Locking the tow bar? Whats that all about? I have a blue ox tow bar and this is the first I have heard about locking the tow bar.

FrontRangeRVer
I have not knowingly backed up.

arne

quote:

Originally posted by codgerbill:
Locking the tow bar? Whats that all about? I have a blue ox tow bar and this is the first I have heard about locking the tow bar.

Doesn't yours have those little release levers on both arms? I'm assuming that most tow bars now have those but maybe not?

The arms move in and out while hooking and un-hooking and lock into place while moving normally down the road.

If it is a Roadmaster tow bar, it is NOT a $600 mistake. Call Roadmaster. If they can fix it, they will do it for free, INCLUDING the return shipping. (By the way, they are a bear to pack up - I just did Saturday.) Backed up 6 inches, and bent one bar.

If they can't repair it, they will sell you a re-furbished bar for $250 to $300. this is OUTSIDE the warranty period.They are real nice out there. Their phone number is:

800 669-3630 If it is another brand, I would not know, but it would be interesting on how the manufacture handles it.

Blue Ribbon....Arne said he threw it away already.

Put me in the group that hooks up and eases up to lock the arms. I can hear them lock through the rear monitor.

quote:

Doesn't yours have those little release levers on both arms? I'm assuming that most tow bars now have those but maybe not?

The arms move in and out while hooking and un-hooking and lock into place while moving normally down the road.

--'rocco

Rocco,
My Blue Ox towbar does have those release levers. In the past I just pulled the toad up, connected the toad and then drove off. How does one know for sure that the tow bar is locked? What do the voices of experience do to insure that the bar is locked prior to driveing the MH off into the wild blue yonder? Do I need to lose a nites sleep wonderin about it?

Here's an excerpt from BluOx's web page. It is from Towing 101 under the Tech Tips/Articles tab:

Self-aligning tow bars provide you with the opportunity to hook up by yourself. The self-aligning feature allows you to drive up close to the motorhome and then let the tow bar adjust to the vehicle’s position. Then the tow bar will extend out to its rigid tow position as you pull ahead with the motorhome.

quote:

How does one know for sure that the tow bar is locked?

The levers will be in the up position when the tow bar arms are locked.

Well, Bill, I guess this is what part of this thread is for ...to see what everybody does to confirm that the bars are locked.

I never really paid attention to it. I just assumed that they locked once I straightened out and got moving in a straight line. That's what they're supposed to do ...lock themselves once underway in a straight line.

However, it sounds like Arne took off in a sharp turn before one of the bars was locked and that's how he damaged his tow bar.

If the bars are both extended fully, I guess we have to assume that they are locked. That's what is supposed to happen.

Or, Blaster has a good idea, listen through your rear monitor to see if you can hear them "click" into place.

I don't know if I want to back the toad to make them lock into place. In fact, I'm sure when the guy that installed my plates gave me the instructions on how the tow bar works, he said that they would automatically lock into place once I straighten out the coach. He said that was one of the great features of the new "all-terrain" tow bars. He never mentioned backing the toad to lock the bar.