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Blue Ox
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1998 - 2004 Chevrolet S10
Confirmed to Fit
1998 - 2004 GMC Sonoma
Confirmed to Fit
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Custom Fit Design: Specifically designed for each towed vehicle, it ensures a precise fit and maximum compatibility.
Material: Steel
Color: Black
Finish: Powder Coat
Mounting Type: Bolt On
Mounting Hardware Included Yes/No: Yes
Transform your towing experience with the Blue Ox BX1625 Tow Bar Bracket. Custom designed for a precise fit, this bracket is meticulously crafted from high-grade steel with a sleek black powder coat finish, ensuring durability and resistance to corrosion. With its bolt-on mounting type, installation is made simple and hassle-free. The pack includes all necessary hardware and instructions for a smooth do-it-yourself installation. Enhance the safety and efficiency of your towing operations with the reliability and quality of the Blue Ox BX1625 Tow Bar Bracket.
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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2 compatible vehicles
| Year | Make & Model | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 - 2004 | Chevrolet S10 | 2WD Comes with Standard Attachment Tabs Install Rating 2 Requires Some Trimming of Bumper Fascia/Plastic/And/Or Grill Minor Drilling Required |
| 1998 - 2004 | GMC Sonoma | 2WD Comes with Standard Attachment Tabs Install Rating 2 Requires Some Trimming of Bumper Fascia/Plastic/And/Or Grill Minor Drilling Required |
Yes, the BX1625 is designed for 1998–2004 Chevrolet S10 Pickup 2WD models. However, you must verify that your vehicle is 2WD (two-wheel drive). The baseplate is not compatible with 4WD models.
Yes, the BX1625 fits 1998–2003 GMC S15 and GMC Sonoma 2WD models. Like the Chevrolet S10, your vehicle must be 2WD only.
No. The BX1625 must be used only with tow bars approved by Automatic Equipment Mfg. Company. Using this baseplate with any other tow bar will invalidate the limited warranty.
You will need a drill with a 17/32" bit, a 3/4" wrench, and Loctite Red. You will also need an assistant to help hold the baseplate in position during the initial bolting steps.
The baseplate kit includes: one baseplate weldment (61-5166), five 1/2" nut wires (61-4029), five 1/2-13 x 1 1/2" hex bolts Grade 5 (201-0051), one 1/2" flat washer (203-0005), five 1/2" lock washers (203-0012), two 36" Class III baseplate safety cables (226-0046), and four 3/8" quicklinks (229-0359).
Yes. An assistant is required to help hold the baseplate in position while you start the initial bolts. This is necessary during Step 4 when you insert nuts into the frame and begin bolting the baseplate.
Yes. Installation requires drilling 17/32" holes in the vehicle's frame. Specifically, you must drill out the hole on the driver's side to 17/32" (Step 6), and then drill two additional holes using the baseplate as a template (Step 7). These modifications are permanent.
1. Insert nuts into the frame on each side using the wire provided. 2. Hold the baseplate in position and start two 1/2 x 1 1/2 bolts with lock washers into the rear holes; apply Loctite but do not fully tighten. 3. Align the driver's-side vertical bracket with the existing hole in the frame and tighten the rear bolts completely. 4. Drill out the driver's-side hole to 17/32", insert another nut, and install a 1/2 x 1 1/2 bolt with lock washer and flat washer; apply Loctite and tighten. 5. Using the baseplate as a template, drill the remaining two holes and complete bolting the baseplate. 6. Install the tow bar and safety cables per their instructions.
The upward angle of the attachment tabs is intentional and normal. This is the correct orientation when the baseplate is properly positioned. The tabs should protrude from under the bumper plastic with this slight upward angle.
The manual notes that dimensional variations between otherwise identical vehicles can be considerable. If a bolt does not clear a hole, you may need to file the hole slightly to allow the bolt to fit. This is a normal part of the installation process.
The manual does not provide a specific torque value. However, it emphasizes that all bolts must be tightened completely and that Loctite Red must be applied to all bolts. The manual also recommends that the owner inspect and retighten bolts before each towing trip.
The baseplate uses 1/2-13 x 1 1/2" hex bolts Grade 5 (part number 201-0051). Each bolt is paired with a 1/2" lock washer (203-0012). The driver's-side bolt also includes a 1/2" flat washer (203-0005).
Yes. The installer must watch for and avoid mounting the baseplate against oil cooler lines, air conditioner lines, electrical wires, and hoses. If the baseplate is improperly installed against a wire or hose, it could cause fluid leaks or electrical shorts some time after installation. Permanent baseplate safety cables must also not be mounted against wires, hoses, or brake lines.
Do not substitute other devices if the tow bar pin and clip are lost. You must obtain replacement parts from the tow bar manufacturer or Blue Ox.
Permanent baseplate safety cables are strongly recommended when towing a vehicle with a tow bar. Their function is to prevent the towed vehicle from breaking loose if the connection between the frame and baseplate fails. However, they are supplementary to and not a replacement for legally required safety cables that attach the towed vehicle to the towing vehicle.
Permanent baseplate safety cables must be connected from the baseplate to the frame rail or cross member of the vehicle's frame. The manual shows two installation options depending on whether the baseplate has convenience link tabs. The cables must not be mounted against wires, hoses, or brake lines.
Before each towing trip, you must inspect all towing equipment for cracked welds, missing or worn parts, and loose bolts. Ensure all bolts are tightened to the recommended specifications and that Loctite Red has been applied. This is the owner's responsibility.
Loctite Red is highly recommended because the vibrations and stresses of towing can cause bolts to loosen even with lock washers in the assembly. Applying Loctite to all bolts helps prevent this loosening and maintains the integrity of the connection.
Yes. The manual recommends removing the attachment tabs when not in use, if applicable to your baseplate model.
Yes. Blue Ox strongly recommends registering your baseplate online at www.blueox.com. Registration is crucial so that you may be alerted of product offerings, updates, upgrades, maintenance and safety bulletins, and recalls.
The BX1625 fits 1998–2004 Chevrolet S10 Pickup 2WD and 1998–2003 GMC S15 and Sonoma 2WD only. Your vehicle must be 2WD.
Yes. You must drill 17/32" holes in the vehicle's frame, including drilling out the driver's-side hole and two additional holes using the baseplate as a template.
You need a drill with a 17/32" bit, a 3/4" wrench, Loctite Red, and an assistant to hold the baseplate during installation.
The manual does not require professional installation, but you do need an assistant to help hold the baseplate in position during bolting. Ensure you have the required tools and follow all steps carefully.
Yes. Two 36" Class III baseplate safety cables and four 3/8" quicklinks are included. They are strongly recommended for towing safety.
Before each towing trip, inspect all towing equipment for cracked welds, missing or worn parts, and loose bolts. Ensure all bolts are tightened and Loctite Red is applied.
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