On our way to Canada we experienced an epic fail of our Blue OX Tow bar. We are towing a Ford Edge 2012 vehicle with a 2005 Beaver Santiam.
We have an air force braking system and this was installed by a well known RV Service/Dealer in our area of Atlanta. The tow bar came with the coach and everything else was new. We called Blue Ox before we used the Tow Bar to ask questions about if it was safe etc. When the install on the 3600.00 air force braking system was complete we had the dealer look at the tow bar and all said it was fine. We also called Blue ox and asked them and they also said it should be just fine.
--The incident-
Long haul from Atlanta to Montreal. Normal trip, mostly freeway and we pulled off to find propane to a level off ramp. We slowed down and applied the brakes and then sped up again and felt a thud and heard a dragging sound. That dragging sound was the blue ox hitch AFTER it severed bent under the front of our car (being held by one wire) and dragging. We had no idea what had happened but the blue ox hitch severed and I mean severed in two pieces and the car lunged forward and slammed into the RV and the Car bounced back on top of the blue ox with the severed part imbedded into the asphalt. The car was drivable sort of and the RV and car were damaged to the tune of 25,000.
Fast forward to our discussion with Blue Ox. They sent us a new Tow Bar and the base plate was cracked as well so a new base plate. We were able to tow the vehicle back to Atlanta when we returned from our vacation.
Blue Ox told me today they warranty the Blue Ox Tow bar for 3 years. This is not a warranty item I said it is an epic failure item. They said the tow bar is 20 years old? It may be 10-12 years old but not 20 which doesn't really matter. I had the place they recommended for install and also called Blue Ox and no one mentioned the condition or the year of the blue ox. It was in great shape, no rust or wear on it at all. The age isn't really important because what Blue Ox said is very important. OUR HITCHES ARE GOOD FOR 7-10 YEARS. I asked why they don't say that anywhere or tell anyone and he says we tell people if they call us. I called an no one said that to me. He then said well they are very expensive so people don't want to replace them every 7-10 years and some are happy using them for 20 years. I said well you just told me they are not good past 7-10 years so aren't you doing a bad thing here?
I am writing everyone on the forum to tell you to be very careful. Your hitches are not going to last forever and Blue Ox specifically said this to me today.
We also bought a base plate less than 2 years ago from Blue Ox and the plate cracked and bent. They are now looking into this because it is very new and under warranty.
Be careful and just because your Blue Ox tow bar looks fine this means nothing in regard to safety.
We have an air force braking system and this was installed by a well known RV Service/Dealer in our area of Atlanta. The tow bar came with the coach and everything else was new. We called Blue Ox before we used the Tow Bar to ask questions about if it was safe etc. When the install on the 3600.00 air force braking system was complete we had the dealer look at the tow bar and all said it was fine. We also called Blue ox and asked them and they also said it should be just fine.
--The incident-
Long haul from Atlanta to Montreal. Normal trip, mostly freeway and we pulled off to find propane to a level off ramp. We slowed down and applied the brakes and then sped up again and felt a thud and heard a dragging sound. That dragging sound was the blue ox hitch AFTER it severed bent under the front of our car (being held by one wire) and dragging. We had no idea what had happened but the blue ox hitch severed and I mean severed in two pieces and the car lunged forward and slammed into the RV and the Car bounced back on top of the blue ox with the severed part imbedded into the asphalt. The car was drivable sort of and the RV and car were damaged to the tune of 25,000.
Fast forward to our discussion with Blue Ox. They sent us a new Tow Bar and the base plate was cracked as well so a new base plate. We were able to tow the vehicle back to Atlanta when we returned from our vacation.
Blue Ox told me today they warranty the Blue Ox Tow bar for 3 years. This is not a warranty item I said it is an epic failure item. They said the tow bar is 20 years old? It may be 10-12 years old but not 20 which doesn't really matter. I had the place they recommended for install and also called Blue Ox and no one mentioned the condition or the year of the blue ox. It was in great shape, no rust or wear on it at all. The age isn't really important because what Blue Ox said is very important. OUR HITCHES ARE GOOD FOR 7-10 YEARS. I asked why they don't say that anywhere or tell anyone and he says we tell people if they call us. I called an no one said that to me. He then said well they are very expensive so people don't want to replace them every 7-10 years and some are happy using them for 20 years. I said well you just told me they are not good past 7-10 years so aren't you doing a bad thing here?
I am writing everyone on the forum to tell you to be very careful. Your hitches are not going to last forever and Blue Ox specifically said this to me today.
We also bought a base plate less than 2 years ago from Blue Ox and the plate cracked and bent. They are now looking into this because it is very new and under warranty.
Be careful and just because your Blue Ox tow bar looks fine this means nothing in regard to safety.