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Blue Ox tow Bar issue [message #261837] Sun, 14 September 2014 11:07 Go to next message
Larry is currently offline  Larry   United States
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Registered: January 2004
Location: Menomonie, WI
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I ran into a rather odd thing last week. I bought a new Blue OX tow bar to use towing my Honda Civic. 6500LB Bar. Just to assure myself that it was going to work, I decided to hook it up and see if there were any bugs to work out. First thing...insert in the 2" receiver on the coach. Funny...it would not go in to the receiver. WHAT??? Everything else that I had 2" would...why not this? Took my caliper and measured it. The Receiver and the Bar were both 2.026". No clearance. Double checked my measurement then checked my other 2" inserts. All others fit with up to .010" clearance. So I called Blue OX. Tech support had never heard of this problem, but agreed to send me another...what they called a "receiver". Three days later I got the new "receiver". I took it out of the box and sure enough...it fit with about .006" clearance....with a little lube, a nice tight fit. My guess is that they piled on to much paint or powder coat, OR my receiver on the coach is for some reason a little small.....though why haven't I had issues with other inserts? Anyway it is a good thing I did not wait until we were ready to leave to try it. My advise, if you buy a new Blue OX, check for fit well before you intend to leave on your trip. BTW, Blue OX tech support was very helpful and apologetic for the problem, and sent the new part that same day. I need to send the oversize part back to them so tech support can look at it.

Larry Smile
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.
Re: Blue Ox tow Bar issue [message #261845 is a reply to message #261837] Sun, 14 September 2014 12:22 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bob de Kruyff   United States
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Registered: January 2004
Location: Chandler, AZ
Karma: 1
Senior Member
Larry wrote on Sun, 14 September 2014 10:07
I ran into a rather odd thing last week. I bought a new Blue OX tow bar to use towing my Honda Civic. 6500LB Bar. Just to assure myself that it was going to work, I decided to hook it up and see if there were any bugs to work out. First thing...insert in the 2" receiver on the coach. Funny...it would not go in to the receiver. WHAT??? Everything else that I had 2" would...why not this? Took my caliper and measured it. The Receiver and the Bar were both 2.026". No clearance. Double checked my measurement then checked my other 2" inserts. All others fit with up to .010" clearance. So I called Blue OX. Tech support had never heard of this problem, but agreed to send me another...what they called a "receiver". Three days later I got the new "receiver". I took it out of the box and sure enough...it fit with about .006" clearance....with a little lube, a nice tight fit. My guess is that they piled on to much paint or powder coat, OR my receiver on the coach is for some reason a little small.....though why haven't I had issues with other inserts? Anyway it is a good thing I did not wait until we were ready to leave to try it. My advise, if you buy a new Blue OX, check for fit well before you intend to leave on your trip. BTW, Blue OX tech support was very helpful and apologetic for the problem, and sent the new part that same day. I need to send the oversize part back to them so tech support can look at it.

This is a problem across the industry-there is a technical committee working on developing industry wide clearance standards.


Bob de Kruyff
78 Eleganza
Chandler, AZ
Re: Blue Ox tow Bar issue [message #261847 is a reply to message #261837] Sun, 14 September 2014 12:38 Go to previous messageGo to next message
midlf is currently offline  midlf   United States
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Location: SE Wisc. (Palmyra)
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My bet: It didn't look right so they sent it back through the line for another coat.

Steve Southworth
1974 Glacier TZE064V100150 (for workin on)
1975 Transmode TZE365V100394 (parts & spares)
Palmyra WI
Re: Blue Ox tow Bar issue [message #261941 is a reply to message #261847] Mon, 15 September 2014 08:49 Go to previous messageGo to next message
tphipps is currently offline  tphipps   United States
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Registered: August 2004
Location: Spanish Fort, AL
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In case I go to an Estate Sale this week-end, what is a fair price for a Blue Ox tow bar?
I don't need it, but someone may.
Tom, MS II


2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552 KA4CSG
Re: Blue Ox tow Bar issue [message #261942 is a reply to message #261941] Mon, 15 September 2014 08:59 Go to previous message
larry.whisler is currently offline  larry.whisler   United States
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Registered: August 2005
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Senior Member
I think it depends on the Blue Ox model.

Check Craigslist, there are a boatload of used ones listed out there
and I wouldn't pay much over half of what those are listed for at
an auction.

jmo

larry
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