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Blue Ox
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1998 - 2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue
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Custom Fit: The BX3218 Tow Bar Bracket is specifically designed for each towed vehicle ensuring secure and snug fit.
Material: Steel
Color: Black
Finish: Powder Coat
Mounting Type: Bolt On
Mounting Hardware Included Yes/No: Yes
Upgrade your towing gear with the Blue Ox BX3218 Tow Bar Bracket. Exclusively designed to secure each specific towed vehicle, this bracket ensures a snug fit and superior performance. Its robust steel construction promises unmatched strength and endurance. The bracket showcases a black powder coat finish, adding an extra layer of resistance against rust and corrosion. With an easy bolt-on mounting type, the BX3218 makes installation a breeze, with all necessary hardware included. This Blue Ox Tow Bar Bracket is the perfect solution for a reliable, efficient towing experience.
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 - 2002 | Oldsmobile Intrigue | 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 Headlights Must be Removed and Replaced During Installation |
Yes, the BX3218 baseplate is designed specifically for Pontiac Grand Prix and Oldsmobile Intrigue models. The manual includes a spacer plate (part 102-5888) that is used on Pontiac Grand Prix to fill gaps between the side plates and middle piece if needed.
The manual specifies the BX3218 is designed for Pontiac Grand Prix and Oldsmobile Intrigue only. Installation on other vehicles is not supported by this manual.
The front bumper molding, headlights, and fog lights must be removed. Specifically: (1) Remove the two plastic retaining clips from the top of each headlight and the two push pins and middle hex bolt from the top of the bumper facia; (2) Remove Phillips head screws and push pins on the bottom of the bumper facia, Phillips head screws on the back side (two on each side), and the 10mm hex bolt connecting the bumper facia and fenders on each side; (3) Remove the plastic piece attached to the front of the metal bumper; (4) Remove fog lights.
Yes, drilling is required. You must drill six holes total: two 1/2" holes and one 3/8" hole on each side of the frame and bumper. The side plates are used as a template to mark the drilling locations. If the center bolt does not fit through the existing center hole in the bumper, that hole must also be drilled out to 1/2".
The plastic air shroud surrounding the radiator must be trimmed on both sides of the baseplate to allow the side plates to be installed. Additionally, the inner grill molding needs to be trimmed. Mark the areas that need trimming by holding the baseplate and side plates up to the bumper and plastic shroud before cutting.
Required tools are: 10mm wrench, 9/16" wrench, 3/4" wrench, 7mm wrench, Phillips screwdriver, 3/8" drill bit, 1/2" drill bit, utility knife, and center punch. Loctite Blue or Red must also be applied to all bolts.
The kit includes: 1 weldment baseplate (61-5442), 3 wire bolt plates (61-5459), 8 bolts with wire (61-5285), 2 side plates (101-5978 and 101-5977), 2 triangular supports (102-5893), 2 hex bolts 3/8-16 x 1 1/2" Grade 5, 6 hex bolts 1/2-13 x 1 1/4" Grade 5, 10 hex nuts 3/8-16 Grade 5, 9 hex nuts 1/2-13 Grade 5, 10 lock washers 3/8", 9 lock washers 1/2", 9 flat washers 1/2", 2 self-drilling screws #12-14 x 1", 2 four-way connectors (101-5822), 2 hex nuts #10-32, 2 lock washers #10, 2 slotted round head screws #10-32 x 1/2", and 2 spacer plates (102-5888).
The center brace mounts to the bumper using the center hole on the bottom of the bumper. Wire bolt plates are inserted into the frame from the back, and the wire is formed so the bolt can be placed in the center hole. If the bolt does not fit through the hole, drill it out to 1/2". The bolt should be hand-tightened only at this stage.
Hold the appropriate side plates up to the main weldment. Each side plate is placed over the outside fog light bolt extending out of the bumper. Before tightening, ensure the side plates are up against the bottom of the bumper and the piece extending up is against the side of the metal below the frame. The plastic shroud must be trimmed on both sides to allow installation. Bolt the side plates to the baseplate using the hardware shown in the drawing on page 2.
On Pontiac Grand Prix, the spacer plate (part 102-5888) is inserted on both sides to fill the gap between the side plates and the middle piece if needed.
The triangular plates are bolted to the side of the frame using 3/8" hardware as shown in the diagram on page 2. On the passenger side, the horn must be removed temporarily to install the plate, then replaced afterward. The 3/8" wire bolts can be inserted into the frame from either the bottom or side. On the passenger side, the wiper fluid reservoir can be unbolted from the frame to access the side opening. These plates strengthen the connection between the frames and the metal bumper.
After all bolts have been started and the baseplate is centered on the bumper, tighten and torque all bolts according to the chart in the General Instruction Sheet. Then replace the fog lights and connect wiring, replace the plastic piece on the front of the bumper (note that one edge will touch the baseplate causing it to tilt slightly), replace the bumper facia and headlights, and connect headlight wiring.
The manual states that all bolts should be torqued 'according to the chart in the General Instruction Sheet,' but the specific torque values are not provided in this installation manual. You will need to consult the General Instruction Sheet or contact the manufacturer for the exact torque specifications for each bolt size.
Six holes must be drilled: two 1/2" holes and one 3/8" hole on each side of the frame and bumper. Additionally, if the existing center hole in the bumper does not accommodate the center bolt, it must be drilled out to 1/2".
After the baseplate is installed, the fog lights must be reconnected and the headlight wiring must be reconnected. The manual includes 4-way connectors (part 101-5822) in the hardware kit for these connections. Specific wiring diagrams or color codes are not provided in this manual.
Permanent baseplate safety cables are strongly recommended when towing a vehicle with a tow bar. The cables must be connected from the baseplate to the frame rail or cross member of the vehicle's frame. Each cable must have an adequate weight rating for the towing system. The weight rating of the two cables together will not qualify as a single cable. These cables should remain installed as long as the baseplate is installed on the vehicle.
No. Permanent baseplate safety cables must not be mounted against wires, hoses, or brake lines. 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.
No. Permanent baseplate safety cables are to be used in conjunction with, and NOT a replacement for, legally required safety cables attaching the towed vehicle to the towing vehicle.
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 to the recommended specifications.
Loctite Red should be applied to all bolts and they should be tightened to the recommended specifications. The owner must inspect all towing equipment for cracked welds, missing or worn parts, and loose bolts before each towing trip. The baseplate should be registered online at www.blueox.com to receive alerts about product offerings, updates, upgrades, maintenance and safety bulletins, and recalls.
Yes. It is crucial to register your BX3218 baseplate online at www.blueox.com so that you may be alerted of product offerings, updates, upgrades, maintenance and safety bulletins, and recalls.
The BX3218 baseplate is designed for Pontiac Grand Prix and Oldsmobile Intrigue models only.
Yes. Six holes must be drilled: two 1/2" holes and one 3/8" hole on each side of the frame and bumper. The center bumper hole may also need to be drilled out to 1/2" if the bolt does not fit.
Yes. The plastic air shroud surrounding the radiator must be trimmed on both sides, and the inner grill molding needs to be trimmed to allow the baseplate and side plates to be installed.
Required tools include: 10mm, 9/16", 3/4", and 7mm wrenches; Phillips screwdriver; 3/8" and 1/2" drill bits; utility knife; center punch; and Loctite Blue or Red.
The front bumper molding, headlights, and fog lights must be removed. The plastic piece attached to the front of the metal bumper must also be removed.
Yes, permanent baseplate safety cables are strongly recommended when towing. Each cable must have an adequate weight rating for the towing system, and they must not be mounted against wires, hoses, or brake lines.
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.
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