Our in-house experts typically reply within one business day.
Blue Ox
Verify Fitment
Select your vehicle to confirm this part fits.
2002 - 2005 Dodge Ram 1500
Confirmed to Fit
Always the correct part
We know our products
Quality Products
Free Shipping!
Always the correct part
We know our products
Quality Products
Free Shipping!
Custom-Designed Fit: The Blue Ox BX1948 Tow Bar Bracket is specifically tailored for your vehicle, ensuring a precise fit and optimal performance.
Material: Steel
Color: Black
Finish: Powder Coat
Mounting Type: Bolt On
Mounting Hardware Included Yes/No: Yes
Make your vehicle towing-ready with the Blue Ox BX1948 Tow Bar Bracket. This robust tow bar bracket is meticulously designed for your specific vehicle to ensure a perfect fit and seamless performance. Made of high-strength steel, it promises superior durability and reliability. The bracket features a black powder-coat finish that not only adds to its aesthetic appeal but also provides excellent resistance to corrosion and wear, ensuring that it will serve you for years to come. The bolt-on mounting type simplifies the installation process, and with all the necessary mounting hardware included in the package, you’ll have everything you need for a straightforward, do-it-yourself installation.
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.
Experts available to answer your questions
Call 888-634-94943 Years
1 compatible vehicles
| Year | Make & Model | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 - 2005 | Dodge Ram 1500 | 2WD/4WD Also Sport Comes with Standard Attachment Tabs Install Rating 2 Bumper Fascia Must Be Removed/Replaced During Install Minor Drilling Required Be Sure to Confirm the Weight of Your Individual Vehicle Before Towing. Always Insure Both Your Tow Bar and Hitch are Adequately Rated for the Vehicle’s Overall Weight Height Deviation up to 4” higher on the Towing Vehicle Allowed When Used for Utility Applications Only with an Allure Tow Bar |
Yes, the BX1948 is designed specifically for 2002–04 Dodge Ram 1500 models. The baseplate attachment tabs are 24 inches center to center with a height of 24 inches. However, dimensional variations between otherwise identical vehicles can be considerable, so some filing of holes may be necessary to allow bolts to clear.
The manual specifies the BX1948 is for 2002–04 Dodge Ram 1500 only. Do not assume it fits other model years or generations without confirmation from Blue Ox or a fitment database.
You will need: 18MM socket, 3/4" socket, 17/32" drill bit, Loctite Blue, and vise grips. The 18MM socket is used to remove and reinstall bumper bolts and frame fasteners. The 17/32" drill bit is required to drill the top inside hole on the baseplate. Loctite Blue must be applied to all bolts before tightening.
The kit includes: 1 weldment base plate (61-5695), 4 × 1/2-13 × 4 hex bolts grade 5, 8 × 1/2-13 × 1 1/4 hex bolts grade 5, 8 × 1/2 flat washers, 12 × 1/2 lock washers, 12 × 1/2-13 hex nuts, 2 × #12-14 × 1" self-drilling screws, 2 × #10-32 hex nuts, 2 × #10 lock washers, 2 × #10-32 × 1/2 slot round-head screws, and 2 × 4-way connector adapters (101-5822). All fasteners are zinc-plated.
Yes. The front metal bumper must be removed to access the frame attachment points. Using an 18MM socket, remove the four metric bolts from the back side of the front bumper, then pull the bumper forward and set it aside. The bumper is reinstalled after baseplate installation using the existing nuts.
1. Remove the four metric bolts from the back of the front bumper using an 18MM socket and set the bumper aside. 2. Mark both brackets' height on the frame. Remove the two metric nuts and bolts from each frame end using an 18MM socket. 3. Replace frame fasteners with the supplied bolts, washers and nuts (items 2, 4, 5, 6) and tighten with Loctite Blue. 4. Align the two lower holes on the baseplate to the existing lower holes on the bumper bracket. Insert bolts and tighten with Loctite Blue. 5. Ream out the upper existing hole on the bumper bracket and drill the top inside hole on the baseplate with a 17/32" drill bit. Install bolts and tighten with Loctite Blue. 6. Remove or trim the plastic insert in the middle of the metal bumper for proper fit, then reinstall the bumper using existing nuts. 7. Install the tow bar and safety cables per their instructions.
Yes. The top inside hole on the baseplate must be drilled with a 17/32" drill bit. Additionally, the upper existing hole on the bumper bracket will need to be reamed out. The plastic insert in the middle of the metal bumper must be removed or trimmed for proper fit. Some filing of holes may also be necessary to allow bolts to clear, depending on dimensional variations in your vehicle.
A 17/32" drill bit is required to drill the top inside hole on the baseplate.
Yes. The plastic insert in the middle of the metal bumper must be removed for proper fit, or it can be trimmed. This is necessary to allow the baseplate to fit correctly.
Use Loctite Blue on all bolts during initial installation. After installation, the manual recommends using Loctite Red on all bolts and tightening to the recommended specifications before each towing trip. However, specific torque values are not provided in this manual; contact Blue Ox for recommended torque specifications.
The manual does not provide specific torque values. Contact Blue Ox at 402-385-3051 or www.aemfg.com for recommended torque specifications for the 1/2-13 hex bolts and other fasteners.
Permanent baseplate safety cables are strongly recommended when towing a vehicle with a tow bar. They prevent the towed vehicle from breaking loose if the connection between the frame and baseplate fails. The cables must be connected from the baseplate to the frame rail or cross member. However, permanent baseplate safety cables are not a replacement for legally required safety cables that attach the towed vehicle to the towing vehicle. Do not mount the cables against wires, hoses or brake lines.
Do not mount the permanent baseplate safety cables against wires, hoses or brake lines. Improper installation against these components could cause fluid leaks or electrical shorts some time after installation. As the installer, you are responsible for watching for oil cooler and air conditioner lines, electrical wires and hoses, and missing parts or attaching points on the frame.
Do not substitute other devices if the tow bar pin and clip are lost. Obtain replacement parts from Blue Ox or an authorized dealer.
Before each towing trip, inspect all towing equipment for: cracked welds, missing or worn parts, and loose bolts. Ensure all bolts are tightened to the recommended specifications using Loctite Red. It is the owner's responsibility to perform these inspections.
Yes, the attachment tabs should be removed when not in use, if applicable.
Yes. Blue Ox strongly recommends registering your product online at www.blueox.com. Registration is crucial so you may be alerted of product offerings, updates, upgrades, maintenance and safety bulletins, and/or recalls.
Use only genuine factory replacement parts from Blue Ox. If a bolt is lost or needs replacement, use a replacement bolt of the same grade (usually Grade 5; refer to the parts list). Do not substitute homemade or nontypical parts. Repair parts may be ordered through your nearest Blue Ox dealer or distributor.
The BX8869 is an available accessory for the BX1948 base plate. The manual shows its location on the driver's side tail light assembly but does not provide installation details or explain its function. Contact Blue Ox for more information about whether the BX8869 is required or optional for your installation.
Yes, the BX1948 is designed for 2002–04 Dodge Ram 1500. Attachment tabs are 24 inches center to center with 24-inch height. Some hole filing may be needed due to dimensional variations.
18MM socket, 3/4" socket, 17/32" drill bit, Loctite Blue, and vise grips.
Yes. You must drill the top inside hole on the baseplate with a 17/32" drill bit and ream out the upper existing hole on the bumper bracket. The plastic bumper insert must be removed or trimmed.
Yes, the front metal bumper must be removed to access frame attachment points. Remove four metric bolts from the back using an 18MM socket, then reinstall after baseplate installation.
Permanent baseplate safety cables are strongly recommended. They must connect from the baseplate to the frame rail or cross member and are not a replacement for legally required towing vehicle safety cables.
Inspect all towing equipment for cracked welds, missing or worn parts, and loose bolts. Tighten all bolts to recommended specifications using Loctite Red before each towing trip.
Total for 0 items:
$0.00
On Sale Today
Original price was $699.99. Current price is $609.00.You save $90.99 (13%)
Free Shipping
Ships free on all orders
Authorized Dealer
FREE ShippingFREE SHIPPING
Estimated delivery Wed, Sep 16 - Sat, Sep 19
Order before 2 PM EST Monday–Friday for same-day processing
Guaranteed safe & secure checkout
No reviews have been added for this product.
