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Getting ready to go

Yahoo Message Number: 1102
Attachments :

    We'll be hitting the road Wednesday for Denver, Moab, Monument Valley,
    San Antonio, and Elijah Clark SP and things are almost ready. Here are a
    couple of shots showing the setup and the tow stuff for our new Vue.

    The process of getting the Vue ready to tow was an ordeal to say the
    least and not one of anyone's fault really. The salesman (JR) went way
    beyond the call of duty getting this done and I got a heck of a deal in
    the end. With the body change in 2008 for the Vue things got a bit
    confused for the parts supplier. They sent things they've always sent
    which of course has been for the previous body style so all of that had
    to go back.

    They finally got the right base plate parts and the mechanic did a
    beautiful job, especially considering how much of the front end had to
    come off. Then the Buddy Brake didn't come in so re-order that.

    When we hooked up the Vue to the motorhome we saw the car attachment
    points were a bit over two inched above the hitch on the motorhome.
    There is a BIG warning sticker saying under no circumstances should the
    towed vehicle be above the towing vehicle so a call to the RV parts
    place was in order. They ordered a 4 inch rise from Blue Ox and an
    immobilizer to keep it all from rattling. I offered to pay for this and
    the JR said it was their job to get it right and they'd pay for it.

    It all came in yesterday so I took everything back for the final setup.
    They ran the break away line for the Brake Buddy and when we went to
    slide the 4" riser into the hitch on the Greyhawk......bump....it hit
    the bumper before it went in far enough for the hitch pin. Some head
    scratching and thinking.....and we see there isn't a good way to move
    the hitch back on the frame. Finally we decide to cut a two inch square
    hole in the bumper to allow the riser to go in far enough and that's the
    result. That worked like a champ and everything lines up the way it
    should. The Brake Buddy hookup couldn't be easier and everything did
    fine on the test drive.

    This tow bar is the easiest tow bar I've ever used, really an amazing
    bit of engineering. No need to be level or perfectly lined up.

    Looks like the Vue will make the trip west after all :-)
    2007 Jayco Greyhawk 32SS
    2008 Saturn Vue
    Blue Ox Aventa LX Tow Bar
    Brake Buddy Classic
    Protect-A-Tow

    Take care,
    Greg

    Re: Getting ready to go

    Reply #1 –
    Yahoo Message Number: 1103
    Ouch. Isn't it amazing the problems you simply cannot anticipate.

    Now you are making me wonder about the elevation of my baseplates vs the tow bar. I certainly don't recall it being upwards to the Tahoe, but I can't figure out why your plates are so much higher than mine.

    It looks to me like you do not have the locking pins for the tow bar connection to Vue. I'd recommend you get them so that no one surprises you by pulling them out when you aren't looking. Also, do you have a lock on the tow bar. We have there as well and it is a PITA getting on because of they put the light connection right next to the receiver.

    Hope everything goes well for the trip. Don't forget to keep us posted. I'll be interested to hear about the MPG.

    Don



    On 17-May-08, at 9:47 PM, Greg Gimlick wrote:

    Re: Getting ready to go

    Reply #2 –
    Yahoo Message Number: 1104
    Don wrote:

    Quote
    Ouch. Isn't it amazing the problems you simply cannot anticipate.

    No kidding. They charged me $1200 for the whole package and they've got
    a lot more than that into it, especially with 8 hours of labor.

    Quote
    Now you are making me wonder about the elevation of my baseplates vs the
    tow bar. I certainly don't recall it being upwards to the Tahoe, but I
    can't figure out why your plates are so much higher than mine.

    The mounts on the Vue are really high, about midway up the front of the
    car. I'll try to get a couple of photos of it that show better.

    Quote
    It looks to me like you do not have the locking pins for the tow bar
    connection to Vue. I'd recommend you get them so that no one surprises
    you by pulling them out when you aren't looking.

    I've got the full set, but I didn't have them in when I hooked it up at
    the dealership. I've got them for every spot there is a pin. Just makes
    sense to have them when you're sitting somewhere with keys in your car :-)

    Quote
    Hope everything goes well for the trip. Don't forget to keep us posted.

    Thanks, I'll check in from the road when able.

    Quote
    I'll be interested to hear about the MPG.

    I think I am too, but I'm not sure :-)

    Take care,
    Greg
     

    Re: Getting ready to go

    Reply #3 –
    Yahoo Message Number: 1105
    Sorry, forgot you have to leave the keys in. Tahoe is like the Colorado. Put it in park, take out the key, lock the doors. It's heavy, the the Tahoe sure does tow well.

    Don


    On 17-May-08, at 10:29 PM, Greg Gimlick wrote: