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Blue Ox
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1997 - 2002 Chevrolet Blazer
Confirmed to Fit
1997 - 1998 GMC Jimmy
Confirmed to Fit
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1. Custom Design: Each Blue Ox BX1638 Tow Bar Bracket is uniquely designed for a perfect fit for specific towed vehicles.
Material: Steel
Color: Black
Finish: Powder Coat
Mounting Type: Bolt On
Mounting Hardware Included Yes/No: Yes
Enhance your towing experience with the Blue Ox BX1638 Tow Bar Bracket. Custom designed for each specific towed vehicle, this product ensures a perfect fit and easy installation. Made from durable steel with a sleek black powder coat finish, it provides long-lasting reliability while enhancing your vehicle's aesthetics. The bracket doesn't just promise strength - it also comes with all necessary hardware, making your DIY installation process a breeze. No need for extra purchases, everything you need is right in the box. The bolt-on mounting type further ensures secure and sturdy attachment. With the Blue Ox BX1638 Tow Bar Bracket, you're investing in a product that provides safety, convenience, and style.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 - 2002 | Chevrolet Blazer | Comes with Standard Attachment Tabs Install Rating 2 Minor Drilling Required Baseplate Has Non 24 in. Spaced Attachment Tabs Requires Motorhome Mounted Towbar/Adapter To Utilize Car Mounted Tow Bar Tow Bar Adapters Not To Be Used On Vehicles Over 5000 lbs. |
| 1997 - 1998 | GMC Jimmy | Comes with Standard Attachment Tabs Install Rating 2 Minor Drilling Required Baseplate Has Non 24 in. Spaced Attachment Tabs Requires Motorhome Mounted Towbar/Adapter To Utilize Car Mounted Tow Bar Tow Bar Adapters Not To Be Used On Vehicles Over 5000 lbs. |
Yes, the BX1638 is designed for 1997-2002 Chevrolet S-10 Blazer 2WD models. It is not compatible with 4WD versions or other model years.
Yes, the BX1638 is designed for 1997-1998 GMC S-15 Jimmy 2WD models. It is not compatible with 4WD versions or other model years.
Yes. If using a car-mounted tow bar, you must install either a BX88133 or BX88135 adapter, depending on the tow bar type. The manual does not specify which adapter is required for which tow bar, so contact the manufacturer or your tow bar supplier to confirm which adapter you need.
You will need: Loctite Blue, a 1/2" drill bit, a 3/4" wrench, and a utility knife. The drill bit and knife are used to trim the plastic bumper facia and drill frame holes. The wrench is used to tighten the bolts, and Loctite Blue must be applied to each bolt.
The kit includes: one weldment baseplate (61-5491), six 1/2" bolts with wire (61-5511), six 1/2-13 hex nuts grade 5 (202-0005), six 1/2" lock washers (203-0012), two 36" baseplate safety cables class III (226-0046), and two 3/8" quicklinks zinc-plated (229-0359).
Yes. The installation requires drilling holes in the frame. You will drill two holes for the bottom of the baseplate and two for the sides, using a 1/2" drill bit. Additionally, holes must be drilled in the frame forward of the sway bar/torsion brackets to accommodate the bolts with wire.
Yes. The plastic bumper facia must be trimmed to allow the baseplate attachment tabs to extend through. You will mark the area to be trimmed while holding the baseplate up to the bottom of the frame, then trim the plastic using a utility knife. A small opening exists on the facia which is used for tow hooks and should be used as a reference point.
1. Hold the baseplate up to the bottom of the frame, centered, and mark the area on the plastic facia that needs trimming for the attachment tabs. 2. Trim the plastic facia using a utility knife. 3. Insert bolts with wire through the frame holes and into the holes forward of the sway bar/torsion brackets on both sides. 4. Place the rear holes of the baseplate through the bolts and tighten with nuts, lock washers, and bolts, using Loctite Blue on each bolt. 5. Drill the remaining holes for the baseplate (two bottom, two sides) and secure with the same hardware.
The baseplate uses 1/2-13 hex bolts with lock washers and grade 5 nuts. Each bolt must be secured with Loctite Blue before tightening.
Permanent baseplate safety cables are strongly recommended when towing a vehicle with the BX1638 baseplate. The cables prevent the towed vehicle from breaking loose if the connection between the frame and baseplate fails or becomes disconnected. Two 36" class III safety cables with 3/8" quicklinks are included. The 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. These cables are in addition to, not 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 and that Loctite is applied. Remove the attachment tabs when the baseplate is not in use.
During installation, watch for oil cooler lines, air conditioner lines, electrical wires, and hoses in the area where you are drilling and mounting the baseplate. Do not mount the permanent baseplate safety cables against wires, hoses, or brake lines. If the baseplate is improperly installed against a wire or hose, it could cause fluid leaks or electrical shorts some time after installation. Also check for missing parts or attaching points on the frame.
Yes. You should register your BX1638 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.
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. Ensure all bolts are tightened to the recommended specifications and that Loctite Red is used on all bolts. The permanent baseplate safety cables should remain installed as long as the baseplate is installed on the vehicle. Remove the attachment tabs when not in use.
The BX1638 fits 1997-2002 Chevrolet S-10 Blazer 2WD and 1997-1998 GMC S-15 Jimmy 2WD only. It is not compatible with 4WD models.
You need Loctite Blue, a 1/2" drill bit, a 3/4" wrench, and a utility knife.
Yes. You must drill holes in the frame (1/2" drill bit) and trim the plastic bumper facia with a utility knife to allow the attachment tabs to extend through.
Yes. Two 36" class III permanent baseplate safety cables with 3/8" quicklinks are included and strongly recommended. They must be connected from the baseplate to the frame rail or cross member and are in addition to legally required towing safety cables.
Yes. You must install either a BX88133 or BX88135 adapter depending on your tow bar type. Contact the manufacturer to determine which adapter you need.
Before each towing trip, inspect the baseplate for cracked welds, missing or worn parts, and loose bolts. Ensure all bolts are tightened to the recommended specifications.
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