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  1. Tow Bar Base Plate
  2. Blue Ox
  3. Removable Draw Bars
  4. Twist Lock Attachment
  5. Completely Hidden
Blue Ox Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms
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Blue Ox

Blue Ox Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms

Part Number: BX3617
In Stock
$500.17
Retail:$834.90
You Save: $334.73
Tow Bar Base Plate

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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 BX3617 can be ordered online at etrailer.com or call 1-800-940-8924 for expert service.
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  • Reviews (5226)
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Blue Ox Tow Bar Base Plate - BX3617

Highlights

  • Custom Fit for Your Vehicle: Mounts to existing attachment points
  • Ready for Flat Towing: Creates secure attachment points so you can safely tow your vehicle behind your RV.
  • Blends In When Not Towing: Hidden design with removable arms keeps the front end looking clean and seamless.
  • Connects Fast: Twist-lock arms insert and lock with a quick rotation for easy hookup and removal.
  • Built to Last: Durable, powder-coated steel resists rust and corrosion for dependable performance.
  • Even Load Distribution: Sturdy design spreads towing force evenly to help protect your suspension.
Made in USA

Features to know about

Keeps the Front End Clean: Hidden Base Plate with Removable Arms

This setup blends right in when you’re not towing. The hidden design keeps the front of your vehicle clean and seamless, with no brackets sticking out past the bumper. Each arm removes with a simple twist, leaving only small receiver openings. Snap in the included receiver covers to keep dirt and debris out and maintain a finished look when parked or driving around town.

Blue Ox base plate kit with removable arms attached to vehicle frame, showing hidden design for flat towing setup

Blue Ox base plate kit with removable arms detached showing hidden receiver mounts on vehicle front end

Installed Blue Ox base plate kit with removable arms attached to vehicle frame for flat towing setup

Vehicle front with Blue Ox base plate installed and removable arms detached showing clean appearance

Connects Fast and Secure: Twist-Lock, Pin-Pull Design

The removable arms use a simple insert-and-twist connection that locks solidly into the receivers. When it’s time to unhook, pull the pin, rotate the arm, and slide it out—it’s quick and easy even if you’re working solo. The sturdy lugs pair directly with Blue Ox tow bars for a reliable link every time.

Close-up of Blue Ox base plate twist-lock mechanism for removable towing arms

Close-up showing twist-lock attachment mechanism on Blue Ox base plate for easy arm installation and removal

Built Strong for the Long Haul: Durable Steel Construction

This base plate bolts directly to the chassis with no welding required. Its heavy-duty steel build spreads towing forces evenly across the frame to prevent stress on the suspension. The durable powder coat finish resists rust and corrosion so it stays strong through years of use and thousands of miles.

Ready for Your Setup: Adapter-Friendly Mounting Options

Already have a tow bar you like? This base plate is adaptable for use with Roadmaster tow bars using adapter RM-031 or RM-031-5 (sold separately) and with Demco tow bars using adapter DM9523041 (sold separately). Integrated mounting points make it easy to attach an electrical connector plug bracket (sold separately), keeping your wiring neat and accessible up front.

DIY Friendly Install: Straightforward Bolt-On Fit

Everything about this kit is designed for a solid bolt-on installation. It mounts securely to your vehicle’s chassis using the included hardware—no welding needed. During install, an access hole may need to be drilled to reach the nut plate for one lower bolt, as noted in step 14 of the instructions. Specs: distance between brackets 24", bracket height 17". Comes backed by a 3-year warranty.

Specs

Dimensions

  • Distance between brackets: 24"
  • Bracket height: 17"

Diagram showing basic components of flat towing setup including tow bar, base plate kit, safety cables, wiring, and supplemental braking system

Warranty

  • Warranty: 3-Year

BX3617 Blue Ox Baseplate - Removable Tabs

Installation Details BX3617 Installation instructions

This Product Fits The Following Vehicles




Ratings & Reviews

4.8

5226 reviews
5 Stars
(4505)
4 Stars
(500)
3 Stars
(104)
2 Stars
(47)
1 Star
(70)
Review Sort Icon
by:
This system is easy to use. I have not had one issue. Installation was great and instructions on use and saftey.
Hilltop E. profile picture

Hilltop E.

5/21/2023

Its the easiest system to hook up and unhook that I have seen. I can usually do it in about 2 minutes. Absolutely no problem towing.

by:
2014 Subaru Outback Wagon
This will not be my first Blue Ox baseplate installation. I have no doubt this will go smoothly, you guys do an excellent job of custom designing for model and year of car. I might be a little slow getting this one completed only because I'll be working outdoors this time. I'm in no rush and am confident.
by:
Subaru Outback Wagon
The blue ox we purchased works great and is easy to set up. We pulled our manual shift Subaru Outback 1500 miles with no problems.
by:
by:
2014 Subaru Outback Wagon
by:
by:
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.
Mike L. profile picture
Etrailer Expert

Mike L.

9/9/2026

Thanks Douglas, nice truck you've got there! Nice job on the install.....

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!
Heather A. profile picture
Etrailer Expert

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.

Ed V. profile picture

Ed V.

5/1/2026

@HeatherA Taking a short trip up to Prova Utah in couple of weeks. Then California and hopefully Chicago in the fall. EdnJudy
Heather A. profile picture
Etrailer Expert

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?
Ed V. profile picture

Ed V.

5/1/2026

Not really, I grew up in Chicago, basically 45+ years. I have been to Wrigley many times as a child and adult. We lived about 1 mile from the park. Going to see my mom who is 95 years old. Our favorite place to visit in Chicago is Navy Pier. We try to make a day of it. Thanks for asking! EdnJudy
See All (4) Replies to Heather A. ∨
by:
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:
Well the blue ox base plate actually fits my turbo engine. The Curt didn't fit as advertised.
by:
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. profile picture
Etrailer Expert

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:
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.
Roger profile picture

Roger

12/12/2025

Still the same no issues...fine product

by:
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!
Matthew profile picture

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. profile picture
Etrailer Expert

Jameson C.

10/12/2026

@Matthew that's great to hear!
by:
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. profile picture
Etrailer Expert

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:
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 profile picture

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:
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.
by:
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.
by:
2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland. Good fit. Requires some cutting. Baseplate is heavy, so I paid an installer to do the job.
Nick S. profile picture
Etrailer Expert

Nick S.

12/1/2025

I am glad it worked well for you! What kind of coach are you pulling that Jeep with?

by:
2012 Ford F-150
It's a great system, it's on a 1998 Holiday Rambler Imperial, pulling a 2012 Ford F150 4x4. Last summer I pulled the truck for over 3000 miles without any problems, didn't feel like the truck was behind me. etrailer did me right on this set up.
by:
Not for the impatient, but everything is provided. I had the front end of my Jetta all over the lawn. It’s definitely a 2 day job, but the instructions are thorough.
by:
Very nice trailer.
by:
Review is more about e-Trailer than a the Blue ox tow system! (Which was fine) I contacted trailer in a panic after an amazon seller cancelled my order for this same product after 6 weeks of waiting! Etrailer, had the product to me in Canada in 4 days of the call! Awesome!
by:
Strong and quality product. Installation was not hard, but follow the steps and look at the video as the written instructions are not all clear and miss a few templates for the air duct cut/trim out. I found the trimming needed for the bottom grill was minimal, only required for the round pieces that the adapter inserts into. Overall, an excellent product, good quality.
Andrew N. profile picture
Etrailer Expert

Andrew N.

10/21/2026

Hey Luis, thanks so much for the detailed response and photos. Install looks great on your Mini Cooper! I know the instructions sometimes aren't perfect, but I'm glad you got it installed correctly!

by:
2012 Cadillac SRX
Fast delivery, perfect fit at a good price for a quality product. Thank you!
by:
Items arrived in 2 days, free shipping. All appeared in new undamaged condition.
James profile picture

James

10/16/2025

Perfect

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

  • Installing The Blue Ox Base Plate Kit # BX3617 On A 2014 Subaru Outback Wagon
    Hi Christopher, The hole in step 14 is needed simply for access to add in the nut plate for the lower bolt on the Blue Ox Base Plate Kit # BX3617. You can just hold the baseplate up to the frame to draw line across the frame where that hole in the baseplate sits. The bolt going in there is 2" in length so you can measure from the outer edge of the baseplate over 2" and then drill your access hole.
    view full answer...
  • Recommended Tow Bar Wiring Kit For 2013 Subaru Outback
    I have an option for you, but Curt nor any other manufacturer makes a custom flat tow harness for your customers 2013 Subaru Outback. Instead you'll need to use a diode kit # RM-15267 which will splice into the factory taillight wiring. While this option is a little more work, I personally only like to install diode kits as when we see issues with tow bar wiring it is almost always a custom fit harness that failed, where the diode kits are much more reliable. The rest of the parts you...
    view full answer...

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Info for this part was:

Employee Lindsey S
Written by:
Lindsey S
Employee Jameson C
Expert Research:
Jameson C
Employee Adele M
Updated by:
Adele M
Employee Wilson B
Updated by:
Wilson B
Employee Mike S
Updated by:
Mike S
Employee Michael B
Updated by:
Michael B

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