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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
2000 Nissan Altra
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Blue Ox

Blue Ox Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms

Part Number: BX3516
$530.64
Retail:$609.00
You Save: $78.36
Tow Bar Base Plate
Not Confirmed to Fit

2000 Nissan Altra

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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 BX3516 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 - BX3516

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: Hidden design and removable arms keep the front end looking clean.
  • Quick Hookup and Removal: Twist-lock arms attach or detach in seconds for easy setup and storage.
  • Even, Stable Towing Force: Sturdy design spreads stress across the frame for a more secure connection.
  • Built to Last: Heavy-duty, powder-coated steel resists rust and corrosion for long-term reliability.
Made in USA

Features to know about

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

When you’re not towing, this setup keeps your front end looking smooth and factory-clean. The hidden design means no brackets or lugs stick out past the bumper, and the removable arms twist out fast when you’re done. Receiver covers plug into the openings to keep dirt out and give it a finished look.

Blue Ox base plate kit installed on vehicle front with removable arms attached, showing hidden design and clean fit for flat towing setup.

Blue Ox base plate with arms removed and receiver covers in place, highlighting hidden appearance when not towing a vehicle.

Simple Hookup Every Time: Twist-Lock, Pin-Secure Connection

Hooking up takes just a few steps. Slide each arm into the receiver, rotate it until it locks, and drop in the pin. When it’s time to unhook, pull the pin, twist, and remove. It’s a straightforward setup that makes connecting quick whether you’re in the driveway or at a campsite.

Close-up of Blue Ox base plate twist-lock removable arms showing easy insertion and locking mechanism for flat towing setup.

Heavy-Duty Steel You Can Trust: Bolt-On Design That Spreads the Load

This base plate bolts directly to the chassis—no welding required. The sturdy steel build spreads towing forces evenly to help prevent stress on your suspension and frame. Powder coating resists rust and corrosion so it stays solid after miles on the road.

Fits Right In with Your Tow Bar Setup: Adapter Options Available

The lugs pair perfectly with Blue Ox tow bars for a strong connection. If you run Roadmaster or Demco gear, matching adapters (RM-031, RM-031-5, or DM9523041, sold separately) make everything work together smoothly. Integrated mounting points let you add an electrical connector bracket up front for tidy wiring management.

DIY-Weekend Ready: Straightforward Install with Included Hardware

You’ll need to remove the front fascia components and drill six holes, but anyone with average mechanical skills can handle it. The kit bolts securely with the included hardware—no special tools or welding needed—for a reliable setup that’s ready for long hauls once installed.

Specs

Dimensions

  • Distance between brackets: 20"
  • Bracket height: 17"

Diagram showing basic components of flat towing setup including tow bar, base plate, safety cables, wiring, and supplemental braking system connecting motorhome to towed car.

Warranty

  • Warranty: 3-Year warranty

BX3516 Blue Ox Baseplate - Removable Tabs

Installation Details BX3516 Installation instructions

This Product Fits The Following Vehicles




Ratings & Reviews

4.8

5252 reviews
5 Stars
(4525)
4 Stars
(506)
3 Stars
(104)
2 Stars
(47)
1 Star
(70)
Review Sort Icon
by:
This is a somewhat challenging installation, more so than other baseplates I've installed. There are apparently different frame widths on the Suzukis this product is designed for, so I had to use the spacer plates for a proper fit. Once these are roughly positioned it's difficult to move each end of the baseplate independently, and the directions don't really give an exact position as to where the holes should be drilled. The baseplate was very slightly twisted end to end making it really tough to get a balanced adjustment. Got it done with c-clamps and rough fitting the front fascia several times but it took hours linger than anticipated. Also, the directions for removing the grille and fascia left out some crucial information, as they are bolted in rather than just secured with clips as stated by Blue Ox. Had I just taken their advice I would have destroyed the grille. The directions don't mention the air pump mounted behind the metal bumper on the 4x4 model; this needs to be removed & remounted slightly higher to clear the baseplate, with longer hoses being necessary. Also had to cut back the round mounts for the electrical connector, they were way too long and interfered with the fascia re-install. All in all once the baseplate was mounted it does what it's supposed to do, just read some forums and take it carefully one step at a time.
by:
At this time I have not started to install the blue ox base plate but it looks to be very well built.
by:
2001 Suzuki Grand Vitara
The base plate is an excellent strong structure, have used and installed another base plate on another car. The picture print out was difficult to visually see, but the on line PDR was excellent. It is always a time consuming job, especially if you perform without help. Any one with mechanical experience and knowledge can do this.
by:
2001 Suzuki Grand Vitara
Excellent service, installation and performance.
by:
2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara
Had to use spacer on one side, spacer would not fit other side. Used large washers.
by:
Fit perfectly
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:
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:
Well the blue ox base plate actually fits my turbo engine. The Curt didn't fit as advertised.
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:
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

  • Parts Needed to Flat Tow 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara
    The laws concerning flat towing a vehicle behind an RV vary by State and Province and can change without notice so I recommend checking with the highway patrol in the areas where you intend to travel to find out what is legally required. We have two options in Blue Ox base plates for the 2003 Grand Vitara, part # BX3516 which has removable arms (recommended) and fixed-arm kit # BX3515. In general, the items needed to flat tow a vehicle include a tow bar, a wiring/lighting kit, safety cables,...
    view full answer...
  • Instructions and Cost To Install Blue Ox Base Plate Kit # BX3516 On 2001 Suzuki Grand Vitara
    If you have an average mechanical ability you could install the Blue Ox Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms, part # BX3516, on your 2001 Suzuki Grand Vitara. I would not say it is easily installed, because it does require the removal of the front grille, headlights, front fascia, and metal bumper. There is also the drilling of six holes required. To determine a price to pay a mechanic to install these base plates would be hard for me to suggest, because of where you have it done and the hourly...
    view full answer...

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Info for this part was:

Employee Lindsey S
Written by:
Lindsey S
Employee Jeff D
Expert Research:
Jeff D
Employee Adele M
Updated by:
Adele M
Employee Wilson B
Updated by:
Wilson B
Employee Mike S
Updated by:
Mike S
Employee Carrie F
Updated by:
Carrie F

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