Specifications

2
Installer’s safety checklist
Stay within the ‘Safe Zone’
Connecting and
disconnecting
Figure 3
T
owing with a motorhome-mounted tow bar which has an upward
or downward slope puts undue strain on the entire towing system.
For that reason, do not tow if the tow bar is not within the ‘Safe
Zone’ — no more than three inches above or below level.
Towing a vehicle with a tow bar that is not within the Safe Zone
will result in significant wear and tear on the tow bar and brackets,
significant wear and tear on the vehicle’s suspension and frame, and
the eventual failure of the towing system.
To determine if the tow bar is within the Safe Zone — first, connect
the motorhome and towed vehicle on level ground. Next, measure the
distance from the center of the motorhome receiver down to the ground.
Then, measure the distance from the center of one of the base pins
down to the ground.
Compare these two measurements. To be within the Safe Zone,
they cannot be more than three inches apart if the base pin is above
or below the motorhome hitch receiver. See Figure 3.
If the tow bar is not within the Safe Zone, you must purchase a hitch
accessory to raise or lower the hitch receiver. ROADMASTER has three
accessories available — Hi-Low Hitches, Hi-Low Drops, and Dual Hitch
Receivers — which will raise or lower the hitch receiver from two to 10
inches, depending on the model.
Towing with the tow bar more than three inches above or below level
will void the ROADMASTER warranty.
Failure to follow these instructions may cause property damage,
personal injury or even death.
• Stress to the owner that the tow bar must be within the ‘Safe
Zone’ — no more than three inches above or below level. Towing with an
out-of-level tow bar will cause significant wear and tear on the tow bar and
mounting brackets, and on the towed vehicle’s suspension and frame. (See
the section titled “Stay within the ‘Safe Zone’” for further information.)
• Show the owner how to properly operate the tow bar. Familiar-
ize yourself with the features of the tow bar. Demonstrate them to the
owner, and ask the owner to connect and disconnect the tow bar and other
components of the towing system, until the owner is comfortable with its
operation.
• Caution the owner to use a receiver hitch rated higher than the
actual weight of the towed vehicle.
The motorhome receiver hitch must have a minimum capacity of no
less than the weight of the towed vehicle and all its contents.
(The Falcon All Terrain tow bar is rated at a maximum of 6,000 pounds
carrying capacity; therefore ROADMASTER has used 6,000 pounds as a
standard for rating the weight capacity of all supplementary towing equip-
ment, as well as the towed vehicle and all its contents, throughout these
instructions.)
• The tow bar must be attached to a bracket which is bolted to the
towed vehicle’s frame or unibody. In order to be towed, virtually all ve-
hicles require a tow bar mounting bracket that is connected to the frame,
unibody or chassis and extends beyond the bumper.
• Caution the owner to secure the tow bar with linch pins (or optional
padlocks) before towing. Unless the tow bar is secured to both vehicles
with all appropriate pins (or padlocks), the towed vehicle will detach.
• Read the instructions thoroughly before installing the ‘quick-
disconnect’ (‘QD’) system and its components. The tow bar will be
attached to the QD system. If the QD system is not properly aligned,
centered and positioned on the towed vehicle, the tow bar will not be
centered on the towed vehicle, which may cause excessive tire wear and
other consequential, non-warranty damage.
• Advise the owner to use 6,000 pound or higher rated safety ca-
bles.
• The installer must be sure that the vehicle is suitable or adapt-
able for towing. Some vehicles must be equipped with a transmission
lube pump, an axle disconnect, driveline disconnect or free-wheeling hubs
before they can be towed. Failure to properly equip the vehicle will cause
severe damage to the transmission.
Check the manufacturer’s instructions for the proper procedure(s) to
prepare the vehicle for towing.
• The installer must NOT use the tow bar as a ground for welding.
Connecting a ground to the ‘A-frame’ of the tow bar will cause current to
flow through the locking spring, which will detemper the spring and destroy
the locking mechanism.
• Under no circumstances should the tow bar be welded to the ve-
hicle, nor should any of the pre-punched mounting holes be altered. Any
welding or altering of the tow bar will void the owner’s warranty.
Failure to follow these instructions may cause property damage, per-
sonal injury or even death.
Use caution when handling the tow bar — if your hands, fingers or
any part of your body are caught between moving components, they
can be pinched, cut or otherwise injured.
Connecting the tow bar
1. First, attach the tow bar quick-disconnects — refer to “Installing the
‘quick-disconnect’ system.”
Note: the quick-disconnect system is not used with ROADMASTER
‘MS’ or ‘MX’ series mounting brackets. Instead, the tow bar is connected
directly to the mounting bracket with the base pins and linch pins.
With this exception, the instructions below apply.
2. Drive the vehicle within three or three-and-a-half feet of the motorhome
hitch receiver. The vehicle does not have to be perfectly centered to the
hitch receiver, just close. Then, put the vehicle in gear (park), set the
emergency brake and chock one of the wheels.
3. With the tow bar in the folded position, insert the stinger into the
motorhome hitch receiver and attach the stinger to the hitch receiver with
the hitch pin and clip.
Attach the tow bar so that the locking mechanisms and the release
latch are pointing up. Components of the tow bar may be damaged if
the tow bar is attached with the release latch and the locking mecha-
nisms pointing down.
4. Hold both tow bar arms firmly and rotate them up, so that they are
vertical.
Never release the tow bar arms when they are in the vertical posi-
tion. The arms can fall and cause severe personal injury.
5. Push the release latch forward, to bring both arms down to a horizontal
position.
Standing to one side, swing both arms away from you. Then, align
the holes in the outermost arm with the holes in one of the tabs on
the quick-disconnect base.
Attach the tow bar arm to the quick-disconnect base with one of the
included base pins. Attach the arm so that the head of the shoulder bolt
is facing up. Lock the base pin with a linch pin or optional padlock.
The linch pin must be locked. The ring is spring-loaded — it must be
continued on next page