Tow Bar Height Difference coach to tow car

[Dan Weaver]

No coverage offered by Blue OX for damage to tow car nor BMC
(minimal to BMC), but they are rebuilding and R & Ring the tow bar.
RV insurance covering the BMC. I think I'll eat the tow car damage
myself.

Dan

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "g_man1146"
wrote:
> Hi Dan,
>
> Sorry to hear of your tow problems. I have a Blue Ox aluminum tow
> bar and FYI, last fall at the RITV, the Blue Ox folks came by and
> swapped the aluminum tube to a steel one. They must be aware there
> were problems. Now, whether or not a level tow bar would have a
> problem, we don't know. Mine, on the LXi, with a Jeep is almost
> dead level. They seem to be good people to deal with but may give
> you a hard time on covering any damage because of the height
> difference disclaimer. Hope they fix you up.
>
> Rich D. '99LXi43' CT
>
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Dan Weaver"
> wrote:
> > 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'