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Blue Ox
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Original price was $699.99. Current price is $609.00.You save $90.99 (13%)
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Authorized Dealer2008 - 2010 Dodge Dakota
Confirmed to Fit
2011 Ram Dakota
Confirmed to Fit
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Custom-Designed Fit: The BX1981 Tow Bar Bracket is custom-designed for each specific towed vehicle, ensuring a perfect fit and optimal performance.
Material: Steel
Color: Black
Finish: Powder Coat
Mounting Type: Bolt On
Mounting Hardware Included Yes/No: Yes
Introducing the Blue Ox BX1981 Tow Bar Bracket - the ultimate towing solution for your vehicle. This robust bracket is made from high-quality steel for maximum strength and durability. Its black powder coat finish not only adds a sleek and stylish appearance but also provides superior rust and corrosion resistance. Designed for a custom fit, it ensures an easy bolt-on installation process with all necessary mounting hardware included. The Blue Ox BX1981 Tow Bar Bracket is an invaluable addition to your towing system, providing a secure attachment point for your tow bar.
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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Call 888-634-94943 Years
Yes, the BX1981 baseplate is designed for 2008-2012 Dodge Dakota. However, dimensional variations between otherwise identical vehicles can be considerable. Minor adjustments may be necessary to compensate for manufacturer tolerances, including filing holes slightly, bending electrical rods, or bending end plates.
No. Due to the design of the removable tabs on the BX1981, the RangeFinder II and Ambassador tow bars cannot be used with this baseplate.
Only the BX8833 and BX8815 adapters can be used with the BX1981 baseplate. All other adapters are not compatible.
The BX8848, 4-Diode wiring kit is recommended for this vehicle. Consult the general instructions or contact Blue Ox Customer Care at (402) 385-3051 for specific wiring requirements for your model year.
Required tools include: 10MM socket, 18MM socket, 3/4" socket, 17/32" drill bit, 30 Torx screwdriver, large vise grips, Loctite Red, Phillips screwdriver, reciprocating saw, and utility knife.
The kit includes: 1 welded baseplate (61-6500), 8 nut plates with 10" wire (61-4604), 8 1/2-13 x 1.5" hex bolts Grade 5 (201-0051), 8 1/2" lock washers (203-0012), 2 #12-14 x 1" self-drilling screws (201-0979), 2 10-32 x 1/2" round head screws (201-0192), 2 #10 lock washers (203-0054), 2 #10-32 hex nuts (202-0047), 2 4-way connector adapters (101-5822), 2 removable attachment tab assemblies (62-3469), 2 36" Class III baseplate safety cables (226-0046), 2 3/8" quicklinks (229-0359), and 2 receiver cap plugs (290-0437).
Always use the hardware supplied in the hardware kit. Even though bolts may exist on the vehicle, do not assume they are adequate for baseplate mounting. Using non-supplied hardware or substituting homemade or non-typical parts will void the manufacturer's warranty.
The fascia, front bumper, bolts, and push pins must be removed and reinstalled during baseplate installation. The process involves removing two Phillips pushpins from the lower edge of the fascia below the license plate, removing metric bolts from the wheel well edge, removing Torx screws from the bumper top (2009 models), and removing metric nuts from behind the metal bumper on the frame end.
Yes. 2008-09 vehicles without tow hooks must have a horizontal line measured and marked in the plastic, then cut out with a utility knife on both sides of the vehicle. This allows the baseplate to slide onto the frame rail.
Yes, drilling is required. Using a 17/32" drill bit, you must drill three remaining holes on both sides of the vehicle after the baseplate is positioned. It may be necessary to slide a piece of tubing over the drill bit to protect the reservoir tank. Be aware of the dangers of torque and drill bit length when using power drills.
Yes, trimming is required. Using a reciprocating saw, trim the bumper lip straight down from the center of the hole over 5" on both sides to allow the bumper to fit back on. On 2009 models, also trim the shroud on the lower part of the radiator on both sides. Some models may not require bumper material removal—verify proper fit by sliding the bumper into place.
The 1/2-13 hex bolts are Grade 5 and must be torqued to 78 foot-pounds. All bolts must have Loctite Red applied before tightening. Refer to the torque chart on the front page of the installation instructions for other bolt sizes and grades.
The attachment tab height is 16-1/2" and the attachment tab width is 23-3/8".
A 17/32" drill bit is required to drill the three remaining holes on both sides of the vehicle after the baseplate is positioned.
No. Do not use the towed vehicle for storing luggage, equipment, or other items. This may cause you to exceed the towing capacity of the tow bar, baseplate, and its accessories.
If the baseplate is in an accident, it must be replaced immediately. Do not use it again. An accident can cause unseen damage, and using a damaged baseplate could result in more damage or serious injury. Do not use the baseplate if it is damaged or missing parts.
Attach baseplate safety cables by positioning them around a solid piece of the frame. Ensure the safety cables do not rub against any hoses or moving parts. The cables must be connected from the baseplate to the frame rail or cross member. Do not mount cables against wires, hoses, or brake lines. These permanent cables should remain installed as long as the baseplate is on the vehicle and are used in conjunction with, not as a replacement for, legally required safety cables.
All electrical connections must be plugged in properly and functioning before installing the fascia. Verify that the metal bumper electrical connections are properly plugged in during reinstallation.
It is the owner's responsibility to inspect all towing equipment for cracked welds, missing or worn parts, and loose bolts before each towing trip. Be sure to use Loctite Red on all bolts and tighten them to the recommended specifications. Register your product online at www.blueox.com to be alerted of product offerings, updates, upgrades, maintenance and safety bulletins, and recalls.
Yes. Remove the attachment tabs when not in use.
Yes. Blue Ox towing products are intended to be installed by Blue Ox Dealers who are familiar with the products and have the equipment necessary and knowledge to do "fit work". Blue Ox Dealers can be found at www.blueox.com or by contacting Customer Care at (402) 385-3051.
If the front of your vehicle looks different than shown in the manual, call Blue Ox Customer Care at (402) 385-3051 for assistance.
Yes, the BX1981 is designed for 2008-2012 Dodge Dakota. Minor adjustments may be needed for dimensional variations between vehicles.
Only BX8833 and BX8815 adapters are compatible. RangeFinder II and Ambassador tow bars cannot be used.
Required tools: 10MM and 18MM sockets, 3/4" socket, 17/32" drill bit, 30 Torx screwdriver, vise grips, Loctite Red, Phillips screwdriver, reciprocating saw, and utility knife.
Yes. The fascia, front bumper, bolts, and push pins must be removed and reinstalled during installation.
Yes. You must drill three holes on each side using a 17/32" drill bit. Trimming with a reciprocating saw is also required.
Grade 5 1/2-13 hex bolts must be torqued to 78 foot-pounds with Loctite Red applied.
No. Do not store luggage or equipment in the towed vehicle, as this may exceed the towing capacity.
The baseplate must be replaced immediately. Do not reuse a damaged baseplate, as unseen damage could cause serious injury or loss of the towed vehicle.
Dimensional variations between otherwise identical vehicles can be considerable. Minor adjustments may be necessary to compensate for manufacturer tolerances. These adjustments may include filing a hole slightly, bending electrical rods, or bending end plates. If the front of your vehicle looks different than shown in the manual, contact Blue Ox Customer Care at (402) 385-3051.
Verify that you have trimmed the bumper lip correctly using a reciprocating saw, cutting straight down from the center of the hole over 5" on both sides. On 2009 models, ensure the shroud on the lower part of the radiator has been trimmed on both sides. Slide the bumper into place to verify proper fit. Some models may not need material removed from the bumper.
Ensure that all electrical connections are plugged in properly and functioning before installing the fascia. Verify that the metal bumper is properly reinstalled and that all electrical connections to the bumper are plugged in correctly. If connections are loose or unplugged, the fascia may not align properly.
2 compatible vehicles
| Year | Make & Model | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 - 2010 | Dodge Dakota | 2WD/4WD Vehciles with Quad Cab Comes with Removable Attachment Tabs Install Rating 3 Bumper Fascia Must Be Removed/Replaced During Install Requires Some Trimming of Bumper Fascia/Plastic/And/Or Grill Minor Drilling Required Use only w/Motorhome Mount Tow Bars Or PN BX8833/BX88151 Adapters Only Use Acclaim w/23”: 30” Spaced Removable Tab Baseplates Only Use Adventurer with 18”: 41” Spaced Removable Tab Baseplates Removable Tabs w/Only 1 Hole Will Not Attach to Car Mount Tow Bars or Adapters |
| 2011 | Ram Dakota | 2WD/4WD Vehciles with Quad Cab Comes with Removable Attachment Tabs Install Rating 3 Bumper Fascia Must Be Removed/Replaced During Install Requires Some Trimming of Bumper Fascia/Plastic/And/Or Grill Minor Drilling Required Use only w/Motorhome Mount Tow Bars Or PN BX8833/BX88151 Adapters Only Use Acclaim w/23”: 30” Spaced Removable Tab Baseplates Only Use Adventurer with 18”: 41” Spaced Removable Tab Baseplates Removable Tabs w/Only 1 Hole Will Not Attach to Car Mount Tow Bars or Adapters |
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