Looking for previously owned flat tow gear is good advice. There are new motor home owners every year who discover that they really don't like motor homes and offer their almost new gear for sale at bargain prices. I have a friend who picked up everything she needed to flat tow her JKU behind her motorhome for $600, including a Brake Buddy supplemental brake system. Retail, what she purchased for $600 lists for almost $2K . The retail prices for the items necessary to flat tow start at about $1,000 or so for basic tow bar, safety cables/chains, lights and the supplemental brake system required in 49 states and all of Canada to flat tow a vehicle the weight of a TJ.
When I started investigating flaw towing my LJ, for once in my life I decided to get what I wanted instead of focusing on the cheapest way to do it. What the hell, I'm the guy that has to hook and unhook everything so why not buy the stuff that makes my life easiest. So I made a list of exactly what I wanted and why I thought I wanted those things, then put on blinders to any bright, shiny too-good-to-be-true alternatives and price shopped both new and used for just those specific items.
I found a previously owned RVi3 supplemental brake system at a great price but couldn't find a Roadmaster non-binding motorhome mount tow bar on the used market that was appreciably cheaper than new considering shipping cost. There were plenty of used tow bars without the non-binding feature, but none with, and it was a feature I wanted. Since the big ticket items on the list are the tow bar and brake system, I decided to buy the necessary cables, wiring, etc. new from E-Trailer.com at the same time I purchased the Roadmaster Falcon All-Terrain non-binding tow bar rather than spend hours searching Craigslist and Faceplant Marketplace for deals that may never materialize before I need my tow system to be operational.
The good thing about E-Trailer is that they price match for 30 days after order. I didn't bother to price match anyone except E-Trailer because their own pricing algorithm price shops third parties daily. After I calculated the price adjustments after purchase I saved 24% compared to the initial prices. I have price checked the three most expensive items since and two have been reduced further but only by a few cents so I think I got the best deal one could expect for new gear purchased online.
