tow bars for towing behind Sunseeker

[mikeburns]

Hi group, I'm brand new to this so need help. I would like to tow my GMC 1/2 ton pickup behind my Sunseeker 3100SS. It is within the weight limit. I want to tow with all wheels on the road. When I went to my closest large RV dealer, they said that their lowest cost tow bar for my truck would be $1600. That shocked me, so I went to U-haul who told me theirs was $150. Obviously, they surely aren't the same thing, but both places assured me that theirs would do exactly what I want to do. Any advice, tips, or other info that you can give me will be most appreciated.
Thanks
mike

[windrider]

First thing, check the owners manual on the truck and see if can be towed 4 wheels down. I'm thinking it cannot, especially if is an automatic. Then you will need not only a tow bar, but also something to activate the truck brakes, like a brake buddy. Maybe that is what was in the pricing from the RV dealer.

[mikeburns]

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I have checked and found that the truck is definately capable of being towed with all 4 wheels on the ground. That part won't be a problem. I don't know if either tow bar that I checked on came with any sort of brake setup. I did install a brake controller in my motorhome last fall, in anticipation of towing the truck or a trailer to the south this winter. I don't know if that will help with the truck towing or not, but I knew that I'd need it for the trailer. The RV store did tell me that their $1600 package came with the "plates". I don't even know what the plates are. I assumed that they might be a means of attachment to the pickup truck to be towed, but don't really know. Naturally, I like the sound of a $150 tow bar better than a $1600 one, but not if the cheap one isn't adequate. I'm pretty capable of assembly and wiring. I've done quite a bit of it, over the years with no real problems or issues.
Thanks,
Mike

[Shawomet3]

Hi-
We towed a Dodge van (full size) with our Sunseeker and a UHaul towbar-DESTROYED the grille. I'm not a rookie at towing, but we could not keep the bar tight to the vehicle, causing movement.

We now tow with a tow dolly w/ electric brakes. Not hard to hook up, and it works well. Good luck!

[acemart]

This was very helpful. It is Motorhome Magazine's annual towing guide:
Dinghy Towing, Flat Towable Vehicles, Dinghy Towing Guides - MotorHome
When I decided on my towing system (brackets, towbar and braking) I was very comfortable with the decison because of this guide.

[georgetown]

Originally Posted by mikeburns

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I have checked and found that the truck is definately capable of being towed with all 4 wheels on the ground. That part won't be a problem. I don't know if either tow bar that I checked on came with any sort of brake setup. I did install a brake controller in my motorhome last fall, in anticipation of towing the truck or a trailer to the south this winter. I don't know if that will help with the truck towing or not, but I knew that I'd need it for the trailer. The RV store did tell me that their $1600 package came with the "plates". I don't even know what the plates are. I assumed that they might be a means of attachment to the pickup truck to be towed, but don't really know. Naturally, I like the sound of a $150 tow bar better than a $1600 one, but not if the cheap one isn't adequate. I'm pretty capable of assembly and wiring. I've done quite a bit of it, over the years with no real problems or issues.
Thanks,
Mike

I would not trust my towed vehicle attached to a uhaul tow bar.
The units from places like blue ox or roadmaster are a much heavier duty unit regardless of what the uhaul unit is rated for and they are also self adjusting for easier hook up. Go have a look at them and compare. The plates attach to the truck to make hook up easier. There again the uhaul plates are much lighter duty. You also need some sort of wiring hookup for the truck brake and signal lights, you will also need a brake system for the truck.

[Taranwanderer]

For that kind of dough, I think I'd just buy a car trailer and not have to worry about hooking up a tow bar, wiring for lights/brakes/etc, and just have the peace of mind of a dedicated trailer that's already factory-equipped with brakes, lights, and secure tie-down points. I've done both--flat towed my Jeep with my Dodge and put it on my trailer, and trailering is by far the safer and less headache-inducing method. But I know many people flat tow--I'm just not sure that the folks who only flat tow have ever done it any other way to compare the two.

[georgetown]

Have flat towed and also towed with car trailers. Advantages to both and disadvantages to both.
All boils down to what your needs are in the end.
For me, flat towing works best. One less item to insure, one less item to store or find a place for at home and at your destination. way easier to hookup and go once setup. My towed vehicle has the US Gear Unified tow brake installed permanently in the vehicle (it there but you cannot see it) the brake and turn signal lights are wired into the same plug as the braking system. I hook up the tow bar (2 pins) plug in the harness and i am ready to roll, takes about 5 min. For me that's a lot easier, quicker, and less hassle than a trailer or dolly.

[cllecr]

I an also interested in the specifics about what its needed to tow a vehicle behind a sunseeker. We bought a 95 automatic geo tracker that already has the tow plate and wiring. We found a blue ox tow bar on Craigs list and plan to get the necessary electric cable. Do we also need to look for a braking system???

[niedobry1]

We use a Blue Ox tow bar with our Honda CRV. We installed M&G brake system which works great. Only have to connect the tow bar, wire plug, air line for the brakes and the breakaway cord. a Blue Ox dealer installed the plates and the brake system on the Honda and also the air compressor on our Sunseeker. It was about $1600.
I don't feel the car behind us.