Tow bar

[ANG3CHEAPSHOT]

I’m trying to decide which tow bar to purchase for my 2003 non up armored M1123. The Ibis tek retractable tow bar or the military med tow bar? I will be towing from my POV. Also open to any other options people know of.

 

[chucky]

Do your home work on the ibis tek which generation your looking to buy ! There was just a day or 2 ago someone on here talking about a recall on one of the ibisteks but i didnt pay much attention ! Had a big failure rate .

 

[ANG3CHEAPSHOT]

Got it. I’ll check it out

 

[ANG3CHEAPSHOT]

Found this link. I think I’ll stay away from the ibis tek tow bar. But still open to others opinions or advice.

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?110790-IBIS-TEK-Medium-tow-bar-install-M1009&highlight=dumpster

Do your home work on the ibis tek which generation your looking to buy ! There was just a day or 2 ago someone on here talking about a recall on one of the ibisteks but i didnt pay much attention ! Had a big failure rate .

 

[98G]

For a hmmwv either is adequate, but I'm leery of the ibis tek.

 

[Mullaney]

I’m trying to decide which tow bar to purchase for my 2003 non up armored M1123. The Ibis tek retractable tow bar or the military med tow bar? I will be towing from my POV. Also open to any other options people know of.

.
Medium is heavier and stronger. Of course that means you have to hustle the thing into place when you need it. Retractable is "cute" but I don't want cute when a HMMWV is following me that closely

You might want to spend a little time looking through the Towing TM. Links below:

TM's for Towing

Listed below are a number of the TM's for towing. To save them to your computer, right click, select "save as". TM9-4910-496-10.pdf TM9-4910-496-10 Military Vehicle Towbar Manual and operation. FM21-305ch22.pdf FM21-305ch22 From the Military Vehicle Operator's manual. FM20-22.pdf FM20-22...

www.steelsoldiers.com

 

[MarkM]

If I was in the market for a tow bar for my M998 I would absolutely take the med tow bar over the Ibis Tex. Have heard of many issues with the Ibis and that is enough for me. Besides, the med tow bar is much more manly lol

Mark

 

[98G]

If I was in the market for a tow bar for my M998 I would absolutely take the med tow bar over the Ibis Tex. Have heard of many issues with the Ibis and that is enough for me. Besides, the med tow bar is much more manly lol

Mark

Be a real man and use the towbar from Hell.

 

[swbradley1]

Be a real man and use the towbar from Hell.

My very first Haspin I helped Gimpy load a TBFH. And my last time. I think it was in 2008 or '09.

 

[98G]

My very first Haspin I helped Gimpy load a TBFH. And my last time. I think it was in 2008 or '09.

And here you are almost 15 years later still traumatized from the event...

 

[swbradley1]

And here you are almost 15 years later still traumatized from the event...

Yeah, and I'll bet that same damned TBFH is sitting 125 feet away from where I am mocking me.

 

[GTUnit]

Its my understanding that the Ibis Tek HMMWV bars started failing when the Up Armored HMMWVs came out. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
The Medium Tow bar for sale everywhere is 140 lb. We have options so I chose to get the 44k Ibis Tek Medium tow bar. It should pull a HMMWV and any other MTV.
I just weighed my Ibis Tek 44k bar with all pins (no clevises) and its 58 lb.

 

[Mullaney]

Its my understanding that the Ibis Tek HMMWV bars started failing when the Up Armored HMMWVs came out. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
The Medium Tow bar for sale everywhere is 140 lb. We have options so I chose to get the 44k Ibis Tek Medium tow bar. It should pull a HMMWV and any other MTV.
I just weighed my Ibis Tek 44k bar with all pins (no clevises) and its 58 lb.

.
Well... That could be true, but the question is: Do you have the best piece of hardware for the job? Or is there maybe a larger safety margin with the bigger and heavier Medium Tow Bar? Especially if - for who knows what reason - the HMMWV gets a little "squirrely" as it is being dragged down the highway?

 

[HoveringHMMWV]

Could either of these tow bars be used for pushing or are they limited to towing only?
Just wondering as I don’t have any experience with them.

 

[GTUnit]

.
Well... That could be true, but the question is: Do you have the best piece of hardware for the job? Or is there maybe a larger safety margin with the bigger and heavier Medium Tow Bar? Especially if - for who knows what reason - the HMMWV gets a little "squirrely" as it is being dragged down the highway?

Even if I'm dragging the HMMWV down the freeway on its side I'm not worried about exceeding a 44k rating. Pulling a MTVR up and down steep grades would make me think twice. You can always go bigger and heavier. But at some point your age, health, and risk of injury heaving a 140lb bar outweighs the psychological comfort factor of having a practically 3x safety margin.

 

[juanprado]

have you seen all the pics of the bent up pretzels ones or leg snapped off that have failed.

I don't even think it is still in use by the military.

 

[Coug]

Saw a medium tow bar used to pull a dead semi with two flatbed trailers behind it by another semi. Just ask Hammer about that (he has since acquired the heavy towbar)

medium towbar is more than strong enough for anything you could throw at it with a HMMWV

 

[BLK HMMWV]

one for sale over on the G.
No affiliation to me just saw it this morning and passing it on.
FS: Military Truck Medium Size Tow Bar Humvee, M151 M35 - G503 Military Vehicle Message Forums

 

[Hammer]

Saw a medium tow bar used to pull a dead semi with two flatbed trailers behind it by another semi. Just ask Hammer about that (he has since acquired the heavy towbar)

medium towbar is more than strong enough for anything you could throw at it with a HMMWV

Yeah, wasn't my first choice, but when you break down on the of the road, you use what you use.
Btw, the medium tow bar is rated for 44k short and 13k (I think) fully extended.

I have used and towed MANY things with the medium tow bars. I TRUST them. I don't trust the ibis though. Be nice to weigh that little, but not for my safety and everyone around me!
And yes, I have the HEAVY tow bar now. Now that sucker is freaking heavy!

 

[zebedee]

Could either of these tow bars be used for pushing or are they limited to towing only?
Just wondering as I don’t have any experience with them.

Yes they can be used for pushing, but mass and geometry (height/angle, distance to other axles, weight etc.,) will dictate sucess.
I regularly use half of a towbar (also known as a rigid bar) for manouvering vehicles in the yard - BUT you do need another person to steer. Off road, a rigid bar will also turn two 4x4's into a very articulating 8x8 that can push/pull as individual wheels/axles loose traction.