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This elegant tow bar is easy to use, with a swivel head joint that lets you twist it left and right when you're hooking up. The non-binding levers let you disconnect quickly at the campsite, even on rough terrain. Coiled safety cables included.
Features:
Specs:
| Base Plate | Adapter |
|---|---|
| etrailer | Invisible: e98986 Classic: None available |
| Roadmaster | Standard: RM-033 Crossbar-Style: RM-032 or BX88178 Direct-Connect: BX88185 or RO64FR |
| Demco | Tabless: DM9523127 Classic: None available |
The arms on the Alpha 2 are designed to make hooking up super easy. It gives you a lot of flexibility for getting your toad (towed vehicle) connected to your RV, without the need for your vehicle to be perfectly level or in the exact right spot.
Just slide the tow bar into your hitch and pin it in place, then extend the telescoping arms out until they reach the base plate tabs on your car. Then the swivel head joint allows the whole tow bar to twist left and right as you work to get the arms into place.
Once you're all hooked up, slowly pull forward and the self-aligning arms will fully extend and lock into the towing position. Double check that the arms are properly latched and you'll be ready to hit the road!
Uneven ground and sharp angles can put the arms of the tow bar in a bind and make them stiff and immoveable. Once you get to your destination, the last thing you need is to spend several minutes wrestling, yanking, and kicking at them to get your car disconnected.
Instead, get out of a bind in one easy step. Simply press down on the Alpha 2's non-binding levers to disengage the internal latches in the arms. This releases the pent-up pressure so you can unhook and get on with your adventure.
Blue Ox tow bars have triple-lug brackets to create an extra-secure connection to the base plate. It's a small detail with big benefits, as this crucial component of your flat tow setup is guaranteed to be tight and sturdy.
The Alpha 2 folds up to conveniently store on the back of your RV when you're not using it. After disconnecting the tow bar from your toad, push the arms of the tow bar together so that they are side by side. Fold the tow bar up toward your RV and slide the storage bolt into the slot in the bracket on top of the tow bar shank. The arms can store to the right or to the left, whichever side is convenient for you.
For added protection from the elements, slip the Blue Ox tow bar cover (BX88231 - sold separately) over the Alpha 2 when you're not using it.
Included with this tow bar are 2 coiled safety cables rated at 6,500 lbs. These cables, required by law, will keep your toad behind your RV if there's ever an accidental disconnect while towing. The steel S-hooks on each end of the cables connect to the toad's base plate and the RV's trailer hitch. The spring-loaded latches ensure that the S-hooks stay connected.
The coiled design of these cables prevents them from dragging on the ground and getting damaged, and the vinyl coating keeps them safe from the elements so that they last you the life of the tow bar.
Flat towing can be a much more convenient way to take your car RVing with you than using a trailer or a tow dolly. It'll save you storage space both at home and at the campsite, and it takes less time and hassle to hook up.
To flat tow your vehicle, there are 5 basic components you're going to need: a tow bar, a base plate kit, a safety cable set, tow bar wiring, and a flat tow braking system.
| For the RV | Between the RV and Towed Car | For the Towed Car |
|---|---|---|
| Hitch | Tow bar | Base plate |
| Wiring plug | Safety cables | Braking system |
| Wiring adapter cord | Wiring kit/diodes |
The custom-fit base plate installs on the frame of your toad so you can connect the car to your RV with a tow bar. Hook up safety cables between the vehicles to ensure that the toad does not separate from the motorhome if the tow bar becomes detached. Tow bar wiring syncs your vehicle's signal lights with your motorhome's tail lights, as required by law in most states. Finally, the flat tow braking system - also required in most states - activates the brakes in the toad when you hit the brakes in the RV, making for smoother, safer braking, and preventing wear on your motorhome.
Average Customer Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars (395 Customer Reviews)
This elegant tow bar is easy to use, with a swivel head joint that lets you twist it left and right when you're hooking up. The non-binding levers let you disconnect quickly at the campsite, even on rough terrain. Coiled safety cables included.Looks like a quality tow bar. However, I'm pretty disappointed because the ratings on it were very favorable. I just used it for the first time and it's EXTREMELY tight and difficult to get into or out of the storage position. I'm going to contact etrailer to see if there's something I can do or if it will loosen up over time. I don't want to start loosening bolts. If it stays this tight, my rating would go down to a 1.
My E-trailer experience was outstanding! From the great selection guide to the delivery to the installation support. The installation videos were very helpful. I had two installation issues that were answered with a prompt phone call. One call was on a Saturday morning. I highly recommend E-trailer!
After one year and several trips, there seems to be some play and wear in the swivel pins. Not sure if this is normal or if pins need to be replaced already. Will be investigating further before another long drive.
Jenny N.
6/7/2023
Some play will be normal in the tow bar however you will want to make sure that the holes have not become elongated. If you would like to send pictures of it, then I can have Blue Ox take a look for you.
Dean
6/7/2023
I have had it apart, and yes the hole is a little elongated. That is why I inquired about that particular replacement part
Jenny N.
6/7/2023
I did hear back from my contact at Blue Ox. They advised that everything looked normal and the only suggestion was that you could use washer kit part # BLU65CR to tune up the tow bar.
Best choice for a tow bar. Safe, reliable, easy to use. If you're thinking about touring in a motorhome without a tow vehicle you might want to think again. We believe the Blue Ox is the best investment we've made in our RV setup. Can't imagine not having our CR-v with us. The Blue Ox makes it super easy to connect and disconnect the towed vehicle. I also like that it doesn't alter the appearance of the tow vehicle when disconnected.
Is a tower and I love it quick hook up and go you the OX thanks guys Don Handy
Feels solid but a little tough to get into and out of storage position. Hopefully that will loosen up as we use it more.
John
3/10/2024
Still working good. Had to adjust big nuts for proper tightness but no problems otherwise.
Nice and reliable and folds up for storage. You do not need to handle the weight because it’s already mounted on my Motorhome
Eugene
8/16/2023
Great product, the operation and functions work great with no issues
My first blue ox I owned and ued for 20 yrs and it was Made from sort of metal that didnt chip and rust. The new model paint chipped and rusted first time out. when I exspressed my concern to etrailer they recommend I get some touch up paint. Not to be picky but one of the rubber sleeves keeps breaking off as well. They origial blue ox I give a 5 star the new one a 3 star with hopes that it performs for years to come.
I like the Non-Binding feature of this tow bar. I'm replacing one that was almost 20 years old and worn out.
Richard
2/4/2023
I still like it and it is still working very well
I received my tow bar two days earlier than advertised which worked out great. There was no real "installation" per se. You simply attach it to the RV and toad. I took it for a test ride and it worked flawlessly and so much easier than the bolt on tow bar I was using.
Nelson
12/20/2022
After a year and roughly 20,000 miles of towing Ive had no issues with the tow bar and no repeat maintenance issue either. Its easy and solid.
eTrailer was very helpful in choosing the correct hitch for our rv and car. They also provided a special brake application in the car that makes it super easy for toad braking.
I am 72, and I hook up this toad and pull it with confidence. The instructions to hook up the toad was presented with ease. They knew exactly what they were doing, and we didn't rush through the demonstration. I would recommend eTrailer to anyone.
Heavy duty tow bar. I pull our 2019 Jeep JL behind our 34' RV. Hook up and disconnection is so easy. Highly recommend the Blue Ox Alpha 2.
I keep this covered in the Blue Ox cover when not in use but it the paint is still flaking and rusting out. It still works but cannot believe it's so cheaply painted that it did that.
BEST TOW BAR EVER
Excellent quality and engineering. Installation requires a fair amount of mechanical sense and ability.
I ordered a Blue Ox Alpha 2 Tow Bar Friday afternoon, and it arrived Wed morning - very quick for a large, heavy object and free shipping! As usual, great, knowledgable service from etrailer.com!
My Roadmaster Falcon II finally failed for good after one rebuild decided to go with Blue Ox and I could not be more pleased with the quality and what I believe to be a superior design. etrailer has always performed beyond my expectations and I will be sure to return for any future needs.
Very helpful, diligent, and kind. Thank you.
A week before my trip I discovered someone stole my tow bar and riser while the RV was in storage. The hitch was even locked. I immediately called eTrailer for a replacement. Not only did they ship it immediately, Their rep (William) kept me updated on the shipment tracking. That was excellent customer service. The tow bar and riser and locks and anti raddle clamp arrived on time and work perfect. Now we can leave on our 4 week trip.
Easy to use. Very durable.
Blue Ox is a well made product. This is my second Alpha tow bar as the first one plumb wore out. ETrailer has the best prices and service. The product was delivered on time as promised.
This is a really solid base plate. Installation for the Pontiac Vibe was is definitely more involved that installing the alternative (Road Master). The Road Master base plate just bolts through existing bumper holes and an engine mount. This base plate is bolted directly to the frame just behind the bumper, with four 3/8" grade 5 bolts in holes you have to drill after clamping the base plate in place. I found it easy to get the required height (3/4" below bumper) but simply using a 1x3 piece of lumber. You also have drill a 1.25"hole in the frame to gain access to the inside of the frame. Tricky part of this install is getting the nuts, which are welded to a 1" plate and a ~14" steel rods, into place to be line up with the holes. It is a little hard to see. I also recommend making sure the bolts actually thread easily on to the nuts before putting the nuts in the the frame. I had the misfortune of one of the either cross threading or jamming, and I ended up having to cut the bolt head off with a sawsall using a metal blade. The bolt had not gone very far into the nut before it jammed so I was just able to get the sawsall blade behind the head, and cut it off, holding the head with a pair of vice grips. If that hadn't worked I would have had to take the car to a shop with oxy-acetaline torch to have it cut off. I was able to fish the cut of bolt out for the frame with a bent coat hanger. The first photo is of the base plate after I cut off the bolt.
Blue Ox support was GREAT! I sent them and email explaining that I needed new nuts and bolts, and they sent the needed parts (at no charge!). I just had to put my install on hold for several days.
The second problem I had was in attaching the electrical harness recepticle to the tubes on the to bar. One of the self tapping screws twisted off as I was tighting it. I ended up cutting of 1/2" of the tubes (with the sawsall) and then tapping the tubes with 1/4x20 threads, and regaining the length cut off with the bolt. My recommendation to blue ox, is that they tap these tubes with to 1/4x20, and provide regular bolts to attach the recepticle. The second picture showes the result.
When I showed the 3rd and 4th pictures to my mechanic, he was impressed and said, "That looks really solid!" The last picture shows the front of the car after I have started to assemble it (with the styrofoam padding on the bumper, and the draw bars in place.
The solidity of the Blue Ox engineering and the FABULOUS customer support has totally turned my into a Blue Ox fan. I'm glad my RV dealer suggested that I go with Blue Ox instead of the slightly cheaper solution, that would have been much less solid.
Fast delivery, so far everything is working out.
Great Tow Bar! This is our second one only due to an accident. The only reason we replaced it is because it is recommended after an accident. We rear ended by a semi truck and it did bend the brackets on the tow vehicle but the tow bar itself appeared not to be damaged.
Do you have a question about this Tow Bar?
Condition: Like New
Notes: May have damaged packaging or minor cosmetic blemishes.
Info for this part was:
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Jenny N.
3/4/2024
I reached out to Blue Ox and they did advise that a new tow bar can sometimes be difficult to place into the stow position. It has been recommended to having the legs spread shoulder width apart prior to moving it up, then pressing one leg down at a time to ensure that upright pin stays in the channel. I am attaching a video in an email to you that they sent to demonstrate it.