What are the best RV tow bars?
Almost immediately after purchasing your motorhome, you’re going to need a good set of RV tow bars for your ‘toad’. For reference, toad = towed vehicle. However, not all RV tow bars are the same. I’ve spent quite a bit of time researching the different models available on the market. Keep on reading to gain some insight, or click the links below if you just wanna see the goods.
In our opinion, the best tow bars for your motorhome are manufactured by Blue Ox. Depending on the weight of your toad, you have 3 solid options:
Blue Ox BX7365 Alpha 6,500lb Tow Bar
Blue Ox BX7445 Aventa LX 10,000lb Tow Bar
Blue Ox BX4330 Acclaim Class III 5,000lb Tow Bar
We also recommend pairing any one of these RV tow bars with the following:
Blue Ox BX8869 Bulb and Socket Tail Light Wiring Kit
Now it’s time to dive deeper.
You will learn why I chose these as the best RV tow bars for sale, and also gain some knowledge.
Ready?
Let’s go!
Why do I need an RV Tow Bar?
Imagine for a moment, that you are traveling the countryside in your brand new or used RV. The world is your oyster! After researching the best spot nearby to explore, you pull into your camp site and park your motorhome. You break out your leveling blocks, hookup the power, and pop out your slides.
Just as soon as you’re all set up, you realize that you need to pick up something from the nearby market. Or, maybe you want to travel to a local trailhead that is just too far to walk. In these circumstances, you don’t want to be forced to prep your RV for travel. You’ll be stuck driving around in it for small trips – hoping to find a parking spot. That would be absurd!
That is why you should tow a vehicle with your RV, and you will need an RV tow bar to do it.
Technically, however, you could tow a car on a trailer or a dolly. Sure, you would save mileage on your vehicle, and wear to the tires, but to me, the benefits are outweighed by the cons: The cost of the trailer, the inconvenience of loading and unloading, being forced to find somewhere to store the trailer, and the extra weight that your RV must pull.
It’s important to note that not all cars can be towed with 4 wheels on the road.
Keep reading to learn more.
What cars can be flat towed behind an RV?
I was pretty amped to create a big table of vehicles that can be flat towed behind an RV, but then I stumbled across a website that has already done an exceptional job of consolidating this information into a printable pdf file. Check out the Downloadable Dinghy Guides at Motorhome.com
For the quick and easy answer, check the owners manual for your vehicle. Make sure to do this, and triple verify that it is indeed flat towable before making a purchase.
From personal experience, I tend to see a lot of Jeeps and Honda CRV’s. Although, a lot of the newer compact, fuel-efficient vehicles, are starting to gain traction.
In my opinion, I recommend that you get a 4×4 vehicle that can handle a little bit of off road travel. You’re exploring the country! Your vehicle should allow you to see even more of it, without the worry of getting stuck.
Check out this informative video by RVProject:
What do I need to tow my vehicle behind my RV?
The first thing you’re going to need is a base plate that will mount to the frame of your vehicle. This will easily and quickly connect to the tow bar.
Depending on which tow bar you purchase, you will need to get a matching base plate. If you’re following along, and you decide to get a Blue Ox tow bar, then I recommend you purchase the Blue Ox Base Plate.
I recommend that you install the base plate yourself, if you have the tools & ability. It will take roughly 4 hours, but plan on spending an entire day to get everything set up just in case. Otherwise, you should be able to find a professional to do the installation for you to ensure that everything is set up correctly.
You are also going to need a tail light wiring kit that is specific to the rv tow bar you choose. Again, if you are planning on installing one of the Blue Ox Tow Bars listed above, then I recommend picking up the Blue Ox Bulb and Socket Tail Light Wiring Kit.
Last, but certainly not least, you will need to get an RV towed brake system. The Blue Ox Patriot Brake gets a lot of great reviews, but it’s important to read the manual and set it up correctly. Of the few issues noted, most appear to be due to improper configuration.
In every state, there are different laws on the requirement of the tow brake system, or the weight of the tow vehicle. However, for your safety, and the safety of others on the road, I HIGHLY recommend that you purchase a brake system. Also note, if you rear-end a vehicle, and you do not have a towed brake system, their lawyers will surely use this against you in court.
Above all else, be safe! You are driving a very heavy motorhome, and towing a heavy vehicle. Do everything in your power to be as safe as possible while on the road.
How do I connect an RV Tow Bar to my vehicle?
Once you have your base plate, brake system, and break tail-light wiring installed on your toad, you’re ready to rock & roll. Hooking up your RV tow bar to your vehicle from here on out is really a simple process. Rather than try to explain how to connect your rv tow bar, I’ll point you to this video by Stew Oleson:
Recap of the best RV Tow Bars?
The best RV tow bars can be subjective, and really depend on what you’re looking for. We here at RVMustHaves.com are fans of the Blue Ox RV Tow Bars. But, that doesn’t mean you couldn’t choose another brand as the best for yourself. Check out the products listed below. Feel free to use Amazon’s compare features to check out Blue Ox vs other brands of tow bars. Read through the reviews, and depending on your personal needs, you may find that these RV tow bars are indeed the best on the market.
In our opinion, the best tow bars for your motorhome are manufactured by Blue Ox. Depending on the weight of your toad, you have 3 solid options:
BX7365 Alpha 6,500lb Tow Bar by Blue Ox
BX7445 Aventa LX 10,000lb Tow Bar by Blue Ox
BX4330 Acclaim Class III 5,000lb Tow Bar by Blue Ox
We also recommend pairing any one of these RV tow bars with the following:
BX8875 Tow Bar Cover by Blue Ox
BX8869 Bulb and Socket Tail Light Wiring Kit by Blue Ox
BRK2012 Patriot Brake by Blue Ox
As you can see, these products get loads of 5-star review! Be sure to check them out when purchasing your next RV tow bar.
– RV Must Haves
