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Blue Ox
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1998 - 2005 Volkswagen Beetle
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{'feature_1': 'Custom Fit - The Blue Ox BX3815 Tow Bar Bracket is specifically designed for each towed vehicle, ensuring a perfect fit and optimal performance.
Material: Steel
Color: Black
Finish: Powder Coat
Mounting Type: Bolt On
Mounting Hardware Included Yes/No: Yes
The Blue Ox BX3815 Tow Bar Bracket is a robust and reliable solution designed exclusively for your towed vehicle. Crafted from high-quality steel, this base plate is presented in a sleek black, finished with a durable powder coat for increased longevity. The bolt-on mounting type offers secure and stable installation, making it the ideal choice for towing needs. With every purchase of this Blue Ox base plate, you will receive all the necessary hardware and easy-to-follow instructions for a hassle-free, DIY installation.
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 - 2005 | Volkswagen Beetle | Comes with Removable Attachment Tabs Install Rating 5 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 Use only w/Motorhome Mount Tow Bars Or PN BX8833/BX88151 Adapters Only Use Acclaim w/23”: 30” Spaced Removable Tab Baseplates Only Use Adventurer with 18”: 41” Spaced Removable Tab Baseplates Removable Tabs w/Only 1 Hole Will Not Attach to Car Mount Tow Bars or Adapters |
The BlueOx Tow Bar Base Plate, Front Mount, RV Flat Towing for Select,VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE (R) (Part #FDRWBX3815) fits the following vehicles: 1998-2005 Volkswagen Beetle. Always verify your specific year, make, and model before ordering.
The BlueOx Tow Bar Base Plate, Front Mount, RV Flat Towing for Select,VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE (R) (Part #FDRWBX3815) fits 1998-2005 Volkswagen Beetle models. The 2005 model year is the last year covered by this part number. For newer models, check for an updated version.
Yes, the BlueOx Tow Bar Base Plate, Front Mount, RV Flat Towing for Select,VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE (R) (Part #FDRWBX3815) is designed to fit the 1998-2005 Volkswagen Beetle.
The BlueOx Tow Bar Base Plate, Front Mount, RV Flat Towing for Select,VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE (R) (Part #FDRWBX3815) Refer to the included instructions for installation details. Basic hand tools are typically all you need.
Yes, the BX3815 is designed for 1998–2005 Volkswagen Beetle models with gas, diesel, or turbo engines. Confirm your model year and engine type match this range before purchasing.
Yes. The kit includes a sensor bracket (Item 16, part number 101-6044) for vehicles with a sensor mounted to the back side of the bumper fascia on the driver's side. You will need to remove the sensor, cut off the plastic so the bumper fascia can be replaced, mount the bracket as shown in the diagram, and plug the sensor into the bracket.
Required tools are: 13mm socket, Torx T25 socket, Torx T27 socket, Torx T30 socket, long extension, Loctite, utility knife, and Phillips screwdriver. You will also need a 3/8" drill bit to drill the hole for the support brace.
The kit includes: baseplate weldment (61-5229), two attachment tabs (62-3468), driver and passenger side braces (101-5801, 101-5874), driver side support brace (102-5517), 3/8" whiz nuts (202-0071, qty 5), 3/8-16 x 1 1/4" hex bolts grade 5 (201-0368, qty 9), 3/8" lock washers (203-0010, qty 9), 3/8" flat washers (203-0003, qty 4), 3/8" nut plates with wire (61-5208, qty 4), 1/4" lock washers (203-0008, qty 2), 1/4" flat washers (203-0001, qty 2), 6mm-1 x 30mm hex bolts grade 8.8 (201-0655, qty 2), 8mm-1.25 x 35mm hex bolts grade 8.8 (201-0418, qty 4), 8mm flat washers (203-0107, qty 2), sensor bracket (101-6044), two 36" baseplate safety cables (226-0046), two 3/8" quicklinks (229-0359), and two receiver cap plugs (290-0437).
Yes. The front fascia must be removed. Open the hood and remove the torx bolts on top of the fascia, then remove the three plastic rivets underneath. The fascia will be propped up during baseplate installation and reinstalled afterward.
Yes. To remove the headlights, look at the back of each headlight assembly, undo the wire clip, and push up on the plastic lever to release the assembly. Then push out from the back side to remove. They will be reinstalled after baseplate installation.
Yes. The metal bumper must be removed. Remove the two outside bolts using an 18mm wrench. The bumper will be reinstalled after the baseplate is secured.
Yes. You must remove the plastic air intake surrounding the small cooling system on the passenger's side before fastening the baseplate. It will be trimmed and reinstalled after the baseplate is secured.
Yes. You must drill a 3/8" hole for the top hole on the support brace (Item 5). Use the brace as a template to locate the hole. This is a permanent modification to the vehicle frame.
Yes. The grill needs to be trimmed so the attachment tabs can be inserted. After reinstalling the bumper and fascia, the plastic air intake must be trimmed so it can fit around the baseplate weldment. Trim around the outside of the 2 1/2" attachment tab receiver.
Yes, possibly. The manual notes that dimensional variations between otherwise identical Beetles can be considerable. It may be necessary to file a hole slightly to allow a bolt to clear. Check bolt fit during installation and file as needed.
The manual references torque specifications in the 'General Instruction Sheet,' which is not provided in this installation manual. Contact Blue Ox or your installer for the specific torque values. However, all bolts must be secured with Loctite to prevent loosening during towing.
The attachment tabs are 24 inches center to center and have a height of 12 inches.
The attachment tab receiver is 2 1/2" in size.
Install bolts in this order: (1) Loosely fasten the outside 8mm bolt on the passenger side to the existing hole. (2) Place the support brace (Item 5) directly behind the baseplate brace on the driver's side. (3) Bolt the 8mm and 6mm bolts on the driver's side. (4) Install the 6mm bolt on the passenger's side. (5) Do not tighten any bolts completely until all bolts have been started. (6) Once all bolts are installed, tighten to the torque specifications in the General Instruction Sheet.
The 3/8" wire nuts (Item 10) can be inserted into the frame through the lower 1" hole that is approximately 10" back from the front of the frame. You will need to remove the plastic plug to access this hole. Use these nuts with the 3/8" hardware (Items 6, 7, 8, and 9) for the middle slotted holes with the braces (Items 3 and 4).
Push the connector all the way in through the bumper mount and rotate until the locking pin engages. To remove the connectors, pull on the ring to release the lock pin, rotate the connector, and pull the connector straight ahead.
Yes. Use Loctite on each bolt to ensure the bolts will not loosen while the vehicle is being towed. The manual specifically recommends Loctite Red on all bolts.
Permanent baseplate safety cables are strongly recommended. The kit includes two 36" baseplate safety cables (226-0046). These cables must be connected from the baseplate to the frame rail or cross member of the vehicle's frame. They prevent the towed vehicle from breaking loose if the connection between the frame and baseplate fails. Do not mount the cables against wires, hoses, or brake lines. Permanent safety cables are to be used in conjunction with, and NOT as a replacement for, legally required safety cables attaching the towed vehicle to the towing vehicle.
Watch for 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 against a wire or hose, it could cause fluid leaks or electrical shorts some time after installation. Do not mount permanent baseplate safety cables against wires, hoses, or brake lines.
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 has been applied.
Yes. Remove the attachment tabs when not in use.
Yes. It is crucial to register your product online at www.blueox.com so that you may be alerted of product offerings, updates, upgrades, maintenance and safety bulletins, and/or recalls.
Yes, the BX3815 is designed for 1998–2005 Volkswagen Beetle (gas, diesel, and turbo models).
13mm socket, Torx T25, T27, and T30 sockets, long extension, 3/8" drill bit, Loctite, utility knife, and Phillips screwdriver.
Yes. The front fascia, headlights, metal bumper, and plastic air intake must all be removed before baseplate installation and reinstalled afterward.
Yes. You must drill a 3/8" hole for the support brace. The grill and plastic air intake also require trimming.
Yes. Apply Loctite to all bolts to prevent loosening during towing. Permanent baseplate safety cables are strongly recommended and included in the kit.
Torque specifications are provided in the General Instruction Sheet (not included in this manual). Contact Blue Ox or your installer for specific values.
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