Best Tow Bars and RV Supplemental Brakes Ranked

28 flat tow bars and supplemental braking systems, scored on price, capacity or braking, weight or install type, features and warranty.

Last updated: November 3, 2026

Flat towing, also called dinghy or four down towing, pulls a car behind a motorhome on all four wheels. It takes a tow bar from the motorhome hitch to a baseplate on the car, wiring for the car’s lights, and in most states a supplemental brake in the car. These rankings cover the tow bars and the brakes. Baseplates and wiring kits are left out because each one fits only certain vehicles.

Capacity is the first choice for a tow bar. Check the loaded weight of the car you tow and pick a bar rated above it. A 5,000 lb bar suits a small car; a pickup or large SUV needs 10,000 lb or more.

Mounting is the second. Most bars plug into the motorhome receiver and fold up on it when not in use. Some ride folded on the car instead, and some couple to a 2 in ball. Your baseplate also has to match the bar’s connectors.

Proportional braking matters most for a brake. A proportional system presses the car’s pedal as hard as the motorhome brakes, so the car neither drags nor pushes. Portable units move between cars; installed units stay hidden and need no setup before each trip.

Top Picks

Shop by Type

Tow bar

20 ranked

Bars that link the motorhome hitch to the baseplate on your car, so it rolls behind on all four wheels.

Top rated: NSA Ready Brute II $750

Brake

8 ranked

Systems that press the towed car's brake pedal when the motorhome slows. Most states require one.

Top rated: Demco Stay-IN-Play Duo $1,165.57

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Prices were last checked November 3, 2026 and are subject to change; the price and availability shown by the retailer at the time of purchase apply.

Best Flat Tow Bars

  1. NSA Ready Brute II
    #1 of 204.1Full review

    For a car or midsize SUV on a budget. It brings aluminum and lifetime cover for much less than the big names.

    Amazon $750
    $750
    8,000 lb37 lb-
  2. Demco Excali-Bar 3 9511013
    #2 of 204.0Full review

    For towing a heavy SUV or pickup. It pairs a high rating and lifetime cover with a fair price.

    Amazon $950.70
    $950.70
    10,500 lb46 lb-
  3. NSA Atlas 12K
    #3 of 204.0Full review

    For a heavy SUV or pickup on a budget. The most capacity per dollar here, but it is heavy to lift.

    Amazon $825
    $825
    12,000 lb55 lb-
  4. Demco Commander 2 9511012
    #4 of 203.9Full review

    For a car or small SUV on a budget, with the release and warranty of pricier bars.

    Amazon $788.64
    $788.64
    6,000 lb41 lb-
  5. Demco Dominator 9511008
    #5 of 203.8Full review

    For anyone who wants the lightest bar to lift and stow. You pay extra for the low weight.

    Amazon $1,231.30
    $1,231.30
    7,500 lb30 lb-

See all 20 best flat tow bars

Best Supplemental Braking Systems

  1. Demco Stay-IN-Play Duo
    #1 of 84.3Full review

    For gas motorhomes towing one car. It brakes in step with the coach and stays out of sight.

    Amazon $1,165.57
    $1,165.57
    --Yes
  2. Roadmaster BrakeMaster 9160
    #2 of 84.3Full review

    For diesel pushers and other air brake motorhomes. It is the cheapest way here to get proportional braking.

    Amazon $960.78
    $960.78
    -3.8 lbYes
  3. Demco Air Force One
    #3 of 84.2Full review

    For diesel pushers towing one car. It is a well rounded installed brake for air brake coaches.

    Amazon $1,323.81
    $1,323.81
    --Yes
  4. Roadmaster Even Brake 9400
    #4 of 83.9Full review

    For owners who want proportional braking and may switch towed cars. It is the most expensive way to get there.

    Amazon $1,930
    $1,930
    --Yes
  5. Roadmaster InvisiBrake 8700
    #5 of 83.8Full review

    For owners who keep one towed car and want a brake they never handle. Proportional systems brake more smoothly.

    Amazon $1,380
    $1,380
    --No

See all 8 best supplemental braking systems

How We Rank

Each tow bar or brake is ranked against others of the same type, and scored on its price, its towing capacity (tow bars) or proportional braking (brakes), its weight (tow bars) or install type (brakes), its features and its warranty.

FactorMeasuresWeight
Priceprice of the tow bar or brake system25%
Capacity or brakingtowing capacity for tow bars, proportional braking for brakes20%
Weight or installbar weight for tow bars, portable or installed for brakes15%
Featuresalignment, latches, storage, cables and lights (tow bars) or breakaway and a motorhome monitor (brakes)20%
Warrantywarranty length20%

How we rank explains each factor in full.