Of course you must match the bar to exceed the weight/load of your toad, so choose the appropriate model. Most of us use either Blue Ox or Roadmaster brands. The Roadmaster Falcon All-terrain is a popular model, and what I chose. Part of that reasoning involved the company’s headquarters being in my area, but also germane was their reputation. They are a customer-oriented outfit and have been very helpful on several occasions. A good place to get to know them is at a regional rally where they have a booth. I’d guess the same for Blue Ox.
The Falcon and others have “easy release” levers that supposedly aid when first disconnecting an off-center toad with unusual tension on the arms, an all too common aggravation. Normally the levers work fine, but every once in awhile, even when I’ve tried to align the toad and coach on even ground, the arms on ours do jamb hard, and it can be a struggle just getting the levers to let go. It’s usually because the ground isn’t as level as I’d thought.
It’s nice that I can take the bar, or the entire coach/toad setup, to Roadmaster’s facilities in Vancouver and have them check something or suggest an improvement or methodology. Once they spent several hours reworking the initial installer’s questionable aux. brake/towbar setup on the toad and didn’t charge anything. These devices get dirty and crud up over time. Storing the bar on the coach sans it’s cover for several winters was a bad idea; store in a garage or get a cover. When the arm shafts didn’t slide like they used to after 7-8 years, Roadmaster reconditioned our entire bar for nominal cost, including retrofitting a new improved-design major part at no charge.
Joel