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Blue Ox
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2002 - 2003 Ford Explorer Sport
Confirmed to Fit
2004 - 2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
Confirmed to Fit
2001 - 2003 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
Confirmed to Fit
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Made from high-grade steel material for maximum strength and durability
Material: Steel
Color: Black
Finish: Powder Coat
Mounting Type: Bolt On
Mounting Hardware Included Yes/No: Yes
Upgrade your towing experience with the Blue Ox BX2166 Tow Bar Bracket. Custom designed to fit your specific vehicle, this high-grade steel tow bar bracket provides outstanding strength and durability. It is finished with a black powder coat to stand up to harsh weather and road conditions, ensuring long-lasting performance. The bolt-on mounting type ensures easy installation and a secure fit. Each purchase includes all necessary mounting hardware and a comprehensive instructions guide for a simple do-it-yourself installation. Upgrade to Blue Ox for superior towing efficiency and durability.
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
3 compatible vehicles
| Year | Make & Model | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 - 2003 | Ford Explorer Sport | Without Tow Hooks Comes with Standard Attachment Tabs Install Rating 2 Minor Drilling Required Tow Hooks Must be Removed and Remain off the Vehicle After Installation 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. |
| 2004 - 2005 | Ford Explorer Sport Trac | Comes with Standard Attachment Tabs Install Rating 2 Minor Drilling Required Tow Hooks Must be Removed and Remain off the Vehicle After Installation 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. |
| 2001 - 2003 | Ford Explorer Sport Trac | Without Tow Hooks Comes with Standard Attachment Tabs Install Rating 2 Minor Drilling Required Tow Hooks Must be Removed and Remain off the Vehicle After Installation 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. |
Yes, the BX2166 fits 2002-03 Ford Explorer Sport models without tow hooks. If your vehicle has factory tow hooks, they must be removed during installation. The baseplate is also compatible with 2004-05 Ford Explorer Sport, 2001-03 Ford Explorer Sport Trac (without tow hooks), and 2004-05 Ford Explorer Sport Trac.
Yes. If your vehicle has tow hooks, they must be removed before installation. The baseplate will then be bolted to the frame using the existing four 15MM bolts and two nutplates where the tow hooks were mounted. The BX2166 is designed to work on vehicles both with and without factory tow hooks.
The attachment tabs are 19-1/2" in height and 18" in width.
You will need: a torque wrench, a drill, a 17/32" drill bit, 8MM socket, 10MM socket, 15MM socket, 3/4" socket, and Loctite Red. A reciprocating saw may also be needed depending on vehicle configuration, as the instructions note that some trimming may be required.
The kit includes: one BX2166 baseplate, two 1/2" nut wires, six 1/2"-13 x 1-1/2" hex head bolts (Grade 5, zinc plated), four 1/2"-13 hex nuts, six 1/2" lock washers, two #12-14 x 1" self-drilling screws, two 4-way connector adapters, two #10-32 hex nuts, two #10-32 1/2" round slotted head screws, two #10 lock washers, two class IV safety cables, and four 1/2" quicklinks.
Blue Ox recommends that baseplates be installed by Blue Ox dealers who are familiar with the products and have the equipment and knowledge necessary to do fit work. You can find a Blue Ox dealer at www.blueox.com or by contacting Blue Ox Customer Care at (402) 385-3051. However, the manual does not explicitly state that professional installation is mandatory.
Yes. You must drill two holes on the outside of the baseplate into the bottom of the frame using a 17/32" drill bit, one on each side. The baseplate is used as a template for these holes. Some trimming is also required; the manual notes that dimensional variations between vehicles may require slight tailoring of the baseplate to compensate for manufacturer tolerances.
You need a 17/32" drill bit to drill the two holes on the outside of the baseplate into the bottom of the frame.
For 1/2" Grade 5 bolts, the torque specification is 78 foot-pounds. For 1/2" Grade 8 bolts, it is 119 foot-pounds. The BX2166 kit includes Grade 5 bolts. All bolts must be tightened with Loctite Red applied before torquing.
The manual provides a torque chart for inch and metric bolts but does not specify the grade or torque value for the 15MM bolts used to attach the baseplate to existing tow hook mounting points. Consult the vehicle owner's manual or contact Blue Ox Customer Care at (402) 385-3051 for the correct torque specification.
1. Remove the metric bolts from the belly pan using 8MM and 10MM sockets (5 total). If the vehicle has tow hooks, remove both and slide the baseplate up into position, then bolt it to the frame using the existing four 15MM bolts and two nutplates. If there are no tow hooks, use the four 1/2"-13 x 1-1/2" hex bolts, nuts, and lock washers. 2. Using the baseplate as a template, drill two holes on the outside of the baseplate into the bottom of the frame with the 17/32" drill bit (one on each side). Finish bolting the baseplate using the remaining 1/2"-13 x 1-1/2" hex bolts, lock washers, and wire nuts. 3. Tighten all nuts and bolts with Loctite Red and torque correctly, then replace the belly pan and tighten all metric bolts. 4. Attach the permanent baseplate safety cables to the convenience link on the baseplate or to a solid piece of the frame, ensuring cables do not rub against hoses or moving parts.
Attach the permanent baseplate safety cables to the provided convenience link on the baseplate. If additional options interfere with suggested mounting, secure the cables to a solid piece of the frame as described in the instructions included with the permanent baseplate safety cables. The cables must be connected from the baseplate to the frame rail or cross member of the vehicle's frame. Ensure the safety cables do not rub against any hoses or moving parts. Install cables on both sides of the vehicle.
The 1/2" wire nuts are used to secure the bolts on the outside of the baseplate. There are slots on the outside of the tube designed to feed the wire nuts into, allowing them to be inserted and tightened without requiring access from behind the frame.
The BX8869 Tail Light Wiring Kit is recommended for this vehicle.
Before reinstalling the fascia, be sure that all electrical connections are plugged in and accessories are functioning properly.
No. Do not use the towed vehicle for storing luggage, equipment, etc. 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. Do not use it again. An accident can cause unseen damage and using it again could result in more damage or serious injury. Do not use the baseplate if it is damaged or missing parts.
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.
Yes. Be sure to use Loctite Red on all bolts before tightening. Tighten all bolts according to the torque chart provided. This should be done during initial installation and checked before each towing trip.
Yes. Use a good quality paint to spray cut edges of frame to prevent rusting.
When using power drills, be aware of the dangers of torque and drill bit length. Ensure you are using the correct 17/32" drill bit and take appropriate safety precautions to avoid injury from drill torque.
Do not mount the permanent baseplate safety cables against wires, hoses, or brake lines. Be aware of oil cooler and air conditioner lines, electrical wires and hoses, and missing parts or attaching points on the frame. If the baseplate is improperly installed and is against a wire or hose, it could cause fluid leaks or electrical shorts some time after the actual baseplate installation.
Yes. Ensure that your product is registered online at www.blueox.com. It is crucial to register your product so that you may be alerted of product offerings, updates, upgrades, maintenance and safety bulletins, and/or recalls.
If a bolt is lost or needs replacement, use a replacement bolt of the same grade as the original. The BX2166 kit includes Grade 5 bolts. Do not substitute homemade or non-typical parts. Replacement parts may be ordered through your nearest Blue Ox dealer or distributor. Failing to follow these requirements will void the manufacturer's warranty.
Failing to follow and/or altering these installation instructions in either installation or required equipment will void the manufacturer's warranty. Towing behind a non-motorized vehicle will also void the warranty.
Yes, the BX2166 fits 2002-03 Ford Explorer Sport (without tow hooks), 2004-05 Ford Explorer Sport, 2001-03 Ford Explorer Sport Trac (without tow hooks), and 2004-05 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. If your vehicle has factory tow hooks, they must be removed.
Yes. You must drill two 17/32" holes in the frame using the baseplate as a template. Some trimming may also be required to compensate for vehicle manufacturer tolerances.
You need a torque wrench, drill, 17/32" drill bit, 8MM/10MM/15MM/3/4" sockets, and Loctite Red. A reciprocating saw may be needed for trimming.
For Grade 5 bolts (included in the kit), torque to 78 foot-pounds. All bolts must have Loctite Red applied before tightening.
The BX8869 Tail Light Wiring Kit is recommended for this vehicle.
If the baseplate is damaged or involved in an accident, it must be replaced and cannot be reused. Do not use a damaged or incomplete baseplate.
Inspect for cracked welds, missing or worn parts, and loose bolts. Ensure all bolts are tightened to specification with Loctite Red applied.
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