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Blue Ox

Blue Ox Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms

Part Number: BX3815

5237 Reviews | 8 Questions

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$550.41

Retail:$834.90

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2027 Land Rover Defender

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blue ox tow bar base plate completely hidden kit - removable arms

blue ox tow bar base plate twist lock attachment completely hidden bx3815

blue ox tow bar base plate twist lock attachment completely hidden

blue ox tow bar base plate removable draw bars kit - arms

blue ox tow bar base plate removable draw bars

blue ox tow bar base plate removable draw bars completely hidden kit - arms

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0 tow bar base plate blue ox twist lock attachment on a vehicle

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SCHEDULE AN INSTALLATION

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 BX3815 can be ordered online at etrailer.com or call 1-800-940-8924 for expert service.

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Blue Ox Tow Bar Base Plate - BX3815

Highlights

Custom Fit for Your Vehicle: Mounts to existing attachment points
Ready for Flat Towing: Creates secure chassis-mounted points so your vehicle can be safely towed behind your RV.
Blends In When Not Towing: Hidden design and removable arms keep the front end clean and seamless.
Fast Hookup and Removal: Twist-lock arms attach or detach quickly with a simple pin pull and rotation.
Built to Last: Heavy-duty, powder-coated steel resists rust and corrosion for long-term reliability.
Even, Stable Connection: Sturdy design spreads towing force evenly to reduce stress on suspension parts.

Features to know about

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

When you’re not towing, this setup keeps things looking clean. The hidden design means the brackets won’t stick out past the front of your vehicle, leaving a seamless look. Each arm removes with a simple twist and then locks back in place when you’re ready to tow again. Receiver covers are included to keep dirt and debris out of the base plate when the arms are off, so it always looks finished and stays protected.

Blue Ox base plate with removable arms attached to vehicle front showing fully assembled towing setup

Blue Ox base plate shown with arms removed for hidden look on front of vehicle

Quick Hookup Every Time: Twist-Lock Arm Connection

Connecting up for a trip is quick and reliable thanks to the twist-lock attachment. Slide the arm into the receiver, rotate it until it locks, and secure it with the pull pin. When you’re done towing, release the pin, give it a twist, and remove it. It’s an easy system that makes solo hookups manageable whether you’re at home or at the campsite.

Close-up of Blue Ox base plate twist-lock removable arm mechanism for easy installation and removal

Built Strong for the Long Haul: Steel Construction That Spreads the Load

This base plate bolts directly to your chassis, so there’s no welding required. The durable steel build spreads towing force evenly to help prevent stress on your suspension during long hauls. The powder-coated finish resists rust and corrosion while keeping the hardware looking clean mile after mile.

Set Up Your Tow Bar with Confidence: Compatible and Adaptable Design

The sturdy lugs on this kit pair right up with Blue Ox tow bars for a secure connection. It’s also adaptable for Roadmaster tow bars using adapter RM-031 or RM-031-5 (sold separately) or for Demco tow bars using adapter DM9523041 (sold separately). Integrated mounting points make it easy to attach an electrical connector plug bracket up front so your wiring stays tidy and ready to go.

Ready for Real Travel: Practical Specs You Can Plan Around

With 24" between brackets and a 12" bracket height, you can line up your tow setup accurately before hitting the road. Every detail is built for reliability and confidence on long trips, backed by a 3-year warranty for extra peace of mind.

Specs

Dimensions

Distance between brackets: 24"
Bracket height: 12"

Towing basics diagram showing five key components for flat towing including tow bar, base plates, safety cables, wiring, and supplemental braking system

1 - tow bar: The tow bar links your towed car to your motorhome.
2 - base plates: Base plates install on your towed car’s frame to connect with the tow bar.
3 - safety cables: Safety cables ensure your towed car does not separate from your motorhome.
4 - tow bar wiring: Wiring syncs your towed vehicle’s lights with your motorhome’s lights.
5 - supplemental braking system: Brakes your towed car when your motorhome brakes are applied.

Warranty

Warranty: 3-Year warranty

BX3815 Blue Ox Baseplate - RemovableTabs

Installation Details BX3815 Installation instructions

This Product Fits The Following Vehicles

1998 - 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle Manual transmission

Customer Satisfaction Score:

94% were satisfied with this product

6% of customers were not satisfied

Wrong item was ordered

6% of customers were not satisfied

Wrong item was ordered

4.8

5237 reviews

5 Stars		(4513)
4 Stars		(503)
3 Stars		(104)
2 Stars		(47)
1 Star		(70)

by: James 07/18/2022

Pretty easy to do my self but the instructions could have been a bit larger with more pictures. I think the hardest part was drilling the holes to attach the two brackets as there was only one hole on each frame. Getting the square nuts with wire attached were difficult to get both aligned because the wire on the first one got in the way each time

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James One Year Later

7/19/2023

Still working great over a year later. Towed the Beetle with no issues from WV across to NE and then to SD, WY, MT, WA, OR, CA, NV, AZ, NM, CO, KS, and back to NE. Outstanding product.

by: Gene 07/07/2025

2004 Volkswagen New Beetle

Need better instructions, especially for a turbo model.

by: Jeremy 07/13/2022

2004 VW New Beetle tow frame mounting is a very difficult job as the front bumper skin is mounted with four hidden torx bolts at the fender and bumper skin joint. The instructions say the frame can be mounted by leaving that seam connected and lifting the bumper skin but it is likely that damage will occur. So remove the skin. Reinstalling requires replacing the torx bolts and threaded plates with large sheet metal screws and clip nuts that can be purchased at a parts store. Also, be sure to check that the pins will insert after the frame is bolted on. I had clearance issues on the drivers side and had to remove the frame to trim the radiator support with great care as the A/C condenser has a tube within the area of trimming. Also, the braces below the frame fit poorly and require shimming and wiring harness and power steering cooler adjustment. It’s best to install brace to car frame bolts with the tow frame off using the provided nuts on wire rods. Leave loose and tighten when installing frame. The job took three days in my home garage with minimal tools. In retrospect I should have found a Jeep to tow but I owned the Beetle. Good luck.

by: Devin 11/15/2023

I've ordered a few products from etrailer, and it's always been accurate, and promptly delivered.
Everyone in customer service is friendly, and know their stuff.
I recently ordered a base plate, and the manufacturer could not have one out to me until the end of the year. I worked with Alex, and we decided on a different manufacturer with conversion tabs, and had it out to me in less than a week. I've installed it and I'm ready for our trip in December. Thank you etrailer.

by: Donald 09/24/2020

Got my order in 3 days. Going to install this weekend.

by: Keith 02/06/2025 One Year Later

Works good and had no problems installing

by: John 06/19/2026

by: Ron 04/20/2023

2000 Volkswagen New Beetle

Excellent product

by: John 07/06/2026

by: Walter 06/24/2023

was as offered

by: Gordon 10/19/2022

by: Lana 06/21/2023

2003 Volkswagen New Beetle

by: Wiley 02/22/2021

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.

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Mike L.

9/9/2026

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

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!

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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.

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.

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.

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: 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.

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by: Lynn 08/25/2026

Well the blue ox base plate actually fits my turbo engine. The Curt didn't fit as advertised.

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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.

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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 One Year Later

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.

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Roger One Year Later

12/12/2025

Still the same no issues...fine product

by: Matthew 10/07/2025 One Year Later

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 One Year Later

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 One Year Later

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

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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 One Year Later

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.

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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.

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by: Art A. 11/27/2025

2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland. Good fit. Requires some cutting. Baseplate is heavy, so I paid an installer to do the job.

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Nick S.

12/1/2025

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

5237

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

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

Base Plate For Flat Towing A 2001 VW Beetle Behind A Class A Motorhome
Hi AJ! We have everything you need to set up your 2001 VW Beetle 1.9 TDI with manual transmission for flat towing! I have all the parts I recommend listed below: Needed Parts Base Plate: Blue Ox Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms # BX3815 Tow Bar: Roadmaster Falcon 2 Tow Bar for Blue Ox Base Plates - RV Mount - 2" Hitch - 6,000 lbs # RM-525 Wiring: Roadmaster 4-Diode Universal Wiring Kit for Towed Vehicles - 7-Way to 6-Way Coiled Adapter Cord # RM-15267 Optional Parts (though highly recommended) Brake...
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Can 2004 Volkswagen Beetle be Flat Towed with Blue Ox Tow Bar
Hey Gary, yes the Blue Ox tow bar part # BX7420 can flat tow a 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle with the Blue Ox base plate kit part # BX3815. 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 a round 6-way connector that you will install on the front of your towed vehicle and enough...
view full answer...
Installation Instructions For The Blue Ox Base Plate Kit # BX3815
I've attached the installation instructions for the Blue Ox Base Plate Kit # BX3815 below to help give you a better idea of what would be required for the installation ahead of time.
view full answer...
Can a 2004 Volkswagen Beetle with Manual Transmission Be Flat Towed
Based on my research, the 2004 Volkswagen Beetle with 5-speed manual transmission can be flat towed. However, I found that the 6-speed manual transmission models cannot be flat towed. I strongly recommend checking your owners manual to confirm that your model 2004 Beetle can be flat towed. If you find your Beetle can be flat towed, I recommend using the Blue Ox Base Plate Kit # BX3815. This base plate features removable arms and bolts directly to your Beetle's chassis. The tow bar I recommend...
view full answer...
Parts Needed to Flat Tow a 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible
Yes we do have a base plate kit for your 2005 Volkswagen New Beetle. For that you would want the part # BX3815 which is a confirmed fit. For a tow bar you would want the # BX7380 which is the most popular option because of how well it works and it comes with safety cables. 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...
view full answer...
Parts Needed to Flat Tow a 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle with Manual Transmission
I can't access an owner's manual for your 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle but from my research since you have a manual transmission it can be flat towed behind an RV. You'll want to check your owner's manual to be sure because VW will give you the definite answer. With that being said most manual transmission vehicles can be flat towed. If you find that you can tow your Beetle I can help you with the parts you'll need. Base plates that will fit your VW are the Blue Ox # BX3815. These are...
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Parts Needed to Flat Tow 2004 VW Beetle with 5-Speed Manual Transmission
Your Roadmaster Falcon All-Terrain tow bar # RM-522, with its 6000-lb capacity, will easily handle the weight of your 2004 VW New Beetle. Apart from the tow bar itself, flat towing also requires a set of base plates, a wiring/lighting kit and a supplementary braking system for the towed car. Also required are safety cables, and often a high/low hitch adapter to keep the tow bar level. Each of these items is reviewed in detail in the linked article on flat towing. This is a great place to...
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Parts Needed to Flat Tow 1999 Volskwagen New Beetle
For your 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle the only base plate kit we offer is the Blue Ox part # BX3815. Since you can't use adapters with this base plate kit you would need to go with a Blue Ox tow bar like the # BX7380 which is a very popular option that comes with safety cables. 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...
view full answer...

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

Info for this part was:

Written by:

Lindsey S

Expert Research:

Jameson C

Updated by:

Adele M

Updated by:

Wilson B

Updated by:

Mike S

Updated by:

Carrie F

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