Tech Spotlight: RV Tow Bars

Anyone who drives a motorhome knows how nimble they are not. Which is why most full-timers these days bring a daily ride along: a dinghy, typically attached to the back of their bus-like rig using a method known as flat towing.

“Who wants to drive a 34-foot motorhome to the local restaurant?” says David Robinson, vice president at Roadmaster. “With flat towing, the RV becomes base camp and the dinghy goes to the lake or into the mountains.”

To make it all work, motorhomes rely on tow bars: arms extending from the back of an RV that connect to the front of the dinghy vehicle. Not every vehicle can be flat-towed—it comes down to transmission types, steering systems and other factors. Research is necessary before moving forward with installation. But for those with compatible vehicles, there are several high-quality options out there.

Roadmaster Nighthawk

Roadmaster was the first to bring collapsible bars, stainless steel and nonbinding models (making the bars easier to connect) to market. With an 8,000-pound towing capacity, the Nighthawk builds on that tradition, offering a first-of-its-kind LED light system along the bars. $1,291

Blue Ox Ascent

For those pulling lighter vehicles, the Ascent has a 7,500-pound capacity, its own nonbinding system for easy attachment and comes equipped with rubber boots along the side to prevent dirt and debris from entering any moving parts. $1,274

Demco Dominator

Weighing just 30 pounds, the Dominator is among the lightest tow bars on the market, but it’s still plenty capable. With 7,500 pounds of towing capacity, it can handle most small cars and even some SUVs; thanks to independent arms, it’s among the easiest models to hook up. $1,420

NSA Ready Brute II

To simplify the towing process, NSA RV Products combined its popular tow bar—the Ready Brute—with its trademarked supplemental braking technology, meaning the whole tow bar is easier to install than most other models. Plus, with an 8,000-pound rating, there’s little it can’t handle. $1,500

etrailer SD

One of the most affordable tow bars, the SD is on the heavier side (41 pounds) and can handle up to 6,000 pounds—making it an economical choice for smaller dinghy vehicles. With self-supporting, extra-long arms, this model is easy to attach and won’t inhibit tight turns. $745

This article originally appeared in Wildsam magazine. For more Wildsam content, sign up for our newsletter.