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Blue Ox
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Select your vehicle to confirm this part fits.
1999 - 2004 Chevrolet Tracker
Confirmed to Fit
2000 - 2004 Suzuki Vitara
Confirmed to Fit
Always the correct part
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Always the correct part
We know our products
Quality Products
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Custom Designed For Your Vehicle
Material: Steel
Color: Black
Finish: Powder Coat
Mounting Type: Bolt On
Mounting Hardware Included Yes/No: Yes
Blue Ox base plates are custom designed for each specific towed vehicle. When you purchase a Blue Ox base plate, it includes all the necessary hardware and instructions for a do-it-yourself 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
2 compatible vehicles
| Year | Make & Model | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 - 2004 | Chevrolet Tracker | Also ZR2 2WD/4WD Comes with Removable Attachment Tabs Install Rating 3 Bumper Fascia Must Be Removed/Replaced During Install Minor Drilling Required 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 |
| 2000 - 2004 | Suzuki Vitara | Comes with Removable Attachment Tabs Install Rating 3 Bumper Fascia Must Be Removed/Replaced During Install Minor Drilling Required 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 |
Yes, the BX1636 baseplate is designed for 1999-04 Chevrolet Tracker and 2000-05 Suzuki Vitara models.
No. Due to the design of the removable tabs on the BX1636, the RangeFinder II and Ambassador tow bars cannot be used with this baseplate.
Most adapters cannot be used with the BX1636 baseplate. Only the BX8833 and BX88151 adapters are compatible. The BX1636 includes two 4-way connector adapters (part 101-5822) in the hardware kit.
Required tools are: 10MM wrench, 12MM wrench, 1/2" drill bit, 3/8" drill bit, 3/4" wrench, drill, utility knife, and Loctite RED.
The kit includes: 6 x 3/8 nut plates (61-5208), 6 x 3/8-16 x 1 1/4" hex bolts Grade 5 (201-0368), 6 x 3/8" lock washers (203-0010), 1 x baseplate (61-5458), 2 x #12-14 x 1" self-drilling screws (201-0979), 2 x 4-way connector adapters (101-5822), 2 x #10-32 hex nuts (202-0047), 2 x #10 lock washers (203-0054), 2 x #10-32 x 1/2" slot round head screws (201-0192), 2 x long attachment tabs (62-3470), 2 x 36" baseplate safety cables (226-0046), 2 x 3/8" quicklinks (229-0359), and 2 x black cap plugs (290-0437).
Blue Ox recommends that baseplates be installed by Blue Ox Dealers who are familiar with the products and have the equipment and knowledge to do fit work. Blue Ox Dealers can be found at www.blueox.com or by contacting Customer Care at (402) 385-3051.
Yes, drilling is required. You must drill two 3/8" diameter holes on the frame (one on the driver's side and one on the passenger's side where the plastic wire loom clip is located), and four additional 3/8" holes for the side plate mounting after the baseplate is positioned and marked.
Minor adjustments may be necessary to compensate for manufacturer tolerances. These may include filing a hole slightly, bending electrical rods, and/or bending end plates. The dimensional variations between otherwise identical vehicles can be considerable.
You must remove: the grille (four pins on top, not on all models), headlights (three bolts per side), bumper molding (seven Phillips head pushpins on top, plus Phillips head screw in front of tire, 10MM bolt forward of front tire, and bolts on bottom of bumper fascia on both sides), and the metal bumper bracket assembly on the passenger's side (including bolts and electrical connections).
After drilling the two 3/8" frame holes, hold the baseplate so the front bolt holes align with the drilled holes. Insert 3/8" bolts through the baseplate into the nut plates and hand tighten. Keep the baseplate level and mark the four side plate holes. Remove the baseplate, drill the four marked holes with a 3/8" drill bit, then reinstall the baseplate and tighten all six bolts to the torque specification.
All six wire nut plates are inserted through the front holes on the metal bumper. The bolts pass through the baseplate and into these nut plates.
The manual references torque specifications in the Baseplate General Towing Instructions, which are not included in this document. For the correct torque value, consult the separate General Towing Instructions or contact Blue Ox Customer Care at (402) 385-3051.
The attachment tab height is 16-3/4" and the attachment tab width is 25-1/2".
The attachment tabs will extend through the grille opening approximately four inches.
The BX8869 Bulb and Socket Wiring Kit is recommended for this vehicle.
Permanent baseplate safety cables are strongly recommended when towing a vehicle with a tow bar. The BX1636 kit includes two 36" baseplate safety cables (part 226-0046). These cables must be connected from the baseplate to the frame rail or cross member of the vehicle's frame and must remain installed as long as the baseplate is installed. They 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.
The permanent baseplate safety cables must be connected from the baseplate to the frame rail or cross member of the vehicle's frame. Do not mount the cables against wires, hoses or brake lines. Blue Ox provides recommended cable arrangements in their safety cable installation section.
Before each towing trip, inspect all towing equipment for cracked welds, missing or worn parts, and loose bolts. Use Loctite RED on all bolts and tighten to the recommended specifications.
Remove the attachment tabs when not in use.
If a bolt is lost or needs replacement, use a replacement bolt of the same grade. In most cases it will be Grade 5. Use only genuine factory replacement parts—do not substitute homemade or non-typical parts. Replacement parts may be ordered through your nearest Blue Ox Dealer or Distributor.
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.
Contact Blue Ox Customer Care at 1-800-228-9289 (toll free) or (402) 385-3051. You can also visit www.blueox.com. Blue Ox also offers factory service for a nominal fee to ensure your towing system is in proper working condition.
The BX1636 fits 1999-04 Chevrolet Tracker and 2000-05 Suzuki Vitara.
No. The RangeFinder II and Ambassador tow bars cannot be used due to the removable tab design. Most adapters are also incompatible; only BX8833 and BX88151 adapters work.
You need: 10MM and 12MM wrenches, 3/4" wrench, 1/2" and 3/8" drill bits, a drill, utility knife, and Loctite RED.
You must remove the grille, headlights, bumper fascia, and metal bumper bracket assembly. All components are reinstalled after baseplate installation.
Yes. Two 36" permanent baseplate safety cables are included and strongly recommended. They must be connected to the frame rail or cross member and kept installed as long as the baseplate is on the vehicle.
The BX8869 Bulb and Socket Wiring Kit is recommended for 1999-04 Chevrolet Tracker and 2000-05 Suzuki Vitara.
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