Towing Made Easy RV tow bars are not complicated and towing a car behind your RV is quite safe and practical, but there are some important things to remember. The following is a guide to help you decide on what you will need and how to best prepare for the task. RV Toy Store© carries most of the equipment you will need to make the job safe and simple. Don't hesitate to call us toll-free at 1-800-334-5533 if you have any questions or concerns. What you NEED to tow a vehicle: Bracket for vehicle Tow Bar Safety Cables (available in Combo Kit) Wiring for lights (available in Combo Kit) You may also need: Braking System Handy extras: Tow Bar Cover (available in Combo Kit) Padlocks/Hitchlock (available in Combo Kit) Tow Bag (available in Combo Kit) Bracket for vehicle: The bracket is specifically made to fit the frame of your vehicle and has the attachments that hang in front of your bumper and hook to the tow bar. There are several hundred different brackets based on the year, make and model of your vehicle. When you go to order the bracket our website will help you choose the correct one. Installation of brackets: The brackets are installed with no welding and most brackets require no drilling. If you have experience working on cars, you should be able to install the brackets yourself in 3-6 hours following the instructions provided by Roadmaster. If you are not comfortable working on cars, you should find a professional mechanic to do the installation for you. Tow bar: Choosing the right tow bar can seem complicated at first, but here is a basic guide to help you choose the correct one. All of the tow bars we carry are fully collapsible and allow simple, fast, one person hook up and removal. Also, they all have a 2 year warranty from Roadmaster. The differences are outlined here: Stowmaster (5000 lb capacity): The Stowmaster requires a ball hitch and when it folds up, it stows on the front of the tow vehicle. Falcon II (6000 lb capacity): The Falcon II fits in a 2" square receiver and folds up to stow on the back of the motorhome. Sterling (6000 lb capacity): The sterling is a lightweight aluminum tow bar with a patented shock-absorbing design greatly reduces wear and tear throughout the entire towing system and tow vehicle. The Sterling also comes complete with safety cables and electrical wiring cord which are conveniently routed through the arms. It fits in a 2" square receiver and folds up to stow on the back of the motohome. Blackhawk (8000 lb capacity): The Blackhawk fits in a 2" square receiver and folds up to stow on the back of the motorhome. The Blackhawk also has channels on the sides to hold the safety cables and wiring. The 8000 lb capacity allows this bar to tow almost any vehicle on the road. All Terrain Tow Bars: The Stowmaster, Falcon II and Blackhawk all come in an "All Terrain" version. These tow bars have all the same features plus the patented "Freedom Latch" that allows you to unhook your tow vehicle even when at hard angles and extreme out-of-level situations when regular tow bars would bind and not unlatch. Safety cables: Safety Cables are required by law. If your tow bar fails for any reason the safety cables will hold the tow vehicle to your RV. They are sold in pairs by capacity. For the Stowmaster and Falcon II tow bars, you will want to purchase coiled cables, the Blackhawk works best with straight cables. The Sterling includes the safety cables so you do not need to purchase them with that tow bar. The correct safety cables are included in the combo kits for each tow bar. Wiring for lights: It is required by law in all states that you have working lights on your towed vehicle. The most common way to accomplish this is with a Universal Wiring Kit and a 4 or 6 wire electrical cord from the car to the RV. These two items have the parts (for some vehicles you may need additional diodes - see below) and instructions to wire the tow vehicle so that the brake lights and turn signals work in conjunction with the lights on the motorhome. Use the chart below to determine what is needed for your motorhome and tow vehicle combination. RV Lights Tow Vehicle Lights # of Diodes Electrical Cord Brake lights and turn signals are the same lights Brake lights and turn signals are the same lights 2 4 wire Brake lights and turn signals are the same lights Brake lights and turn signals are separate lights 4 4 wire Brake lights and turn signals are separate lights Brake lights and turn signals are the same lights 4 4 wire Brake lights and turn signals are separate lights Brake lights and turn signals are separate lights 6 6 wire For the Stowmaster or Falcon II tow bars, you will want to purchase a coiled electrical cord, the Blackhawk works best with a straight electrical cord. The Sterling includes the electrical cord. The combo kits for each tow bar include the coiled or straight 4 wire cord, if a 6 wire cord is required it must be ordered separately. Installation of universal wiring kit: If you have experience working on cars, you should be able to install the wiring yourself in 1-2 hours following the instructions provided by Roadmaster. If you are not comfortable working on cars, you should find a professional mechanic or electrician to do the installation for you. Braking systems: Many states now require that you have additional braking for any trailer that exceeds a certain weight. This varies by state but it is usually between 1,500 and 3,000 lbs. You can use the following link to see the laws listed by state: http://www.roadmasterinc.com/laws.htm Even when it is not required by law, an additional tow vehicle braking system is a good idea. With the added weight of the towed vehicle your stopping distance is greatly increased and a braking system could prevent a dangerous or costly accident.