Product Experts Available Now!
Call 1-800-940-8924
THIS ITEM IS NOT A FIT FOR
1999 Pontiac Firebird
We'll connect you with nearby partnered installers who know this exact setup.
Blue Ox Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms
Part Number: BX2680
In Stock
$499.87
Retail:$952.20
You Save: $452.33
1999 Pontiac Firebird
Will this fit?
To see if this custom-fit item will work for you please tell us what vehicle you'll use it with.
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.
We'll connect you with nearby partnered installers who know this exact setup.
- All Info
- Reviews (5234)
- Q & A (0)
- Photos
Blue Ox Tow Bar Base Plate - BX2680
Highlights
- Custom Fit for Your Vehicle: Mounts to existing attachment points
- Ready for Flat Towing: Provides secure attachment points to connect your tow bar for safe RV towing.
- Blends In When Not Towing: Hidden design with twist-lock removable arms keeps the front end clean and seamless.
- Built to Last: Durable, powder-coated steel resists rust and corrosion through miles of towing.
- Spreads Force Evenly: Sturdy brackets bolt to the chassis to reduce stress on suspension components.
- Adapts to Your Setup: Works directly with Blue Ox tow bars and accepts Roadmaster or Demco adapters.
Features to know about
Seamless Look When You’re Not Towing: Hidden Base Plate with Removable Arms
When you’re done towing, you don’t want hardware sticking out from the front of your vehicle. This setup solves that with a completely hidden design and removable arms. The arms twist off in seconds, leaving a clean, factory-style look and no brackets to bump into when walking past. Receiver covers plug into the openings to keep out dust and debris so everything stays clean and ready for the next trip.
Connect in Seconds: Twist-Lock, Pin-Secure System
The removable draw bars use a simple twist-lock attachment that makes hook-up quick and easy. Just insert each arm, rotate to lock, and secure it with the included pin. When you’re ready to disconnect, pull the pin, twist again, and slide the arms free. It’s a smooth process that works just as well whether you’re setting up solo or in tight spaces.
Strong Where It Counts: Steel Construction That Distributes the Load
Built from heavy-duty steel and powder coated for corrosion resistance, this base plate bolts directly to the chassis with no welding required. Its sturdy design spreads towing forces evenly across multiple mounting points to help reduce stress on your suspension during long hauls. With bracket spacing of 30" and a bracket height of 17", it’s engineered for a secure and balanced setup every time you tow.
Ready for the Tow Bar You Already Own: Broad Compatibility Options
If you already have gear you like, this base plate is designed to fit right in. It pairs directly with Blue Ox tow bars for a secure connection. If your setup uses Roadmaster or Demco equipment, simple adapters (RM-031 or RM-031-5 for Roadmaster and DM9523041 for Demco, sold separately) make it compatible without complicated modifications. Integrated mounting points also make it easy to attach an electrical connector bracket so your front wiring stays neat.
DIY-Friendly Setup: Bolt-On Install with Included Hardware
You don’t need specialized tools or welding to get this installed. The kit includes all necessary mounting hardware and bolts securely to the chassis for a straightforward fit. Most installs take only a few hours, making it a manageable afternoon project for anyone comfortable turning wrenches at home. Once installed, it delivers the reliable connection you need for confident flat towing trip after trip.
Specs
Dimensions
- Distance between brackets: 30"
- Bracket height: 17"
Warranty
- Warranty length: 3-Year warranty
BX2680 Blue Ox Baseplate - Removable Tabs
This Product Fits The Following Vehicles
- 2019 - 2023 Lincoln Nautilus 2.7L V6 Engine
Customer Satisfaction Score:
97% were satisfied with this product
3% of customers were not satisfied
- Product did not meet expectations
Ratings & Reviews
4.8
5234 reviews
by:
William
08/06/2026
Fast service
by:
Joseph
03/21/2026
The how to video was great!
by:
Robert
04/07/2024
2023
Lincoln
Nautilus
This product does NOT work on a 2023 Lincoln Nautilus 2.7L if you have fog lights!! I did not know this until we were trying to put the fascia back on. I contacted BlueOx and they said to send pics and they would get back to me but they never did. I had to take a cutoff wheel to the fog lights to get the fascia back on. Externally it looks fine but the fog lights don't work. The whole reason I picked this vehicle was because blueox had a base plate for it. DO NOT purchase if you have a 2022+ with fog lights.
by:
Iguess
07/09/2020
Replaced the BlueOx base plate and bought from etrailer Roadmaster base plate and the Guardian Rock Guard. Five stars.
by:
Terry
11/14/2022
Instillation is pretty straight forward. Seems heavy duty. Make sure you have a couple quality drill bits in 3/8 and 1/2.
by:
David
11/04/2022
It was as described. Fit and finish was a perfect match.
by:
Alan
04/17/2024
Wonderful product.
by:
Keith
07/06/2024
by:
Michael
09/28/2022
by:
Douglas
06/25/2023
by:
Mark
02/13/2025
by:
Tony
01/16/2024
by:
Priscilla
03/04/2024
by:
Nick
11/08/2021
by:
Douglas
09/06/2026
2026
Ford
Maverick
I looked into every brand/model available and this was the beefiest. There is cutting and trimming required on all brands, so why not get the strongest? If you're slightly handy with a toolbox, you can easily do the install yourself and save thousands.
by:
Ed V
04/27/2026
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!
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!
Heather A.
5/1/2026
The install looks great Ed! Where are you planning on taking the Encore? I will let Royce know you reached out.
Heather A.
5/1/2026
@EdV That sounds awesome. Utah is beautiful. Chicago is probably one of my favorite places to visit. Are you going to check out Wrigley?
by:
Mark
07/08/2026
2017
Jeep
Wrangler
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:
Lynn
08/25/2026
Well the blue ox base plate actually fits my turbo engine. The Curt didn't fit as advertised.
by:
Charles
01/02/2026
The Blue Ox base plate for my 2015 Kia Soul is well manufactured and, with a little bit of mechanical skill, easy to install. It fit perfectly without issues. Brad from etrailer provides a step-by-step installation video that is outstanding and nicely guides through the process from beginning to end. I highly recommend this Blue Ox base plate from etrailer.
Nick S.
1/5/2026
I am glad you were able to get it installed with no issues and a little help from our video! What kind of coach are you pulling the Kia Soul with?
by:
Roger
12/10/2024
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.
Also works fine with my Blue Ox tow bar.
Roger
12/12/2025
Still the same no issues...fine product
by:
Matthew
10/07/2025
I installed this myself on a 2012 CR-V EXL AWD. The directions are straightforward. The system works very well and is easy to use.
Fair warning .. because the car is older, just about every clip that holds the grill and bumper in place broke when taking them off. Replacing all those clips with OEM parts is expensive!
BUT, that doesn't retract from the quality of the baseplate or it's use ability.
This is the third different Blue Ox baseplate system I have bought and installed and all of them were excellent!
Fair warning .. because the car is older, just about every clip that holds the grill and bumper in place broke when taking them off. Replacing all those clips with OEM parts is expensive!
BUT, that doesn't retract from the quality of the baseplate or it's use ability.
This is the third different Blue Ox baseplate system I have bought and installed and all of them were excellent!
Matthew
10/12/2026
Its been two years since installation of the Blue Ox Baseplate. Since then, Ive flat towed the CRV from NJ to FL and back three separate times with many other shorter trips in between. Paired with a Blue Ox Tow Bar, the system has worked flawlessly since installation.
Jameson C.
10/12/2026
@Matthew that's great to hear!
by:
Chris
12/17/2025
2013
mini
Cooper
Fits my 2013 mini cooper non turbo. Does take a few hours to install this Fit was good. The hardest part is removing the front bumper and reinstalling it. You do have to cut the lower bumper grill in three places take your time locating the exact spots for cuts. I have pulled Mini Cooper about seven thousand miles now with this Blue Ox and has worked great
Kate F.
12/17/2025
Thanks for the detailed review Chris, and the pointers! This will be most helpful to others. What was your favorite stop in those 7,000 miles? Where did you go, what did you see?
by:
Perry
09/24/2025
2008
Ram
2500
I got a used set for a great price and it worked out well. my only caution is that some of the holes in my 2008 2500 suburban had to be drilled to 9/16 due to misalignment with the tapped holes in the brackets. This minor adjustment made it all go togehter easily though. Be aware, you won't have tow hooks anymore if that is something you use a lot.
Perry
10/1/2026
Follow up. Ive put about 8000 miles on the setup and its been great. A 34 ton suburban pulls nicely behind my Dutch star, and they dont have a steering lock so its nice not to have to retrieve keys when stopping for the night. I have used the safety cable attachment a few times for straight line pulls with a small shackle when working as a rally racing volunteer, its been fine but I wouldnt side pull on it.
by:
Vertical Caver
12/06/2025
Well designed and solidly built base plate. Very good product support from Etrailer and Blue Ox.
The four 1/2 inch by 1 3/4 inch bolts are category 5 bolts. I had a bag full of identically sized bolts which were category 8. But I did not have any whizz nuts that were category 8 nuts so I stayed with the standard Blue Ox Hardware. We used POR 15 rust preventing paint at every location where we cut the steel or drilled holes. The distance from the center of the attachment tab assembly holes to the ground is 20 inches on our 2025 Wrangler Rubicon JLU with "Xtreme" 35 inch tire package. Easy five stars for Blue Ox and etrailer.
The four 1/2 inch by 1 3/4 inch bolts are category 5 bolts. I had a bag full of identically sized bolts which were category 8. But I did not have any whizz nuts that were category 8 nuts so I stayed with the standard Blue Ox Hardware. We used POR 15 rust preventing paint at every location where we cut the steel or drilled holes. The distance from the center of the attachment tab assembly holes to the ground is 20 inches on our 2025 Wrangler Rubicon JLU with "Xtreme" 35 inch tire package. Easy five stars for Blue Ox and etrailer.
by:
David
12/17/2025
Great products from etrailer. The videos were very helpful as I was determined to do the install myself. I’m 72 years old and thought I could do it and I did with the help of my lovely assistant, my wife. The tip on running the taillight wiring through the frame rail was great. The one problem I had was that I was never able to unplug the taillights no matter how hard I tugged on them so I had my wife hold each light while I spliced in the diodes. Very happy with the Blue Ox products and the finished look on my Jeep. Thanks again etrailer.
25
5234
true
Show More Reviews
See what our Experts say about this Blue Ox Tow Bar Base Plate
- Can A 2023 Lincoln Nautilus Be Flat Towed?Hello Raymond, a 2023 Lincoln Nautilus can be flat towed, but only if it is a 2.7L V6. The 2.0L AWD and FWD models cannot be flat towed and must be towed with all 4 wheels off of the ground, such as using a car trailer. If yours is a 2.7L V6, you can flat tow using the manual park release procedure highlighted on page 218 of your owner's manual. You will want to put your climate control system in recirculated air mode to prevent exhaust fumes from entering the vehicle. Also, you can never...
view full answer... - Recommended Parts for Flat Towing a 2023 Lincoln NautilusHey Randy. Blue Ox and Roadmaster's tow bars and baseplates are pretty comparable but Roadmaster's wiring options are far superior. Please note that the you can only flat tow your Nautilus if it has the 2.7L V6 engine. To flat tow your 2023 Lincoln Nautilus I recommend the following parts from both Roadmaster and Blue Ox: Tow Bar and Safety Cables - Blue Ox Avail Non-Binding Tow Bar item # BLU28QV and item # BX88197 Base Plate Kit - Blue Ox Base Plate Kit item # BX2680 Wiring Harness...
view full answer... - 2021 Lincoln Nautilus Manual Park Release Procedure Hey Paul, thanks for reaching out. I looked up the owners manual for the 2021 Lincoln Nautilus and the manual clearly states to follow the manual park release procedure. It does look like this involves manually releasing the tether cable with the brake pedal pressed. I included a screenshot from the manual for you below. I wish I could tell you they were kidding but it appears this step is necessary. I am not super flexible either so I could definitely see this being a challenge. I would...
view full answer... - Recommended Flat Towing Set Up for a 2019 Lincoln Nautilus w/ a 2.7L Engine Thanks for the picture! I checked with Roadmaster and since your 2019 Lincoln Nautilus has the 2.7 L engine it is able to be flat towed. The battery must be disconnected while your Lincoln's being towed because if it runs too low it'll automatically shift to park. This step should be covered in your owner's manual in the Manual Park Release section. If you aren't interested in unhooking the cables every time you can install the Roadmaster Battery Disconnect with Switch item # RM-766....
view full answer...
- How to Flat Tow a 2021 Lincoln NautilusFrom an online search for the 2021 Lincoln Nautilus Owners Manual, it lists that only the 2.7L model can be flat towed. You will want to look in your vehicle specific owners manual for instructions, this will be listed under Recreational Towing. From the copy I reviewed it states to use the manual park release procedure which is simply is to switch the ignition on, press and hold the brake pedal then push the switch down until the red warning lamp turns off. You will need 5 primary items...
view full answer...
- How to Flat Tow a 2019 Lincoln NautilusFrom an online search for the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus Owners Manual, it lists that only the 2.7L model can be flat towed. You will want to look in your vehicle specific owners manual for instructions, this will be listed under Recreational Towing. From the copy I reviewed it states to use the manual park release procedure which is simply to switch the ignition on, press and hold the brake pedal then push the switch down until the red warning lamp turns off. You will need 5 primary items...
view full answer...
- Does The Battery Need To Be Disconnected To Flat Tow A 2022 Lincoln Nautilus Typically the requirement to disconnect the battery is from the manufacturer but I looked through the owner's manual for both the 2021 and 2022 models and they don't list anything about disconnecting it under the recreational vehicle towing section. Roadmaster, one of our suppliers, does has a note saying that the battery should be disconnected with part # RM-766 to flat tow and that there could possibly be more than one battery in the vehicle that will need to be disconnected. I've never...
view full answer... - Does 2021 Lincoln Nautilus 2.7L Need Battery Disconnect to Flat TowYou do not need to install a battery disconnect switch on your 2021 Lincoln Nautilus as there isn't a requirement to disconnect the battery to flat tow it according to owners manual. With that said Roadmaster recommends it so it is a good idea that we know is worthwhile. You will need 5 primary items for flat towing any vehicle, base plates to provide a mounting point for the tow bar, tow bar, safety cables, a wiring solution for the towed vehicles indicator lights and supplemental braking...
view full answer... - Best Flat Towing Parts for a 2023 Lincoln Nautilus So long as you have the 2.7L V6 engine, the best parts to flat tow your 2023 Lincoln Nautilus with are listed below: Tow Bar and Safety Chains - etrailer SD Non-Binding Tow Bar for Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plates item # e74ZR Base Plate Kit - Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms item # RM57RR Wiring Harness - Roadmaster Diode 7-Wire to 6-Wire Flexo-Coil Wiring Kit item # RM-15267 Battery Disconnect - Roadmaster Battery Disconnect with Switch for Towed Vehicle...
view full answer... - Parts Needed To Flat Tow 2019 Lincoln NautilusPlease verify per your vehicle specific owners manual that your 2019 Lincoln Nautilus can be flat towed. This is listed under "Recreational Towing" in your Owners Manual. Per information available to me online, it states only the 2.7L model can be flat towed. You may or may not need a high/low adapter, it all depends on each combination of motorhome and towed vehicle. I have attached a help article below that explains what this is and walks you through the process of measuring so as discover...
view full answer... - Blue Ox Base Plate Kit that Fits 2020 Lincoln NautilusI am not sure what you are referring to but the Blue Ox base plate kit part # BX2680 is a confirmed fit for the 2020 Lincoln Nautilus. For a really great tow bar to use with the the # BX7420 is very easy to use and well designed. For lighting you can use the diode kit, # RM-15267, and not have to worry about cutting into the taillight housing. This will splice into your taillight wiring to allow your tow vehicle to control the taillight assemblies of the towed vehicle. This comes with...
view full answer... - Blue Ox Parts Needed to Flat Tow 2021 Lincoln NautilusFor a Blue Ox base plate kit that fits your 2021 Lincoln Nautilus you'd want the part # BX2680. 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 the most popular compatible tow bars is the Blue Ox Avail # BX7420 which comes with safety cables. The coiled design helps keep the cables off of the ground. For lighting you can use the diode kit, # RM-15267, and not have to worry about...
view full answer... - How Long Does Base Plate Kit Typically take to Install on 2020 Lincoln NautilusBase plate kit installs like the # BX2680 typically aren't overly difficult but they take a few hours to do. Our installers will tell us to set aside an afternoon/evening to pull off the install. For more info on the install check out the install video as well as instructions link I attached as well.
view full answer... - Which Base Plate Kit Fits 2020 Lincoln NautilusFor the 2020 Lincoln Nautilus the Blue Ox base plate kit you need is the part # BX2680. The # BX2673 while similar in appearance would not fit your vehicle and there's no amount of modification we could guarantee would be safe. I attached an install video for this kit on a similar Nautilus for you to check out as well.
view full answer... - What is Easiest to Use Base Plate Kit that Fits 2020 Lincoln NautilusSince you already have a Blue Ox tow bar # BX7420 I would go with the Blue Ox base plate kit part # BX2680 for your 2020 Lincoln Nautilus. I think the Blue Ox base plate kits are the easiest to use and are definitely the highest quality so this would be the way to go. This would also prevent you from having to use any adapters. The Roadmaster Direct Connect base plates are easier to use but having used them all I would give the edge to the Blue Ox although some might have differing opinions.
view full answer...
Do you have a question about this Tow Bar Base Plate?
Info for this part was:
Edited by:
Lindsey S
Expert Research:
Jameson C
Video Edited:
Jacob T
Video by:
Dustin K
Updated by:
Wilson B
Updated by:
Carrie F
Test Fit:
David F
Written by:
Mike 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.
Mike L.
9/9/2026
Thanks Douglas, nice truck you've got there! Nice job on the install.....