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Blue Ox
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1995 - 2001 Dodge Ram 1500
Confirmed to Fit
1995 - 2002 Dodge Ram 2500
Confirmed to Fit
1995 - 2002 Dodge Ram 3500
Confirmed to Fit
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{'feature': 'Custom Design', 'description': 'Each Blue Ox BX1949 Tow Bar Bracket is custom designed for a specific towed vehicle, ensuring an optimal fit and function.
Material: Steel
Color: Black
Finish: Powder Coat
Mounting Type: Bolt On
Mounting Hardware Included Yes/No: Yes
Unleash the power of convenience and durability with the Blue Ox BX1949 Tow Bar Bracket. Custom-designed for each specific towed vehicle, this is not a one-size-fits-all product but a precise match for your towing needs. Built with premium-quality steel and finished with a robust black powder coat, this tow bar bracket is designed to resist corrosion and wear, ensuring a long service life. It's a bolt-on type, which makes the installation process straightforward, and it comes with all the necessary mounting hardware included. The Blue Ox BX1949 Tow Bar Bracket is the reliable choice for enhancing your towing capabilities.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 - 2001 | Dodge Ram 1500 | 2WD/4WD Comes with Standard Attachment Tabs Install Rating 3 Bumper Fascia Must Be Removed/Replaced During Install Minor Drilling Required Be Sure to Confirm the Weight of Your Individual Vehicle Before Towing. Always Insure Both Your Tow Bar and Hitch are Adequately Rated for the Vehicle’s Overall Weight Height Deviation up to 4” higher on the Towing Vehicle Allowed When Used for Utility Applications Only with an Allure Tow Bar |
| 1995 - 2002 | Dodge Ram 2500 | No Sport Comes with Removable Attachment Tabs Install Rating 2 Bumper Fascia Must Be Removed/Replaced During Install Minor Drilling Required Be Sure to Confirm the Weight of Your Individual Vehicle Before Towing. Always Insure Both Your Tow Bar and Hitch are Adequately Rated for the Vehicle’s Overall Weight Height Deviation up to 4” higher on the Towing Vehicle Allowed When Used for Utility Applications Only with an Allure Tow Bar |
| 1995 - 2002 | Dodge Ram 3500 | Comes with Removable Attachment Tabs Install Rating 2 Bumper Fascia Must Be Removed/Replaced During Install Minor Drilling Required Be Sure to Confirm the Weight of Your Individual Vehicle Before Towing. Always Insure Both Your Tow Bar and Hitch are Adequately Rated for the Vehicle’s Overall Weight Height Deviation up to 4” higher on the Towing Vehicle Allowed When Used for Utility Applications Only with an Allure Tow Bar |
The BX1949 baseplate is designed for 1995-01 Dodge Ram 1500 and 1995-02 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 models. Confirm your model year and size (1500, 2500, or 3500) against these specifications. The manual also notes that the BX8869 is available for this vehicle as an alternative option.
Yes. The metal bumper must be removed for baseplate installation. The installation process begins by marking the center of the bumper brackets, then using an 18MM socket to remove six metric bolts from the bumper brackets while holding the metal bumper, and setting the bumper aside.
Yes. Drilling is required. You will drill holes using a 13/32" drill bit in multiple locations: on both sides of the baseplate to align with bumper brackets, on both sides where the lower support connects to the cross member, and on both sides where the brace fastens. The manual notes that dimensional variations between vehicles may require filing a hole slightly to allow a bolt to clear.
The required tools are: 18MM socket, 9/16" socket, 3/4" socket, 13/32" drill bit, pry bar, vise grips, and Loctite Blue. A clamp is also needed to hold the lower support to the cross member during drilling.
The baseplate includes: 1 base plate weldment (61-5721), 4 spacer tubes, 2 braces, 2 backing plates, 6 pieces of 3/8-16 x 1 hex bolts Grade 5, 2 pieces of 3/8 flat washers, 10 pieces of 3/8 lock washers, 10 pieces of 3/8-16 hex nuts, 2 pieces of 1/2-13 x 1 1/2 hex bolts Grade 5, 2 pieces of 1/2 flat washers, 2 pieces of 1/2 lock washers, 2 pieces of 1/2-13 hex nuts, 4 pieces of 3/8-16 x 2 hex bolts Grade 5, 2 baseplate safety cables (36" CL IV), and 4 quicklinks (1/2", zinc plated).
Yes. The manual requires Loctite Blue on all bolts before tightening during installation. Additionally, the general information section states that owners should use Loctite Red on all bolts and tighten to the recommended specifications before each towing trip.
The installation sequence is: (1) Mark the center of bumper brackets; (2) Remove six metric bolts from bumper brackets using 18MM socket and set bumper aside; (3) Remove bumper bracket and reinstall it to the vehicle, then center baseplate on brackets, mark and drill 13/32" holes on both sides; (4) Hold baseplate to align with drilled holes and install items 2, 7, 8, and 13 loosely with Loctite Blue; (5) Using a clamp, hold lower support to cross member, drill 13/32" holes on both sides, insert item 5 through baseplate and cross member into item 4, then tighten items 7 and 8; (6) Install item 3 using items 9, 10, 11, and 12 to bumper bracket existing holes and tighten, then drill 13/32" holes and fasten with items 5, 6, 7, and 8 on both sides with Loctite Blue; (7) Install metal bumper upper carriage bolts and nuts using 18MM socket without tightening; (8) Reinstall lower carriage bolts and nuts using 18MM socket and pry bar, tighten all bolts with Loctite Blue.
The attachment tabs are 24" center to center and 23 1/2" in height.
Permanent baseplate safety cables are strongly recommended when towing a vehicle with a tow bar. They prevent the towed vehicle from breaking loose if the connection between the frame and baseplate fails. The BX1949 includes 2 baseplate safety cables (36" CL IV) and 4 quicklinks (1/2"). These cables must be connected from the baseplate to the frame rail or cross member and must not be mounted 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.
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 using Loctite Red.
During installation, 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.
Yes. You should register 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/or recalls.
Yes. The manual recommends removing the attachment tabs when not in use.
You must use Grade 5 bolts only. The manual states: 'If a bolt is lost or in need of replacement, for your safety and the preservation of your Base Plate, be sure to use a replacement bolt of the same grade (Usually Grade 5, refer to parts list).' Do not substitute homemade or nontypical parts. Repair parts may be ordered through your nearest Blue Ox dealer or distributor.
The manual notes that dimensional variations between otherwise identical vehicles can be considerable. While the location and size of the holes in the baseplate were designed to allow for easy installation, it may be necessary to file a hole slightly to allow a bolt to clear.
The tow bar and safety cables are installed separately according to their own instructions. The baseplate installation instructions state: 'Install the tow bar and safety cables according to the instructions included in their packages.' These are not part of the baseplate installation process.
Do not substitute other devices if the tow bar pin and clip are lost. Obtain replacement parts from your Blue Ox dealer or distributor.
The BX1949 fits 1995-01 Dodge Ram 1500 and 1995-02 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500.
Yes, the metal bumper must be removed for baseplate installation.
A 13/32" drill bit is required. Holes are drilled on both sides of the baseplate, lower support, and brace.
You will need an 18MM socket (for bumper bolts), 9/16" socket, and 3/4" socket.
Yes. Use Loctite Blue on all bolts before tightening during installation.
Yes. The BX1949 includes 2 baseplate safety cables (36" CL IV) and 4 quicklinks (1/2"). They are strongly recommended and must be connected from the baseplate to the frame rail or cross member.
Before each towing trip, inspect all towing equipment for cracked welds, missing or worn parts, and loose bolts. Tighten all bolts to recommended specifications using Loctite Red.
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