How to Choose a Motor Home Tow Bar

Check your vehicle's owner's manual. A tow bar allows you to flat tow a vehicle, meaning that the towed vehicle will have all four tires on the ground. Not all vehicles allow for this type of towing, particularly those with automatic transmissions, though there are some automatic transmissions that can be towed in this manner.

Determine if you will be traveling alone of if you will always have someone you trust that can drive with you. A rigid tow bar requires two people to hook up the vehicle. If you will always be traveling with a companion who can help you to set up everything, a rigid tow bar can be used. However, if you may be alone or your traveling companion does not drive or cannot drive well, a self-aligning tow bar is a better option.

Weigh the benefits and disadvantages of mounting a tow bar onto your car or onto your motor home. Self-aligning tow bars can be car-mounting or motor home-mounting. A car-mounted tow bar mounts to and stays on the front of your car. When not in use, it folds against the car. A quick-release system allows for easy disconnection of the tow bar. However, if the tow bar is left on, it creates extra weight on the front suspension and creates a possibility of the car being damaged. It can also more easily be stolen. A motor home-mounted tow bar mounts to and stays on the back of the motor home. This type of tow bar eliminates the need for a ball-style hitch and eliminates the risk of hitting the ground when driving over dips or up hills. This version of the self-aligning tow bar is lighter and can lock onto the trailer, preventing theft. It also eliminates the damage risk to your car.

Ask yourself how often you will be towing an additional vehicle. If you will be towing frequently, the self-aligning tow bars are easier to set up. However, if you travel with your motor home only occasionally, a rigid tow bar is the least expensive option. It may require more time to hook up your car, but it is not worth the extra money to buy a self-aligning tow bar unless you do not have anyone to help you hook up your car.