othertonka wrote: I am also curios what base plates do you use with this tow bar? This whole set up does not sound safe to me and I would not buy it. And also why would anyone buy this tow bar with the warning (Avoid sharp turns which may damage the tow bar and/or the vehicle). Does anyone every think that they will NEVER have to make a sharp turn? Use this at your own risk in my opinion
Here is what the bar looks like. What do others think of this bar? Tow Bar
Actually, my son has one, set up to tow a Jeep. No base plates, the brackets bolt to the front bumper. It works just fine.
I have a nearly identical one, made by Valley Industries ( come to think of it, it could be by Reese), that I use to tow an '06 Jeep Rubicon. It works just fine, too.
All in all, we have towed four different Jeeps with these towbars, many thousands of miles, with NO problems!
The sharp turn warning is probably because some idiot jacknifed one and bent it, then sued for damages, or misused/abused it in some other way, then sued. That is the usual reason for such warnings.
If some people saw the OEM towbar for the original VW bug, they would probably have instant heart failure! You can't tow a car with THAT!!!
othertonka wrote: I am also curios what base plates do you use with this tow bar? This whole set up does not sound safe to me and I would not buy it. And also why would anyone buy this tow bar with the warning (Avoid sharp turns which may damage the tow bar and/or the vehicle). Does anyone every think that they will NEVER have to make a sharp turn? Use this at your own risk in my opinion
Here is what the bar looks like. What do others think of this bar? Tow Bar
Actually, my son has one, set up to tow a Jeep. No base plates, the brackets bolt to the front bumper. It works just fine.
I have a nearly identical one, made by Valley Industries ( come to think of it, it could be by Reese), that I use to tow an '06 Jeep Rubicon. It works just fine, too.
All in all, we have towed four different Jeeps with these towbars, many thousands of miles, with NO problems!
The sharp turn warning is probably because some idiot jacknifed one and bent it, then sued for damages, or misused/abused it in some other way, then sued. That is the usual reason for such warnings.
If some people saw the OEM towbar for the original VW bug, they would probably have instant heart failure! You can't tow a car with THAT!!!
Steering locked or unlocked? If LOCKED it would make a big difference for the sharp turn statement? But most cars that people tow do not have front bumpers, that is why I asked about base plates. Yes I think it would work just fine for a jeep with the bumpers that most of them have.
Othertonka
2004 Southwind 32VS 8.1 Workhorse chassis
2002 CRV Toad
U. S. Gear Unified brake system
Retired Fire Captain, SFD
I will put in a call to Harbor Freight Tech Dept tomorrow (888-299-3427) and ask about the reason for their instructions. I have the tow bar and it is a stout well designed product and, judging by appearance, is probably the same one being sold under different brand names. Just eBay 'tow bar' and you will see the same product under various names and price ranges.
Regards, Al
The original post asked about locked or unlocked steering which indicated that the poster had a dinghy that did lock. Therefore my post did not address any dinghy that did not have a steering lock.
We have as a dinghy a 2005 Saturn Vue (Previously a GM product built after 2003) that has the steering wheel lock and was sold to us with THREE ignition keys. Two "standard" keys and 1 "special" key supplied for unlocking the steering wheel when towing the dinghy 4 down {the ignition is not unlocked when dinghy is towed on a dolly}. Have friends with 2004 Chevrolet Malibu (GM built) that also has the steering lock. There is a possibility that the above 2004 dinghy may have been built in 2003 not 2004 though.
Hello friends.
Just got off the phone with Jason at Harbor Freight Technical Department. Jason confirmed that the Adjustable Tow Bar Owners Manual is the latest revision. Jason could not explain why the instructions to "LOCK" the steering are in direct conflict with industry towing recommendations. I checked the 2008 Towing Guide and it specifically states on pages 8 & 9 that the front wheels must be "UNLOCKED". Jason also said that the change came from the Harbor Freight Quality Assurance Dept and that he had no control over their recommendations.
It is what it is :^). Nevertheless, I will tow with steering unlocked.
Regards, Al Fiallos
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