RV Tow Bar Basics
RV travel continues to grow rapidly around the world. Home away from home travel is convenient, comfortable, flexible, allowing the traveler to go to a wide variety of historical sites, beautiful places and just get away anywhere. Once your RV settles in at the campground, RV park, or wilderness, and you’ve seen and visited all the sites within walking distance or park bus ride, are you content to sit back and watch your RV grow? Grass? Wouldn’t it be great to not have to drive your big beautiful RV and just hop in a car to see the next towns, nearby historical site, shopping?
Then just tow your car!
It’s a comprehensive three-part system when it comes to towing a vehicle: the RV, the towed vehicle, and the towing device. There are also three basic methods of towing: the unit hauler/trailer, with vehicles inside; the dolly, where the vehicle travels on a two-wheeled trailer. Both systems are great and useful, but can often be a hindrance when trying to park your RV and trailer at a campground or RV park, often without enough space for such a large system.
That’s why the third option, RV tow bars, are so popular. Tow bars are stowable, lightweight, and allow the RV owner greater flexibility with the choice of vehicle towed. There are also three types of tow bars:
*Rigid A-Frame: Least expensive, uses solid arms, often difficult to attach towed vehicle to RV alone, often requiring two people to perform the task. The towed vehicle must be positioned in a precise location due to the rigidity of the solid arms.
*Self Aligning Car Mount – Added flexibility in positioning your vehicle with adjustable arms. The tow bar, if left in the car, could be damaged while left in the car and cause safety concerns, can be heavy for the towed car, and could distract from the natural “beauty” of the towed vehicle.
*Self-Aligning RV Mount – This system becomes more popular every year. It eliminates the RV tow ball hitch, which is often low and hits the ground when pulling into parking lots, and can be folded up for safekeeping.
When choosing a tow bar type and manufacturer, consider where you’re traveling and your access to parts and service for the brand you choose.
It is also important to get a tow bar that is suitable to work with your vehicle. Points to consider include where the bar can be mounted on your vehicle, the weight of your vehicle, and even the type of vehicle you are towing. Front wheel drive, manual transmissions can be towed easily; Front wheel drive automatic transmissions will likely require an additional lubrication pump; Rear wheel drive vehicles require some form of release for the driveshaft; certain 4WD vehicles are easily towed. Every auto manufacturer has certain vehicles that are set up to be towed off the lot, as they say; the recommendation is always to refer to the manufacturer’s recommendations and what works best for you for access, serviceability, and performance.
Proper care of your tow bar system is crucial. It’s a given that most travelers get a new vehicle towed every couple of years, and a different RV a few years later, but the tow bar is rarely updated. The tow bar is an absolute integral part of your towing system and should be treated with the same respect as the RV and other vehicle. Check all your parts, pins and tighten all bolts, even replace them when possible. The price of a bolt is much less than a totaled vehicle and loose parts can increase vibrations resulting in damage to all parts. Make sure you have all the necessary accessories and that they all work as required, such as straps, light connectors, and safety cables.
So before you choose your new tow ball, make sure you know:
A) If your vehicle can be towed,
B) The towing capacity of the RV,
C) how often you travel and tow,
D) you have equalized weight capacities,
E) It has all the necessary accessories.
Answer that, pick your tow bar and tow away.