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10-28-2020, 01:05 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Romeoville, IL
Posts: 203
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Tow Bar Questions (Blue Ox Avail)
Figured I would rely on some wisdom from people using tow bars. When I hook up the tow bar, I push the car back to lock in the arms, but usually I am off center and only one locks into place. Is there a trick to getting the other one to lock in? I drove forward slowly and it took about 500 feet and a left turn before the other one finally clicked in.
Also, why do they say never back up with it? Just a pivot thing? It seems like the stress of the car stopping and pushing on the bar would be equivalent to any force exerted when backing up.
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Todd & Nadeen :: FMCA F484487
2014 Tiffin Allegro RED 38QBA pushed by Tiny (2020 Nissan Versa)
2014 Thor Four Winds
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10-28-2020, 01:12 PM
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#2
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Community Administrator
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: DFW, Texas
Posts: 21,262
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I find that with my current Demco and my prior BO both arms very seldom lock at the same time. I drive forward slowly until the other arm locks and sometimes is takes a "wigwag" back and forth turns to get it to lock.
As for never backing, the toad's front wheels follow correctly when moving forward because of the wheel geometry. When you try to back up, the reverse roll of the wheels will cause the steering to violently swing right or left resulting in tire lock. That can cause severe damage to the tow bar. Some can back up a short distance IF someone is in the toad keeping the steering straight.
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2017 Phaeton 40IH XSH Maroon Coral - Power Glide Chassis with IFS
Previous '15 Tiffin Allegro RED 38QRA and '06 Itasca Sunrise 35A
'16 Jeep JKU Wrangler Sahara or '08 Honda Goldwing
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10-28-2020, 01:16 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Romeoville, IL
Posts: 203
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Thanks! So I guess I did not appear too crazy driving the RV with my poor wife running after to see if the tow bar locked up. I need to leave a little slower next time though, I think she was a bit mad at me.
As for backing up, that makes sense.
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Todd & Nadeen :: FMCA F484487
2014 Tiffin Allegro RED 38QBA pushed by Tiny (2020 Nissan Versa)
2014 Thor Four Winds
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10-28-2020, 02:19 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 723
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When hooking up our toad we just back the toad up till they lock in.
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2002 KSDP 3669/Freightliner XC CHASSIS/Cummins 5.9 ISB 300hp
Joplin, MO
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10-28-2020, 02:24 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SoCal
Posts: 15,749
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Three BO here iver the years. I just pull the coach out and let the arms lock.
__________________
Vince and Susan
2011 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH (Cummins ISC/Freightliner)
Flat towing a modified 2005 Jeep (Rubicon Wrangler)
Previously a 2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37A and a 1995 Safari Trek 2830.
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10-28-2020, 04:20 PM
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,607
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When you hook up and have only one arm lock, turn the toad front wheels in the direction of the UNLOCKED arm. Obviously, not to the stop, but a significant amount. When the coach starts forward the unlocked arm will lock within about 6 feet every single time.. Just pull the coach straight forward, and don't try turning it to lock the arm.
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10-28-2020, 10:26 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 5,652
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pigman1
When you hook up and have only one arm lock, turn the toad front wheels in the direction of the UNLOCKED arm. Obviously, not to the stop, but a significant amount. When the coach starts forward the unlocked arm will lock within about 6 feet every single time.. Just pull the coach straight forward, and don't try turning it to lock the arm.
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What he said. I turn the car steering wheel one-half turn and it locks almost immediately because the car begins turning in that direction when pulled forward and extends the recalcitrant arm.
Ray
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2020 Forest River Georgetown GT5 34H5
2020 Equinox Premier AWD 2.0L/9-speed
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10-29-2020, 08:24 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 823
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The newer Avail bars will lock automatically as you begin to drive off. No need to wiggle back and forth driving or have your wife run behind to insure they lock.
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John, Sharon & (Luna)-Blk.Tri.Australian Sheppard
2022 Newmar LA 4551, 2019 DS4018 Sold
21' Tahoe Z71, Demco base, Avail bar, Air Force 1.
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10-29-2020, 12:51 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Romeoville, IL
Posts: 203
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Awesome! Thanks for the tips. Got the unlock part to work much better today!
__________________
Todd & Nadeen :: FMCA F484487
2014 Tiffin Allegro RED 38QBA pushed by Tiny (2020 Nissan Versa)
2014 Thor Four Winds
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10-29-2020, 12:56 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 5,652
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Granite17
The newer Avail bars will lock automatically as you begin to drive off. No need to wiggle back and forth driving or have your wife run behind to insure they lock.
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From page 3 of the Avail manual: https://www.blueox.com/wp-content/up...2/BX7420-1.pdf
3. On the towed vehicle, disengage the parking brake and set up the transmission for towing and unlock the steering wheel. Pull forward with the towing vehicle until one or both of the locking handles are engaged and locked (When locked they will “pop” up).
If only one locking handle is locked, turn the towed vehicle’s steering wheel towards the unlocked tow bar leg approximately 1/2 to 3/4 turn, before continuing forward. Drive the towing vehicle forward until the second leg locks into place.
Ray
__________________
2020 Forest River Georgetown GT5 34H5
2020 Equinox Premier AWD 2.0L/9-speed
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10-30-2020, 11:45 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Manhattan (Little Apple) Kansas
Posts: 2,491
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When backing up the force is against the locking levers and can cause damage to the internal locks. That is what I was told at the Blue Ox booth but I gotten bad information before.
__________________
2020 Newmar Baystar 3005 Gas V10 - 2020 Jeep Rubicon
1280 Watts Solar - Victron MultiPlus-II 12/3000/120-50 120V Inverter
300 Amp Lithium Battery
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10-30-2020, 01:26 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 5,652
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CWSWine
When backing up the force is against the locking levers and can cause damage to the internal locks. That is what I was told at the Blue Ox booth but I gotten bad information before.
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Indeed. Because when the motorhome slows down the toad never exerts force against those same locks...
Ray
__________________
2020 Forest River Georgetown GT5 34H5
2020 Equinox Premier AWD 2.0L/9-speed
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10-31-2020, 12:45 PM
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#13
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"Formerly Diplomat Don"
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Moorpark, Ca.
Posts: 23,922
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Granite17
The newer Avail bars will lock automatically as you begin to drive off. No need to wiggle back and forth driving or have your wife run behind to insure they lock.
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X2...just drive forward slowly until you see, feel or hear the arms lock.
__________________
Don & Mary
2019 Newmar Dutch Star 4018 (Freightliner)
2019 Ford Raptor
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11-01-2020, 07:43 AM
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,607
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CWSWine
When backing up the force is against the locking levers and can cause damage to the internal locks. That is what I was told at the Blue Ox booth but I gotten bad information before.
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Huh? Something doesn't sound right or I'm misunderstanding you. What vehicle, toad or coach, are you talking about backing up. When either or both arm locks do not lock, the easiest thing to do is to back the toad slowly to the rear. One or both arms will lock, and if only one, turn the toad front wheels TOWARD the unlocked arm. When you start to drive off in the attached combination, the unlocked arm will lock within 6'. Any time you are on the road and hit the coach brakes, the toad pushes against the tow bar arm locks. Whoever at BO told you that needs a new job sweeping streets or collecting garbage. The tow arms are designed to take tension AND compression loads. How they're applied is irrelevant, or BO would have a hundred warnings about NEVER towing a toad without brakes.
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