Blue Ox Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms
(2976 reviews)
Price: $493.81
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Blue Ox Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms
Item # BX1987
Retail:$592.90
Our Price: $493.81
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Blue Ox Base Plates - BX1987
- Removable Drawbars
- Blue Ox
- Twist Lock Attachment
Custom designed to fit your vehicle so it can be safely towed behind your RV, this base plate has easily removable arms that offer a seamless look when you're not flat towing. Base plate bolts directly to your chassis, so no welding is required.
Features:
- Custom-fit base plate provides attachment points for your tow bar when flat towing
- Hidden design provides a clean, seamless look
- Arms remove with a simple twist when not in use
- Brackets won't protrude past the front of your vehicle
- Sturdy design spreads towing force evenly to prevent stress on your vehicle's suspension
- Integrated mounting points let you easily attach an electrical connector plug with bracket (sold separately)
- Receiver covers keep dirt and debris out of the base plate when arms are removed and provide a finished look
- Durable steel construction is powder coated to resist rust and corrosion
- Straightforward installation - no welding required
- Base plate bolts securely to your vehicle's chassis with included mounting hardware
- Sturdy lugs pair with Blue Ox tow bars to form a secure and reliable connection
- Adaptable for use with Roadmaster tow bars - adapter (RM-031 or RM-031-5) sold separately
- Adaptable for use with Demco tow bars - adapter (BX88310) sold separately
- Made in the USA
Specs:
- Distance between brackets: 17"
- Bracket height: 12-1/2"
- 3-Year warranty
Simple, Hidden Design
This base plate's hidden design creates a clean and seamless look. The bracket arms are easily removable, creating a slick appearance when you're not flat towing. Because the arms can be removed, you also won't have to worry about banging your leg into any protruding arms when you walk by.
Attaching and removing the bracket arms is a breeze. To attach the arms to the base plate, simply insert them into the receivers and rotate them until they lock into place. Once you're finished towing and want to remove the arms, pull the pin to disengage the lock, rotate the arms, and remove them from the receivers. Finally, plug up the now empty receivers with the included receiver covers to help keep dirt and debris out of the base plate and provide a finished look.
Guide to Flat Towing
Flat towing your vehicle is much more convenient than using a trailer or a tow dolly. These other options take up much more storage space, leaving you less room both at home and at the campsite. In addition, securing your vehicle to a trailer or tow dolly can be a hassle and more time consuming than hooking up with a tow bar.
There are 5 basic components needed when flat towing a vehicle: a tow bar, a base plate kit, a safety cable set, tow bar wiring, and a supplemental braking system.
The tow bar links your towed car to your motorhome. It attaches to the custom-fit base plates that install on the frame of your towed car. Safety cables ensure that your towed car does not separate from your motorhome in the event that your tow bar becomes detached. Tow bar wiring allows your towed vehicle's signal lights to sync up with your motorhome's tail lights, which is required by law in most states. Finally, the supplemental braking system - also required in most states - brakes your towed car when the brakes in your motorhome are activated, preventing wear on the motorhome and decreasing braking distance for your entire setup.
BX1987 Blue Ox Baseplate - Removable Tabs
Installation Details
This Product Fits The Following Vehicles
- 2008 - 2015 Smart fortwo
Customer Satisfaction Score:
99% were satisfied with this product
1% of customers were not satisfied
- Wrong item was ordered
Customer Reviews
Blue Ox Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms - BX1987
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (2976 Customer Reviews)
Custom designed to fit your vehicle so it can be safely towed behind your RV, this base plate has easily removable arms that offer a seamless look when you're not flat towing. Base plate bolts directly to your chassis, so no welding is required.by: Jim09/28/2023
2014 Smart fortwo
Excellent quality. I have no doubts about the performance of this product.
There is a disparity concerning the placement of two of the fasteners. The exploded view shows the Whiz nuts positioned to the front (vertically) and the Nut plates positioned to the back (vertically). The instructions show them top and bottom (horizontal).
by: Stephen08/25/2023
2008 Smart fortwo
Was able to install the Baseplate with only a few minor issues. The directions are only average. The fit of the support plates doesn't allow enough clearance for the nut plates, Had to run tap trough some of the whiz nuts etc to clear welding slag. I have installed 5 or 6 baseplates, mostly Roadmasters. For my money they are easier to install and fit better than the Blu OX. E trailer is great, Parts always shipped and arrive on time
by: John03/05/2021
The baseplate arrived on time and well packaged. The instructions were easy and working by myself I was able to complete this in about 8 hours. I was taking my time and also learning the car which is quirky. I selected the Blue Ox due to the light weight tow tabs. My RV at the time had a very light towing capacity. After pulling my Smart Fortwo on a 1600 mile trip I have to say everything worked well and with the car so light @ 1800lbs it did not affect my mileage at all. Thanks etrailer for coming through again and thanks to Rebecca N for all your help.
by: Jeffrey 04/10/2024
Nice fit, looks good.
by: Steven02/21/2019
2010 Smart fortwo
I finally got my unit installed and it looks great. The only down side is Blue-Ox instructions and parts list do not agree. There were enough parts altogether but weld wire nuts were not as many as per instructions and one had to be almost double jointed to put four bolt washer nut combinations together. I also made use of a couple of things from the Roadmaster instructions that seemed a little more understandable for me as compared to the Blue-Ox instructions.
Steven
2/22/2020
Worked great last summer. Arizona through Alaska and returned. 13000 miles.we were happy campers.
by: Garry 02/11/2023
2013 Smart fortwo
I have ordered several times from etrailer.com and they are always very fast and have the best prices around!
by: Kathy09/04/2020
Wow!!! So very impressed with this company!!’ Haley helped me by phone make sure everything I ordered was right for my RV and Smartcar (tow bar, base plate, battery shutoff and wiring). It came quick and the quality of the products (Blue Ox) are outstanding. Highly recommend this company!! Thank you for helping me!!
by: Geodog01/28/2013
The instructions (#23) tell you to align the support bracket 1/4" from the bumper. When we drilled the holes we discovered that a nut could not be installed due too the lack of clearence with the frame rail end. This measurement should be 1/2".
Other than this clearence problem the installation went fine.
Very pleased with the Base Plate.
by: Karen04/05/2022
One year of towing my Smart car behind my LTV motorhome. It's doing great! Easy peasy. And little kids think the posts sticking out of the front of the car are machine guns! Haha!
by: Jim R.07/09/2015
Self installed. Instructions are clear but if you're going to install yourself - - read read read you will still go back to the instructions again and again. It's a good days job with a helper for a first timer. That said it's a fun project if you take your time. And you'll save a lot of money..
by: Bob J05/21/2020
Product fit well. Installation was easy.
by: Juanita B.01/05/2017
It was exactly what I needed and it fit great! Would recommend to others!
by: Richard 07/04/2021
2013 Smart fortwo
Richard
7/5/2022
great
by: Joseph 02/04/2020
Its not installed on the car yet.The 5 stars is for your company. Price and service could not be better.
by: Michel 08/31/2020
Great
by: Gord 08/22/2021
2013 Smart fortwo
Fast shipping great product
by: Kristiane04/12/2023
by: Jan 11/16/2021
by: Rod04/13/2023
The size of the box terrified me but I had to do this one myself.
This project is not for the faint of heart. When you think about what could go wrong you could wet yourself. I went with my gut and just opened the box. Hmmm, packaged very well with everything you need for the install. No going to the hardware store for this or that. Sat there with a cold sarsaparilla and read the very detailed instructions, went back to the etrailer web site and checked out some vids and pics. Hmm, it didn’t seem that daunting of a job. On my 04 Lexus GX470 most of the holes were drilled. Before I knew it 5 hours had past and I owned a toad! I took it to my local Rv service center for an inspection and it was deemed safe to use.
This thing is awesome, tracs straight as an arrow.
Now, I have to figure out this diode lighting kit. Camping is fun! Yah!!! :) Noah and etrailer made this a tolerable project. I urge everyone to take advantage of the resources that are on this sight. I always learn something when I’m there. See y’all on the trail….Rod
by: Stewart04/18/2024
This kit fit well, had decent instructions, and performed perfectly every time once installed. If doing the install yourself, you'll need some metal fabrication tools to notch the D-ring plates behind the bumper but it's not complicated, just a little time consuming depending on the tools you're using. The look is also a little weird on the front of a new Bronco since you're losing the burly bumper D-rings, but it's a well engineered setup overall. I only used the tow bar setup a couple times before the vehicle was lost in a wildfire so I can't comment on the longevity, but I have no doubt it would still be working fine today.
by: Ron10/14/2022
I am really happy, not only with the product but the customer care I received. Very quick and helpful!!
I would make one suggestion. Take the headlights out when doing this on a Chevy Cobalt. It will make it much easier to get to the 3 bolt holding the fender to the fascia.
by: Jonathon03/14/2024
I will start with the people that work here at etrailer are great to deal with and very helpful! These baseplates for my 2023 bronco have been great. i bought and installed myself. install pretty straight forward. and these work great for flat towing my bronco behind my motorhome.
by: Al12/20/2022
everything bolted up easy, i simply drilled hole’s into were needed and supplied my own bolts straight through for easy installation.
by: Deborah04/20/2023
eTrailer was very helpful in choosing the correct hitch for our rv and car. They also provided a special brake application in the car that makes it super easy for toad braking.
I am 72, and I hook up this toad and pull it with confidence. The instructions to hook up the toad was presented with ease. They knew exactly what they were doing, and we didn't rush through the demonstration. I would recommend eTrailer to anyone.
by: David A.03/06/2024
Installed successfully on my 2024 Trax LT. However, with respect to the following installation steps, I made some changes:
All - Don't use a reciprocating saw! An oscillating tool and saw attachment works best, allowing more precise cuts.
Step #8 - After consultation with BlueOx Tech Support, I elected to re-install the plastic shroud. Wasn't difficult and I felt better about maintaining the integrity of the original equipment.
Step #28 - I moved the temperature sensor to a forward facing position in the grill section directly above the baseplate.
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Show More Reviews
See what our Experts say about this Blue Ox Base Plates
- Blue Ox Base Plate Fit for 2008 Smart car fortwoThe Blue Ox base plate kit that fits your 2008 Smart fortwo is part # BX1987. This base plate is compatible with Blue Ox Adventurer, Aladdin, Allure, Alpha, Avail, Aventa, and Trion tow bars. Tow bars and base plates are just two of the components needed for safe and legal flat towing behind an RV. You can refer to the linked article on flat towing basics for more on the other items needed.
view full answer... - Grille Cut-Out Installation Instructions For BlueOx Baseplate # BX1987 On a 2012 Smart twoforYes, you will have to cut holes in your grille to make the baseplate extend out. My contact at Blue Ox told me that the way this is to be done is to hold the grille up to the area where the baseplates attach and mark the dimensions on the grille with a washable white paint and cut out from there. You will want to start off small and tweak from there so you do not over-cut. Blue Ox does not have a measurement specific diagram at this time.
view full answer... - Recommended Tow Bar for 2009 Smart Fortwo with Blue Ox Base Plate KitThe tow bar I recommend for the Blue Ox Base Plate Kit part # BX1987 on a 2009 Smart Fortwo is the Blue Ox Alpha 2 Non-Binding Tow Bar part # BX7380 which fits a tab spacing of 16-36". This will work great with your 17" tab spacing on the Fortwo. The Blue Ox Acclaim Non-Binding Tow Bar part # BX4330 isn't compatible due to the narrow tab spacing.
view full answer... - Can Roadmaster Tow Bar Tow Vehicle with Blue Ox Base Plate KitYes, but you would need to use the adapter kit part # RM-031 to attach a Roadmaster tow bar to the Blue Ox base plate kit part # BX1987.
view full answer... - Does The Blue Ox Baseplate # BX1987 Come With A Tow Bar No, Blue Ox Base Plate Kit # BX1987 is just the base plate. You would need to purchase a Blue Ox compatible tow bar in order to complete the physical connection between the towed vehicle and motorhome. One of my favorites is the etrailer SD Non-Binding Tow Bar for Blue Ox Base Plates # e47ZR. This tow bar comes with safety cables bracketed to arms so you don't have to purchase them separately or worry about them dragging on the ground. There's also a bar mounted to one of the arms that...
view full answer... - Parts Needed to Flat Tow a 2015 Smart Fortwo PureAll of the parts you mentioned are compatible for your 2015 Smart fortwo. Blue Ox Alpha Tow Bar - Motor Home Mount - 6,500 lbs - BX7380 Blue Ox Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms - BX1987 Blue Ox Tow Bar Wiring Kit - 4 Diodes - BX8848 I am not a huge fan of the AutoStop braking systems so I would recommend you go with a Blue OX Patriot part # BRK2012 instead. The easiest system to set up and use is the Blue Ox Patriot # BRK2019, that applies the vehicle brakes in proportion to how much the...
view full answer... - Recommendations for Taillight Wiring and Base Plates on 2010 Smart fortwoThe Blue Ox Base Plate Kit, # BX1987 is a confirmed fit for your 2010 Smart fortwo. This will work with the Blue Ox Tow Bar. The Tow Ready Tail Light Isolating Diode System with 4-Pole Connector, # TR118821 is the correct part for your 2010 Smart fortwo. With this kit, the towed vehicle's brake lights will function as both the brake and turn lights. A Vehicle to Vehicle Tail Light Converter, # 118158, sold separately, along with 2 additional diodes, Roadmaster Hy-Power Diodes, # RM-792,...
view full answer... - Blue Ox Base Plate Adaptor For Roadmaster Tow BarThere are two adapters you can choose from for your Roadmaster Falcon All-Terrain Tow Bar # RM-522 and Blue Ox Base Plates # BX1987. You can either use the Roadmaster Tow Bar to Blue Ox Brackets Adapter # RM-031 or the Blue Ox Base Plate Adapter Brackets for Roadmaster Tow Bars # BX88151. Both of these adapters will work well, so if it were me I'd go with the better price option. I've attached an article with an adapter table to show this fit (as well as others) to assist.
view full answer... - Can 2013 Smart fortwo Automatic Transmission be Flat TowedI pulled up the owners manual of your 2013 Smart fortwo and there is no exclusions for flat towing the automatic transmission models so it would be possible to flat tow yours. I don't have this verified for all years of this vehicle though. The first thing you need is a base plate kit like the Blue Ox # BX1987 that you referenced. In addition to the base plates, you will also need a compatible tow bar, safety cables, lighting, and supplemental braking to flat tow your vehicle. One of...
view full answer... - Items Needed to Flat Tow 2010 Smart fortwoFor your 2010 Smart fortwo, you will need 5 basic items to flat tow, Base Plates, Tow Bar, Safety Cables, a wiring solution for your indicator lights and a supplemental braking system. - Base Plates, Blue Ox Base Plate Kit, # BX1987 - Tow Bar, etrailer SD Non-Binding Tow Bar for Blue Ox Base Plates, # e47ZR which includes needed safety cables - Wiring, Tow Ready Tail Light Isolating Diode System with 4-Pole Connector, # TR118821 - Supplemental Braking, Brake Buddy Stealth Supplemental...
view full answer... - Parts Needed to Flat Tow 2008 Smart fortwo Behind MotorhomeWe can help you get your 2008 Smart fortwo Passion ready with the parts needed for flat-towing behind your RV. Do be sure to check your owner's manual to confirm that your particular car can be safely flat towed, since some may require special preparation steps or have specific limitations. The linked article details the components needed to flat tow a vehicle behind an RV. I also included articles specifically concerning braking systems and hitch adapters, both of which are required,...
view full answer... - Parts Needed To Flat-Tow a 2014 Smart FortwoIn order to flat-tow a 2014 Smart Fortwo you'll need a base plate kit, tow bar, safety cables, wiring harness, supplemental braking system, and possibly a few other items. I have attached a list of each of these components below for a complete setup. Blue Ox Base Plate Kit part # BX1987 Blue Ox Alpha 2 Tow Bar part # BX7380 Roadmaster Diode 7-Wire to 6-Wire Flexo-Coil Wiring Kit part # RM-15267 Roadmaster Automatic Battery Disconnect part # RM-766 Demco Stay-IN-Play DUO Supplemental Braking...
view full answer... - Recommend Tow Bar To Flat-Tow My 2008 Smart FortwoI can see how the size of the Blue Ox Aladdin tow bar could be a concern, but the tow bar only weighs 37 lbs and remains stored on the hitch of your RV when you are not towing. Another great feature about this tow bar is that it is non-binding, which allows for easier hookup and disconnecting. In addition to a tow bar, you will need a base plate kit, safety cables, wiring or lighting, and a supplemental braking system to complete your flat-towing setup. The Blue Ox Base Plate Kit, part...
view full answer... - Which Base Plate Installs Easily on a 2013 Smart ForTwo, Blue Ox # BX1987 or Roadmaster # 52285-1Blue Ox rates the installation difficulty for their 2013 Smart ForTwo base plates, part # BX1987, such that an experienced professional installer will typically need 4 hours to complete the install. (First-time installers will usually take significantly longer to complete the process.) The installation of this product requires removal of the front bumper fascia, some trimming of the bumper and air dam and some drilling. The Roadmaster # 52285-1, Base Plates for the 2013 Smart fortwo, according...
view full answer... - Parts Needed To Flat-Tow a 2015 Smart Car Fortwo PureIn order to flat-tow a 2015 Smart ForTwo Pure you will need a base plate kit, safety cables (if not already equipped with tow bar), a flat-tow wiring harness, a supplemental braking system (if required by state law), possibly a high-low adapter, and a few other smaller items. I have attached a list of these parts and my recommendations below. Blue Ox Base Plate Kit part # BX1987 Blue Ox Safety Cables part # BX88197 Roadmaster Diode 7-Wire to 4-Wire Flexo-Coil Wiring Kit part # RM-15247 Air...
view full answer... - 2013 Smart Car Flat Towing Component InstallationFor your 2013 Smart fortwo, I will walk though the parts listed to confirm fits and compatibility to assist. The Blue Ox base plates # BX1987 is a confirmed fit and will work well with the Blue Ox Alpha Tow Bar - Motorhome Mount - 6,500 lbs # BX7380 you referenced which comes with the safety cables. For your tow bar wiring, the Roadmaster Diode 7-Wire to 6-Wire Flexo-Coil Wiring Kit # RM-15267 is an excellent choice to give you the clean connection and utilize your factory wiring while...
view full answer...
- Parts Needed to Flat Tow 2009 Smart ForTwo Cabriolet Behind Motorhome RVWe can help you get your 2009 Smart ForTwo Cabriolet ready for flat towing behind your motorhome. For reference, the linked article on the basics of flat towing, as well as the two others that cover specific components, are a great place to start your towing prep. As always, it is a good idea to check your Smart owner's manual for details on flat towing. I checked an online edition and it covers this subject on page 204. Let's get going! Starting with base plates for the Fortwo, we offer...
view full answer... - Parts Needed to Flat Tow a 2015 Smart fortwoAs long as your 2015 Smart fortwo is not the electric version then you can flat tow it and we have the Blue Ox system to do it with. To flat tow your fortwo you will need a base plate kit, tow bar, safety cables, vehicle tow bar wiring, a supplemental braking system, and most likely a high-low adapter. Since you are interested in the Blue Ox system you will want to use the Blue Ox Base Plate Kit # BX1987 which is a custom fit for your Smart car. For a tow bar I recommend using the Blue...
view full answer... - Recommend Base Plate and Tow Bar For 2010 Smart For TwoFor your 2010 Smart For Two, we have the Roadmaster EZ Base Plate Kit, part # 52285-1, and the Blue Ox Base Plate Kit, part # BX1987. Both the Roadmaster and Blue Ox base plate kits feature removable drawbars, so that the base plate kit is less visible when you are not towing the vehicle. Both the Roadmaster and Blue Ox base plate kit would be a good option for your 2010 Smart Car. In addition to a base plate kit, you will need a tow bar, safety cables, wiring or lighting, and a supplemental...
view full answer... - Parts Needed to Flat Tow a 2012 Smart fortwo Behind a Toyota TacomaTo flat tow your 2012 Smart fortwo behind your Toyota Tacoma you will need base plates, a compatible tow bar, safety cables, lighting, and supplemental braking. First, for base plates I recommend the Blue Ox model # BX1987 because they are generally easier to install and cost a little less than the competition. For a compatible tow bar there are a couple of ways to approach it. You could go with a tow bar that costs a little more and end up saving money on the braking system or you could...
view full answer... - Flat Towing Recommendations For A 2008 Smart ForTwo Gas CoupeAll of your choices for flat towing will work with your 2008 Smart Fortwo. Tow Bar: etrailer SD Non-Binding Tow Bar for Blue Ox Base Plates - RV Mount - 2" Hitch - 6,000lbs Item # e47ZR Tow Bar Wiring: Roadmaster Universal Hy-Power Diode Wiring Kit Item # RM-154. This wiring harness is a one time setup so you won't have to run magnetic lights to the back of the vehicle every time you want to flat tow. Base Plates: Blue Ox Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms Item # BX1987. Braking System:...
view full answer... - What Base Plate and Wiring Harness Do You Recommend for Flat-Towing a 2013 Smart fortwo?When choosing a base plate for your 2013 Smart fortwo, I recommend the Blue Ox Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms # BX1987 over the Roadmaster EZ Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms # 52285-1 because you will not need to purchase an additional adapter when using the Blue Ox plate with your Blue Ox tow bar. Apart from not needing an adapter, the Blue Ox has a very straightforward installation with a bolt-on process. If you need safety chains with your setup, I recommend the Roadmaster 80" Coiled...
view full answer... - Parts to Tow a 2015 Smart Car and 2011 Chevy Tahoe Behind a MotorhomeWe can help with the parts you need to flat tow your 2015 Smart fourtwo. I'll list the parts I recommend starting with the Demco Commander II tow bar, part # DM9511012-BX. I like Demco's tow bars because of the built in rise or drop and the safety cables. This one in particular includes the adapters to connect to Blue Ox base plates because for your Smart car I recommend part # BX1987. The other parts I recommend are: Braking system part # BLU37TR Wiring kit part # RM-15267 For the braking...
view full answer... - Parts Needed to Flat Tow 2016 Smart fortwo GasFlat towing any car requires a few components and these are noted in the linked article. The items include base plates, safety cables, tow bar, a wiring/lighting kit, braking system and often a high/low hitch adapter. Here is a listing of such parts for the 2016 Smart fortwo: Base Plate # RM-52300-4 Falcon 2 Tow Bar # RM-520 Safety Cables # RM-643 Towing Light kit # DM36MV Battery Disconnect # RM-766 Even Brake # RM-9400 Stop Light Switch Kit # RM-751486 12 Volt Outlet Kit # RM-9332 High/Low...
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Jenny N.
10/6/2023
Thanks to the eagle-eyed review I reached out to Blue Ox who is updating the manual. Thank you for letting us know!