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Blue Ox
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1985 - 1992 Chevrolet Astro
Confirmed to Fit
1985 - 1991 GMC Safari
Confirmed to Fit
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{'key': 'Durable Material', 'value': 'Constructed from superior quality steel, it guarantees exceptional durability and long-lasting use.
Material: Steel
Color: Black
Finish: Powder Coat
Mounting Type: Bolt On
Mounting Hardware Included Yes/No: Yes
Introducing the Blue Ox BX1609 Tow Bar Bracket - a robust and reliable automotive accessory specifically designed for your towed vehicle. Expertly crafted from high-grade steel, this unit offers ultimate strength and longevity. It sports a resilient black powder coat finish, providing an extra layer of protection against rust, wear, and tear. This bracket is easy to attach with its bolt-on mounting type, making it a perfect DIY installation project. Each purchase includes all the necessary mounting hardware, plus a comprehensive guide which makes the installation process straightforward and hassle-free.
Blue Ox is known internationally for recreational and commercial towing products, manufacturing in Pender, Nebraska since 1925. The line covers tow bars and vehicle-specific baseplates for flat towing behind a motorhome, sway control and weight distributing hitches, supplemental braking accessories and towing wiring, backed by patented designs and long-standing customer service.
Blue Ox has manufactured since 1925 and is recognised internationally for towing products and customer service. The company operates from Pender, Nebraska, where it grew out of Automatic Manufacturing Co., a business that started with cattle oilers and developed into agricultural equipment, tractor accessories and trailer towing hardware. That agricultural engineering heritage still shows in how the towing products are built, and the company holds patents across weight distribution, fifth wheel and tow bar designs.
Flat towing is the discipline Blue Ox is best known for. Towing a car with all four wheels on the ground behind a motorhome demands a system that stays rigid under braking, articulates properly over uneven ground, and connects to the towed vehicle at points strong enough to take the load. Blue Ox tow bars handle the first two, with self-aligning arms that latch under tension and release without a struggle when the load is off them. Vehicle-specific baseplates handle the third, engineered per make and model to tie into structural mounting points behind the fascia.
The wider flat towing range covers supplemental braking systems, safety cables and the accessories that make a complete legal setup, along with baseplate wiring and dinghy towing harnesses that pass lighting signals to the towed vehicle without back-feeding its electrical system.
For conventional trailer towing, Blue Ox weight distributing hitches with integrated sway control transfer tongue load onto the tow vehicle's front axle and resist the yaw that crosswinds and passing trucks induce.
The company describes its foundation as customer service, designing around what owners actually ask for, and it runs an RV park adjacent to the factory where customers can stay. Sister operations at the same Nebraska site include Automatic grain roller mills and MAD-RAMPS pivoting ramp systems.
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2 compatible vehicles
| Year | Make & Model | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 - 1992 | Chevrolet Astro | No AWD Comes with Standard Attachment Tabs Install Rating 4 Requires Some Trimming of the Air Dam |
| 1985 - 1991 | GMC Safari | No AWD Comes with Standard Attachment Tabs Install Rating 4 Requires Some Trimming of the Air Dam |
The BlueOx Tow Bar Base Plate, Front Mount, RV Flat Towing for Select, CHEVY ASTROVAN E13 (Part #FDRWBX1609) fits 1985-1992 Chevrolet Astro models. The 1992 model year is the last year covered by this part number. For newer models, check for an updated version.
The BlueOx Tow Bar Base Plate, Front Mount, RV Flat Towing for Select, CHEVY ASTROVAN E13 (Part #FDRWBX1609) fits the following vehicles: 1985-1992 Chevrolet Astro; 1985-1991 GMC Safari. Always verify your specific year, make, and model before ordering.
Yes, the BlueOx Tow Bar Base Plate, Front Mount, RV Flat Towing for Select, CHEVY ASTROVAN E13 (Part #FDRWBX1609) is designed to fit the 1985-1992 Chevrolet Astro.
The BlueOx Tow Bar Base Plate, Front Mount, RV Flat Towing for Select, CHEVY ASTROVAN E13 (Part #FDRWBX1609) Refer to the included instructions for installation details. Basic hand tools are typically all you need.
Yes, the BX1609 baseplate is designed for 1985-91 Chevrolet Astro Vans. It also fits 1985-91 GMC Safari Vans. Consult the manual's General Instruction Sheet for any vehicle-specific variations.
Yes, the BX1609 baseplate is designed for 1985-91 GMC Safari Vans. It also fits 1985-91 Chevrolet Astro Vans. Consult the manual's General Instruction Sheet for any vehicle-specific variations.
You will need the following sockets: 10mm, 15mm, 17mm, 3/4", and 9/16". You will also need a small screwdriver to pry the locking rings on the Tinnerman fasteners, and a wrench or socket set to work with the bolts and nuts.
The kit includes: 2 single nut plates (61-3355), 2 double nut plates (61-3356), 1 main baseplate assembly (61-3455), 2 square backing plates (102-2816), 6 3/8-16 x 1 1/4" hex bolts (201-0368), 2 10mm-1.5 x 35mm hex bolts (201-0410), 2 10mm-1.5 hex nuts (202-0111), 6 3/8" lock washers (203-0010), and 2 10mm lock washers (203-0104).
Yes, an assistant is required. Step 13 specifies that you must have an assistant hold the baseplate in position while you align the upper bracket holes with the bumper frame mount holes and the rear bracket holes with the sway bar bracket holes.
Read the General Instruction Sheet included with the baseplate. Then remove the front bolt only from the two brackets which hold the sway bar to the frame.
Use a small screwdriver to pry the locking ring outward, then slide the fastener off the frame. You must remove three of the four Tinnerman fasteners on each frame rail: the inside lower fastener and both outside fasteners. Leave the remaining fastener in place to reuse.
Yes. The manual specifies that you replace the bumper frame mount brackets using the previously removed bolts in the two remaining Tinnerman fasteners, and then reassemble the bumper using the previously removed bolts and nuts.
Yes. Two slots must be cut in the plastic air dam before it is replaced. Each slot is 1 3/4" wide and 2 1/2" high, starting from the bottom of the air dam, with 22 1/4" between the inside edges of the slots.
Nut plates are fastening inserts that thread into the frame rails. The BX1609 kit includes one double nut plate and one single nut plate. These must be placed into the end of each frame rail, behind the holes in the bumper frame mount bracket. Access is gained through the large round hole in the frame rails. The 3/8" bolts thread into these nut plates.
3/8-16 x 1 1/4" hex bolts (part number 201-0368) are used. Six bolts are included in the kit. These bolts are hand-started with 3/8" lock washers and threaded into the nut plates.
10mm-1.5 x 35mm hex bolts (part number 201-0410) are used. Two bolts are included in the kit. These bolts are hand-started with 10mm lock washers and threaded into the frame rails.
No. The manual specifies that you hand-start all bolts first, then align them. Only after all bolts align should you apply Loctite and tighten them. Additionally, when installing the bumper frame mount brackets, you should only snug the bolts at that stage, not tighten them fully.
Yes. Loctite must be applied to all bolts and nuts. When installing the bumper frame mount brackets, use Loctite but only snug the bolts at that time. When all baseplate bolts align, apply Loctite and tighten.
The manual notes that dimensional variations between otherwise identical cars can be considerable. If a bolt does not align, it may be necessary to file a hole slightly to allow the bolt to clear. This should only be done after attempting to align all bolts in their current positions.
Install the tow bar and safety cables according to the instructions included in their packages. Do not substitute other devices if the tow bar pin and clip are lost.
Do not substitute other devices. Use only the correct tow bar pin and clip specified by the manufacturer. Consult the tow bar instruction sheet or contact the manufacturer for replacement parts.
The BX1609 baseplate fits 1985-91 Chevrolet Astro Vans and 1985-91 GMC Safari Vans.
You need sockets in 10mm, 15mm, 17mm, 3/4", and 9/16" sizes, plus a small screwdriver to remove Tinnerman fasteners.
Yes. Two slots must be cut: each 1 3/4" wide and 2 1/2" high, starting from the bottom, with 22 1/4" between the inside edges.
Yes, an assistant is required to hold the baseplate in position while you align and hand-start the bolts.
Remove three of the four Tinnerman fasteners on each frame rail: the inside lower and both outside fasteners. Leave one fastener in place to reuse.
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