henleyd
missouri
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Joined: 06/13/2013
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Fed up with rental car agencies, I want to buy a bar and tow car. Looking at a Blue Ox pulling a Jeep 2 door wrangler, or similar.. question…any issues with either choices or is it as simple as it appears ..those are most of what I see everywhere.
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craig7h
Branson MO area
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Joined: 03/23/2002
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My original tow set up was the jeep wrangler and blue ox. For me it was a good set up. However now I am using a tow dolly as the jeep became to hard for DW to get in and out of. Plus the dolly gives more car options.
I tried to find the lists of cars you can tow 4 down, but could not find. It seems to get harder and harder to find cars able to tow 4 down.
Good Luck, never did understand the rental thing
Itasca Meridian SE 36g
Road Master Tow Dolly
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rr2254545
Central Minnesota
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Joined: 07/12/2009
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Great product - note check out weight of the tow bars - do not take it off and on very often but the bars very in weight 31-42 lbs
2012 Winnebago Journey 36M Cummins 360
2014 Jeep Cherokee
492 Campgrounds,107K miles driven in our Winnebago motor homes and 2360 nights camping since we retired in July 2009, 41 National Parks
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wa8yxm
Davison Michigan (East of Flint)
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Joined: 07/04/2006
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I towed assorted vehicles with a blue ox tow bar.. Good product very happy with it.
Make sure you get a good aux-brake system for the Jeep. there are several out there. But I'm going to drop them into 2.2 classes.
First is the Box in the driver's seat.. Like Brake Buddy.. They say "No installation required" but the fact is you need to install it every time you tow (They mean no drilling or cable routing) and it eats power off the towed's battery.... EVERY TIME YOU TOW.. it's a chance to mess up the install or to say "oh what the heck.... I"m only going a short distance. I'll just forget it"
Both are not good.
2.1 and 2.2 are installed systems Either electrically opeerated (.1) or if you have a diesel MH with air brakes (Or a gasser with an air compressor) air operated (.2) These systems are "invisible" far as the towed's driver is concerned. they are there full time and it only takes a couple seconds to plug it in and unplug it.. and in some cases not even that.. No motive to "oh forget it".
Very good systems.
Home was where I park it. but alas the.
2005 Damon Intruder 377 Alas declared a total loss
after a semi "nicked" it. Still have the radios
Kenwood TS-2000, ICOM ID-5100, ID-51A+2, ID-880 REF030C most times
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way2roll
Wilmington NC
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Joined: 10/05/2018
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Personally I've always preferred ready brute elite tow bars with built in surge brakes. No need to buy an additional braking system for the toad, it's mechanical so less to fail and super simple to hook up.
2023 FR Sunseeker 2400B MBS
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Bumpyroad
Virginia
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Joined: 12/01/2005
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jeep and blue ox, a good start. for all prospective toads, be sure to check owner's manual for towing behind a motor home, recreational towing, etc.
bumpy
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RetiredRealtorRick
Gulf Shores, AL
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Joined: 04/17/2020
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I tend to agree with craig7h.
I was in the automobile business for 30 years, so always had numerous options of what I wanted to take with us on a trip. So, I found that a Demco all-galvanized dolly with surge brakes fit our needs the best (plus I used it in my business extensively).
Although it limited us to a FWD vehicle, sometimes it was a small van, sometimes a very economical puddle-jumper, and sometimes our own personal Audi A4 convertible. We never had any issues with what to do with the dolly when we reached our destination, and with a drop-down front wheel added, although the dolly was heavy, it was still very maneuverabile.
. . . never confuse education with intelligence, nor motion with progress
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fyrflie
Martinez, CA. USA
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You have undoubtedly figured out that there are two distinct groups here.
The tow bar group and the tow dolly group. Each method has its pros and cons.
I have towed my Jeep wrangler thousands of miles, 4 down with a tow bar with no problems.
As for auxiliary braking, I have a Brake Buddy Classic. It has failed on me two times. Applying the brakes and not releasing. I cannot recommend this product.
But for installation purposes, you simply set it on the floor, connect it to the brake pedal, then connect your power cable. That’s it.
My Brake Buddy has a power wire from the coach to keep the toad battery charged and does not drain my battery as mentioned above.
You have many options. Good luck and safe travels
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LouLawrence
Traveling the US fulltime since 2000.
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Joined: 03/16/2021
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If you don't want the size and weight of a Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk or a Grand Cherokee (4x4 wi6th proper transmission) are factory setup to tow. Add the Blue Ox and M&G or Air Force One braking system and you are good to go. It takes less than 5 minutes to hook up and be ready to drive away. It takes even less time to disconnect. I have done the dolly thing and will never go back.
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ferndaleflyer
everywhere
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Joined: 03/31/2011
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I used a dolly for years then in 2014 had our Smart car equipped with a Blue Ox towing system---the whole nine yards done at a dealer. After 2, thats right 2, trips with the tow bar set up I went back to the dolly. The Smart is still set up and the rest of it is in the garage. Was just to much of a PIA for this 82+ person to hook up and unhook. I can do the dolly in 10min. But that is my choice, may not work for others.
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