10 Best Tow Bars For Your RV Trips

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RVs are big and they’re tedious to drive around town, especially when you’re just going get supplies and groceries for the campsite.

If you’re staying put in a place for a long time, it’s more practical to bring along a smaller vehicle that can be used for smaller errands and exploring the neighborhood. This is why you need a tow bar for your RV( unless of course, you want another person driving the toad to the campsite instead).

Depending on the weight of the car you are towing, you’ll need to consider the tow bar’s weight capacity, type of hitch, among other factors.

In this article, I’ll give you a detailed overview of RV tow bars and how to purchase the right one.

The following are the primary benefits of using RV tow bars:

  1. You can take your car along with your RV wherever you go. As such, for quick and short trips, you can use the car whenever necessary. Smaller vehicles are more suitable for making trips to grocery stores, gas stations, etc.
  2. Large motorhomes and RVs aren’t always allowed to go down certain roads because of their size. As such, with a smaller car, you can explore paths that are blocked off for RVs.
  3. The smaller vehicle can serve as an emergency vehicle if something happens to your RV.
  4. You can use the smaller vehicle for extra storage space.
  5. An RV tow bar can prove useful if you ever come across another vehicle that’s broken down and you want to help them out.

Best Tow Bars for Your RV:

1. Blue Ox BX4330 Acclaim Tow Bar

To kick it off let’s look at one of the better-known tow bar brands out there- Blue Ox. They are Nebraskan company that was started in the 80s and offer tow bars with towing capacity up to 20,000 pounds. In this review we have included 3 of their products as they are very popular with the RVers who love quality American made products that last for years. 

Now having said that, they are not cheap and if you are looking for bargain options there are some cheaper models reviewed further down.

The first model-BX4330 can pull up to 5000 lbs., and you can tow medium-sized cars or compact SUVs with ease with this one. Also, you will need a hitch that is rated class III or higher and a ball mount for this sturdy tow bar.

You might notice that the bar is bent when the coupler is parallel to the road. It is usually better to go with a tow bar that is straight for towing but it still has enough freedom of movement and the extension arms allow a little give when moving to and fro. This is especially true when the RV and the toad don’t stop at the same time. This way they absorb the impact and reduce the stress on the bar. Also, they have rubber sheaths to shield from debris, which can damage the sliding tubes in the long run.

They lock automatically when the towing vehicle moves forward after installation. It’s easy to unlock when both vehicles are on a flat road and are aligned with each other. When the vehicles aren’t, it’s more difficult to press the levers.

Installation of this product is quite straightforward and the safety cables are included. Still, the electric cord for the toad’s lights is a separate purchase, so do keep that in mind.

It’s not exactly lightweight (45 lbs.), so it could be a bit of a challenge to mount it on the ball mount. 

Another downside to this product is that you can’t stow it at the back of the RV because both arms don’t fold over completely to one side. Instead, you should detach it from the RV and fold it across and stow in front of the toad (the attachment tab has a pin to secure it to the coupler when folded).

Having said that this tow bar is well made, easy to hook up and very stable.

PROS

  • Can tow small to medium sized vehicles
  • Can be installed by one person
  • Locks automatically
  • Safety cables are included
  • Well made
  • Stable

CONS

  • No electric cord included
  • Extension arms are hard to unlock if there is tension
  • Can’t be stowed behind the RV

2. Blue Ox BX7365 Alpha Tow Bar

The next Blue Ox product we have included in our review if for larger vehicles as the Blue Ox Alpha tow bar can tow any trailer that is up to 6500 lbs., which means you can pull a midsize SUV behind your RV. Its strength is more than enough to bring a vehicle to the campsite that can carry all your groceries in one go.

The extension arms hinge on a horizontal and vertical cylinder and they also rotate. It has a lot of freedom of movement but if the height difference between the hitch and the attachment tab is more than three inches, you should use a high/low adapter.

Blue Ox Alpha inserts into a two-inch hitch receiver and pretty much anyone could easily install it, it is not hard. The pins and safety cables are included and it fits with baseplates with a tab width of 16 to 36 inches.

The company has a diverse selection of baseplates for the most popular vehicles and you can find them here. It’s a bummer, however, that the electric cord for the toad’s lights is a separate purchase.

The extension arms allow plenty of movement so the toad doesn’t push as hard against the RV as some other bars.  

After you have finished installing the bar and securing it in place, it automatically locks when the RV moves forward just a little bit. It also unlocks easily by simply pressing the lever to release the tension. However, it’s hard to unbind the arms when the vehicles are on an incline or at an angle with each other.

Unlike the previous model, you can fold it either to the left or right side. It’s easy to store and the only missing item is the cover to protect it from rain, which isn’t much of a dealbreaker.

PROS

  • Can tow small cars to midsize SUVs
  • Can be installed by one person
  • Locks automatically
  • Safety cables are included

CONS

  • Extension arms are hard to unlock if there is tension
  • No electric cord included

3. Blue Ox BX7445 Aventa LX Tow Bar

The last product by Blue Ox that we will take a look at is the Aventa LX model that has a towing capacity of 10000 lbs. This means you can easily tag along a full-size SUV or truck with your RV with this one. The strength is impressive and the bar is sturdy as well.

It uses a ball-and-socket joint, and it’ great to have this level of flexibility with the bar. Being a flexible bar allows it to withstand forces from all directions. That said, Blue Ox still suggests that you use a drop hitch receiver if the height difference between the hitch and attachment tabs is greater than three inches.

It fits a two-inch hitch receiver and you need a hitch that is rated class IV or higher to use it. It’s a hefty piece but a person can easily insert the coupler to the hitch receiver.

It fits baseplates with a tab width of 15 to 36 inches and the safety cables are included in the package (electric cord isn’t).

The extension arms allow for a little “stretch” in the bar, so you don’t feel the toad pushing hard when it stops a second or two later. 

Since the bar is essentially unlocked when you connect it to the toad, it’s great that the bar automatically locks when the tow vehicle moves forward. It is also easy to press the levers when relieving the tension in the extension arms. Unless the vehicles are on an inclined road or in an angled position towards each other, which makes it much harder.

The bar stows at the back of the RV, and it comes with a guide pin to secure it in place. You can fold it either to the left or right side. It’s easy to store and Blue Ox has a vinyl cover available to protect it from the elements (separate purchase).

PROS

  • Impressive towing capacity
  • Can be installed by one person
  • Locks automatically
  • Safety cables are included

CONS

  • No electric cord included
  • Extension arms are hard to unlock if there is tension

4. Roadmaster 576 All Terrain Tow Bar

Also known as the Sterling All Terrain tow bar this product is both strong and secure. Roadmaster recommends not towing more than 8000 lbs. behind your tow vehicle and you will need a hitch that is rated class IV or higher with this one.

Since most of its components are made of aluminum, it’s lighter than steel tow bars, making the installation procedure also much easier.

Keep in mind that if the height difference between the hitch and attachment tabs is greater than three inches, you should really use a drop hitch receiver.

The extension arms slide so the toad doesn’t push against the back of the RV should you brake hard. They also swivel on both a vertical and horizontal hinge, and you can point them at whichever direction you want. This flexibility allows it to withstand the forces that occur when towing a vehicle. Unfortunately, unlike Blue Ox models they lack rubber sheaths that protect the moving parts.

After connecting both vehicles, the extension arms automatically lock when the tow vehicle moves forward and it is really easy to unlock them and you can disconnect the toad just about anywhere. The levers don’t feel stiff even if both vehicles are on an inclined surface or at an angle with each other. 

What is great about the Roadmaster bars is that there is a channel in both extension arms for the cables and wires to pass through, keeping the cables nice and tidy. 

The bar also comes with safety cables, a wiring kit for the toad’s lights, and a quick disconnect system for the toad. The quick disconnect system has a bar that attaches to the baseplate of the toad and you disconnect the tow bar from the toad with just two small pins. 

This bar also stows at the back of the RV, and the bolt at the hinge inserts to a locking plate when you fold it upward.

PROS

  • Can tow large vehicles
  • Lightweight aluminum construction
  • Can be installed by one person
  • Locks automatically
  • Extension arms unlock easily no matter the position
  • Disconnects from toad immediately
  • Built-in cable management channels
  • Includes safety cables and wiring kit

CONS

  • Lacks rubber sheath for the extension arms
  • Expensive

5. Roadmaster 522 All Terrain Tow Bar

Antoher quality product by Roadmaster that we have decided to include in this review is the Falcon All Terrain model, that can haul max 6000 lbs. This means you can pull small cars and crossovers behind your RV with ease. It’s the smaller offering in Roadmaster’s lineup of tow bars, but the steel construction makes it just as heavy as its bigger siblings.

Inserting the coupler to the hitch receiver (needs to be class III or higher) can easily be done by a single person. Once again keep in mind that if the height difference between the hitch and attachment tabs and get a drop hitch receiver if you need one.

The extension arms soften the impact when the toad pushes against the back of the RV, but there is not rubber sheath for protection which sucks. Still, they do swivel and rotate, which allows them to go with the flow when you’re on the road. 

The ease of locking and unlocking the arms is what makes this bar popular among campers. The arms will lock when the tow vehicle moves forward, and the unlocking is just as easy. Even if both vehicles are on a slope or at an angle with each other, you don’t feel the tension when pressing the levers and you can stop just about anywhere when you want to detach the tow bar.

There is a channel in both extension arms for the cables and wires to pass through, so your cables aren’t getting in a way of things.

The bar also comes with safety cables, a wiring kit for the toad’s lights, and a quick disconnect system for the toad which can be a lifesaver, as it allows you to immediately disconnect the towbar from the toad when you need to.

Instead of attachment tabs, a bar attaches to the baseplate of the toad and all you need to separate the towbar from the toad are two pins.

The bar stows at the back of the RV, and the bolt at the hinge inserts to a locking plate when you fold it upward. You also get a vinyl cover to protect it from the weather, which is always a welcome addition.

PROS

  • Good hauling capacity
  • Can be installed by one person
  • Locks automatically
  • Extension arms unlock easily no matter the position
  • Disconnects from toad immediately
  • Built-in cable management channels
  • Includes safety cables and wiring kit

CONS

  • Lacks rubber sheath for the extension arms

6. Smittybilt 87450 2″ Ball Adjustable Tow Bar Kit

 

Smittybilt offers this affordable towbar if you are hauling 5000 lbs. or less. Its design is fairly simple, but you can bring light trucks and midsize SUVs to the campsite with it.

You need a two-inch ball mount on your hitch receiver to use this bar, and the latch makes it easy to unmount. The bar is slightly angled when installed behind your RV, and the two mounting points can swivel side-to-side as well as up-and-down. It’s flexible enough so the bar moves along even if you’re swerving.

There are two universal mounting brackets and two D-ring brackets included. What’s great about the universal mounting brackets is that you don’t have to use a baseplate- just attach them to the chassis of the toad and secure the bar with two pins.

The D-ring brackets are made for Smittybilt baseplates and they are secured with two pins. Be mindful of the spacers that you don’t lose them, as the size Smittybilt provides isn’t widely available.

The arms can go as wide as 48 inches between the mounts, making them wider than other bars with a similar or even greater towing capacity. What’s great about them is that you can easily detach the bar from the toad without having to deal with extension arms that bind when the vehicles are at an angle with each other. You just have to unclip the pins and they easily slide out.

There are safety chains attached to the arms and they essentially work the same way as the safety cables. There is a chain at the joint of the arms, which connects to the RV and another one near the mounts, which connects to the toad. However, the electric cord that provides electricity to the toad is not included in the package.

Regrettably, you can’t stow the bar at the back of your RV because you can’t fold it to the side. I guess you could stow it at the toad’s front bumper by folding it upward, but it could block the view from the driver seat and it’s not compact either. 

PROS

  • Good towing capacity
  • Can be installed easily
  • Easy to disconnect from the toad
  • Mounts and safety chains are included
  • Universal mounts don’t need a baseplate anymore
  • Inexpensive

CONS

  • Spacers included aren’t widely available
  • Can’t be stowed behind the RV

7. Reese Towpower 74344 Adjustable Tow Bar

This towbar from Reese Towpower is designed for up to 5000 lbs. of towed weight. It’s not as heavy as stronger bars (just over 30 lbs), so it is easy even for someone weaker to attach it to the receiver- all you need is a two-inch ball mount. To detach it, simply pull the latch.

When you have it installed, the arms are pointed downward and they swivel side to side. The attachment brackets can move horizontally and vertically, which makes it effortless to attach to the toad.

The universal bumper brackets are included in the package, so you do not have to use the baseplate at all. The downside is that you need to know what you are doing when you’re going to drill holes to the frame of your toad.

Unlike other bars that have extension arms, this kind of bar is easier to disconnect- simply unclip the pin in the bracket and slide it out.

There are no safety cables/chains and an electric cord included with this product, so you have to purchase them separately. Still, one should not complain at a price like this.

Another downside of this simplistic design is that you can’t stow it behind the RV. You have to detach it from both vehicles, else, it just sticks out at the back and is simply a nuisance. 

PROS

  • Good towing capacity
  • Can be installed easily
  • Easy to disconnect from the toad
  • Universal bumper mounts are included
  • Universal mounts don’t need a baseplate anymore
  • Inexpensive

CONS

  • Safety cables/chains and electric cord aren’t included
  • Can’t be stowed behind the RV

8. NSA RV Products (RB-9050) Aluminum Tow Bar

You can tow 8000 lbs. behind your RV using NSA’s towbar, which means that you can haul four-door versions of heavy-duty trucks with it. It’s comprised mostly of aluminum parts, and it’s great to have a lightweight yet strong bar. It is also the only bar on our list that comes with a surge brake.

Given its towing capacity, it needs a hitch that is rated class IV or higher. NSA doesn’t specify the maximum height difference between hitch and baseplate, but my best guess would be a 2-inch difference but do check with the manufacturer if you want to be sure.

The combination of the extension arms and the surge brake absorbs the force from the toad when it pushes against the back of the RV. There is a cable connected to the extension arms that activates the surge brake when the toad pushes against the arms.  This setup is great for when you are towing a heavier vehicle, where the force is just stronger especially during a sudden brake.

Locking/unlocking them is effortless when both vehicles are on a level surface and are in line with each other. Else, you will feel the tension in the levers and it requires quite a bit of effort to release them. There is also a rubber sheath for each arm to help maintain the lubrication in the moving parts. Greasing them is the only maintenance you have to do to keep it in top shape.

NSA also includes the safety cables and all the wires for the toad’s lights and brakes. They also give you different attachment clevises depending on the brand of your existing baseplate. It’s nice that you don’t have to change the baseplate of your toad if you decide to switch the brands.

It folds up and there is a hook at the coupler that secures it in place and as the legs fold down to the side you can stow it behind the RV.

PROS

  • Good hauling capacity
  • Comes with a surge brake
  • Lightweight
  • Locks automatically
  • Safety cables and wiring included
  • Attachment clevis for different brands are available

CONS

  • Extension arms are hard to unlock if there is tension

9. Demco 9511008 Dominator Tow Bar

Demco has got you covered when you need to haul 7500 lbs. using your RV. You can comfortably tag along an SUV to the campsite and the combination of aluminum and steel components makes it lighter than some of the competition (weighs only 30 lbs).

Using it is straightforward- simply insert the bar to a two-inch receiver and then lock it with the pin (keep in mind you do need a class IV rated hitch). You can even compensate for the height difference between the hitch and the toad’s attachment points. The extension arm bracket can be lowered or raised and you just replace the nut after adjusting. It’s great because you can basically do without a high/low adapter.

The extension arms are stacked on top of each other, compared to other tow bars where they are side by side making the range of flexibility wide so you’re not limited by the baseplate widths. But unlike other tow bars, there is no rubber sheath to protect the moving parts from dirt and grime.

Demco does a great job of adjusting especially when the toad stops slightly later than the RV. You don’t feel it “pushing” at the back. They automatically lock when the RV moves forward and the levers release the tension when you need to detach the bar. But unless both vehicles are aligned and flat, you can feel a strong resistance when pressing the levers.

The safety cables and coiled wire for the toad’s lights are included. You also get clips where you can hang the safety cables and there is a storage rod at the driver-side extension arm where you can insert the coiled wire.

When you’re done using the bar, it folds to the side so you can stow it behind the RV. You can even fold one arm to the right and one to the left, so the bar is kept balanced.

PROS

  • Good hauling capacity
  • No need for a high/low adapter
  • Lightweight
  • Locks automatically
  • Unlocks easily
  • Safety cables and wiring included

CONS

  • Pricey

10. Hiltex 20046 Adjustable Tow Bar

We were bit reluctant to include this tow bar in the review, as it needs minor adjustments to work properly, but decided because of the low price to still include it in the review.

Hiltex advertises this towbar for up 5000 lbs. of trailer weight, but you can’t maximize it unless you replace the bolts and the safety chains. It’s disappointing that they aren’t up to the task, but after replacing them, you should be able to tow up to midsize SUVs safely.

You need a two-inch ball mount with your hitch to install the bar and anyone can mount it without breaking a sweat. It’s also effortless to detach by just releasing the latch on top of the ball mount.

The arms are sloped downwards and they only swivel to the side and do not extend. You can use it for vehicles where the distance between the attachment tabs is 24 to 41 inches, so you can use it with a number of different vehicles, as long as they don’t exceed the towing capacity.

You don’t need to have both the RV and the toad to be aligned with each other to disconnect the bar- as long as they are on a flat surface, the pins are easy to slide out.

There are universal bumper mounts included, but no electric cord for the toad’s lights. Universal bumper mounts allow you to forego a baseplate by drilling them directly on the toad’s chassis. The downside to that is it requires more thought and experience to effectively execute, compared to just attaching a baseplate that is made for purpose, and like most bars with a simplistic design, you can’t really stow it behind the RV. 

PROS

  • Good towing capacity
  • Can be installed easily
  • Easy to disconnect from the toad
  • Universal bumper mounts are included
  • Universal mounts don’t need a baseplate anymore
  • Inexpensive

CONS

  • Bolts and safety chains are subpar
  • Electric cord isn’t included
  • Can’t be stowed behind the RV

Which Factors to Consider when Buying RV Tow Bars?

You need to consider the following factors when buying RV tow bars.

Type of Tow Bar

There are a number of different types of tow bars on the market. All of them are designed differently and serve different purposes.

Horizontal Hitch Tow Bar

A Horizontal Hitch Tow Bar is equipped with a square tongue which can connect to the hitch receiver. It is perfect for heavier loads, with the 40mm variant used for medium-sized loads and the 50mm variant used for larger loads. It is secured via a metal pin attached to the side of the hitch. It can also be used in conjunction with a weight-distribution hitch.

Swan Neck Tow Bar

Swan Neck Tow Bars are generally only used in Europe. This type of tow bar is equipped with a fixed tow ball. It is generally available in a U-shape or L-shape design.

Flat Tongue Tow Bar

A Flat Tongue Tow Bar is only used for towing lightweight vehicles. It comes with a detachable tow ball that can fit into the tow bar’s horizontal slot. The tow ball is then secured by driving big bolts on the top of the hitch.

Rear Step Tow Bar

Rear Step Tow Bars are only meant for 4-wheel-drives. The tower is permanently fixed at the rear-end of the vehicle and it protrudes outwards slightly. The rear step is attached to the bar. These are better for off-roading purposes since they have better ground clearance.

Class of Tow Bar

Tow Bars come in several weight classes, with each class being capable of a specific weight capacity.

Class 2

Class 2 tow bars are the lightest and have a weight capacity of maximum 1200kg. They generally use a flat tongue hitch and are not compatible with weight-distribution hitches. These are ideal for towing lightweight vehicles.

Class 3

Class 3 tow bars have a weight capacity of maximum 1600kg and can tow medium-weight loads. They generally use a horizontal hitch and are not compatible with weight-distribution hitches. These are ideal for towing boats, compact cars, and medium-sized caravans.

Class 4

Class 4 tow bars have a weight capacity of 3500kg. As such, they are perfectly capable of towing heavy-duty vehicles like large boats, caravans, other RVs, etc. They generally use a horizontal hitch and are compatible with weight-distribution hitches.

Type of Hitch

The Hitch is the device that the towed trailer or vehicle connects to. It is crucial to get the correct hitch for your vehicle or it can lead to terrible disasters.

Articulating Hitch (aka Off-Road Couplings)

Articulating Hitches, also known as Off-Road Couplings, provide extreme vertical and horizontal movement and articulation. This is necessary when you’re going through steep inclines and declines.

Weight Distribution Hitch

A Weight Distribution Hitch is ideal for leveling the towed vehicle and the RV. When correctly tuned, it can spread the weight across the chassis of both vehicles. This prevents a heavy towed vehicle — such as a Caravan — from pulling the primary RV.

50mm Tow Ball

Almost all tow bars come with a 50mm tow ball. These can handle most towing duties, but they’re not as capable of handling vertical/horizontal articulation as the Articulating Hitches.

Important Tow Bar Tips

  • Keep your tow ball clean when you’re attaching the hitch. Presence of grease, rust, or other contaminants will reduce friction and prevent them from working correctly.
  • Before attaching the stabilizer, clean the tow ball with wire wool or emery cloth.
  • Make sure that the tow bar doesn’t affect your reversing sensors.
  • When you reverse the RV on to a pitch, you should pull forward a little before you go ahead and unhook the car and RV. This will relieve compression from the hitch head ram.

Now you know all there is to know about RV tow bars. I hope this article has helped you figure out which type of RV tow bar you need so you can make an informed and educated purchase.