Tow Bar Height Difference coach to tow car

[rrob@...]

Good info Dan. I had my Excalibar modified (with Demco permission) to
adjust for height difference on my SOB to 4 inches. Now that I have the
Bird I think there is more like 6 inch difference. I always thought the
manufacturers wanted the heigh difference minimized to prevent the
possibility of the toad diving under the RV in the event of severe braking
with resultant RV nose dive & rear up. Wasn't aware the height diff could
cause breaking and failure of a tow bar. I do agree you are doing the right
thing with a 10000lb bar. In the case of tow bars I believe 'more is
better' IMHO.

Rob 94 WLWB

Original Message:
-----------------
From: Dan Weaver dweaver907@...
Date: Wed, 18 May 2005 17:09:56 -0000
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Tow Bar Height Difference coach to tow car





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'














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