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THIS ITEM IS NOT A FIT FOR
2017 Ford Focus
etrailer Installation
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Blue Ox

Blue Ox Base Plate Kit - Fixed Arms

Part Number: BX2146
In Stock
$547.16
Retail:$876.30
You Save: $329.14
Tow Bar Base Plate
Not Confirmed to Fit

2017 Ford Focus

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Custom designed to fit your vehicle so it can be safely towed behind your RV, this base plate has low-profile reinforcements, providing your vehicle with a streamlined look when you're not flat towing. Base plate bolts directly to your chassis. Great Prices for the best tow bar base plate from Blue Ox. Blue Ox Base Plate Kit - Fixed Arms part number BX2146 can be ordered online at etrailer.com or call 1-800-940-8924 for expert service.
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  • Reviews (421)
  • Q & A (0)
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Blue Ox Tow Bar Base Plate - BX2146

Highlights

  • Custom Fit for Your Vehicle: Mounts to existing attachment points
  • Ready for Flat Towing: Creates solid connection points so you can safely tow your vehicle behind your RV.
  • Blends In When Not Towing: Low-profile reinforcements keep the front end looking clean and streamlined.
  • Distributes Towing Load Evenly: Crossbar design spreads pull across the chassis for a stable, balanced tow.
  • Built to Last: Heavy-duty, powder-coated steel resists rust and corrosion through long-distance use.
  • Works with Major Tow Bars: Pairs with Blue Ox bars and adapts for Roadmaster or Demco systems using optional adapters.
Made in USA

Features to know about

Built for Steady, Stress-Free Towing: Fixed-Arm Steel Construction

This base plate is made with durable steel and bolts directly to the chassis for a secure, no-weld setup. The sturdy design spreads towing force evenly to help prevent stress on the suspension during long trips. With a 24" distance between brackets and a bracket height of 15", it gives you a solid foundation for a dependable tow connection every time.

Keeps the Front End Clean and Simple: Low-Profile Reinforcement Design

When you’re not towing, the low-profile reinforcements keep the front of your vehicle looking streamlined. The crossbar support beam blends in with the bumper, so you’re not left with bulky brackets or exposed hardware. It’s a clean look that also helps protect the front frame from unnecessary clutter.

Straightforward Setup at Home: Bolt-On Installation with Hardware Included

This kit is designed for an easy bolt-on install—no welding required. It mounts securely to the chassis using the included hardware, making it a practical weekend project for anyone who’s comfortable with basic tools. Clear alignment points take the guesswork out of getting everything square and tight.

Ready to Fit Your Tow Bar Setup: Blue Ox Connection and Adapter Options

The sturdy lugs pair directly with Blue Ox tow bars for a reliable, secure hook-up. If you already have a different system, it’s also adaptable for use with Roadmaster tow bars using adapter RM-031 or RM-031-5, or with Demco tow bars using adapter DM9523041 (each sold separately). This flexibility makes it easy to integrate into an existing towing setup without starting over.

Built to Last Through the Miles: Powder-Coated Finish for Rust Resistance

A powder-coated finish helps protect the steel from rust and corrosion through changing weather and road conditions. It’s made to handle repeated hook-ups and long hauls while keeping its structural strength trip after trip. Backed by a 3-year warranty, it’s built for years of confident towing.

Specs

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Enhanced Stability: Designed to minimize sway and improve control while towing heavy loads.
  • Durable Construction: Built with corrosion-resistant materials for long-term performance.
  • Easy Installation: Bolts directly onto standard mounting brackets without modification.
  • Secure Connection: Provides a tight, reliable fit between towing components.

SPECS

  • Weight Capacity: 16,000 lbs
  • Ball Size: 2-5/16"
  • Material: Forged steel with powder coat finish
  • Mounting Hole Diameter: 5/8"

Dimensions

  • Distance between brackets: 24"
  • Bracket height: 15"

Illustration showing the five basic components for flat towing a vehicle behind an RV, including tow bar, base plate kit, safety cables, tow bar wiring, and supplemental braking system.

Warranty

  • Warranty: 3-Year warranty

BX2146 Blue Ox Baseplate - Standard Tabs

Installation Details BX2146 Installation instructions

This Product Fits The Following Vehicles




Ratings & Reviews

4.8

421 reviews
5 Stars
(356)
4 Stars
(45)
3 Stars
(11)
2 Stars
(3)
1 Star
(6)
Review Sort Icon
by:
1997 Ford F-150 and F-250 Light Duty
Your service was excellent; I realize you have no control over the logistics. The baseplate arrived today, as I was told it would. It is still in the box, but I will begin the installation in a day or two. Our plans for using it have been changed, due to time constraints. I enjoyed doing business with you; you kept me informed all along the way...much appreciated. Photos when time permits during the installation.

Thanks,
Jack
by:
4 it's in solid, but the [finish] that was used killed it from being a five.

The installation took about four hours. I had a tight interference fit between the frame rails. I wish I had an 18-24" linear ram, but I didn't. So two hydraulic floor jacks, with 4 - 24" welding clamps, and two 12" C-clamps, a short 2# sledge did the trick. Nothing a little spray paint can't fix. Four bolt holes lined up nicely. Two 1/2" drilled holes from the bottom were easy leverage to set up. Two 1/2" drilled holes inside to outside, were quite the challenge to get behind the drill. All fasteners now torqued to specification with red locktite. Added the 1/2" safety cables, made an adjustment in the lower airdam. And presto, here you have it. Now time to set up diode kit, and brake away switch installation.
Kate F. profile picture
Etrailer Expert

Kate F.

6/5/2026

Thanks for your review, Richard! It sounds like this was a fairly involved installation, but we're glad to hear everything came together successfully in the end. We appreciate you sharing the details of your process, especially the tips about the tight frame rail clearance and drilling challenges, as those insights may help other RV owners tackling the same project. Thanks for including the photo as well. Your finished installation looks great! Now that it's installed and you're moving on to the diode kit and brake away switch, what adventure are you looking forward to most this summer in your RV?

by:
We really like our blue ox towbar mounts from etrailer. We're excited to be able to flat tow our 2001 F-250 with our ATV in the bed. Real game changer,, Thank You etrailer
A few pictures of how I attach it
Mike L. profile picture
Etrailer Expert

Mike L.

4/25/2026

Nice job Jeff, thanks for the awesome photos!

by:
The kit is well built and comes with all the necessary hardware to install. Installation was a breeze and asthetically blends in well with the front of the truck. Great job on the design and the production!
Kate F. profile picture
Etrailer Expert

Kate F.

6/25/2026

Install looks great Randy! Where are you headed for the first big trip with the new set-up?

by:
Not a bad install the nuts on the end of the wires was a little strange and odd to use and bend….. worked out great haven’t towed it yet ….bolted in and ready. There’s not really any place on thes 06 Wrangler to put those safety cables to the frame. Alex T in sales was great.
Lazer S. profile picture
Etrailer Expert

Lazer S.

2/10/2026

Glad the install went smoothly, Grant! Even with those weird handle nuts (which I agree are kind of odd). What's the first trip you have planned? And I will let Alex know what you said as well! : )

by:
2005 Hummer H2
Easily installed but proper alignment needs to be maintained before drilling the additional hole required for through bolts.
by:
1 year later, it’s been used for over 1500 miles and held up great. I did the install and had a weld shop tax the bolts do they wouldn’t back out.
by:
Perfect fit, well built of high quality materials. In my mind you just can't get much better than Blue Ox. The only issue is that the BX1120 doesn't have removable twist lock tabs. The fixed draw bar mounting tabs are at just the right height and position to play havoc with your shins when the draw bar is not installed. I solved that problem with a shin guard I made of 2 inch schedule 40 PVC. (see photo) Fits perfectly, guards the breakaway switch and lighting connector when not in use, and solves the shin interference problem.
Alan B. profile picture

Alan B.

4/13/2020

After a year of occasional use I am still very happy with the BX1120 baseplate. Its a joy to use high quality products from a high quality supplier. Ive always gotten the highest quality support from the folks at Etrailer. Thanks folks.

by:
Once again just great service from etrailer
by:
The fit was perfect
by:
Outstanding communication. Outstanding customer service. Outstanding towbars and baseplates. Will be back.
by:
Base plate is well built and fit well. As I would expect from Blue Ox products. My only complaint and the reason for 4 stars would be the horrible instruction. Pictures are absolutely horrible. Not a big deal for the mechanically inclined, but not everyone fits that category.
by:
Very simple to install, just need to drill a few holes in the frame. Comes with everything you need except a couple basic washers (mine came with 3 lock washers and 2 standard flats for 4 bolts)…

Would be nice to have the torque specs also in the instructions but the busted bolt is on me!
by:
2002 Mazda Protege
I'm not giving the products the stars as much as the woman who helped me select them and turned me onto the "road-master" product line. Road-master had a "towed-car" hitch for my 2002 Mazda Protege. It was a blessing to have met her acquaintance.
by:
First of all, the staff at etrailer has always been there with answers with anything. Fitment, installation, usage etc. Second. The install was easy with the enclosed instructions. I did it by myself with only getting help to raise and lower the bumper. After several thousand miles of towing, still tight and still looks great
by:
1999 Jeep Wrangler
I had a simple ball hitch setup for my 1999 Jeep Wrangler for towing behind our RV. Our first trip out with it, the bolts that attached the bar connectors to the front of the Jeep came loose. I was fortunate that they didn't come out completely and cause a major accident. I was able to tighten them again, and we had no additional issues on our trip. Of course, this made me extremely nervous with my 'budget' route to tow the Jeep so I began looking for a better, more reliable solution.

Blue Ox was the name that kept coming up so I purchased the BX1120. The build quality is outstanding, it's extremely solid and very durable. Installation time was about an hour and a half once I had the right tools, couldn't find my 1/2 inch socket set! I'm using the Blue Ox Alpha tow bar with this setup.
I will say that having a second set of hands to install is valuable, my son had to come help me get the drivers side bolts in while I held the steering housing in place.

All in all, I'm very pleased with the product. It went in easy and should save my nerves on our next road trip!

1999 Jeep Wrangler Sport
After market front bumper (Plenty of clearance with this specific mount)
by:
Installed this on a 2014 Chevy Express 3500 15 passenger van. Install was time consuming, as holes needed to be drilled (went through 2 drill bits) and the nuts must be fished through the frame, then "caught" by the bolt. I think there were 12 of them! Instructions were clear, though, and I've safely towed without incident over 7,000 miles in the past year. Definitely rock solid! Paired up with a Blue Ox Aventa 7,500 lb tow bar.
by:
It mounted right up to my 2001 jeep. Ive only used it a couple times but worked well. no issues.
by:
The Blue Ox BasePlate has worked out very well. We've traveled over 3,000 miles on 4 separate trips....with multiple hookups and detachments. Great system. The only constructive comment is the electric hookup for lights/turn signals was a little wonky but my mechanic worked it out with the manufacturer.
by:
My blue ox base plate kit came right on schedule. I met my mechanic at the shop and with a hydraulic lift and air tools we had it installed and secured in about 30 minutes. I could have done it alone at home in about 1.5 hrs. It fits perfect and looks like it was part of original car frame.
Thx
by:
2006 Hummer H3
I thought price was a little high, but they worked very well. Fit perfectly and looked good. Came with clear installation instructions. The nuts on steel wires made it possible to slide them deep inside the frame where the support plates bolted on without any trouble.
by:
Dodge Dakota
A friend needed a tow bar on his Dakota , I was referred to etrailer.com and they carried everything I needed ! The instructions are easy to understand making installation simple . etrailer.com has all the information from deciding what is best for your needs to the end of the project !
by:
Quality built product! And outstanding customer service by Ashley!!
by:
Easy enough install on my 86 samurai. Had to do some persuading but nothing major. I did need to notch the bottom of the bumper in two spots to clear the mounting brackets. Seems awfully expensive when you see what you get.
by:
everything bolted up easy, i simply drilled hole’s into were needed and supplied my own bolts straight through for easy installation.
Al B. profile picture

Al B.

12/21/2023

it still looks nice and working as it should. i made it also double as a base to bolt up my winch. the bonus thing is when i need to tow it i can undo 4 bolts and take my winch off. i think you guys at e-trailer should consider making something like this as a option. i have pictures of it installed but how do i send them to you?

Mike L. profile picture
Etrailer Expert

Mike L.

12/21/2023

@AlB Just use the provided link below!
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See what our Experts say about this Blue Ox Tow Bar Base Plate

  • Complete Flat Towing Setup For A 1997 Ford F-150 4X4
    For your 1997 Ford F-150 4x4, you can use the Blue Ox Base Plate Kit # BX2146. This base plate kit will only work if you have tow hooks in the front for the bracket. If you're interested in a complete flat towing setup, you're also going to need: -A tow bar # BX4370. -Tow bar wiring # RM-15267. -A braking system # HM39524. & A high low adapter like # BX88130, however you'll need to measure for the rise and drop you need for your vehicle to be certain. I have included an FAQ on how...
    view full answer...
  • Can I Have a Front Mounted Receiver And Tow Bar Base Plate On My 2003 Ford F-150 4X4?
    The Curt Front Mount Trailer Hitch Receiver # 31038 for your 2003 Ford F-150 is not capable of working as a flat tow attachment point. It is rated for a tongue weight of 500lbs, has a towing capacity of 5,000lbs and line pull rating of 9,000lbs. There are no combination of front receivers and tow bar base plates that will fit your F-150. They will either require the same mounting bolts or the crossbar will contact the receiver tube. You will not be able to have both a bolt on receiver...
    view full answer...
  • Recommended Baseplate For A 2002 Ford F-150
    As long as your 2002 Ford F-150 isn't a Lightning or Harley Davidson edition you'll be able to use the Blue Ox Base Plate Kit # BX2146. If you haven't picked out the rest of your flat towing components then I have the following recommendations: Tow Bar: etrailer XHD Non-Binding Tow Bar for Blue Ox Base Plates # e67ZR. This tow bar comes with safety cables bracketed to the arms so you won't have to worry about them dragging on the ground and an adjustable head so that you can help keep...
    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 Michael H
Expert Research:
Michael H
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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