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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 Dealer1998 - 1999 Ford Escort
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{'feature': 'Custom Fit', 'description': 'Each Blue Ox BX2151 Bracket is specifically designed for each model of the 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
Unleash the strength and durability of the Blue Ox BX2151 Tow Bar Bracket. Specifically engineered for each individual towed vehicle, this bracket guarantees a perfect fit. Made from robust steel and finished with a powder coat, this black bracket not only looks sleek but is also resistant to wear, tear, and rust. It is designed for bolt-on mounting, making installation straightforward. The package includes all the necessary hardware, along with comprehensive instructions for a hassle-free, do-it-yourself installation. With the Blue Ox BX2151 Tow Bar Bracket, you can be assured of superior quality, reliable performance, and perfect compatibility.
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
1 compatible vehicles
| Year | Make & Model | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 - 1999 | Ford Escort | Comes with Standard Attachment Tabs Install Rating 3 Bumper Fascia Must Be Removed/Replaced During Install Requires Some Trimming of Bumper Fascia/Plastic/And/Or Grill Baseplate Has Non 24 in. Spaced Attachment Tabs Requires Motorhome Mounted Towbar/Adapter To Utilize Car Mounted Tow Bar Tow Bar Adapters Not To Be Used On Vehicles Over 5000 lbs. |
The BX2151 baseplate is designed for Ford Escort SE models from 1998 to 1999 only. If your vehicle is a different year, model, or trim level, this baseplate will not fit. Confirm your vehicle year and model before purchasing.
You must remove the front bumper facia and lower rock guards. The inner grill molding may also need to be trimmed. Specifically, you will remove hex head bolts at each end of the colored facia, Phillips head plastic pins, screws forward of the front tires, and additional hex head bolts fastening the fenders and bumper facia. If your vehicle has fog lights, you must disconnect the electrical wiring before pulling off the bumper facia.
Only if your vehicle has fog lights. The manual states: 'If the vehicle has fog lights disconnect the electrical wiring before pulling off the bumper facia.' If your Escort SE does not have fog lights, this step is not necessary.
You will need: 10 mm wrench, 8 mm wrench, 5/8" wrench, 5/8" socket, Phillips screwdriver, and Loctite Blue. A hex head bolt socket or wrench will also be helpful for removing and installing the various bolts.
The kit includes: 1 baseplate weldment (61-5455), 4 × 7/16" flat washers (203-0004), 4 × 7/16"-14 × 1½" hex bolts Grade 5 (201-0416), 4 × 7/16" lock washers (203-0011), 4 × 7/16"-14 hex nuts zinc-plated (202-0004), 2 × #12-14 × 1" self-drilling screws zinc-plated (201-0979), 2 × #10-32 hex nuts (202-0047), 2 × #10 lock washers (203-0054), 2 × #10-32 × ½" slot round head screws (201-0192), and 2 × 4-way connector adapters (101-5822).
Position the baseplate so the side plates are on the outside of the tow hooks. Insert 7/16" bolts with flat and lock washers through the baseplate and tow hooks. Apply Loctite Blue to each bolt and thread a 7/16" nut to each bolt. Important: use only the upper two holes on the tow hooks; do not bolt the baseplate to the bottom slotted hole. Torque each nut according to the chart in the General Instruction sheet.
The manual explicitly states: 'Do not bolt the baseplate to the bottom slotted hole, use the upper two holes on the tow hooks.' The bottom hole is not designed to support the baseplate attachment. Using only the upper two holes ensures proper load distribution and safety.
The manual references a torque chart in the General Instruction sheet, but that chart is not included in this installation document. Contact the manufacturer or your installer for the correct torque specification, or consult the General Instruction sheet that should accompany the product.
The manual includes 2 × 4-way connector adapters in the parts list but does not specify their function in the BX2151 installation instructions. These adapters are likely for connecting towing lights or electrical systems. Refer to the General Instruction sheet or contact the manufacturer for specific wiring instructions.
Permanent baseplate safety cables are strongly recommended when towing a vehicle with the BX2151 baseplate. Their function is to prevent the towed vehicle from breaking loose if the connection between the frame and baseplate fails or becomes disconnected. The cables must be connected from the baseplate to the frame rail or cross member. Each cable must have an adequate weight rating; the combined rating of two cables is what matters, not the individual ratings.
No. The manual explicitly states: 'Do not mount the permanent baseplate safety cables against wires, hoses or brake lines.' Improper installation against wires or hoses could cause fluid leaks or electrical shorts some time after installation. The installer must watch for oil cooler and air conditioner lines, electrical wires, hoses, and missing frame attachment points.
No. Permanent baseplate safety cables are to be used in conjunction with, and not as a replacement for, legally required safety cables that attach the towed vehicle to the towing vehicle. Both systems must be used together.
Before each towing trip, inspect all towing equipment for cracked welds, missing or worn parts, and loose bolts. Use Loctite Red on all bolts and tighten them to the recommended specifications. The permanent baseplate safety cables should remain installed as long as the baseplate is on the vehicle. Register your product online at www.blueox.com to receive alerts about product offerings, updates, upgrades, maintenance and safety bulletins, and recalls.
Do not substitute other devices. The manual states: 'Do not substitute other devices if the tow bar pin and clip are lost.' Contact the manufacturer to obtain replacement parts.
The inner grill molding may need to be trimmed, but the manual does not provide specific trimming instructions or measurements. Consult with your installer or the manufacturer for guidance on whether trimming is necessary for your specific vehicle and how to perform it safely.
Yes, if your vehicle is a 1998 or 1999 Ford Escort SE. This baseplate is designed only for those model years.
Yes. The front bumper facia and lower rock guards must be removed. The inner grill molding may also need trimming.
You will need: 10 mm wrench, 8 mm wrench, 5/8" wrench, 5/8" socket, Phillips screwdriver, and Loctite Blue.
Use only the upper two holes on the tow hooks. Do not use the bottom slotted hole.
Four 7/16"-14 × 1½" hex bolts Grade 5 with 7/16" flat washers, 7/16" lock washers, and 7/16"-14 hex nuts. Apply Loctite Blue to each bolt before installation.
Permanent baseplate safety cables are strongly recommended. They must be connected from the baseplate to the frame rail or cross member and cannot be mounted against wires, hoses, or brake lines.
Before each towing trip, inspect for cracked welds, missing or worn parts, and loose bolts. Use Loctite Red and tighten all bolts to recommended specifications.
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