 Bluebird PT38
2009 Silverado Toad
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