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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
2009 Ford Van
etrailer Installation
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Blue Ox

Blue Ox Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms

Part Number: BX1968
In Stock
$635.07
Tow Bar Base Plate
Not Confirmed to Fit

2009 Ford Van

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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 BX1968 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 - BX1968

Highlights

  • Custom Fit for Your Vehicle: Mounts to existing attachment points
  • Ready for Flat Towing: Provides secure connection points for safe RV-to-vehicle towing.
  • Blends In When Not Towing: Hidden base plate and removable arms keep the front end clean.
  • Quick Hookup and Removal: Twist-lock arms install or detach easily without tools.
  • Even Towing Stability: Sturdy design spreads towing force evenly across the chassis.
  • Built to Last: Powder-coated steel resists rust and corrosion for long-term reliability.
Made in USA

Features to know about

Made for a Clean Front End: Hidden Design with Removable Arms

If you like your setup to stay clean and factory-looking when you’re not towing, this base plate nails it. The completely hidden design leaves no bulky hardware sticking out, and the removable arms pull off with a simple twist. Each receiver gets a cover to keep dirt and debris out, so everything stays smooth when you’re ready to hook back up.

Blue Ox base plate kit with removable arms detached, showing hidden mounting receivers on vehicle front

Blue Ox base plate kit with removable arms installed on vehicle front for flat towing, showing hidden and seamless design

Blue Ox base plate kit installed on vehicle front with removable arms attached for towing setup

Vehicle front fitted with Blue Ox base plate showing receivers after removing towing arms for clean appearance

Quick and Simple Hookup: Twist-Lock Arms with Pin Release

Connecting the arms takes just a few seconds—slide them in, twist to lock, and secure the pin. When you’re done towing, pull the pin, rotate, and remove. It’s straightforward, solid, and reliable every time you connect. The distance between brackets is 25" and bracket height is 12-1/2", giving you solid reference points for matching your tow bar height.

Close-up of Blue Ox base plate twist-lock mechanism showing how removable arms attach and lock into place

Close-up demonstration of twisting motion to lock or remove Blue Ox base plate arms from receivers

Built to Handle the Miles: Strong Steel Construction That Bolts to the Chassis

Once it’s bolted on, this setup is ready for long hauls. The heavy-duty steel construction spreads towing forces evenly across the chassis to help protect your suspension from stress. The powder coated finish resists rust and corrosion, so it stays looking good after plenty of road miles. No welding is required—everything bolts on with the included hardware for a secure fit.

Keep Using Your Tow Bar: Works with Blue Ox, Roadmaster, or Demco

You don’t have to ditch your current gear to run this kit. It pairs directly with Blue Ox tow bars for a secure connection. If you’re using a Roadmaster or Demco tow bar, adapters (RM-031 or RM-031-5 for Roadmaster; DM9523041 for Demco, sold separately) make it compatible without fabrication work. Integrated mounting points even let you attach an electrical connector plug bracket (sold separately) right where you need it for a tidy hookup.

Specs

Dimensions

  • Distance between brackets: 25"
  • Bracket height: 12-1/2"

Warranty

  • Warranty length: 3-Year warranty

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

BX1968 Blue Ox Baseplate - Removable Tabs

Installation Details BX1968 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)
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by:
2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser
I have always have a pleasant experience with E Trailer!
by:
Very strong and pretty easy to install with wife’s help. The cut out map could use some work. Had to make several cuts to get it right.
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

by:
Well built and relatively easy to put on. I have a 2020 Jeep Mojave, and there was an issue with leaving my skim plate on the bottom. There were some existing bolts that wouldn't allow the base plate to sit if the remained. After watching the video and reading paper instructions, the bolts weren't addressed. It was a non - issue since zi dont need the skim guard.
by:
2015 Ford Fiesta
So here is an honest review of the Blue Ox base plate. I ordered this base plate because I already have a Blue Ox tow bar. After watching the video of the Ford Fiesta install it didn't look too bad. In the video of the guy suggest ordering a different brand and after the install I understand why. Taking apart the front end of the car is easy the problem lies in the way Blue Ox decided to use welded nuts on bendable rods it is very difficult to get these aligned after drilling the holes. My advice for anyone who's going to do this is be prepared and have patience. After removing the headlights in front fascia cut out the edges of the plastic as noted in the video and then Mount the bar measure the half inch gap on one side and put a clamp on it. Here's where it gets annoying instead of just putting holes in it using a drill bit that would be in any 10 to 15 piece drill index they decided to use a 13/32 bit which you will only find in large quantity indexes. Here's what I found makes this job easier after drilling the first two holes in the base plate install the top bolt only and then tighten it down if you do both you're going to have two wires hindering your movement when you go to do the rear plates. Same thing when drilling the hole in the rear plate put the top bolt in first and this leaves you more room to work with. Prepare to be frustrated the system they use was not thought out very well there was plenty of room to drill all the way through to the other side of the frame and use a through bolt to simplify this whole process. It probably would have cost him a few more dollars to get larger bolts whatever the reason was this system of nuts welded the wires is nothing but a headache. Once you get past this point and it's time to install the safety cables in the video it shows him just wrapping around the rear side of the backing frame the cables in this kit are far too long to be of any use if the front bumper disconnects the way the cables are routed they can slip around the Mainframe there's enough slack that you can actually wrap it around the inside of the base plate mounting attachments to take up the slack. Other than the method of installing this the bar itself is well built. Getting the bumper put back on and cut out for the attachment points is tricky to say the least I ended up cutting out a little bit too much of the grill but I may just order another Grill now that I know exactly where it ends up when it's fully mounted. I would imagine it cost quite a bit to have one of these installed as what could be a straightforward install takes several extra hours of fighting alignment of the nuts on a wire system. Want thank e-trailer as they have the best price and it was shipped in a timely manner.
by:
2024 Chevrolet Colorado
This was instilled on a 2024 Chevrolet Colorado Z71 truck. I watched your video online with this exact model truck and the words I remember most was “and we did not have to do any trimming”. Well my truck was certainly different than what was on video. Guess it’s because it’s a late build 2024 (end of September 2024) and the grill system was maybe what would appear on the 2025 models? There was lots of trimming involved. I also will tell you the mounting holes both for the frame and the bumper back plate did not line up and required some modifications to fit. I would like to say this job is not for the faint of heart. I luckily have a mechanical/machinist background so was able to get the job done. Have not tested it yet but will be soon. Good luck to those of you who are planning on installing it yourself. Just remember it can be done. Just take your time.
Jon J. profile picture

Jon J.

5/21/2026

It has been a good system. I would still give it 4 stars a year later just because it was a difficult job to install. Not for the faint of heart. So far have about 6k miles of towing with it. Would I do it again….Yes as it was worth the effort.

by:
2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara
Perfect fit! The only issue I encountered was drilling the upper anchor hole on the driver's side. It's not in the instructions, but I decided to remove the windshield washer fluid reservoir and headlight to drill without damaging it.
This was very easy to do, and I am very pleased with your product!! I would definitely recommend Blue Ox to anyone looking to tow behind your motorhome!
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See what our Experts say about this Blue Ox Tow Bar Base Plate

  • Parts Needed to Flat Tow a 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser With Manual Transmission and Other Steps Needed
    According to what I could find in the owners manual for your 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser, as long as it has the manual transmission it can be towed in a forward direction, at any legal highway speed, for any distance, if the transaxle is in NEUTRAL. I do not see any other specific requirements in the owners manual, but recommend checking it yourself to be sure there is nothing overlooked. I have listed out the 5 main parts required to flat tow your 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser below in case you...
    view full answer...
  • Parts Needed for Flat Towing My 2007 PT Cruiser Behind a 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
    Yes, you can use the Tow Ready Adjustable Tow Bar, item # 63180, to tow your 2007 PT Cruiser Turbo convertible. Keep in mind that this tow bar is rated for towing speeds of 45 miles per hour or less. A better tow bar option would be the Blue Ox Adventurer Tow Bar, # BX7322 , which is designed for towing long distances and more frequently. You will need some other items along with the tow bar to complete your towing setup. First, a base plate kit for the PT Cruiser is needed. The Blue...
    view full answer...
  • Will Blue Ox Base Plate # BX1968 for 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser Work With Duncan Towmatic II Tow Bar
    I have an option that will allow you to use your Duncan TowMatic II Tow Bar. Roadmaster makes a Tow Bar Adapter, # RM-038, which will allow you to use your current tow bar with the Roadmaster Base Plate, # 278-1, for your 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser. In addition, you will need the Quick Disconnect Kit, # RM-201, to complete the set-up. I spoke with my contact at Blue Ox and the Base Plate Kit for your 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser, # BX1968, will not work with your TowMatic II Tow Bar and there...
    view full answer...
  • Parts Needed to Flat Tow 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser with Blue Ox Tow Bar
    Since you already have the Blue Ox tow bar you'll need the Blue Ox base plate kit part # BX1968 which is a confirmed fit for your 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser. 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...
    view full answer...
  • Can Blue Ox Base Plate Kit Be Ordered Without Removable Arms
    There is unfortunately not an option to purchase the Blue Ox Base Plate Kit # BX1968 for your 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser without the attachment arms. The positive side of this is you will have an extra set of arms should any of them get lost or damaged. Since you mentioned that you already have a tow bar, to complete your flat tow setup you will also need wiring for lights, a supplemental braking system, and safety cables if your tow bar did not come with them. I recommend the Roadmaster...
    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 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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