Do Tow Bars Come with Supplemental Braking Systems

Question:

Does the Aventa II tow bar need or come with a braking system?

asked by: Carla A

Expert Reply:

Tow bars like the Blue Ox Aventa or Blue Ox Avail # BX7420 are completely different components than supplemental braking systems like the Blue Ox Patriot # BLU37TR; they will not come as a package and will be purchased separately to allow for choices to be made dependent on each user's individual needs (fixed installation vs portable, RVs with air brakes vs hydraulic brakes). They will need to be purchased individually depending on your needs and preferences.

When it comes to whether or not you need one, it's a safe bet that you do. Most states in the U.S. as well as most Canadian provinces require the use of a supplemental braking system when flat towing. In addition to being required by law in most locations, a supplemental braking system helps take the stress off of your motorhome's braking components and will help prolong their life since you're not relying on them to stop the weight of your loaded motorhome PLUS the weight of the towed vehicle.

If you're looking for a portable supplemental braking system, meaning that it needs to be installed in the toad each time you tow, the Blue Ox Patriot mentioned above is a great choice. It is easy to set up and take down, and will provide proportional braking in relation to the applied brakes in your motorhome. If you would instead prefer a fixed system that is installed on your toad once and does not require any major setup whenever you want to use it, the SMI Stay-In-Play DUO # SM99251 (hydraulic brakes) or # SM99243 (air brakes) is one of our most popular and well reviewed systems.

I've gone ahead and linked some videos that you might find helpful to learn more about these products I've mentioned, as well as provided some helpful articles on flat towing and supplemental braking for you to have a look at if you'd like.