Tow bar maintenance

[boowho]

I've got the RoadMaster "all terrain" unit. Anyone know what kind of maintenance there things need. I'm now at three years of use and other than cleaning it, I've done nothing.

Are there parts that wear out??

I know that you guys that go to lots of rallies, probably have spoken to RM reps; I understand they show up at some of the larger rallies, like FMCA, etc.

I do believe that maybe I'll at least paint the metal parts.

Boowho??

[Phil57]

Boo I have had mine serviced twice. Both time they replaced the nylon bushing cleaned and inspected. When done it was tight like it was new. The first time they found that the nylon bushings were not installed at the factory. He had a hard time getting everything back the way it should be. The second time was just routine and took him maybe 15 minutes. I would think you could get the bushing from Roadmaster and do it yourself.

[boowho]

Originally Posted by Phil57

Boo I have had mine serviced twice. Both time they replaced the nylon bushing cleaned and inspected. When done it was tight like it was new. The first time they found that the nylon bushings were not installed at the factory. He had a hard time getting everything back the way it should be. The second time was just routine and took him maybe 15 minutes. I would think you could get the bushing from Roadmaster and do it yourself.

Thanks Phil..... I will look into those bushings. I know it probably takes a "breaker bar" to get the extension arms apart; apparently they are tightened to a quite high amount of torque.

I will have to borrow a torque wrench to put them back, since I sold my complete set of 3 when I went full time.

Boowho??

[5456Mich]

Wow at first thought when I saw the title I must admit I was thinking a bar on each side of the street and visiting them both till you felt better.

[Phil57]

The guy that did mine used a air impact and I didn't see him torque it. It was tight as heck.
One of the goofy things with the forum is you can't change the title of a post. If you make a mistake you then live with it. So two or tow it certainly changes the meaning of a post.

[tmmar]

I think I like two better!! (LOL!!)

[boowho]

Originally Posted by 5456Mich

Wow at first thought when I saw the title I must admit I was thinking a bar on each side of the street and visiting them both till you felt better.

VERY funny..... HA HA HA You know why donkeys don't go to college, right???

That being said, Phil has it right... The OP should be able to edit the titles of threads


Boowho??

[ernest917]

I had mine serviced by Roadmaster at the FMCA rally - Great price - free

I did give the tech that worked on not a nice tip tho....


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[boowho]

Originally Posted by ernest917

I had mine serviced by Roadmaster at the FMCA rally - Great price - free

I did give the tech that worked on not a nice tip tho....


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Earnest..... Did you happen to notice what he did?? Probably not, or you would have said so....

Boowho??

[ernest917]

Boo...

I did see what he did - he took it completely apart and replaced all bushings and the tips that connect to my Mini were "frozen" (his words) and would not pivot which made hooking up very difficult, so he cut them off and attached new ones... Also replaced main bushing up where it slides into the receiver....

All in all I practically have a new tow bar... (The head guy did try to sell me a new one at a "special show price" of ONLY $999.00 ....)


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[boowho]

YIKES.... Some nice moderator changed to title to what is should have been!!

Boowho??

[boowho]

Well, I've taken my TB completely apart. Not much of a trick really.

BTW, I should have mentioned before that I have the Falcon All Terrain unit.

FWIW, Roadmaster makes three different All Terrain TB's.

Anyhow I've seen nothing I would describe as a "bushing". I've got some communication in with RM to see if they can advise what I should check for and what might possibly need replacing after three years of use.

My unit WAS filthy inside; a good bit of road "grit" mixed in with the grease. So at the very least it will be the cleanest it has been since new.

I'll attach some pics of what I've done so far in another message.

Boowho??

[boowho]

Picture mentioned in previous message.

You guys that have had RM "checkups"..... Any of this look familiar to you??

These pieces comprise all the pieces of the round bar that compresses/extends when hooking up. What's not in the pics are the 1.5 or 1.75 inch square arms that these parts fit into.

Boowho??

[boowho]

This is the contents of the repair kit. About $32. Am ordering one today.

Boowho??

[ernest917]

Boo Hoo....

They also replaced the ends of the rods that extend on mine - the pieces u place in the brackets on the toad and then stick the big steel pin through... Said that they weren't turning free enough so they replaced them... New ones now swivel like they did when new...


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[boowho]

Originally Posted by ernest917

Boo Hoo....

They also replaced the ends of the rods that extend on mine - the pieces u place in the brackets on the toad and then stick the big steel pin through... Said that they weren't turning free enough so they replaced them... New ones now swivel like they did when new...


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Yeah, NOTHING lasts forever. I'm thinking right now that just replacing the parts that are in the kit will fix me up for several more years. Those two largest bushings seem to be the key to the whole "overhaul".

I had accidentally run mine for almost two years without the "dirt plugs" inserted. Had a lot of grit in the mechanisms, but doesn't appear to have caused any excess wear.

I'll bet having to pay for those two extra pieces you got would have been pretty pricey.

Now I just gotta figure out how to get those larger bushings out; probably with a properly sized "drift" and a rubber mallet.

Boowho??