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  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
2018 Ram 2500
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Blue Ox

Blue Ox Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms

Part Number: BO54FR
In Stock
$457.03
Retail:$834.90
You Save: $377.87
Tow Bar Base Plate
Not Confirmed to Fit

2018 Ram 2500

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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 BO54FR can be ordered online at etrailer.com or call 1-800-940-8924 for expert service.
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  • Reviews (5242)
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Blue Ox Tow Bar Base Plate - BO54FR

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 twist-lock removable arms for a clean, seamless look.
  • Prevents Frame Stress: Sturdy design spreads towing force evenly across the chassis for a steady pull.
  • Built to Last: Durable, powder-coated steel resists rust and corrosion through years of towing.
  • Works With Popular Tow Bars: Pairs directly with Blue Ox models and adapts for Roadmaster or Demco systems.
Made in USA

Features to know about

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

When you’re not towing, this setup keeps the front of your vehicle looking stock. The hidden design keeps brackets tucked away and out of sight, while the removable arms twist out quickly when you’re done towing. Receiver covers plug into the openings to keep dirt and debris out and give the base plate a finished appearance. No bulky hardware sticks out past the bumper, so there’s nothing to bump your leg on when walking by.

Blue Ox base plate kit shown with removable arms detached, illustrating hidden design and smooth appearance when not towing

Blue Ox base plate kit with detachable arms removed, showing hidden receivers and clean front-end design

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

Blue Ox base plate kit installed with removable arms attached for towing, integrated into front of vehicle

Hook Up Fast, Even When You’re Solo: Twist-Lock Arms with Pin Release

Connecting your tow bar is simple—insert each arm into the base plate’s receivers, twist until they lock, and secure them with the pin. When you’re ready to disconnect, just pull the pin, rotate, and slide the arms out. It’s an easy process that works even when you’re setting up on your own. The distance between brackets is 22" and the bracket height is 15-1/2", giving you consistent connection points every time.

Close-up of Blue Ox base plate twist-lock attachment showing removable arm insertion and locking mechanism

Close-up view of Blue Ox base plate twist-lock system used to attach or remove tow bar arms easily

Built to Take Miles: Durable Steel Construction That Spreads the Load

This base plate bolts directly to your chassis with included mounting hardware—no welding required. The sturdy steel design spreads towing forces evenly across the frame to help prevent stress on suspension components during long hauls. Its powder-coated finish resists rust and corrosion, so you can rely on it through years of use and thousands of miles of towing.

Keep Your Setup Flexible: Works with Multiple Tow Bars and Accessories

Already have a tow bar you trust? This kit pairs directly with Blue Ox tow bars for a secure connection, no adapter needed. It’s also 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) so your wiring stays neat and accessible.

Specs

Dimensions

  • Distance between brackets: 22"
  • Bracket height: 15-1/2"

Warranty

  • Warranty: 3-Year warranty

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


BX1741 Blue Ox Baseplate - Removable Tabs

Installation Details BO54FR Installation instructions

This Product Fits The Following Vehicles




Customer Satisfaction Score:

Ratings & Reviews

4.8

5242 reviews
5 Stars
(4516)
4 Stars
(505)
3 Stars
(104)
2 Stars
(47)
1 Star
(70)
Review Sort Icon
by:
2019 Chevrolet Spark
Received in 2 days! Quality product!
by:
Sadly the car got totaled before I ever got t
by:
Wouldn't use anything other than Blue Ox. Great product
by:
Package arrived without the end of the box. Nothing was missing luckily.
by:
by:
by:
2022 Chevrolet Spark
by:
2019 Chevrolet Spark
by:
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:
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:
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!
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Show More Reviews

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

  • Base Plates for a 2019 Chevrolet Spark LT
    If you are looking for a base plate kit that will fit your 2019 Chevy Spark LT I recommend the Blue Ox Base Plate Kit part # BO54FR which is a custom fit with removable arms for a clean look. It would then be compatible with the Blue Ox Alpha Tow Bar part # BX7380 BX7380which is an excellent non-binding tow bar that includes safety cables. In order to complete your flat-towing setup you will also need a wiring harness, supplemental braking system, and possibly a high-low adapter. If you...
    view full answer...
  • Parts Needed to Flat Tow 2022 Chevy Spark
    In addition to the base plates like the Blue Ox set you have for your 2022 Chevy Spark, 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 cutting into the taillight housing. This...
    view full answer...
  • How to Flat Tow 2019 Chevy Spark LT with Manual Transmission Behind Motorhome
    I found the owners manual for your 2019 Chevy Chevy Spark and under the recreational towing section I found basically all you have to do is put the vehicle in neutral and disconnect the negative battery terminal since you have a manual transmission. Since the battery gets disconnected you would need an outlet kit part # RM-9332 to power the supplemental braking system. The automatic transmission Sparks have to be towed on a dolly like the Roadmaster Tow Dolly # RM-2050-1. For a base plate...
    view full answer...
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  • Blue Ox Baseplates For 2021 Chevrolet Spark LT Manual Transmission
    The Blue Ox Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms Item # BX1725 is confirmed fit for a 2021 Chevy Spark LS Manual Transmission. Since you have the LT Manual Transmission I recommend the Blue Ox Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms Item # BO54FR is a confirmed fit for a 2021 Chevy Spark LT Manual Transmission. This baseplate is labeled # BO54FR on our site but is the Blue Ox BX1741. This Baseplate kit will not need any adapters to be compatible with your Blue Ox Ascent Tow Bar.
    view full answer...

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


Info for this part was:

Employee Lindsey S
Edited by:
Lindsey S
Employee Jameson C
Expert Research:
Jameson C
Employee Wilson B
Updated by:
Wilson B
Employee Carrie F
Updated by:
Carrie F
Employee Mike S
Written by:
Mike S

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