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05-18-2005, 01:18

Dan -did that accident happen on I-20 close to Terrell? Ernie-83PT40 in
Texas-

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

05-18-2005, 05:09

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'

05-18-2005, 05:22

Nope, Lawton Oklahoma.
Dan

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, erniecarpet@a... wrote:
> Dan -did that accident happen on I-20 close to Terrell? Ernie-83PT40
in
> Texas-
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

05-18-2005, 05:27

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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05-18-2005, 06:02

One of these links (with a cut and paste) might work for pics.
http://community.webshots.com/scripts/misc.fcgi?
action=invitePickup&uri=album/348146188CyWPhY

http://community.webshots.com/album/348146188CyWPhY

The road set up a fairly severe front/rear
bouncing of the coach before I could slow down (Spartan Chassis 2
axle). I was thinking to myself I might lose a air bag as I was
slowing, but did not think tow bar. This was on a back street in
Lawton OK versus hi-way or interstate, speed probably 30 MPH. This
is my second motorhome (83 FC35 first one), and the most severe
bounce I have experienced.

Even though perhaps a "freak" occurence, I now advise a drop
receiver hitch to reduce height differences. Blue Ox and Towing
World have a 10,000lb rated drop receiver in various heights. The
next problem may be entry and exit on steep ramps with the drop
receiver dragging. I am debating a 2" drop, or a 4" drop. Will
likely go 4" drop with a drag wheel.

Dan
94 BMC37'

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "rrob@t..."
wrote:
> 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@c...
> 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' > > > > >
>
>
>
>
> 
>
>
> > Yahoo! Groups Links > > To visit your group on the web, go to: > href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WanderlodgeForum/">http://groups. yahoo.c > om/group/WanderlodgeForum/ > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > href="mailto:WanderlodgeForum-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com? subject=Unsubscrib > e">WanderlodgeForum-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the > href="http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/">Yahoo! Terms of Service. > >
>

>
> 
>
>
> >
>
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
-
> mail2web - Check your email from the web at
> http://mail2web.com/ .

05-18-2005, 07:25

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'

05-18-2005, 10:33

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'