Full-Time RVer Review: Roadmaster 522 Falcon All-Terrain Tow Bar

In our last blog, I reviewed the Brake Buddy Select 3 unit which helps bring our flat-towed Ford Ranger to a stop when we apply the brakes on our motorhome. Since the release of that blog, many of you have reached out for more information about our towing setup - specifically, our Roadmaster 522 Falcon All-Terrain Tow Bar! You ask, we give.

At the time of this writing, we’ve put over 50,000 miles of pulling duty on our Roadmaster bar in the past four years! We’ve towed over tens of thousands of miles of flat highway, but we’ve also put it to the test with some serious articulation behind our Thor Outlaw Class A motorhome, exaggerated more so thanks to said vehicle’s long rear overhang.
 
Speaking of articulation, one of the standout features of the All-Terrain Tow Bar is its ability to adapt to different towing situations. With a 6,000lb. rating, this bar is a great choice for towing anything from a small car to a mid-size truck. In fact, it handles the duty of lugging our Ranger around just fine. Need more capacity? The Roadmaster 576 Sterling All-Terrain Tow Bar offers 8,000lbs. of towing capability, while the Roadmaster 422 Blackhawk 2 All-Terrain Tow Bar is rated for 10,000lbs!

The design includes quick-disconnect mechanisms that allow for easy attachment and detachment of the towed vehicle, making the entire process much simpler and more efficient. Even better, unlike other tow bars the mechanism is easy to get unbound should you need to disconnect on uneven ground or with the rig turned hard.

On the topic of connecting the bar to the vehicle, Roadmaster offers various options depending on the vehicle you’re planning to tow. If you’re planning to tow a Jeep Wrangler, for instance, the Roadmaster 521448-5 Direct Connect Style Baseplate bolts directly to the frame of the Jeep using existing holes. Conversely, our Ranger uses the Roadmaster 524431-5 Direct Connect Tow Bar Baseplates which replace the factory tow hooks and again uses those factory mounting points. Quick-connect “U-joints” are included with the baseplates. These U-joints remove from the baseplates very quickly by pulling a pin and rotating them 90 degrees. To install, simply insert and twist to lock them in place!

In addition to its versatility and ease of use, the All-Terrain Tow Bar also provides excellent stability and control while towing. The design includes a unique non-binding joint just in front of the arms which allows the whole unit to twist and flex independently. This is especially important when driving over rough terrain, as it helps to reduce the risk of damage to either the towed vehicle or the towing vehicle.

Once disconnected, the whole tow bar flips upwards, locks into position and drops down to one side or the other to stow while not towing. This is convenient but I must say it’s the one area where our Roadmaster has started to show fatigue and wear. Although the joint plates and the rest of the unit are made with high-strength quality steel, the plates bear all of the weight of the bar when flipped over into the stowed position. When the motorhome is driven with the bar flipped into stow mode for some time, the plate bends and the bar sags downward. Keep in mind this does take some time and has only become prevalent in the past year or so. The only other notable aging is a bit of rust on the coupling hardware. The gray powercoating on the unit is very durable and the polished telescoping bars still work nicely despite never being lubricated.
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Overall, the Roadmaster All-Terrain Tow Bar is an outstanding piece of equipment that is both durable and versatile. It’s been a joy to use and completely trouble-free over our long duration of use. Whether you're towing a vehicle on a long road trip or navigating challenging off-road terrain, this tow bar will give you excellent stability, control and reliability making it a must-have for any serious RVer or adventurer.