The Blue Ox BX7445 Aventa Tow Bar is our best tow bar and the picot connection is also self-tightening, which is a big advantage. When it comes to its additional features, it can be protected from road grime using the integrated rubber boots. Moreover, it provides a strong attachment between the towed vehicle and the coach so you get worry-free towing instances. As for the capacity, it can tow up to 10,000 pounds of weight. It also uses triple lugs that are offset so your towing force can be aligned much better. Moreover, it uses a 360-degree swiveling feature which makes hooking up easier and works even on uneven surfaces without sacrificing the proper alignment.
Our step-up pick is the Blue Ox BX7420 Avail Tow Bar and this tow bar gives you a smooth towing feel even when during the roughest roads. As for the features, it comes with a safety cable and it also includes a receiver tube which measures 2 inches. In fact, you can also maneuver on tight corners such as gas stations without many problems. All in all, the towed vehicle and the motor home both maintain a safe distance against each other with this tow bar. It also has a towing capacity of 10,000 pounds as well, just like our top pick.
The budget pick is the Hiltex 20046 5000-lb Adjustable Tow Bar and this budget pick for the best tow bar provides easy hooking for convenience. It also comes with convenient safety chains. Adding to that, the safety chains are adjustable and measure 30 inches each. In fact, it can fit bumpers at an almost universal range of 24 to 41 inches. The tow bar can tow weights up to 5,000 pounds and it is a great cost-effective tow bar of heavy duty construction.
A Little Background
Before getting into the topic of tow bars first, you must know a couple of things about it. Here are some starters and basic facts to get you familiarized with the topic.
Towing is a great way to save money in the long run. Most people live in motor homes and RVs so that they can easily get from one place to another. RV and camping usually go along together and towing is a necessary part of it.
Tow bars are the ones used for towing anything, such as a motor home or an RV, from one place to another. To save you time and fuel in the long run, most people depend on towing systems such as the tow bar.
How We Picked
Choosing the best tow bar like most products is never a walk in the park. Choosing from a myriad of products was never easy because competition is very tough. And this is why we must resort to using a bunch of criteria in order to make it easier for us to distinguish which one is the best tow bar out there. For instance, we used the following:
Towing capacity – always know the towing capacity of a tow bar as well as the towing capacity of the vehicle so that you will not run into troubles whatsoever while on the road.
Adjustability – make sure that the tow bar has a lot of adjustable options such as safety chains and the like.
Safety features – a tow bar with safety chains is a great advantage so that you will not run into big problems when towing your vehicle, even if you are maintaining a good distance between the tower and the towed vehicle.
Stability on the road – consider a tow bar that runs stable on the road and can easily tow any vehicle without adding bumpiness to the road and the traveling feel.
Durability – make sure that the tow bar is made from heavy duty steel so that it will last for the many years to come and can be used for almost any season of the year.
Protection from the elements – some tow bars have boots and rain covers so that you can protect them from getting corrosion from the rain and elements.
Easy hook up and disconnecting – you would want a tow bar that is easy to hook up and also easy to disconnect and also a tow bar that is relatively easy to assemble so that you can focus more on moving your vehicle rather than setting up the towing system.
Maneuverability – a tow bar with great maneuverability makes a great tow bar and a towing system completely safe and easy to manage. The turns that you will make with the tow bar should be just fine and it will feel as if you are not towing anything behind you at all.
Our Pick
Blue Ox BX7445 Aventa Tow Bar
Our best tow bar is the Blue Ox BX7445 Aventa Tow Bar due to its various awesome features. As for the capacity of towing, this tow bar can tow up to 10,000 pounds of weight. As for the maneuverability of the tow bar, it uniquely uses a 360-degree swiveling feature which makes hooking up easier and works even on uneven surfaces without sacrificing the proper alignment. This feature is unlike most of the tow bars that we have picked in this article and unlike most tow bars in the market today.
As another unique feature, the tow bar by Aventa uses triple lugs that are offset so your towing force can be aligned much better and it keeps you safe on the road as well as to keep your eyes on the road rather than focus your attention by worrying on the towing vehicle as well as the towed vehicle.
When it comes to its other unique features in the mechanical parts of the tow bar, the ball-in-socket design of this tow bar makes it a great modern-day tow bar for use in emergency purposes and will definitely not fail you with its features.
The Blue Ox Aventa Tow Bar is indeed very easy to install on most vehicles. Due to the convenience and stability of the tow bar by Blue Ox, you can be sure that it easily disconnects so you can spend less time setting up the towing problem. Another great feature of this tow bar is the very fact that the picot connection is also self-tightening, which is a big advantage.
And in addition to all of those neat features, the high quality and heavy duty construction of the steel material will set this tow bar usable for the many years to come so you can have more value for what you spent on this tow bar. And as a safety precaution so you can protect your tow bar from the elements, the tow bar can be protected from road grime using the integrated rubber boots. Most tow bars do not have or include a protective shield such as this and you often have to buy them separately but with this tow bar, you do not have to because it has been integrated and built-in with the product.
Moreover, when it comes to the mechanical advantages of this tow bar, the spherical joint of this tow bar makes it unique from most flex joints that are bolted together. All in all, this awesome tow bar by Aventa Blue Ox definitely provides a strong attachment between the towed vehicle and the coach so you get worry-free towing instances. In addition to its versatility, the tow bar also works with the 1120 base plate. Generally, this tow bar is totally great for towing most motor homes or mobile homes.
Flaws but Not Dealbrakers
Most items and the like have their own limits, as nothing is perfect. There can be a few discrepancies when it comes to price, features and many other things. As for the Blue Ox BX7445 Aventa Tow Bar and its weaknesses, there can be a few but they do not compromise the overall quality, hence it is still our top pick as the best tow bar out there today. For example, the retaining pin might run a bit too short and one of the locking handles might fall off, but these are very minor problems that can be easily remedied.
Step-up Pick
Blue Ox BX7420 Avail Tow Bar
When it comes to our step-up pick, we chose the Blue Ox BX7420 Avail Tow Bar for those with a little extra budget when it comes to choosing the best tow bar out there. With this tow bar, you will not fail the road and you can tow a lot of types of vehicles with different weights due to the fact that this tow bar has a towing capacity of 10,000 pounds as well, just like our top pick.
And when it comes to the unique feature of this tow bar, you will be at ease because the tow bar comes with a safety cable so you will definitely stay safe on the road while towing your vehicle or getting towed. And what’s more, in addition to that feature, the tow bar is also equipped with other needed features as it also includes a receiver tube which measures 2 inches.
When it comes to the durability of the product, the Blue Ox Avail Tow Bar has been thoroughly made from high quality steel construction. And as for the feel of the tow bar while on the highway, the tow bar definitely gives you a smooth towing feel even when during the roughest roads so it is set to keep you at ease while driving to tow your towed vehicle. Durability is not compromise because of the fact that the metallic paint makes it high quality in its finish.
As a general rule of towing, you should definitely keep in mind that the towing vehicle as well as the towed vehicle must have a good distance between them so that they do not bump into each other accidentally when making sudden stops or breaks due to the effect of inertia in our world. With all of this said and done, the towed vehicle and the motor home both maintain a safe distance against each other with this tow bar so you will definitely be at ease on the road when it comes to safety.
And another thing that comes to this tow bar that makes it highly convenient to set up is the fact that the included and integrated latches are non-binding and do not have pressure so they can be easily released. This makes the tow bar very easy to set up so you can focus more on towing than putting the tow system together. Because of the design of the tow bar, you can also maneuver on tight corners such as gas stations without a lot of problems to worry about, making its maneuverability at a high score.
With the Avail Blue Ox Tow Bar, you can never go wrong with the looks and the overall design of the tow bar. This because of the very fact that the handle design is of low profile and can fit vehicles that are either wide or narrow. And to finish it off, another great feature that you can find in this tow bar is the very fact that the turning radius is greatly improved.
Budget Pick
Hiltex 20046 5000-lb Adjustable Tow Bar
When it comes to our budget pick for those who do not have a lot of money in purchasing the best tow bar, you may want to settle for the Hiltex 20046 5000-pounds Adjustable Tow Bar which is also a great tow bar to consider for its price and features. Just like our two picks for the top pick and the step-up pick, this particular tow bar conveniently comes with convenient safety chains.
This awesome tow bar by Hiltex is nonetheless very highly adjustable that is equipped with a 2-inch fitting ball that makes it very easy to operate, maneuver and maintain. Because it is just our budget pick, it can tow weights up to 5,000 pounds which is significantly less than our previous picks but nonetheless will definitely work for you if you are only going to tow small motor homes or items behind you. If you are looking for a smaller solution for a tow bar then this is it.
Because of the convenient versatile features of this tow bar, it can definitely fit bumpers at an almost universal range of 24 to 41 inches, making it a truly versatile tow bar to consider for its price. What’s more, when it comes to the additional features with adjustability, the safety chains are adjustable and measure 30 inches each.
The Hiltex 20046 Tow Bar is nonetheless very compact to store when not in use due to the simple folding mechanism so you can put it in your garage or truck so you can keep it with you while traveling to far distances and it can allow you to tow vehicles that are very easy to tow without having to worry about rigorous set-ups and the weight capacity, because it is okay for smaller vehicles. As for the convenience that this tow bar can give you, it definitely provides easy hooking for convenience. All in all, it is a great cost-effective tow bar of heavy duty construction and the tow bar can also work on most Jeeps with adapters given.
Ideal Tow Bar for A-Frame Trailers
CURT 19745 Adjustable Tow Bar
If you want a highly adjustable tow bar then you might want to have the CURT 19745 Adjustable Tow Bar which is a great tow bar that has been specifically made for A-frame trailer designs. When it comes to the handle of the tow bar, you can freely choose from a red or black handle design. The tow bar is also available in side wind and top wind design for your own personalization preferences.
When it comes to the weight, you do not have to worry because of the fact that it is relatively easy to carry at only 42 pounds for a tow bar. Like we said, this particular tow bar has been designed for trailers with an A-frame design. Because it is a truly versatile tow bar, you can weld or bolt this tow bar onto your vehicle so you do not have to worry about setting it up. Like most standard tow bars out there, this one has a good towing capacity – the capacity is from 2,000 pounds up to 5,000 pounds.
As for the measurements of the tow bar, here are the facts. The distance between the attachment plate bolt holes is 4.5 inches. And going into the details of that measurement, each bolt has a measurement of 5/8 inch in diameter. And what’s more, when it comes to its other parts, the bumper brackets have a width of 2.5 inches from inside to inside.
But what is the CURT Adjustable Tow Bar best used for? Most people on Amazon say that it is super ideal for hauling Jeeps. Being backed by a full manufacturer’s warranty for parts and labor, the tow bar by CURT is a definite must-have for any person who wants to get their A-frame trailer towed behind.
Best Jeep Tow Bar
Currie Enterprises CE-9033JK Jeep Tow Bar
If you are looking for a great tow bar to consider for your Jeep or JK Jeep, you can possibly depend on the Currie Enterprises CE-9033JK Jeep Tow Bar due to its neat features. As for the weight and management, it is definitely super easy to carry at only 31 pounds compared to most tow bars. Additionally, as a tow bar, it also works on other tow bars as well such as Blue Ox tow bars.
The tow bar has also been given a powder coat finish with a semi gloss black to protect it from the elements and for long lasting durability. And like we said, the Currie Jeep Tow Bar is an ideal tow bar mounting keep for Jeep vehicles. As for the finish, it definitely has a very smooth exterior so it is already set to be protected from the elements. And as an additional feature, it also comes with a clip and pin for convenience. Adding to that, the tow bar also comes with the needed installation hardware so you can feel convenient in the long run. Overall, the tow bar by Currie Enterprises can easily replace lower plastic valence due to its heavy duty plate design.
Tow Bar with Adjustable Chains
Ridgerock Tools 5000-LB Adjustable Tow Bar
If you are looking for the best tow bar with adjustable chains, you can depend on the Ridgerock Tools 5000-LB Adjustable Tow Bar. As for the measurements, the bumpers from 24 inches up to 41 inches can fit on the arms of the tow bar due to its adjustable features.
It can also fit any standard 2-inch ball while the safety chains that are included are highly adjustable and measure 30 inches each. It has a weight towing capacity of 5,000 pounds overall and it can be easily folded to be stored when not in use. It is ideal for cars, trucks and the like that can be towed away. The bolt holes have a spacing of 4 inches on each side while the bolt holes have a diameter of 12 mm and it has a max speed rating of up to 8 miles per hour.
Best Heavy Duty Tow Bar
Demco Excali-Bar II 10,500-LB Tow Bar
The Demco Excali-Bar II 10,500-LB Tow Bar has a towing weight capacity of 10,500 pounds and it easily hooks up to tow any vehicle due to the independent arms design. Ideal tow bar for the Honda CR-V, the tow bar has a cover to protect it from the elements when not in use. It can be stored nicely while you are not using it.
Best Collapsing Tow Bar
Warrior 860 Collapsing Tow Bar
The Warrior 860 Collapsing Tow Bar has a unique collapsing mechanism which allows it to be stored easily. It is super easy to carry at only 30 pounds and it helps to enhance your vehicle’s balance during the towing process. This tow bar by Warrior is a greatly performing tow bar that is dependable and is under a manufacturer’s warranty.
Tow Bar with Clip and Pin
Reese Towpower 7014200 Adjustable Tow Bar
The Reese Towpower 7014200 Adjustable Tow Bar is very easy to install and it also comes with a clip and a pin for convenience. It is highly adjustable to your needs and preferences and is highly resistant to corrosion. The sturdy build and durable materials make this tow bar a great companion on the road. Its towing power is unprecedented and reliable. It is lightweight but durable at 32 pounds of weight.
The tow bar has a max towing weight of 5,000 pounds and the bolt holes have a 2-inch length increment. It can take highway speeds up to 70 miles per hour or more.
Best Mounted Tow Bar
Roadmaster 520 Falcon-2 Mounted Tow Bar
The Roadmaster 520 Falcon-2 Mounted Tow Bar can fit a lot of vehicle makes and models, making it a truly versatile tow bar. It has a max load towing capacity of 6,000 pounds. This is a mounted type of tow bar, which makes it unique compared to other tow bars. The tow bar can be shipped internationally and is easy on the weight at 50 pounds. The solid construction makes it a great tow bar. It is backed by a manufacturer’s warranty.
The Competition
Competition arises when there are too much products of the same kind that all battle it out for the best of the best. With the issue and topic of the best tow bar out there, the competition was never easy as well and so we only picked the best ones that stood out with their unique features and are very useful, durable, functional and well-deserving of your money.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
If you have some questions to ask particularly about tow bars then do not hesitate. But who knows – your question might just be answered in the section below, where we will display some of the most commonly asked questions about tow bars so far.
Q: What are some of the tips you can do when towing vehicles?
A: According to Hall Tow Bars , you must make sure you know the capacity of the tow bar or the weight limit. And when it comes to safety features, the braking system must be functional for the towing system. And when it comes to the weight, you should definitely keep in mind that the towed object must have its weight clearly identified, including everything inside the vehicle or towed object.
As a safety precaution when towing vehicles, any person should always perform routine checks and take short breaks to identify problems within the towing system. In addition to that, to make sure that you are safe on the road, you should make sure that the hitch pin and the hitch are both secured and in place. And as a general rule of towing vehicles, you should always keep in mind that the driving distance between the tower and the towed vehicle must be safe. As a great tip, you can also depend on electric brakes due to the very fact that electric brakes help you keep a safer distance. Additionally, you should also plan your trip to avoid traffic and weather disturbances so that you can stay safe on the road.
Q: What are the pros of towing your own vehicle, RV or motor home or trailer?
A: According to HowStuffWorks Auto , a towed motor home or RV is much more advantageous because it does not have an engine to maintain. Always remember that without an engine, there would be much more space to maximize in the towed home. And in addition to that advantage, you should know that maintenance is also a great advantage of a towed home. As a matter of fact motors also cost a lot when it comes to maintenance and the lack of it makes towed homes much more cost-effective and this is why you should definitely tow your RV or motor home.
Q: What should you look for in any towing vehicle?
A: According to Transwest , you should definitely look for the towing capacity of the towing vehicle first before proceeding to buy a tow bar. And in addition to the towing capacity, you should know that the curb weight refers to the weight without passengers or cargo inside and this should be considered as well. Adding to that fact, the wheel base of a vehicle dictates its maneuverability so that you will able to manage the large and tough turning points on the road.
Always know that there are big differences between different driving systems. For example, remember that 4WDs and AWDs still have different power delivering methods so make sure you know your vehicle’s power. However, do know that AWD can be great for muddy and rainy conditions but can also add weight to the towing vehicle. And in addition to that, another factor to consider in towing vehicles is the transmission of a vehicle. Generally, transmission is based on what you feel like doing – manual is great but takes a lot of hard work whereas automatic is hassle-free but can be tough when it fails. In choosing your next towing vehicle, it is wise to consider these items and factors.
Q: What are the different methods of towing a motor home?
A: According to FMCA , there are various ways to towing a motor home. For example, a tow bar is the most common way of towing a vehicle, which can be rated from 3,500 to 5,000 up to 10,000 pounds of weight. Another great example would be the tow dolly, which is different from the tow bar. To put it this way, the tow dolly is another way of towing a vehicle, but it can tow multiple vehicles at the same time. And last but not the least the trailer is the most expensive of all towing methods and deliberately saves your vehicle from getting damaged or getting mileage. No matter what you choose and whichever fits your budget, all of these towing methods stand very effective with proper safety precautions and such.
Wrapping It Up
Overall, the Blue Ox BX7445 Aventa Tow Bar is our best tow bar for towing just about any motor home or RV behind you safely.
Jen Miller is a former electrical engineer and product specialist with more than 20 years of product design and testing experience. She has designed more than 200 products for Fortune 500 companies, in fields ranging from home appliances to sports gear and outdoor equipment. She founded Jen Reviews to share her knowledge and critical eye for what makes consumers tick, and adopts a strict no-BS approach to help the reader filter through the maze of products and marketing hype out there. She writes regularly and has been featured on Forbes, Fast Company, The Muse, The Huffington Post, Tiny Buddha and MindBodyGreen.