Towing a vehicle behind your motorhome opens up a world of possibilities. Instead of unhooking your entire rig every time you need groceries or want to explore a scenic byway, you simply disconnect your towed vehicle and go.
But the success of flat towing depends entirely on one critical piece of equipment: your tow bar. Choose the right one, and you’ll enjoy years of trouble-free towing. Choose poorly, and you’ll face frustration, safety concerns, and potentially expensive repairs.
I’ve been flat towing vehicles behind my Class A motorhome for over fifteen years, and I’ve learned that not all tow bars are created equal. The differences in build quality, ease of use, and safety features can be substantial.
After testing numerous models across thousands of miles, I’ve put together this guide to help you find the perfect tow bar for your dinghy towing setup.
Before diving into the details, here’s a quick summary of the best tow bars for RVers:
Pros:
Cons:
The Blue Ox Alpha 2 represents the sweet spot in the tow bar market, offering professional-grade features without the premium price tag of top-tier models. For most RVers towing mid-size SUVs or compact cars, this tow bar provides everything you need and nothing you don’t.
What sets the Alpha 2 apart is its combination of durability and ease of use. The non-binding arms with low-profile easy-release locking handles make disconnecting a breeze, even when your vehicles aren’t perfectly aligned. The three-axis swivel design, a Blue Ox signature, ensures smooth tracking around corners and over uneven terrain.
I’ve used the Alpha 2 extensively while towing my Jeep Wrangler, and the self-aligning feature has saved me countless headaches. Simply attach the tow bar to your baseplate, and it automatically positions itself for towing. The quick disconnect hookup pins make the daily connection process take less than five minutes once you’ve done it a few times.
Buy Blue Ox BX7380 Alpha 2 Tow Bar
If you’re looking for the ultimate in tow bar technology, the Roadmaster Nighthawk delivers features you won’t find anywhere else. The integrated LED lighting system alone makes this tow bar worth considering, providing a blanket of illumination around the connection point that makes nighttime hookups and disconnects dramatically easier and safer.
The Nighthawk’s construction is equally impressive. Aircraft-grade aluminum outer arms keep weight down while maintaining exceptional strength, and solid stainless steel inner arms provide the durability needed for years of service. The Nylatron bushings eliminate metal-on-metal friction, resulting in less wear and a noticeably smoother ride.
During a cross-country trip last summer, I had several occasions to disconnect after dark at rest stops. The LED lighting on the Nighthawk made what would have been a flashlight-juggling exercise into a simple, well-lit operation. The truly non-binding design also lived up to its promise, releasing first time every time regardless of how the vehicles were positioned.
Buy Roadmaster 676 Nighthawk All Terrain Tow Bar
For RVers who want Blue Ox quality without the premium price, the Adventurer delivers solid performance at an entry-level price point. This Class III tow bar handles vehicles up to 5,000 pounds, making it suitable for most compact cars and smaller SUVs commonly used as towed vehicles.
The Adventurer shares many features with its more expensive siblings, including the same reliable three-axis swivel design and self-aligning operation. The steel construction with powder-coated finish provides durability, and the included safety cables give you everything needed to start towing safely.
I recommended the Adventurer to a friend who was new to flat towing, and it’s been the perfect starter tow bar for his Honda CR-V. The lower price point allowed him to invest more in quality safety equipment and a good braking system, while still getting a reliable tow bar from a trusted manufacturer.
Buy Blue Ox BX7322 Class III Adventurer Tow Bar
When you’re towing a full-size SUV or truck, you need a tow bar that can handle the weight without breaking a sweat. The Blue Ox Avail is built for exactly this purpose, with a massive 10,000-pound capacity that accommodates virtually any towable vehicle on the market.
The Avail’s Class IV rating means it’s designed for the demands of heavier towing. The 2.5-inch receiver provides a more substantial connection point than standard 2-inch receivers, and the overall construction is beefed up throughout to handle the increased loads. Despite its heavy-duty rating, the Avail maintains the user-friendly features Blue Ox is known for.
I spoke with a fellow RVer at a rally who tows a full-size Chevy Tahoe behind his diesel pusher. He switched to the Avail after experiencing flex with his previous tow bar and reported that the difference was immediately noticeable. The solid feel and confidence-inspiring connection made his long-distance travels much more relaxed.
Buy Blue Ox BX7425 Avail Class IV Tow Bar
The Demco Commander II takes a different approach to tow bar design, focusing on ergonomics and ease of hookup above all else. The independent arm design is the star feature here, allowing each arm to move separately for the easiest hookup experience in the industry.
What makes the Commander II special is how it addresses the real-world challenges of flat towing. The self-supporting arms don’t drop to the ground when disconnected, saving your back and making solo hookups much easier. The easy trigger release works even when the towed vehicle is bound up on uneven terrain, a common frustration with other designs.
The modular construction is another thoughtful touch. If a component gets damaged, you can replace just that part rather than the entire tow bar. The adjustable towing angle feature lets you fine-tune the setup to keep everything level, which is particularly useful when there’s a height difference between your motorhome’s receiver and the towed vehicle’s baseplate.
Buy Demco 9511012 Commander II Self-Aligning Tow Bar
Selecting the right tow bar involves more than just matching weight ratings.
Here are the key factors to consider:
A quality tow bar is an investment in convenience and safety. While it might be tempting to save money with a budget option, the tow bar is the critical link between your motorhome and towed vehicle. The peace of mind that comes from knowing you have a reliable, well-built tow bar is worth every penny.
For most RVers, the Blue Ox Alpha 2 offers the best combination of features, quality, and value. If you’re towing heavier vehicles, step up to the Avail. And if ease of hookup is your top priority, the Demco Commander II’s independent arm design is hard to beat.
Whatever you choose, invest in quality and you’ll enjoy years of trouble-free flat towing.
Safe travels and happy towing!
I’m Bill Rowell, the founder of RVupgrades.com. In 2002, I launched the business to help fellow RV enthusiasts find unique and hard-to-find products. Over the years, it’s grown to offer more than 15,000 items, with a warehouse in Eastlake, Ohio. Having owned and repaired nearly every type of RV, I bring over two decades of hands-on experience to the table. For me, this isn’t just a business – it’s a passion and a way of life that I love sharing with the RV community.
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