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1998 Ford Explorer
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Custom Fit: The Blue Ox BX2141 Tow Bar Bracket is custom designed for each specific vehicle, ensuring perfect fit and compatibility.
Material: Steel
Color: Black
Finish: Powder Coat
Mounting Type: Bolt On
Mounting Hardware Included Yes/No: Yes
Experience the superior towing convenience with the Blue Ox BX2141 Tow Bar Bracket. Custom designed for each specific vehicle, this product ensures a perfect fit and easy installation. Made from robust steel with a black powder coat finish, this tow bar bracket not only offers reliability and longevity, but also adds a sleek aesthetic to your vehicle. With all the necessary mounting hardware included, you can effortlessly install this bracket at home, saving time and money. Blue Ox prioritizes safety and quality, making this tow bar bracket a trustworthy addition to your towing setup.
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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1 compatible vehicles
| Year | Make & Model | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Ford Explorer | Comes with Standard Attachment Tabs Install Rating 2 Bumper Fascia Must Be Removed/Replaced During Install Requires Some Trimming of Bumper Fascia/Plastic/And/Or Grill Minor Drilling Required Baseplate Has Non 24 in. Spaced Attachment Tabs Requires Motorhome Mounted Tow Bar/Adapter To Utilize Car Mounted Tow Bar Tow Bar Adapters Not To Be Used On Vehicles Over 5000 lbs. |
Yes, the BlueOx Tow Bar Base Plate, Front Mount, RV Flat Towing for Select, FORD EXPLORER LITD E13 (Part #FDRWBX2141) is designed to fit the 1998 Ford Explorer.
The BlueOx Tow Bar Base Plate, Front Mount, RV Flat Towing for Select, FORD EXPLORER LITD E13 (Part #FDRWBX2141) fits the following vehicles: 1998 Ford Explorer. Always verify your specific year, make, and model before ordering.
The BlueOx Tow Bar Base Plate, Front Mount, RV Flat Towing for Select, FORD EXPLORER LITD E13 (Part #FDRWBX2141) fits 1998 Ford Explorer models. The 1998 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, FORD EXPLORER LITD E13 (Part #FDRWBX2141) Refer to the included instructions for installation details. Basic hand tools are typically all you need.
The BX2141 is designed for 1998–99 Ford Explorer Limited and 1999 Ford Explorer XL, XLS, and XLT models. If your vehicle matches one of these years and trims, the baseplate is compatible. The manual notes that dimensional variations between otherwise identical cars can be considerable, so some filing of holes may be necessary during installation.
The BX88115 Adapter is required only if you are using a Blue Ox car-mounted tow bar with the BX2141 baseplate. If you are using a different tow bar system, the adapter may not be necessary. Consult your tow bar documentation or contact the manufacturer to confirm compatibility.
The required tools are: 10 mm wrench, 3/4 inch wrench, 18 mm wrench, 1/2 inch drill bit, drill, utility knife, hack saw, and Loctite. A helper may be useful during removal and installation of the bumper molding.
The BX2141 kit includes: one weldment base plate (61-5239), four 1/2 inch nut plates with wire (61-5237), two 1/2 inch wire nuts (61-4029), six 1/2-13 x 2 inch hex bolts grade 5 (201-0283), six 1/2 inch lock washers (203-0012), four 1/2 inch flat washers (203-0005), two 36 inch class III baseplate safety cables (226-0046), and two 3/8 inch zinc-plated quicklinks (229-0359).
Yes. The lower plastic bumper must be removed to access the frame brackets. Remove the four nuts from the frame brackets directly behind the bumper molding, disconnect the running lights, and pull off the molding and bumper from the vehicle. The bumper is reinstalled after the baseplate is secured.
The lower plastic rock guard under the radiator must be removed. The side rock deflectors must be trimmed (notched out 2.5 inches up and 5 inches back at the front corner to accommodate the baseplate's cross tube). See Diagram 1 for the trimming pattern.
Yes. Half-inch holes must be drilled in the rear of the baseplate. The baseplate is used as a template for drilling. The front holes use existing slotted holes in the frame rails, but the rear holes require drilling. Use a 1/2 inch drill bit.
Yes. The side rock deflectors outboard of the radiator must be trimmed. Starting at the front corner, notch out a 2.5 inch by 5 inch piece to make room for the baseplate's cross tube. Use a utility knife or hack saw. See Diagram 1 for the exact pattern.
Insert the four nut plates (61-5237) through the front of the frame rails and position them over the slotted holes on the outside and bottom of the rails. Bolt the baseplate using 1/2 inch bolts, lock washers, flat washers, and the nut plates. Apply Loctite to all bolts before tightening. Torque each bolt according to the torque guide in the General Instruction Sheet. If hoses extend up in front of the radiator, push them back carefully without bending the machined fitting or tubing.
1. Remove the four nuts from the frame brackets behind the bumper molding, disconnect running lights, and remove the bumper. 2. Remove the black plastic rock guard under the radiator and trim the side rock deflectors (2.5 inches up and 5 inches back). 3. Insert nut plates into the frame rails and bolt the baseplate with 1/2 inch bolts, lock washers, flat washers, and Loctite. Tighten to torque specifications. 4. Drill the rear holes using the baseplate as a template and secure with 1/2 inch bolts, wire nuts, and Loctite. 5. Replace the bumper molding and rock guard. 6. Install the tow bar and safety cables per their instructions.
Yes. Loctite must be applied to all bolts to ensure they do not loosen while the vehicle is being towed. The manual specifies using Loctite Red on all bolts and tightening to the recommended specifications. This is critical for safe towing.
The manual states that bolts should be torqued 'according to the torque guide included in the General Instruction Sheet,' but that sheet is not provided in this installation manual. Contact the manufacturer or your installer for the specific torque values for the 1/2-13 x 2 inch hex bolts.
The front holes use the existing slotted holes in the frame rails. The rear holes must be drilled. Use the baseplate as a template for drilling the rear holes. The manual notes that dimensional variations between cars can be considerable, and it may be necessary to file a hole slightly to ensure proper fit.
The two permanent baseplate safety cables (226-0046) included with the BX2141 are strongly recommended. They prevent the towed vehicle from breaking loose if the connection between the frame and baseplate fails. However, these cables must be used in conjunction with, not as a replacement for, legally required safety cables that attach the towed vehicle to the towing vehicle. The cables must be connected from the baseplate to the frame rail or cross member and must not be mounted against wires, hoses, or brake lines.
The permanent baseplate safety cables must be connected from the baseplate to the frame rail or cross member of the vehicle's frame. They must not be mounted against wires, hoses, or brake lines, as improper installation could cause fluid leaks or electrical shorts. The manual provides recommended arrangements in illustrations; consult those diagrams for your specific vehicle configuration.
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 torque specifications and that Loctite has been applied. Verify that the permanent safety cables are properly connected to the frame and not touching wires, hoses, or brake lines. Confirm that the tow bar and safety cables are installed per their manufacturer's instructions.
It is the owner's responsibility to inspect all towing equipment before each towing trip. Check for cracked welds, missing or worn parts, and loose bolts. Ensure all bolts remain tightened to the recommended specifications and that Loctite is still effective. Register your baseplate online at www.blueox.com to receive alerts about maintenance, updates, and safety bulletins.
Yes. Blue Ox strongly recommends registering your baseplate online at www.blueox.com. Registration ensures you receive alerts about product offerings, updates, upgrades, maintenance and safety bulletins, and recalls.
Some Explorer models have hoses extending up in front of the radiator. Push these hoses back carefully to make room for the baseplate. Do not bend the machined fitting or tubing on the lower piece of the hoses, as this could cause damage or leaks.
Yes. The manual states that while the location and size of the holes in the baseplate were designed to allow for easy installation, dimensional variations between otherwise identical cars can be considerable. It may be necessary to file a hole slightly to ensure proper fit and alignment.
Yes, the BX2141 is designed for 1998–99 Ford Explorer Limited and 1999 Ford Explorer XL, XLS, and XLT. Dimensional variations may require minor hole filing during installation.
You will need: 10 mm, 3/4 inch, and 18 mm wrenches; 1/2 inch drill bit and drill; utility knife; hack saw; and Loctite.
Yes. Half-inch holes must be drilled in the rear of the baseplate using the baseplate as a template. The front holes use existing slotted frame holes. The side rock deflectors must also be trimmed.
Yes. The lower plastic bumper and rock guard must be removed to access the frame brackets. They are reinstalled after the baseplate is secured.
The BX88115 Adapter is required only if you are using a Blue Ox car-mounted tow bar. It is not needed for other tow bar systems.
The permanent baseplate safety cables are strongly recommended and must be used in addition to legally required safety cables. They prevent the towed vehicle from breaking loose if the baseplate connection fails.
Before each towing trip, inspect the baseplate for cracked welds, missing or worn parts, and loose bolts. Ensure all bolts are tightened to specification and Loctite is applied.
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