Is There A Downside To Using The Heavy Duty 12,000LB Tow Bar From Ultra Fab On Light Vehicle?
Published 06/03/2026 >
Products Featured in This Question
Question:
I like the Ultra-Fab tow bars, but I don’t want to buy more capacity than I need. Is there any downside to using the 12,000 lb version on a lighter vehicle?
asked by: Ron
Expert Reply:
Hi Ron! There’s no safety downside to using the 12,000 lb Ultra-Fab tow bar on a lighter flat tow vehicle, as long as the tow bar matches your base plates and the rest of your system is set up correctly. A tow bar rating is a maximum capacity, not the weight it has to be used with.
That said, I usually recommend matching the tow bar to what you actually tow just to keep things simple. The 8,000 lb # UF35XR for Roadmaster base plates or # UF55XR for Blue Ox base plates will cover a lot of common flat tow vehicles. The 12,000 lb # UF45XR or # UF95XR makes more sense for heavier trucks, larger SUVs, or if you know you may upgrade to a heavier towed vehicle later.
The motorhome hitch rating still matters too. Even with a 12,000 lb tow bar, you can’t exceed the hitch or motorhome towing limit. What vehicle are you planning to pull, Ron?
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Ultra-Fab Non-Binding Tow Bar for Roadmaster Base Plates - RV Mount - Aluminum - 8,000 lbs
- Tow Bar
- Hitch Mount
- Telescoping - Non-Binding
- Aluminum
- 8000 lbs
- Fits Roadmaster Base Plates
- Stores on RV
- Cables Included
- Ultra-Fab Products
more information >
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