Tow Bars

A tow bar is a heavy-duty, compact metal tool used in attaching a vehicle to a load or another vehicle to be towed or hauled. It usually haul four-wheel drives (recreational vehicles or RVs, sports utility vehicles or SUVs and all-terrain vehicles, among others) and loads associated with all-terrain driving. These bars come with accessories like safety chains, lighting systems and cables. Before tow bars became popular, vehicles need to be hauled using a trailer or a tow dolly, making it inconvenient for drivers to tow when alone or driving in remote places.

Aside from emergencies, tow bars are also necessary for general hauling purposes. This is especially true for RVs or motorhomes which can conveniently attach and detach another car on it especially during location transfer or mandatory trips to the grocery or nearby venues. One does not need to move the entire parked trailer as long as the standard car can be attached and detached to it anytime and any day.

There are generally two types of tow bars: The A-shaped or rigid tow bar where the vehicle to be towed is hooked precisely on the center of the coach's back. It is generally cheap but has flexibility limitations like the need to align the vehicle so that the tow bar connects to the ball. For those who frequently travel and need to tow or haul their vehicles often, a collapsible tow bar is the wise choice because of its flexibility features like adjustable arms, automatic centering, locking and unlocking.

There are four classes of tow bars depending on the weight of your vehicle: Class 1 for 2,000 pounds; Class 2 for 2,001 to 3,500 pounds; Class 3 for 3,501 t0 5,000 pounds; and Class 4 for 5001 to 10,000 pounds. Always add the weight of the vehicle's contents and accessories installed before determining what class of tow bar to use.

Some tow bars require only the lone driver to establish the hookup, but it is best to have a spotter to guide the driver for additional safety precaution. Also, never back up the vehicle while it is attached to the tow bar to prevent damage both on the car and the tool. Tow bars can be stored either on the front of the car (car-mounted) or on the back of the coach (coach-mounted).