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Blue Ox
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2002 - 2005 Dodge Stratus
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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
1 compatible vehicles
| Year | Make & Model | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 - 2005 | Dodge Stratus | No RT Comes with Standard Attachment Tabs Install Rating 2 Bumper Fascia Must Be Removed/Replaced During Install Requires Some Trimming of Bumper Fascia/Plastic/And/Or Grill 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. |
The BX1951 baseplate is designed for 2002-05 Dodge Stratus models, but not for the RT variant. If you have a Stratus RT, this baseplate is not compatible.
The BX8869 is a bulb and socket wiring kit available for the BX1951. It is optional; the manual notes a recommended drilling location for it but does not require it for baseplate installation.
The attachment tabs are 22 5/8 inches center to center and have a height of 15 inches.
Yes. The front fascia must be removed for baseplate installation. Steps 1–6 detail the complete removal process, including removing push pins, bolts, screws, the metal bumper, and air dams.
Required tools are: 7MM, 8MM, 10MM, 13MM, and 17MM wrenches; Phillips screwdriver; 1/4", 9/32", and 13/32" drill bits; 17/32" drill bit; vise grips; and Loctite Blue. A power drill is necessary for the multiple drilling steps.
Yes. Drilling is required at multiple locations: four 13/32" holes on the front side of the baseplate (step 9), four 13/32" holes on the back side of the metal bumper (step 10), four 13/32" holes on the underside of the metal bumper (step 11), remaining 13/32" holes on the end plates (step 12), and one 1/4" hole in the bottom of the metal bumper for the temperature sensor (step 13). All drilling uses the baseplate as a template.
Three drill bit sizes are required: 13/32" (used for the majority of mounting holes), 1/4" (for the temperature sensor hole in the metal bumper), and 9/32" and 17/32" bits are listed in the tools required but their specific use is not detailed in the steps.
Yes. Step 15 states that some trimming is required to the air dam below the metal bumper before replacing it. Step 16 indicates that some trimming may be required to the fascia when replacing it. The manual does not specify the exact extent or location of trimming required.
The baseplate includes: one base plate weldment (61-5770), four bolt plates with wire (61-5590), eight 3/8-16 x 1 1/4" Grade 5 hex bolts, twelve 3/8" lock washers, twelve 3/8-16 hex nuts, four 8MM-1.25 x 30MM Grade 8.8 hex bolts, four 8MM lock washers, four 8MM flat washers, one horn bracket (102-6080), two #12-14 x 1" self-drilling screws, two #10-32 hex nuts, two #10 lock washers, two #10-32 x 1/2" slot round head screws, and two 4-way connector adapters. See the parts list on page 4 for complete details.
No. The factory horn bracket will not be reused. Step 7 requires removing the horn and factory bracket, and step 14 requires reinstalling the horn using the bracket provided with the baseplate (item 9, part number 102-6080).
Remove in this order: (1) six push pins from the top of the grill, (2) three metric screws from the wheel well area and eight push pins from the bottom of the fascia, (3) two metric bolts from the top of the grill, (4) screws from the metal bumper ends and remove end caps, (5) the temperature sensor and push pins from the coolant line and four bolts from inside the metal bumper end, (6) two push pins from the air dams, (7) the horn electrical connection and horn bracket, and (8) the vacuum tank from the driver's side.
Hold the baseplate in place so that the top edge of the end plates is flush with the top frame webbing. Use the baseplate as a template for all drilling operations.
No. Step 9 instructs to insert fasteners but not tighten them initially. Step 11 specifies tightening items 3 and 4 as shown in the drawing on the last page. Step 10 requires tightening all bolts after installing items 6, 7, and 8 with the metal bumper. Loctite must be used on all bolts before final tightening.
Loctite Blue must be applied to all bolts before tightening to prevent them from loosening. Steps 10, 11, and 14 specifically require loctite on bolts before tightening. The general information section also recommends using Loctite Red on all bolts and tightening to recommended specifications for ongoing maintenance.
Step 14 requires reinstalling the horn using the bracket provided with the baseplate (item 9, part number 102-6080). Apply loctite to all bolts before tightening.
Step 5 requires removing two push pins from the coolant line. Step 13 requires inserting the push pin for the coolant line into brackets provided on the baseplate and drilling a 1/4" hole in the bottom of the metal bumper for the temperature sensor.
Step 17 notes that dimensional variations between otherwise identical cars can be considerable. While the baseplate holes were designed for easy installation, it may be necessary to file a hole slightly to accommodate these variations.
Permanent baseplate safety cables are strongly recommended when towing a vehicle with a tow bar. They must be connected from the baseplate to the frame rail or cross member of the vehicle's frame. Each cable must have an adequate weight rating for the towing system. The cables must not be mounted against wires, hoses, or brake lines. Safety cables are in addition to, and 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. Use Loctite Red on all bolts and tighten to the recommended specifications. It is the owner's responsibility to perform these inspections.
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 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. 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 attachment tabs should be removed when not in use.
Repair parts may be ordered through your nearest Blue Ox dealer or distributor. Use only genuine factory replacement parts. If a bolt is lost or needs replacement, use a replacement bolt of the same grade (usually Grade 5). Do not substitute homemade or nontypical parts.
The BX1951 fits 2002-05 Dodge Stratus models, but not the RT variant.
Yes, the front fascia must be removed. The installation requires removing the grill, bumper, horn bracket, and air dams before baseplate installation can begin.
You need wrenches (7MM, 8MM, 10MM, 13MM, 17MM), a Phillips screwdriver, drill bits (1/4", 9/32", 13/32", 17/32"), vise grips, and Loctite Blue. A power drill is essential.
Yes. Loctite Blue must be applied to all bolts before tightening during installation. For ongoing maintenance, use Loctite Red and tighten to recommended specifications.
Permanent baseplate safety cables are strongly recommended. They must connect the baseplate to the vehicle's frame rail or cross member and cannot be mounted against wires, hoses, or brake lines. They supplement, but do not replace, legally required safety cables.
Before each towing trip, inspect all towing equipment for cracked welds, missing or worn parts, and loose bolts. Tighten bolts using Loctite Red to recommended specifications.
Step 17 states that dimensional variations between otherwise identical cars can be considerable. If a hole does not align, it may be necessary to file the hole slightly to accommodate these variations. The baseplate holes were designed to allow for easy installation and minor adjustments.
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