ALL-HITCH, by Dr. Hook
by Darci Friesen
Are you facing the same dilemma had by many RV owners towing vehicles? Do you worry about having to attach a huge, heavy and horrendous metallic contraption to the front of you nice ride? Jason Wagner, five-year owner of All Hitches by Dr Hook, in Penticton, prides himself on being able to avoid such nasty happenings – by using a combination of quality tow bars and portable braking units. “We have the ability - with the “Blue Ox” line of
equipment - to keep your car looking original, with no ugly mess on the front of your tow car.” Wagner explained, “We can keep your vehicle looking factory.” With the ‘Aventa’ tow bar by Blue Ox, you can
install this piece of equipment under the back bumper of your RV with the hitch receiver, then easily slide into it. Using two pins to securely fasten the RV to the receiver, the tow vehicle can be hooked up. The tow bar is technically removable - though Wagner
recommends having it anchored so it doesn’t become a target for theft. The Aventa tow bar is meant to be neatly folded,
covered with a ‘sleeping bag’ cover, then tucked away until it’s time for your return trip. The front of the tow vehicle requires a base plate
be installed under the bumper, with each plate custom designed for each individual vehicle, to ensure the best fit and the least amount of visible change. Once completed, nothing will stick out from under your vehicle: the attachment uses removable tabs which are easily removed once disconnected from your RV. To ‘hook up’ your vehicle, just slide the tabs into tiny areas in the grill that are designed specifically for this purpose. The whole process should take no more than ten minutes – including the RV/vehicle connection as well as safety checks. Install time is approximately five to six hours. The major benefit of the three-part, portable
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S N O W B I
R D S
&
R V T R A V E L E R S
HITCHES ALL by Dr. Hook EQUIPMENT
SERVICE PARTS
Ph: 250.490.8815 Fax: 250.490.8895
#102- 2595 Skaha Lake Road Penticton, BC V2A 6E8 Email:
dochook@shaw.ca
breaking unit by Blue Ox - the ‘Patriot’ – is that you are able to transfer the device from vehicle to vehicle, from car to truck, from truck to SUV, etc. The unit’s job is to sit on the driver’s side floor and clamp onto the brake pedal. The only process to be undertaken by the owner, is to push the driver’s seat forward while holding it into place. When you use your brakes in your RV, the unit can sense the change of inertia. Using a pendulum that swings with the change of vehicle speed and forces a chain reaction, the device will brake accordingly. The second piece of equipment, which comes with a dash mount, is the wireless controller that travels up front in the RV. This neat gadget is able to tell when the vehicle is braking, as well as the strength and speed of the brake application. By monitoring this as you drive, you are then able to adjust accordingly. With virtually no installation required, the Patriot
also comes stock with a break-away switch, located in the front of the tow vehicle. In the case of improper connection of the hitch by the owner, or in the unlikely instance of equipment failure (which, Wagner divulged, he has never witnessed with this brand) whereby the vehicle breaks away from the RV, the device can sense when the vehicle is more than five feet away and ‘f lips the switch’, causing the tow vehicle to automatically brake. Using maximum force, the vehicle will then come to a complete stop. Inside, the wireless remote will light up, warning you of any problems. “Besides coming with a great warranty – which I
haven’t yet ever had to use – I have never had a single problem with any of the Blue Ox equipment,” Wagner says. “This company is the leader in this kind of towing - better known as ‘dinghy towing’.”
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