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11-24-2017, 03:22 AM
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#1
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 27.1
State: Florida
Posts: 98
THOR #5584
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Blue Ox Towbar Committed Suicide
I posted this a little while back over on iRV2, but wanted to get some opinions from here, as well. Hopefully that's not against protocol.
Has this happened to anyone else? We were driving our coach without towing, with our Alpha tow bar was in the storage bracket per the direction of the folks who installed the tow bar and base plate. Hit a rough patch of construction, and our tow bar bounced out of the storage bracket while under way. As best we can estimate, the tow bar was dragged behind the RV for about ten minutes, until a passing motorist flagged us down. The photos of the two triple lugs and the attachment ends of the telescopic arms show the amount of metal removed by road friction.
The photo of the storage bracket, in my opinion, shows how the accident happened. Note that there is a gap between the top of the pin holding the telescoping arms and the top of the bracket which is supposed to secure it.
The gap appears to be approximately the radius of the pin. This space provides more than enough room for the pin to vibrate and bounce sideways to the gap in the mounting bracket, where a bump in the road could bounce it out of the bracket, since there really isn't anything to stop it. The arms would then fall, and drag on the pavement. This seems to be exactly what happened to my tow bar. It's only about a year old, with a little over 6,000 miles on it, so I don't really think it's a lack of maintenance problem.
Both my installer and Blue Ox's technical service agent have confirmed that the towbar can't be repaired, and has been turned into finely machined scrap metal. Blue Ox asked for pictures, but since it's only been few days, they haven't gotten back to me yet. They did say that they’ve heard this has happened to others. Not really looking forward to having to replace it.
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2015 Thor ACE 27.1
2016 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
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11-24-2017, 10:20 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Georgetown 31L5
State: Ohio
Posts: 269
THOR #6277
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That's really unfortunate. My Blue Ox Aventa LX has the same type of bracket for storing the tow bar, but it takes a considerable amount of physical effort to rotate the bar up and out of the bracket. In other words, it seems inconceivable that mine could come out of the bracket on its own. I'm wondering whether there was something wrong with your tow bar from the beginning?
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11-24-2017, 02:26 PM
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#3
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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Sorry to hear that this happened...
This is why we always find ways to add additional straps to anything that's being carried...
Murphy's law essentially says that whatever can go wrong: will.
But he was actually an optimist: he left out the part where it'll go wrong at the worst possible moment!
(I think that he was trying to be an optimist! )
__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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11-24-2017, 03:37 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Gemini 24TX (Formerly)
State: California
Posts: 1,459
THOR #5821
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Hmmmm, I have the Aladdin blue ox tow bar which has the same or very similar store latch. I never gave a thought to the possibility it could jump out under way. One more thing to secure when its not being used to tow.
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11-24-2017, 03:58 PM
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#5
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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It usually doesn't take much to add some extra security to stuff like this.
We've used those small elastic cords that kids use to fasten lunch to their bike racks...
__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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11-24-2017, 04:19 PM
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#6
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 27.1
State: Florida
Posts: 98
THOR #5584
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In hindsight, which for me is better than 20/20, I wish I'd done that. Should have been obvious to me. Would have saved me a ton of money and grief. Blue Ox may be approaching it as something wrong at the outset, when they asked us for pictures. Hope so, anyway.
__________________
2015 Thor ACE 27.1
2016 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
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11-24-2017, 05:19 PM
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#7
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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As bad as this sounds...
Good luck! I'm hoping that they find something (that they did) that was wrong, and I "double-hope", that they make it right for you!
__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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11-24-2017, 11:11 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Chateau 35SF
State: Missouri
Posts: 738
THOR #2020
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DocP
That's really unfortunate. My Blue Ox Aventa LX has the same type of bracket for storing the tow bar, but it takes a considerable amount of physical effort to rotate the bar up and out of the bracket. In other words, it seems inconceivable that mine could come out of the bracket on its own. I'm wondering whether there was something wrong with your tow bar from the beginning?
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I also have the same type of bracket and agree completely. Ours has to come back past center to release. I don’t believe there is any way this could happen other than manufacturing defect. I hope that is what Blue Ox determines also.
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11-25-2017, 02:45 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2023 Jayco Precept 31UL
State: Florida
Posts: 2,916
THOR #1589
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We rarely take the Vegas without our towed car. If we do, I pull the arms off and stow them or leave them at home. My Blue Ox arms are pretty stiff, and I can't imagine them bouncing out of the storage position.
We toured the Blue Ox plant in the middle of Nebraska, and were impressed by the plant and the personnel. They kindly took my Aventa bars and did a thorough check of them, replacing the bushings, all at no charge.
I expect Blue Ox will do the right thing. Please let the gang here know how this gets resolved!
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Life is better when you cry a little, laugh a lot, and are thankful for everything you've got!
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11-25-2017, 05:24 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Illinois
Posts: 212
THOR #5112
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a $3.00 rubber tie down strap would be the smart thing to invest in.
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11-25-2017, 12:35 PM
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#11
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 27.1
State: Florida
Posts: 98
THOR #5584
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tigwelder
a $3.00 rubber tie down strap would be the smart thing to invest in.
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Agreed, that or the bungee cord I already had. The new one will certainly have one. I have superb hindsight!
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2015 Thor ACE 27.1
2016 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
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11-25-2017, 04:36 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.1
State: Florida
Posts: 613
THOR #4366
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Ours seems to be plenty snug but I always use a ratchet strap to secure just because.
__________________
2016 Axis 24.1 E-450 6 spd tranny
300 watts portable solar.
200 watts solar on the roof.
Wrangler JK dinghy
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12-12-2017, 12:40 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
Model: 2019 Coachman Catalina
State: Wisconsin
Posts: 216
THOR #5432
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We have the same latch on ours and from the beginning we have always taken it completely off if we drive without a toad. As a CDL driver I looked at the latch and figured it was not a positive catch type. Now I'm glad I did because it seems every road we go down is rough. And those $3 rubber straps you should leave right in the store. They will break and pop off just as easily, I see them laying on the road all the time. Ratchet straps or chains are much much better.
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12-12-2017, 02:53 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Alabama
Posts: 211
THOR #6446
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Thanks for posting. I have yet to drive the RV with tow bar attached but no toad. Should the occasion occur, I'll be securing the bar.
__________________
Former owner 2016 Vegas 25.2 Toad 2014 Hyundai Elantra
Blue Ox Avanta Tow Bar Blue Ox Patriot
Chassis Battery Maintainer/ Battery fill System
Safe_t_Plus, Spare mount underneath
Dynamat Extreme / Hoodliner Doghouse Treatment
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12-12-2017, 03:02 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 30.3 Sold
State: Arkansas
Posts: 439
THOR #8012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tigwelder
a $3.00 rubber tie down strap would be the smart thing to invest in.
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What do you tie it down to?
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12-12-2017, 01:47 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2014 Windsport 34f
State: Alabama
Posts: 295
THOR #6507
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Great Post and photos. Thanks for showing us this potential problem.
I have the same Blue Ox tow bar. I will put a strap on mine today. Hope this turns out well for you.
__________________
Rick & Jan
with Lilly (Most Active Dog) & Mattie (Laziest Dog in the World)
Wally: 2014 Thor Windsport 34f
Toad: (Wally One) 2014 Fiat 500L Trekking (4 Down)
"Welcome to our front porch"
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