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Blue Ox
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Select your vehicle to confirm this part fits.
1996 - 1998 Toyota 4Runner
Confirmed to Fit
1995 - 2004 Toyota Tacoma
Confirmed to Fit
2004 Toyota Tundra
Confirmed to Fit
2002 - 2004 Toyota Tundra
Confirmed to Fit
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Custom Design: Tailored to fit a diverse range of towed vehicles, ensuring a secure and perfect fit every time.
Material: Steel
Color: Black
Finish: Powder Coat
Mounting Type: Bolt On
Mounting Hardware Included Yes/No: Yes
Introducing Blue Ox BX3728 Tow Bar Bracket - your reliable partner for heavy-duty towing needs. Crafted with precision, this base plate is custom designed for a diversified range of vehicles. Made from durable black steel with a powder coat finish, this tow bar bracket guarantees resilience against wear and tear, ensuring long-lasting performance. It's a bolt-on type, promising an easy installation process. Moreover, the package comes with all the necessary hardware and comprehensive instructions for a seamless DIY installation. So, you won't have to worry about finding additional parts or professional assistance.
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
6 compatible vehicles
| Year | Make & Model | Style | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 - 1998 | Toyota 4Runner | — | Comes with Standard Attachment Tabs Install Rating 1 Specific Dingy Towing Restrictions Apply Confirm the Towability and the Pre: towing Procedures of you Vehicle with the Owner's Manual or Contact the Vehicle's Manufacturer for Specific Towing Procedures |
| 2001 - 2004 | Toyota Tacoma | — | Comes with Standard Attachment Tabs Install Rating 1 |
| 1995 - 2004 | Toyota Tacoma | — | Comes with Standard Attachment Tabs Install Rating 1 Vehicle May Accumulate Miles When Flat Towing. Consult Your Vehicle’s Owner’s Manual. |
| 2004 | Toyota Tundra | Crew Cab Pickup | Comes with Standard Attachment Tabs Install Rating 1 Specific Dingy Towing Restrictions Apply Confirm the Towability and the Pre: towing Procedures of you Vehicle with the Owner's Manual or Contact the Vehicle's Manufacturer for Specific Towing Procedures |
| 2001 | Toyota Tundra | Extended Cab Pickup | — |
| 2002 - 2004 | Toyota Tundra | Extended Cab Pickup | Comes with Standard Attachment Tabs Install Rating 1 Specific Dingy Towing Restrictions Apply Confirm the Towability and the Pre: towing Procedures of you Vehicle with the Owner's Manual or Contact the Vehicle's Manufacturer for Specific Towing Procedures |
Yes, the BlueOx Tow Bar Base Plate, Front Mount, RV Flat Towing for Select, TOYOTA TACOMA 4WD (Part #FDRWBX3728) is designed to fit the 1996-1998 Toyota 4Runner.
The BlueOx Tow Bar Base Plate, Front Mount, RV Flat Towing for Select, TOYOTA TACOMA 4WD (Part #FDRWBX3728) fits 1996-1998 Toyota 4Runner models. The 2004 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, TOYOTA TACOMA 4WD (Part #FDRWBX3728) fits the following vehicles: 1996-1998 Toyota 4Runner; 1995-2004 Toyota Tacoma; 2001-2004 Toyota Tundra. Always verify your specific year, make, and model before ordering.
The BlueOx Tow Bar Base Plate, Front Mount, RV Flat Towing for Select, TOYOTA TACOMA 4WD (Part #FDRWBX3728) Refer to the included instructions for installation details. Basic hand tools are typically all you need.
The BX3728 is designed for 1995–04 Toyota Tacoma 4WD Pick-Up, 2001–04 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner 2WD, and 2001–03 Toyota Tacoma Crew Cab 2/4WD models. A 2002 Tacoma will fit if it matches one of these configurations. Confirm your model year, cab style (regular or crew cab), and drivetrain (2WD or 4WD) against the list to verify compatibility.
Yes, the BX3728 is compatible with 1996–98 Toyota 4Runner 4WD models. Confirm your 4Runner is 4WD and within the 1996–98 model year range.
No. Installation of the BX3728 requires removing the vehicle's factory tow hook, which is attached to the passenger's side frame rail. The baseplate end pieces bolt to the frame using the existing holes where the tow hook was mounted. The tow hook will not be reattached.
You will need a 17mm socket, a 19mm socket, and Loctite Red. The 17mm socket is used to remove the factory tie-down brackets and tow hook. The 19mm socket is used to tighten the two new 12mm x 40mm bolts on the passenger's side. Loctite Red must be applied to the threads of all four bolts before installation.
The baseplate package includes two 12mm-1.25 x 40mm Hex Bolts (Grade 8.8), two 12mm Lock Washers, and two 12mm Flat Washers. The baseplate also reuses two existing factory bolts from the frame rails. Additionally, two Baseplate Safety Cables (36" Class III) and two 3/8" Quicklinks are included but not shown in the parts diagram.
Yes. The manual specifies that you must hold the baseplate underneath the frame rails while starting the bolts. An assistant is required to help position and support the baseplate during this step.
You must remove the tie-down brackets and the tow hook. The tie-down brackets are black, formed metal pieces that bolt underneath the frame rails on each side, directly behind the bumper, with two bolts each. The tow hook is attached to the passenger's side frame rail with two bolts. All four bolts are removed using a 17mm socket. These parts will not be reattached to the vehicle.
The baseplate uses four bolts total: two existing factory bolts on the driver's side and two new 12mm x 40mm bolts on the passenger's side. With an assistant holding the baseplate underneath the frame rails, start the existing driver's side bolts through the baseplate holes. Then place a lock washer and flat washer on each new 12mm x 40mm bolt and start them through the slots on the passenger's side. Apply Loctite Red to the threads of all four bolts before tightening. Use a 19mm socket to tighten the passenger's side bolts.
It may be necessary. The manual states that dimensional variations between otherwise identical vehicles can be considerable. While the baseplate holes were designed for easy installation, you may need to file a hole slightly to allow a bolt to clear. Check fit before final tightening and file only as needed.
No. The manual explicitly states: 'Do not mount the permanent baseplate safety cables against wires, hoses or brake lines.' The baseplate installer must watch for oil cooler and air conditioner lines, electrical wires and hoses, and ensure the baseplate does not contact them. Improper installation against a wire or hose could cause fluid leaks or electrical shorts after installation.
No. The manual states: '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.' The baseplate safety cables are supplementary and prevent the towed vehicle from breaking loose if the baseplate connection fails, but they do not replace the legally required safety cables between the towing and towed vehicles.
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 specifications and that Loctite Red has been used on all bolts. It is the owner's responsibility to perform these inspections.
Yes. Loctite Red must be applied to the threads of all four bolts during installation. The manual also states that owners should ensure Loctite Red is used on all bolts and that they are tightened to the recommended specifications before each towing trip.
Do not substitute homemade or non-typical parts. If a bolt is lost or needs replacement, use a replacement bolt of the same grade (usually Grade 5). The two new bolts included with the baseplate are Grade 8.8. Repair parts may be ordered through your nearest Blue Ox dealer or distributor. For your safety and to preserve the baseplate, always use genuine factory replacement parts.
Yes. Blue Ox strongly recommends registering your baseplate online at www.blueox.com. Registration is crucial so you may be alerted of product offerings, updates, upgrades, maintenance and safety bulletins, and/or recalls.
The BX3728 fits 1995–04 Toyota Tacoma 4WD Pick-Up, 2001–04 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner 2WD, 2001–03 Toyota Tacoma Crew Cab 2/4WD, and 1996–98 Toyota 4Runner 4WD.
You need a 17mm socket, 19mm socket, and Loctite Red. An assistant is also required to hold the baseplate during installation.
Yes. You must remove the factory tie-down brackets and tow hook using a 17mm socket. These parts will not be reattached.
The baseplate uses two existing factory bolts on the driver's side and two new 12mm x 40mm Grade 8.8 bolts on the passenger's side. All bolts require Loctite Red on the threads.
The manual strongly recommends permanent baseplate safety cables when towing. The included cables are supplementary to legally required safety cables and prevent the towed vehicle from breaking loose if the baseplate connection fails.
Inspect the baseplate for cracked welds, missing or worn parts, and loose bolts. Ensure all bolts are tightened to recommended specifications and Loctite Red has been used.
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