bing tracking image
  1. Tow Bar Base Plate
  2. Blue Ox
  3. Removable Draw Bars
  4. Twist Lock Attachment
  5. Completely Hidden
THIS ITEM IS NOT A FIT FOR
2020 Freightliner Sprinter 4500
etrailer Installation
We'll connect you with nearby partnered installers who know this exact setup.
Blue Ox

Blue Ox Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms

Part Number: BX1989
In Stock
$519.28
Retail:$609.99
You Save: $90.71
Tow Bar Base Plate
Not Confirmed to Fit

2020 Freightliner Sprinter 4500

Will this fit?

To see if this custom-fit item will work for you please tell us what vehicle you'll use it with.

zoom in icon
slider vertical icon
zoom out icon
Comment field cannot be left empty.
Name field cannot be left empty.
By submitting this form, you understand and agree to our Terms of Sale, Website Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Thank you! Your comment has been submitted successfully. You should be able to view your question/comment here within a few days.

Error submitting comment. Please try again momentarily.

Product Images

In Use/Installed

Customer Photos

Videos

etrailer Installation
We'll connect you with nearby partnered installers who know this exact setup.
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. Great Prices for the best tow bar base plate from Blue Ox. Blue Ox Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms part number BX1989 can be ordered online at etrailer.com or call 1-800-940-8924 for expert service.
  • All Info
  • Reviews (5152)
  • Q & A (0)
  • Photos

Blue Ox Tow Bar Base Plate - BX1989

Highlights

  • Custom Fit for Your Vehicle: Mounts to existing attachment points
  • Ready for Flat Towing: Creates secure attachment points so your vehicle can be safely towed behind your RV.
  • Blends In When Not Towing: Hidden design with twist-off arms keeps the front end looking clean and factory-fresh.
  • Quick Hookup: Twist-lock arms insert and remove easily for fast connect and disconnect at any campsite.
  • Distributes Force Evenly: Sturdy design spreads towing stress across the chassis for stable, reliable performance.
  • Built to Last: Powder-coated steel resists rust and corrosion for dependable use through long trips.
Made in USA

Features to know about

Made for a Clean Front End: Hidden Base Plate with Removable Arms

This setup keeps things looking sleek when you’re not towing. The hidden design tucks the hardware out of sight, so there’s no bulky brackets or bars sticking out. Each arm twists off easily, leaving only smooth receiver openings that plug up with the included covers to keep out dirt and debris. The clean, finished look means no more bumping into tow points when walking past the front end.

Vehicle front showing Blue Ox base plate kit with removable arms detached for hidden appearance

Blue Ox base plate kit with removable arms attached to vehicle front frame for flat towing demonstration

Hook Up Fast and Secure: Twist-Lock Arms That Drop In Smoothly

Connecting the tow bar is quick and solid with this twist-lock system. The removable arms slide into the base plate receivers and rotate until they lock into place, then secure with a simple pull pin. When you’re done towing, the same motion releases them—no tools or wrestling required. It’s a straightforward process that makes solo hookups easy in any setting.

Close-up of Blue Ox base plate twist-lock mechanism showing how removable arm locks into receiver

Built for Miles of Confidence: Steel Construction That Spreads the Load

The base plate bolts directly to the chassis with the included hardware, so there’s no welding involved. Its sturdy steel design spreads towing forces evenly across the frame to help prevent stress on the suspension during long trips. The powder-coated finish resists rust and corrosion for a long service life that holds up over countless miles on the road.

Keep Using Your Existing Tow Gear: Compatible Connection Options

If you already have towing equipment, this kit fits right in. The sturdy lugs pair directly with Blue Ox tow bars for a secure connection and can also be adapted for use with Roadmaster or Demco tow bars using adapters RM-031, RM-031-5, or DM9523041 (sold separately). It’s a practical way to integrate your current setup without replacing everything you already own.

DIY-Friendly Install: Straightforward Bolt-On Design

This is a bolt-on install—no welding required. The kit comes with all mounting hardware and uses solid attachment points on the chassis for a reliable fit. Clear instructions make it manageable for those who like to handle their own projects, turning what looks like a big job into a satisfying weekend setup.

Specs

Dimensions

  • Distance between brackets: 24"
  • Bracket height: 25-1/2"

Diagram showing flat towing basics including motorhome, car, tow bar, base plate, safety cables, wiring, and braking system labeled for reference

Warranty

  • Warranty length: 3-Year warranty

BX1989 Blue Ox Baseplate - Removable Tabs

Installation Details BX1989 Installation instructions

This Product Fits The Following Vehicles




Customer Satisfaction Score:

Ratings & Reviews

4.8

5149 reviews
5 Stars
(4437)
4 Stars
(493)
3 Stars
(104)
2 Stars
(46)
1 Star
(69)
Review sort icon
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:

Super high quality baseplate for towing by Blue Ox. Instructions, videos, shipping (one day!) and overall experience was awesome. A bit pricey but their quality and the additional support by E Trailer cannot be beat! BTW (E Trailer) the baseplate fits three different Jeep configurations but did not call out the Recon package. After looking at other brands which showed there's to fit the 3 variations AND the Recon, I figured it would fit and it DID. You should definitely upgrade to include the Recon Edition.



by:

lways great to shop at etrailer, especially the tech experts. Royce did an awesome job with our order. Everything fit perfectly and the help video provided the guidance I needed.

We installed the baseplate on our 2023 Encore GX AWD as well as the light harness and breakaway switch. A couple of items were incorrect but Royce corrected the issues with no problems.

Thanks again etrailer!



by:

2019 Ford Ranger baseplate worked and fitted fine for me. 73 yrs old took me a couple hours but took many breaks. Younger could do it less than hour I'm sure.
Also works fine with my Blue Ox tow bar.



by:



by:



by:



by:



by:



by:



by:



by:

Great product, hard to install



by:

Fit perfect



by:

everything was just as listed and came as promised ...install was easy..



by:

Just what the description says. Great product and service.



by:

Easy to remove and install.



by:

I wish I had bought it a few years ago.



by:

Fits perfect. Works as it should.
Great
company to do business with.



by:

Received my order sooner than the scheduled delivery!



by:

Fast shipping and a high quality produc t.



by:

Very good quality great craftsmanship fit perfectly looks good when installed I have towed the truck behind my motor home with out any problems.



by:

I love Blue Ox products they are well built and easy step by step instructions. Also if I have any questions etrailer is there to answer them.

Thanks everyone,

Frank



by:

Lucky I can figure out instructions. I had to watch a [online] video to understand the writing instructions send to me with the base plate.
This base plate van not be removed, it is a permit applications, unless you sell the vehicle. Then yes you can remove it.
The inserts are the only item that can be removed.
The Plat or Arm, which ever you want to call it can not be removed.



by:

It worked great while we had it, no longer own truck or blue ox base plate.



by:

I got what I expected, worth the price



by:

etrailer had the best price and carried the other options that I needed with this adapter plate for my 2018 Dodge Cummings Ram. The instructions were pretty good, but I did watch a [installation] video that helped a lot. I am 65 years old and did this by myself, however, it took me a while. The parts all fit perfectly. I did have to cut two small pieces of plastic, but that's the only modification to the truck that I had to do.

I have since towed this truck with a 40' Newmar diesel engine motorcoach over 3,500 miles without any issues at all.


25
25

See what our Experts say about this Blue Ox Tow Bar Base Plate

  • Recommended Parts Needed to Flat Tow a 2017 Ram 3500 Diesel With an American Heritage RV
    The equipment that you will need to flat tow your 2017 Ram 3500 includes a Base Plate Kit, Tow Bar, Safety Cables, Tow Bar Wiring, a Supplemental Braking System, and most likely a High-Low Adapter. For a Base Plate Kit I recommend using the Blue Ox # BX1989 which will bolt securely to your chassis. The Tow Bar that I recommend going with is the Blue Ox Avail Tow Bar # BX7420 which is rated for 10,000 lbs and comes with Safety Cables. I recommend installing the Roadmaster 4-Diode Universal...
    view full answer...
  • Parts Needed to Flat Tow a 2014 Dodge Ram Behind a Motor Home
    To flat tow a vehicle you will need at least 5 items: base plates, a tow bar, safety cables, lighting solution, and supplemental braking. Starting with the base plates the proper ones are going to depend on some specific information about your truck. If your Ram is a 1500 but not a Sport or Express you can use Blue Ox base plates # BX1986 or Roadmaster base plates # 52289-1. If your Ram is a 1500 Sport or Express you can use Blue Ox base plates # BX2409 or Roadmaster base plates # RM-298-1...
    view full answer...
  • Components Needed To Flat Tow A 2012 Ram 3500
    The Blue Ox Base Plate Kit # BX1989 would be a fit for your 2012 Ram 3500. With your Ram being 10,100lbs I'm a bit leery to use a tow bar with a 10,500lb capacity because you could easily overload the tow bar if you store anything in the bed of the truck. Personally, I would go get your truck weighed at a highway weigh station to know your exact weight before using the etrailer XHD Non-Binding Tow Bar # e67ZR. Most manufacturers recommend only using about 80-85% of a towing component's...
    view full answer...
  • Recommendations for Flat Towing a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 Dually Diesel Behind BlueBird Motorhome
    I can help you pick out a base plate kit and a tow bar for your 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 Dually Diesel. I recommend the BlueOx Base Plate Kit # BX1989 for your 2004 Ram. This kit requires minimal drilling and will fit whether you have factory tow hooks or not. The tow bar I recommend for your setup is the BlueOx Avail # BX7420. With this towbar hookup is easy as a snap. This tow bar also comes with the safety cables needed to secure the vehicle and Motorhome together. It's important to...
    view full answer...
  • Parts Needed to Flat Tow a 2013 Ram 2500 Behind a Motor Home
    The first thing you are going to want to do is consult the owners manual for your 2013 Ram 2500 to make sure it can be flat towed. To flat tow a vehicle you will need base plates, a compatible tow bar, safety cables, lighting, and supplemental braking. Since your 2013 Ram has tow hooks you can use base plates # BX1989. Your truck could be heavy depending on how it is equipped. So for a tow bar that has enough capacity and that is compatible with the base plates I recommend the Blue Ox...
    view full answer...
  • Tow Bar, Base Plates and Other Flat Towing Equipment Needed for 2013 RAM 3500 Diesel 4x4
    To safely tow your Ram, you'll need to begin by determining if it's capable of being flat towed. My research indicates that you can flat tow your Ram with no issues, but I'd urge you to confirm that for yourself by consulting your owner's manual and your Ram dealer. In order to flat tow your Ram, you'll need base plates, a tow bar, safety cables, a lighting solution and a supplemental braking system. Because of the weight of your 3500 Diesel, you'll need a heavy duty tow bar. I'd recommend...
    view full answer...
  • Can 2015 Ram 3500 with Fabfours Bumper be Flat Towed
    You can probably come up with a way to install the Blue Ox base plate kit part # BX1989 on your 2015 Ram and fit with your Fabfours bumper but we don't have specific instructions for that or how much modification would be required. It does look like your bumper has D-rings so a D-ring adapter base plate kit would be a solution like with the part # BX88357 for if they are 7/8 inch or the part # BX88358 for if they are 1 inch.
    view full answer...
  • Blue Ox Flat Tow Setup for 2016 Ram 2500 Longhorn Diesel
    Hey Andrew! I would be happy to put that together for you. I don't have a way to give you a single quote but I can list the parts below. For a complete setup you will need a tow bar, base plate, safety cables, wiring, and a supplemental brake system. Using Blue Ox for the tow bar and base plate kit I recommend the following: -Blue Ox Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms # BX1989 -Blue Ox Avail Non-Binding Tow Bar # BLU28QV (includes safety cables) -Blue Ox Universal Tow Bar Cover # BLU53QV...
    view full answer...
  • Base Plate Kit Confirmed to Fit a 2018 Ram 2500 Tradesman
    I verified with Blue Ox that the correct base plate kit for your 2018 Ram 2500 Tradesman is part # BX1989. I've linked a video of the install on a 2005 Ram so you can get an idea of the process. If you need other parts to tow your Ram I suggest the diode kit, part # RM-15267, to power the lights, and the Stay-IN-Play DUO, part # SM99251 for supplemental braking. If you use the DUO you also need a stop light switch kit using part # RM-751460 if your truck doesn't have adjustable pedals...
    view full answer...
  • Wiring 2014 Ram 2500 Laramie for Flat Towing
    Before attempting to flat tow the vehicle, I'd consult the owner's manual to determine if the vehicle can be flat towed without modification, and if not, what modifications would be required. The 2014 Ram 2500 wouldn't come from the factory with a plug for the taillights when flat towing the vehicle. You would need to have that installed yourself. I'd recommend the Roadmaster Universal Diode Wiring Kit, part # RM-154. You can see an actual installation by clicking on the video link I provided...
    view full answer...
  • Blue Ox Base Plate Fit for 2016 Ram 2500 4x4 Diesel
    My contact at Blue Ox confirmed that their base plate kit # BX1989 is fine for use on your 7500-lb 2016 Ram 2500 4x4 diesel (so long as it is not the Power Wagon, for which we offer no base plates). No base plate/tow bar adapters can be used, however, so you'll need to select a properly-rated Blue Ox tow bar, such as their Alpha # BX7380. Note that your tow hooks will need to be removed. All of the items needed for safe and legal flat towing are outlined in the linked article.
    view full answer...
  • Blue Ox Base Plate Kit and Tow Bar that Fits 2004 Dodge Ram 3500
    For your 2004 Dodge Ram 3500 the correct Blue Ox base plate kit is the part # BX1989 which you can use with the Blue Ox tow bar # BX7460P that we also have available. The part number you mentioned is not a fit for your truck.
    view full answer...
  • Recommended Base Plates to Tow 2012 Ram 2500
    I recommend the Blue Ox base plates kit # BX1989. These base plates are custom designed to fit your Ram 2500. The hidden reinforcements and absence of a support beam provide a clean look when your vehicle is not being towed. For a tow bar I recommend the Blue Ox Avail, # BX7420. It is rated for up to 10,000 pounds and it includes safety cables. For lighting, if you will not be towing the truck that often I recommend a magnetic lighting kit, # RM-2120. If you will be towing the truck often...
    view full answer...
  • Blue Ox Base Plates for Flat Towing a 2008 Dodge Ram Pickup
    Yes, the Blue Ox Base Plate Kit with Removable Arms, # BX1989 comes complete with the needed arms for your 2008 Dodge Ram Pickup. The sturdy lugs mate to a Blue Ox tow bars or are adaptable to Roadmaster tow-bars using # RM-031 or # RM-031-5, sold separately. Or to Demco tow bars using the # BX88310. If you do not already have a tow bar, I suggest using the Blue Ox Avail Non-Binding Tow Bar, # BX7420. The non-binding latches make it easy to disconnect no matter the angle or terrain and...
    view full answer...

Do you have a question about this Tow Bar Base Plate?


Info for this part was:

Employee Lindsey S
Written by:
Lindsey S
Employee Jeff D
Expert Research:
Jeff D
Employee Jameson C
Expert Research:
Jameson C
Employee Adam R
Expert Research:
Adam R
Employee Jeffrey L
Expert Research:
Jeffrey L
Employee Adele M
Updated by:
Adele M
Employee Wilson B
Updated by:
Wilson B
Employee Hannah L
Updated by:
Hannah L
Employee Mike S
Updated by:
Mike S
Employee Carrie F
Updated by:
Carrie F
Employee Kathleen M
Video by:
Kathleen M
Employee Chris R
Video Edited:
Chris R
Employee Andrew S
Test Fit:
Andrew S

At etrailer we provide the best information available about the products we sell. We take the quality of our information seriously so that you can get the right part the first time. Let us know if anything is missing or if you have any questions.


Product Experts Available Now!
Call 1-800-940-8924