Tow Bar Height Difference coach to tow car

[Dan Weaver]

When using a tow bar and towing a car 4 wheels down, Blue Ox
recommends a max difference of 4" from coach receiver to attachment
point on the toad. None of our Birds are even close to this with
95% of tow cars.

I "had" a 10 inch difference, using a aluminum Blue Ox Alladin tow
bar rated at 5,000 pounds, towing a Geo Prizm approx weight 2500
lbs, total towing miles about 10,000 in 3 years.

Last week on a trip, I hit a series of large bumps and dips that
were not readily visible, so I did not slow down in time. The Blue
Ox sheared at the exact entry point into the receiver on the coach,
so the car and the rest of the tow bar broke loose attached only by
the safety cables. "Luckily", this was in a safe area to pull over
rather than the 1 lane interstate construction I had just left,
where I would have backed up traffic for miles, and likely had
greater damage.

To complete the trip I bought a Blue Ox Aventa II steel tow bar
reated at 10,000 lbs. I will be sending the aluminum broken bar to
Blue Ox, and they will repair it at no charge other than my shipping
cost. That still leaves me 2 bars, and a damaged tow car.

I will be buying a 4" drop hitch, and am changing to a taller tow
car (was doing so anyway), and plan to keep and run the 10,000 pound
bar and sell the 5,000 pound bar.

If you are towing 4 down, check your height difference, and consider
a drop receiver hitch.

Dan
94 Bluebird BMC 37'