Knowing When to Replace Your Tow Bar

Durable as a towbar design may be, any responsible tower should check their setup on a regular basis to ensure that the stresses of toting heavy vehicles or large trailers hasn’t taken a toll on the structural integrity of the tow bar itself.  Many who use recreational vehicles will tow their smaller cars or trucks behind the RV, and since poorly designed roads or traveling into mountainous regions can put added stress on the hitch or connecting bolts, it’s important that the driver understands how the systems are designed, the warning signs of a worn out tow bar, and how to determine when it’s time to replace any towbars before they break while in transit.  You can take incredible care of your towing package; but ultimately, there will come a point when the unit will wear out.  The key is replacing all of the worn down equipment before an accident occurs.Routine MaintenanceAnytime we discuss routine maintenance for cross-country towing vehicles, we often get comments regarding the great care they take when monitoring the engine, and explain how they have the necessary routine fluids checks conducted with each trip they take.  However, what about the towing unit?  Each time you are hooking up your vehicle or trailer to your RV, take a few moments to run down a brief checklist and take a quick look at some of the key components of your tow bar setup.Replacing Your Tow BarIf you are like many recreational vehicle enthusiasts, you replace your RV every 7 years or so.  Additionally, the vehicle that you tow behind your motorhome often is replaced much more frequently.  However, when you look down at your tow bar, ask yourself how many vehicles this particular rig has seen.  Tow bars are built to last, but they can still suffer from incredible wear and tear, leaving your dinghy, and other drivers on the road, vulnerable and in harm’s way.  Consider all of the “stop and go” traffic you experience during your travels.  Every time you are stopped at a stop light and begin moving forward, stress is placed on the  tow bar. Now, add up all of the times this has occurred over the life of your current rig, and you’ll quickly be reminded of how much strain is actually put on the couple of feet of metal that separates your RV from your towed vehicle.What to Look ForOne of the smallest pieces of your towbar is also one of the most important – the pins.  They are simple to check in on each time you use your RV, and the “eye test” should do the trick.  You can easily remove them from the casing and run your fingers along the surface of the pins themselves.  Do you notice any indentations or wear?  If so, you’ll likely want to take a closer look at some of the other pieces involved.  Another great way to quickly assess your brisbane towbars involves the retainer pins.  Because they keep your primary pins in place, take note of how they snap into place securely.  Do they wiggle?  When you put them back into their place, do they still offer plenty of resistance?  These things are very important, and while you can replace just the pins in your tow bar rig, remember that any signs of wear should induce a longer, more involved inspection.Taking care of your RV and tow vehicle is always important, but when you neglect your tow bar, you are opening the door for disaster.  A worn down towing apparatus is not the sign of a faulty product, but instead, is a part of the normal wear that these units see.  By assessing the pins, bolts, and structural integrity of the hitches, you are ensuring that your travels are safe and care-free.