Getting Hitched

It’s great to get the bikes out when the weather turns nice. We finally had a chance to get up to Post Canyon with dry trails and the sun shining. Finally some shorts weather in Hood River! They’ve done a lot of work on the trails this year and have added some fun new “obstacles” for us play with.

Luckily I survived this unexpectedly large jump without a scratch. If you could see my face, you’d see the fear of imminent death in my eyes. After a controlled crash landing, I was checking to make sure all my body parts were in tact when an other guy came screaming through and made it look easy. It gives me a lot of respect for the guys we see jumping some of the other obstacles up there.

Does anyone else have some biking or towing pictures they’d like to share? Shoot us an email!

We’re pleased to announce the release of our new Roadmaster Tow Bar Bracket finder.  Now you can find the Roadmaster tow bar brackets for your vehicle with the click of your mouse.  You’ll be presented with a list of brackets that fit your vehicle.  If you click on the results, you’ll find a page of detailed information on the tow bar brackets, including detailed installation instructions, photographs of the brackets installed on that vehicle, and the specifications for the brackets.  To view the installed tow bar brackets in full size, simply move your mouse over the photo you want to view and a full size image will appear.  


We hope you find the new selector useful.  Let us know what you think!

We decided that we would give some detailed information on some of the new Roadmaster tow bars that we’ve added to the site. As we went down the list, we decided that one bar stood out above the rest in terms of technology and the features it offers. This is the one we decided to talk about first.

The Roadmaster Sterling All Terrain Non-Binding Tow Bar is the latest in a long line of Roadmaster Tow Bars. The Sterling is a first of a kind tow bar. It is made out of aircraft quality aluminum and includes safety cables and a wiring harness. The Sterling All Terrain non-binding tow bar is the top of the mark when it comes to tow bars. The egg shaped extruded aluminum (not bent aluminum) body is stronger and lighter than other 6,000 lb. tow bars. Utilizing steel and stainless steel in virtually every moving part gives it great structural integrity despite the lighter weight of the bar. What we found amazing is that this tow bar only weighs 35lbs, but can tow 3 tons of vehicle weight!!!

This tow bar incorporates all of the Roadmaster All Terrain features:

• Autolok- which allows the tow bar arms to be free for easy connect and disconnect the arms self center and automatically lock as you drive away
• Freedom Latch- allows the tow bar arm to release first time every time, even when it is in a bind
• Easy Storage- the tow bar folds up and locks into a stored position when not in use
• Quick Disconnect- easy one person tow bar mounting and removal
• Built in Cable Guide- keeps safety cables and and wiring out of the way and protected
• The Sterling All Terrain includes 6,000 lb. EZ hook safety cables and 4 or 6 wire electric cables.

By the time you ad up everything the Sterling All Terrain tow bar comes with you can easily see the value. If you add the safety cables and wiring to one of the other Roadmaster tow bars, you’ll find that the package price for the Sterling is the most attractive. And, coming from a company like Roadmaster who cares about their customer and delivers unsurpassed quality the choice is easy. If you are looking for the easiest to use, lightest, and most innovative tow bar available, the Sterling All Terrain non-binding tow bar is for you. See the video below for more details on how the All Terrain tow bars work.

We are proud to announce the addition of the new Roadmaster product line - Roadmaster Tow Bars, Roadmaster Tow Bar Brackets, Roadmaster Braking Systems, as well as the entire line of RV and Tow Bar Accessories. I was very impressed early this month when I visited the Portland Oregon companies manufacturing facility. Roadmaster really does make the parts they sell.

I followed Jerry A. Edwards, the founder of Roadmaster. He started by showing me some of the machines that make the parts used in their tow bars. From huge presses stamping out steel washers for the tow bar arms to the programable machines that make the smallest brass fittings for the proportionate braking systems. Attention to detail is important at Roadmaster, I saw the machine that cleans up the rough edges for a finer finish and the powder coat booth where the parts get their protective layer. Roadmaster even has a machine that makes their packing materials. Where can you buy tools that make tow bar parts, I wondered.

You can’t just go and buy these tools. The talented team at Roadmaster makes the tools they use too. The shelves where full of things fabricated on site in order to allow Roadmaster to create the parts they need to meet their exacting standards. As if that is not enough, the machines used to test their products built and operated on site as well.

I have never seen quality assurance testing like this. Roadmaster tests and re-tests to assure that the tow bar, braking system, or towing accessory that you buy will withstand real world. It starts with FEA, Finite Element Analysis. FEA is a computer testing system that will show stress points, fatigue levels and failing points. Before it is ever built the tolerances have been tested. The parts are tested again through out the production phase to ensure that there are no variances. During the assembly process the parts are tested again to verify that everything is working properly together. A final test is done to ensure that the product will withstand the forces that come with daily use. The Roadmaster rating system is like no other in the industry. Their products are designed to exceed the ratings. I watched a Sterling All Terrain 6,000 lb. aluminum tow bar being tested at 8,000 lb. of pressure, it would take 350,000 pushes and pulls before the tow bare even showed any sign of fatigue.

Tow bars are not the only thing being tested. Testing is going on everywhere, circuit boards, fire wires, compressors, and hoses for the braking systems; safety cables, crimped ends, electrical diodes, the list goes on and on. Roadmaster takes towing systems and product quality seriously so you can relax.

Like I said in the beginning, I was impressed and we are proud to offer the full line of Roadmaster towing systems, braking systems, suspension systems and RV accessories. Come to the site and see the innovative products available. Thank you for visiting and I look forward to your feedback.

Joe
www.hitchsource.com

Follow this link to view Towed Vehicle Supplemental Brake Systems


Like every other law of physics, the second law of motion isn’t open for debate. “Mass” (the weight of the towed vehicle) times “acceleration” (65 miles an hour, in the examples above) equals “force.” Always. Which creates, in effect, a 3,000- to 10,000-pound battering ram aimed directly at the back of the coach.

Motorhome brakes aren’t built to stop an additional 3,000 or 4,000 (or 10,000) pounds of towed weight. They’re built to stop the weight of the coach and its contents. But even if you had an extra two or three tons of braking capacity, the weight of a towed vehicle isn’t over the motorhome’s brakes. It’s pushing on them from behind.

It’s the “battering ram” effect of the towed vehicle’s momentum (mass times acceleration) that adds braking distance to a towed vehicle-motorhome combination.

So it’s not surprising, that safety is the number one reason most people add a supplemental braking system. Supplemental brakes take the load off the motorhome. The motorhome and the towed vehicle brake in tandem, taking significantly less time and distance to come to a controlled stop approximately 34 percent less, according to a study* by ROADMASTER

Supplemental brakes also relieve stress on the tow bar and the mounting brackets. an emergency stop without supplemental brakes is a leading causes of tow system failure. Towed Vehicle Supplemental Braking Systems also keep the combination straight as you brake, so there’s less chance of a “jackknife.” A Towed Vehicle Brake System will also prevent catastrophic failure caused by sustained braking on a decline.

Safety notwithstanding, there are several other compelling reasons to add supplemental brakes…

It’s required — To one degree or another, every state and province in North America has recognized the significant benefits. Which is why supplemental brakes are required in virtually every state and province. The majority of states, plus many Canadian provinces, specify 3,000 pounds as the maximum weight which can be towed without supplemental brakes, according to the American Automobile Association.

There’s currently no national standard, and the towed weight limits vary from state to state (and in Canada, from province to province) — 4,500 pounds in Texas, 10,000 pounds in Massachusetts, and 3,080 pounds in British Columbia (again, according to the American Automobile Association).

There is, however, that universal standard — “force equals mass times acceleration.” Whether you’re in Texas, Massachusetts or British Columbia, every towed vehicle combination is always in compliance with the second law of motion.

Chassis warranty and liability — Some motorhome chassis manufacturers will void your warranty (and insurance adjusters will void your policy) against damage claims if you tow without supplemental brakes. Workhorse will void your chassis warranty if you tow more than 1,000 pounds without supplemental brakes; Ford stipulates 1,500 pounds.

Wear and tear — Supplemental brakes cut down on everyday wear and tear — on the tow bar and the bracket, and on the frame of the towed vehicle. So they last longer. And because they aren’t braking for two vehicles, your motorhome’s brakes last longer, also.

It just makes good sense — Every other trailer on the road today has supplemental brakes — fifth wheels, travel trailers, semi-trailers — they all have their own braking systems. When you’re towing a couple of extra tons — or more — shouldn’t you have a supplemental braking system to stop it?

* Test data — Motorhome: 34-foot 1996 Winnebago Adventurer, Ford Superduty chassis with a 460 gas engine; GVWR: 17,000 pounds; brakes: hydraulic four-wheel disc. Towed vehicle: 1995 Oldsmobile Aurora; GVWR: 4,690 pounds (actual test weight: 4,110 pounds). Braking pressure: 80 pounds of force directed to the brake pedal representing a “hard stop.”

The old adage is “ you get what you pay for”. Isn’t that what shopping is all about, paying the least amount for the best product available? If you already know what you want you can shop for the best price. What if you don’t know exactly what you want? It’s OK, this blog will help you decide. If shopping or the idea of shopping for a bike rack has worn you out but you still want the best value, go with one of Softride’s Access racks. The inovation, quality, design, and price of these bike racks clearly sets them apart from the competition. Today’s entry I will introduce two styles of Softride hitch mount bike racks. Choose the Softride rack that fits you and your bikes the best, and you can rest assured that you are getting the most for your money.

Lets start with the Access Dura 4 bike hitch mounted rack.



As you can see in the images it is constructed out of Powder-Coated Steel for strength & corrosion resistance and the Patented Parallelogram Design allows for easy rear vehicle access

.
Some of the features you can not see in the images are:



• Spring Loaded Pull Pin Release for Easy Maneuverability Up & Down


• QuietRide™ Locking & Tightening Anti-Rattle Technology


• Super Reinforced Top Plate

• Holds Four Bikes or 150 lbs


• Accommodates Children & Adult Bicycles


• Includes Padded Anti-Sway Cradles & Rubber Straps


• End-of-Arm Safety Reflectors for Nighttime Visibility


• Integrated Cable Lock Included



This rack has a MSRP of $279.99 we sell it for $251.99

The other style option in Softride hitch mounted bike racks is the Access Versa. The Versa Rack will accommodate bikes of many different styles that are not as compatible with the cross bar cradle type of rack.


Looking at the pictures you can see the anodized Aluminum extrusion and the Powder-Coated Steel construction. The Access Versa Rack is the most compact and lightweight receiver mounted rack available. This rack holds two bikes and the telescoping tubes adjust to fit your bikes size. It folds up when you are not using it. Just like the Access Dura Rack the Versa has spring loaded pull pin release for easy tilt up & down

 and QuietRide™ locking & tightening anti-rattle technology.


The Access Versa Rack has an MSRP of $299.99 we sell it for $269.99

These two hitch racks are not the cheapest in their field but, they are close to ½ the cost of the bigger name brands. The most expensive is not always the best. So, you don’t need to shop, Softride Access hitch mounted bike racks are the best value.

Most bike racks fit into one of three categories: 1 hitch mounted, 2 roof mounted,  and 3 trunk mounted.   A few (usually designed for high-end, recumbent, or tandem bikes) combine features from multiple categories, others are designed for pick-ups, inside SUV’s, or to mount on the spare tire or ladder on the back of a van.  Because we are trailer hitch specialists and the mind-boggling number of products on the market, I will be focusing on hitch bike racks.  Hitch mounted bike racks are easiest to install, take the least effort to load bikes onto, are extremely versatile, and deliver the greatest value.  What that means is, you can easily load bikes and go without breaking the bank.  Simple consideration prior to purchasing a rack will help you narrow the field down to a hand full of choices that can fulfill your needs.  Understanding product features and benefits will be the key to finding the rack that fits you,  your vehicle, and your bikes best.  In this article I will discuss some considerations that will help you select a rack,  and the various types of hitch mounted bike racks available.  So, let’s start by looking at what we already have. 

First, what type of vehicle do you have?   Starting with your vehicle is the first step in choosing any style of bike rack however, since we are focusing on hitch racks, examining  what type of hitch we will be connecting to is more important than the type of vehicle.  One of the beauties of hitch bike racks is that they are easily interchangeable between vehicles.  

Second, how often will you use the bike rack?  Everyday use is far more demanding than once a year, while I am on vacation, use.  If you plan to keep your rack for a long time, it’s worth it to buy a higher end rack.

Third, how important is the security of your bike and rack?  In the city you will want to keep everything locked up to prevent someone from walking away with your gear.  On the other hand, convenience is more important in isolated areas.  Most hitch rack manufacturers provide locking hitch pins with the bike rack. 

Fourth, what type of bike / bikes will you need to carry?  If your bike is a recumbent, tandem or if the frame is a unique size you can narrow the field.  

Fifth, is versatility.  Is carrying other gear (ski / snowboards or kayaks) on the same rack or moving the rack to multiple vehicles in the plans.  This is all possible with the right rack. 

Last but not least, the budget.  Finding a rack that offers the most in quality, function, and value is the goal. 

Hitch bike racks

If your vehicle already has a trailer hitch you can begin choosing a rack.  The cost of adding a hitch is a  concern for people without one on their vehicle.  Installing it yourself is easy and it can help you stay within your budget.   

Hitch racks start under $90.00, find an average price of around $250.00 to $300.00 and plateau at $500.00 to $800.00 for top of the line and specialty versions. Hitch bike racks mount 4 different ways.  The largest selection comes in the most common mounting style where the rack slides directly inside of a 2” trailer hitch receiver and uses a hitch pin to secure it in place.   Many of the options available for the 2” style mount are are also available for a 1.25” trailer hitch receiver.  The third and forth styles are designed for specific applications.   One is designed to allow simultaneous rack use and towing.  A towing rack slides over a 2” ball mount instead of replacing it.  It is not the only way to allow for rack use and towing but, offers an easy cost effective solution.  The final design bolts directly to the hole in the ball mount. 

Beyond how they connect to your vehicle  hitch racks come in different bicycle mounting styles, top bar cradle, wheel tray, and combination fork mount/wheel tray.   Top bar cradle is most common and allow for bikes (2-5).  Y bikes and women’s bikes may hang crooked or require adaptors. These hitch racks are easy to use, simply set your bike in the cradle and strap or clamp it in tight.  Many of the popular top bar cradle bike racks can be converted into ski and snowboard carriers as well.  Prices for top bar cradle racks varies but,  from $100.00 to $180.00 you can get 2 and 3 bike stationary racks and $200.00 to $300.00 for 5 bike and tilt away hitch racks (Top of the line retail about $400.00).  Wheel tray hitch racks accommodate recumbents, children’s bikes, downhill, cruisers, full suspension, bmx, Y frames and much more without hassle. Top models allow for up to 4 bikes.  Prices for wheel tray racks start around $100.00 to $150.00 for a 2 bike fixed hitch rack.  $200.00 - $275.00 steps up to features like tilt away and 4 bike racks.  Top of the line retail is around $300.00 - $400.00  The combination fork mount/wheel tray work for all bikes, require the front wheel be removed and get expensive.  This type of rack keeps your bike most secure and effects vehicle performance the least. They are essentially a roof style rack that slides into a trailer hitch receiver. The combination racks start at around $400.00 for a 2 bike rack, $475.00 to $550.00 for 4 and 5 bikes ($850.00 for top of the line retail). 

Why I like hitch bike racks

Simplicity.  Just slide it into your trailer hitch and you’re ready to go.  If you can lift your bike off of the ground you can secure it to the rack.  Less chance of scratching or denting the vehicle.  They are not vehicle specific and transfer easily from one vehicle to another. There is an application for everyone. The bottom line is that a hitch rack is more secure and less damaging to your vehicle than a trunk mount, even if you do not have a hitch on your vehicle you can get a one, and a bike rack for less than most decent roof racks.  They are easier to use and you can take them with you as you change your vehicle. This is the first blog on hitch racks.  I will be following it up weekly with topics like new products side by side comparisons in each category, and specialty applications e.g. (recumbents or y frame).  

Here are some reviews:

XC 2-Bike Hitch Rack - 2″ by Chris Hibbitts Date Added: Saturday, April 19, 2008
Great bang for the buck. Needed to carry a step through frame and cross bar frame bike. Did not like the bike adapter bar idea with the single bar type hitch bike carriers. This bike rack is very solid and an excellent design. The bikes load and unload in seconds. With the center bar hold down the bikes cannot touch each other and are held solid. Could not ask for a better solution for carrying two bikes and the price is great also.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]

If you have a topic you would like to discuss or information to share please contact us and let us know. Other wise until next time. 

One goal of this blog is to highlight exciting new products as they are introduced. One of the most differentiated products introduced this year is the QuietRide ball mount from Softride. The ball mounts include an integrated tightening and locking system that prevents the mounts from clunking/rattling and also protects them from theft. Ball mounts have come a long way from the conventional pin and clip approach that we’ve been using for years.  Customer feedback has been very positive on these products and they are quickly becoming one of our top selling ball mounts. I finally decided to test one out for myself last weekend. It is amazing how much a tight ball mount reduces the jerking and clunking that I didn’t realize I’d become accustomed to. Consider me a convert.  We encourage our customers to share their experiences as well. Please feel free to use our reviews system to share your insights and inputs with us and the rest of the HitchSource.com community.

Our first time customers often ask how easy it is to install a trailer hitch. There was a day when hitches required welding and cutting. Those days are over. All the trailer hitches we offer are custom made for specific vehicles. In most cases the hitches simply bolt up to existing holes in your frame. You simply put the hitch into position, thread and tighten four bolts, and you’re ready to tow.

To help take the mystery out of the installation process we include the hitch installation instructions in downloadable PDF format from our website. Simply select your vehicle using our hitch selector, select one of the hitches from the results, and look for the “installation instructions” link in the description.  Each set of installation instructions is specific to your vehicle, provides a list of hardware that comes with the trailer hitch, gives you step by step instructions, identifies the tools required, and also gives you an estimated installation time.  We also recommend that you visit our hitch selection guide if you have basic questions about trailer hitches, tow vehicles, and trailers.We offer both pre and post sales technical support by email and telephone - (1-877-go-hitch).

Welcome to the HitchSource.com blog.  This blog will be used to provide tips, introduce new products, and talk about hitch related topics.