Our in-house experts typically reply within one business day.
Blue Ox
Verify Fitment
Select your vehicle to confirm this part fits.
2007 Dodge Ram 1500
Confirmed to Fit
2008 Dodge Ram 1500
Confirmed to Fit
Always the correct part
We know our products
Quality Products
Free Shipping!
Always the correct part
We know our products
Quality Products
Free Shipping!
1. Customized Fit: Each Blue Ox BX1979 Tow Bar Bracket is custom-designed for each specific towed vehicle, guaranteeing a perfect fit and optimal performance.
Material: Steel
Color: Black
Finish: Powder Coat
Mounting Type: Bolt On
Mounting Hardware Included Yes/No: Yes
Introducing the Blue Ox BX1979 Tow Bar Bracket, a must-have accessory for towing enthusiasts. This sturdy bracket, custom-designed for every specific towed vehicle, ensures a smooth and secure towing experience. Crafted from high-grade steel and finished with a resilient black powder coat, it's engineered to resist rust, corrosion, and the harshest weather conditions. The bolt-on mounting type makes installation a breeze. What's more, the package comes complete with all necessary hardware and a step-by-step guide, enabling an easy 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.
Experts available to answer your questions
Call 888-634-94943 Years
2 compatible vehicles
| Year | Make & Model | Style | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Dodge Ram 1500 | Extended Crew Cab Pickup | 2WD/4WD Comes with Removable Attachment Tabs Install Rating 2 Bumper Fascia Must Be Removed/Replaced During Install Requires Some Trimming of the Air Dam Tow Hooks Must be Removed and Remain off the Vehicle After Installation 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 |
| 2008 | Dodge Ram 1500 | Standard Cab Pickup | Comes with Removable Attachment Tabs Install Rating 2 Bumper Fascia Must Be Removed/Replaced During Install Requires Some Trimming of the Air Dam Tow Hooks Must be Removed and Remain off the Vehicle After Installation 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 |
Yes, the BX1979 baseplate is designed for both the 2007 Dodge Ram 1500 Mega Cab 4x4 and 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 SXT Reg Cab. However, note that dimensional variations between otherwise identical vehicles can be considerable, and minor adjustments such as filing holes, bending electrical rods, or bending end plates may be necessary to compensate for manufacturer tolerances.
The BX1979 is rated for Class III towing with a 5,000 lb. maximum rating. However, the manual notes that the weight of the 2007 Dodge Ram 1500 Mega Cab 4x4 and 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 SXT Reg Cab is near this Class III 5,000 lb. limitation, and some models depending on options may exceed this rating. You must confirm the weight of your individual vehicle before towing. If your vehicle exceeds 5,000 lbs., you must use the Aventa II or Aventa LX tow bar instead.
Blue Ox towing products are intended to be installed by Blue Ox Dealers who are familiar with the products and have the equipment and knowledge to do fit work. The installation requires specialized tools, drilling, fascia trimming, and modifications that may require tailoring to your specific vehicle. Blue Ox Dealers can be found at www.blueox.us or by contacting Blue Ox Customer Care at (888) 425-5382.
The following tools are required: T-27 Torx wrench, 3/8" socket, 18MM socket, 17/32" drill bit, 1 1/4" hole saw, and Loctite RED. The installation also requires removal and reinstallation of the fascia and metal bumper.
The kit includes: 1 baseplate weldment (61-6411), 6 nut wire weldments (61-4029), 6 Grade 5 1/2-13 x 1 1/2" hex bolts, 4 Grade 5 1/2-13 x 4" hex bolts, 10 1/2" lock washers, 6 1/2" flat washers, 4 1/2-13 hex nuts, 2 #12-14 x 1" self-drilling screws, 2 10-32 x 1/2" slot round head screws, 2 #10 lock washers, 2 #10-32 hex nuts, 2 4-way connector adapters, 2 attachment tab assemblies, 2 36" Class IV safety cables, 2 1/2" quicklinks, and 2 receiver cap plugs.
Two people are required to complete the installation. The manual specifically states that the step of holding bumper brackets in place, aligning the baseplate, and inserting bolts requires two people, and doing otherwise is dangerous and can cause injury.
Yes, drilling is required. You must drill two 17/32" holes on each side using the baseplate as a template (step 6), and one 1 1/4" hole on each side using a 1 1/4" hole saw in the center of the frame rail (step 7). Additionally, one 17/32" hole must be drilled on the back of the baseplate on each side (step 8). Trimming of the fascia is also required.
Yes. The installation requires drilling holes in the frame rail and bumper bracket area. The fascia must be trimmed. The bumper and fascia are removed during installation and reinstalled afterward. Minor adjustments may include filing holes, bending electrical rods, and bending end plates to compensate for manufacturer tolerances. These modifications are permanent.
For 1/2-13 Grade 5 bolts, use 78 foot-pounds. For 1/2-13 Grade 8 bolts, use 119 foot-pounds. The manual provides a torque chart on page 1 and notes that all bolts must be tightened according to the torque chart on the front page or page 3 of the Baseplate Towing General Instructions. Always use Loctite RED on all bolts before tightening.
The BX8869 Bulb and Socket Wiring Kit is recommended for the 2007 Dodge Ram 1500 Mega Cab 4x4 and 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 SXT Reg Cab when installing the BX1979 baseplate. It is not included in the baseplate kit and must be ordered separately.
Yes. The BX1979 kit includes two 36" Class IV permanent baseplate safety cables. These must be installed around the frame rail suspension support of the vehicle and quick-linked to the convenience link on the baseplate. The manual states that permanent baseplate safety cables are strongly recommended and must be connected from the baseplate to the frame rail or cross member of the vehicle's frame. These 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.
The safety cables must be installed around the frame rail suspension support of the vehicle and quick-linked to the convenience link on the baseplate. Do not mount the permanent baseplate safety cables against wires, hoses, or brake lines, as improper installation against these components could cause fluid leaks or electrical shorts.
The first step is to use a T-27 Torx socket to remove three torx head bolts from the wheel well just forward of the front tire on both sides. Set the push pins aside for later reinstallation.
The red cap on plug is located behind the bumper. During installation, you must slide the red cap up and then push it in to release the plug, then set the plug out of the way.
Yes. The fascia and metal bumper are removed and reinstalled during installation of the baseplate. You must remove three bolts from behind the bumper (two on the bottom, one on the top) on both sides using an 18MM socket, and remove two hex nuts and bolt plates from the bumper bracket on the frame rail end on both sides.
You must mark the height of the bumper bracket on the frame before removing it. This mark is used later to ensure the bumper bracket is reinstalled at the correct height. When inserting the baseplate bolts, you must adjust the bumper bracket back to this previous height before tightening the bolts and hex nuts.
Use the 1/2-13 x 4" Grade 5 hex bolts (part 201-0581) with flat washers on both sides. The manual specifies that before tightening, you must apply Loctite RED to all bolts and tighten them according to the torque chart (78 foot-pounds for Grade 5, 119 foot-pounds for Grade 8).
Nut plates (part 61-4029, 1/2 nut wire weldments) are installed into the two 17/32" holes drilled on each side of the baseplate. These nut plates secure the 1/2-13 x 1 1/2" bolts (part 201-0051) with lock washers.
The 1 1/4" hole is drilled in the center of the frame rail to place nut plates. After drilling, you must ensure the bottom hex nut is tight, then remove the top bolt, apply Loctite Red, and retighten. Then repeat this process for the bottom hex nut on both sides.
All electrical connections must be plugged in properly and functioning before installing the fascia. This is a critical step to ensure the wiring is correct before the fascia is reinstalled and covers the work area.
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 torque specifications using Loctite Red. It is the owner's responsibility to perform these inspections.
Yes. The manual states that attachment tabs should be removed when not in use (if applicable). The kit includes two removable attachment tab assemblies (part 62-3469).
If a bolt is lost or needs replacement, use a replacement bolt of the same grade. In most cases, Grade 5 bolts are used. Do not substitute homemade or non-typical parts. Replacement parts may be ordered through your nearest Blue Ox Dealer or Distributor. Using the correct grade bolt is essential for your safety and the preservation of your baseplate.
The attachment tab height is 26" and the attachment tab width is 24.5".
Yes, you should register your BX1979 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.
You should confirm the towability and pre-towing procedures for your vehicle with the owner's manual or by contacting the vehicle's manufacturer for specific towing procedures. You can also contact REMCO for additional information at 1(800)228-2481.
The installer must 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 and is against a wire or hose, it could cause fluid leaks or electrical shorts some time after the actual baseplate installation. Safety cables must not be mounted against wires, hoses, or brake lines.
Yes, the BX1979 is designed for both vehicles. However, minor adjustments such as filing holes or bending components may be necessary due to manufacturer tolerances.
The BX1979 is rated for Class III towing at 5,000 lbs. maximum. You must confirm your vehicle's weight before towing, as some models may exceed this limit.
You need a T-27 Torx wrench, 3/8" socket, 18MM socket, 17/32" drill bit, 1 1/4" hole saw, and Loctite RED.
No. Blue Ox recommends professional installation by a Blue Ox Dealer. The installation requires specialized tools, drilling, and modifications. Find a dealer at www.blueox.us or call (888) 425-5382.
Use 78 foot-pounds for Grade 5 bolts and 119 foot-pounds for Grade 8 bolts. Always apply Loctite RED before tightening.
Yes. Two 36" Class IV safety cables are included and must be installed around the frame rail suspension support. They are required in addition to, not instead of, legally required safety cables.
The manual notes that dimensional variations between otherwise identical vehicles can be considerable. Minor adjustments may be necessary, including filing a hole slightly, bending electrical rods, and/or bending end plates to compensate for manufacturer tolerances. If alignment issues persist, consult a Blue Ox Dealer at www.blueox.us or (888) 425-5382.
If your vehicle exceeds the 5,000 lb. Class III rating, you cannot use the BX1979 baseplate. You must use the Aventa II or Aventa LX tow bar instead. Tow Bar Adapters are not to be used with vehicles weighing over 5,000 lbs. Contact Blue Ox at (888) 425-5382 or www.blueox.us for guidance on the correct product for your vehicle.
On Sale Today
Original price was $699.99. Current price is $699.00.You save $0.99
Free Shipping
Ships free on all orders
Authorized Dealer
FREE ShippingFREE SHIPPING
Estimated delivery Thu, Sep 17 - Sun, Sep 20
Order before 2 PM EST Monday–Friday for same-day processing
Guaranteed safe & secure checkout
No reviews have been added for this product.
