Parts Needed to Flat Tow a 2004 Ford Ranger Edge with Manual Transmission and Blue Ox Tow Bar

Updated 06/12/2012 | Published 06/10/2012

Products Featured in This Question

Blue Ox Base Plate Kit - Fixed Arms

(372)

$608.95

Blue Ox Patriot Portable Flat Tow Brake System - Proportional

(397)

$1489.90

Blue Ox 7' Safety Cables - 7,500 lbs - Qty 2

(404)

$70.46

Roadmaster 4-Diode Universal Wiring Kit for Towed Vehicles - 4-Way Flat Connectors

(3190)

$100.94

Roadmaster Universal Magnetic Tow Lights with 4-Way Flat Trailer Connector

(43)

$83.18

Question:

2004 Ford Ranger Edge 5 speed Manual transmission. Need Blue OX Base Plate. The pull down menu calls for a 2004 Ford Ranger Edge WITH TOW HOOK. I purchased this vehicle this year and do not see a tow hook. It is a 5 speed manual trans Edge package, but no hook. Will the BX2157 still work? I already have the Blue OX Aventa II tow bar and just need the base plate for this truck. Please let m know if the BX2157 is what I need.

asked by: Dave

Expert Reply:

According to Blue Ox, you can use base plates on the 2004 Ford Ranger Edge without tow hooks on the vehicle. When I did some research on flat towing the 2004 Ford Ranger Edge, I could only find information on models with an automatic transmission.

If you have transmission M5OD-R-1HD then the Ranger is towable. If you have a 4 wheel drive, the transfer case will need to be placed in 2 wheel drive high and the manual transmission in neutral. Be sure to consult the vehicle owners manual on the proper procedure for flat towing the vehicle and to see if any additional parts are needed.

In addition to the base plates and the tow bar you will also need safety cables, like # BX88196, a lighting solution, and supplemental braking.

For lighting there are a couple of options. for infrequent towing use a magnetic kit like # RM-2120. For frequent towing you can use the diode kit # RM-154. I have included a link to a video that shows a typical installation for you.

Most states now require supplemental braking on the vehicle being flat towed. The easiest systems to set up and use are portable systems like the Blue Ox Patriot # BLU37TR. This system applies the vehicle brakes in proportion to how much the towing vehicle is braking. This method reduces wear and tear on both vehicles and is the safest way to stop.

I have also included a link to all of the flat towing FAQ articles that we have.