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Blue Ox
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2009 - 2012 Ford Escape
Confirmed to Fit
2010 - 2011 Mercury Mariner
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
Introducing the Blue Ox BX2605 Tow Bar Bracket, a custom designed, highly durable and easy-to-install base plate for your towed vehicle. Made from robust steel material, this tow bar bracket is finished with a black powder coat for added longevity and resistance to wear. Its bolt-on mounting type ensures a secure attachment, guaranteeing you a worry-free towing experience. This product comes complete with all the necessary hardware and easy-to-follow instructions, offering you a convenient, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 - 2012 | Ford Escape | Comes with Removable Attachment Tabs Install Rating 2 Bumper Fascia Must Be Removed/Replaced During Install Requires Some Trimming of Bumper Fascia/Plastic/And/Or Grill Baseplate Has Non 24 in. Spaced Attachment Tabs Requires Motorhome Mounted Tow Bar/Adapter To Utilize Car Mounted Tow Bar Tow Bar Adapters Not To Be Used On Vehicles Over 5000 lbs. Use only w/Motorhome Mount Tow Bars Or PN BX8833/BX88151 Adapters Only Use Acclaim w/23”: 30” Spaced Removable Tab Baseplatess 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 Adapter |
| 2010 - 2011 | Mercury Mariner | Comes with Removable Attachment Tabs Install Rating 2 Bumper Fascia Must Be Removed/Replaced During Install Requires Some Trimming of Bumper Fascia/Plastic/And/Or Grill Baseplate Has Non 24 in. Spaced Attachment Tabs Requires Motorhome Mounted Tow Bar/Adapter To Utilize Car Mounted Tow Bar Tow Bar Adapters Not To Be Used On Vehicles Over 5000 lbs. Use only w/Motorhome Mount Tow Bars Or PN BX8833/BX88151 Adapters Only Use Acclaim w/23”: 30” Spaced Removable Tab Baseplatess 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 Adapter |
Yes, the BX2605 is designed for 2009-12 Ford Escape and 2009-12 Mercury Mariner, including Hybrid models. The baseplate is compatible with both vehicles.
No. Due to the design of the removable attachment tabs on the BX2605, the RangeFinder II, Acclaim and Ambassador tow bars cannot be used with this baseplate.
Only the BX8833 and BX88151 adapters can be used with the BX2605. All other adapters are not compatible with this baseplate.
Required tools include: 10MM, 13MM, 17MM, 9/16", and 5/8" sockets; 9/16" wrench; flat screwdriver; large vise grip; reciprocating saw; drill; 13/32" drill bit; and Loctite RED. A torque wrench is also necessary to tighten bolts to specification.
The kit includes: one welded mounting plate (61-6586), four spacer tubes (107-2683), eight 10MM-1.5 x 40MM Grade 10.9 hex bolts (201-0518), four 10MM-1.5 x 50MM Grade 8.8 hex bolts (201-0428), twelve 10MM lock washers (203-0104), four 3/8" flat washers (203-0003), four 3/8-16 x 1.5" Grade 5 hex bolts (201-0440), four 3/8-16 x 2.25" Grade 5 hex bolts (201-0332), eight 3/8" lock washers (203-0010), eight welded nut plates with 14" wire (61-5208), two #12-14 x 1" self-drilling screws (201-0979), two 10-32 x 0.5" slotted round head screws (201-0192), two #10 lock washers (203-0054), two #10-32 hex nuts (202-0047), two 4-way connector adapters (101-5822), two removable attachment tab assemblies (62-3468), two 36" Class III baseplate safety cables (226-0046), two 3/8" quicklinks (229-0359), and two black cap plugs (290-0437).
The fascia, air dam, air temperature gauge and bumper are removed and replaced during installation. The air dam and air temperature gauge must be trimmed to fit after installation.
Blue Ox recommends that towing products be installed by Blue Ox Dealers who are familiar with the products and have the equipment and knowledge necessary to do fit work. Dealers can be found at www.blueox.com or by contacting Blue Ox Customer Care at (402) 385-3051.
1. Remove metric bolts from top corners of grille (both sides). 2. Remove three pushpins inside wheel well just forward of front tire (both sides). 3. Remove pushpin from front under bottom opening (both sides). 4. Remove seven bolts from underneath fascia. 5. Pull fascia forward and remove white pins. 6. Remove air dam by lifting brace over catch and removing pushpins and clips (both sides). 7. Remove two metric bolts on each side using 13MM socket. 8. Remove temperature gauge. 9. Slide baseplate straight on, ensuring it is level with frame. Attach 40MM hex bolts in top four holes with 10MM lock washers and 3/8" flat washers in top two holes. Attach 50MM hex bolts with 10MM lock washers in bottom two holes (both sides). 10. Use spacers between frame and baseplate on bottom two holes (both sides). Reinstall bumper. 11. Attach permanent baseplate safety cables to convenience link on baseplate and secure to frame. 12. Reinstall air dam and mark brace for trimming (both sides). 13. Cut off circle tab at end of air temperature gauge. 14. Reattach air temperature gauge and reinstall fascia.
The manual references a 1-1/4" hole saw for vehicles that may not have thread inserts to access the inside of the frame for lower nut plates. However, the primary installation uses existing holes. Minor adjustments may include filing a hole slightly, bending electrical rods or bending end plates to compensate for manufacturer tolerances.
The air dam brace must be trimmed to fit. After reinstalling the air dam and sliding the two clips in, hold the brace piece up and mark it in order to trim it to fit (both sides). Additionally, the circle tab at the end of the air temperature gauge must be cut off.
For Grade 5 bolts: 1/4" = 10 ft-lbs, 5/16" = 19 ft-lbs, 3/8" = 33 ft-lbs, 7/16" = 54 ft-lbs, 1/2" = 78 ft-lbs, 5/8" = 154 ft-lbs. All bolts must be tightened with Loctite RED applied before tightening.
For Grade 8 bolts: 1/4" = 14 ft-lbs, 5/16" = 29 ft-lbs, 3/8" = 47 ft-lbs, 7/16" = 78 ft-lbs, 1/2" = 119 ft-lbs, 5/8" = 230 ft-lbs. All bolts must be tightened with Loctite RED applied before tightening.
For Grade 8.8 metric bolts: 6MM = 6 ft-lbs, 8MM = 16 ft-lbs, 10MM = 31 ft-lbs, 12MM = 54 ft-lbs, 14MM = 89 ft-lbs. All bolts must be tightened with Loctite RED applied before tightening.
For Grade 10.9 metric bolts: 6MM = 8 ft-lbs, 8MM = 22 ft-lbs, 10MM = 40 ft-lbs, 12MM = 70 ft-lbs, 14MM = 117 ft-lbs. All bolts must be tightened with Loctite RED applied before tightening.
The attachment tab height is 17 inches and the attachment tab width is 22 inches.
The BX8869 Bulb and Socket Wiring Kit is recommended for this vehicle. The manual shows a possible location for installation on the baseplate.
Be sure that ALL electrical connections are plugged in properly and functioning BEFORE installing the fascia.
Permanent baseplate safety cables are strongly recommended when towing a vehicle with a tow bar. Their principal function is to prevent the towed vehicle from breaking loose in the event the connection between the frame of the towed vehicle and the baseplate fails or becomes disconnected. The cables 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 weight rating of two cables together will not qualify as a single cable. 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.
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. The manual shows two recommended options: Option 1 uses a quicklink attached to the baseplate convenience link tab, and Option 2 is for baseplates without convenience link tabs. Be sure the safety cables do not rub against any hoses or moving parts.
If the baseplate is in an accident, it must be replaced and not reused. An accident can cause unseen damage and using it again could result in more damage or serious injury. Do not use the baseplate if it is damaged or missing parts.
Do not use the towed vehicle for storing luggage, equipment, etc. This may cause you to exceed the towing capacity of the tow bar, baseplate, and its accessories.
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. Be sure to use Loctite Red on all bolts and tighten to the recommended specifications.
Yes. Remove the attachment tabs when not in use (if applicable).
If a bolt is lost or in need of replacement, for your safety and the preservation of your baseplate, be sure to use a replacement bolt of the same grade. In most cases it will be Grade 5. Replacement parts may be ordered through your nearest Blue Ox Dealer or Distributor. Using a bolt of different grade or non-genuine parts will void the manufacturer's warranty.
Failing to follow and/or altering these installation instructions in either installation or required equipment will void the manufacturer's warranty.
Yes. Ensure that your product is registered online at www.blueox.com. It is crucial to register your product so that you may be alerted of product offerings, updates, upgrades, maintenance and safety bulletins, and/or recalls.
Yes, the BX2605 is designed for 2009-12 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner, including Hybrid models.
No. The RangeFinder II, Acclaim and Ambassador tow bars cannot be used with the BX2605 due to its removable tab design. Only BX8833 and BX88151 adapters are compatible.
You will need: 10MM, 13MM, 17MM, 9/16", and 5/8" sockets; 9/16" wrench; flat screwdriver; large vise grip; reciprocating saw; drill; 13/32" drill bit; Loctite RED; and a torque wrench.
The fascia, air dam, air temperature gauge and bumper are removed and replaced. The air dam and air temperature gauge must be trimmed to fit.
The primary installation uses existing holes. A 1-1/4" hole saw may be needed for vehicles without thread inserts to access the frame for lower nut plates. Minor adjustments may include filing holes or bending parts to compensate for manufacturer tolerances.
Use Loctite RED on all bolts before tightening. Torque specifications vary by bolt size and grade: Grade 5 3/8" bolts = 33 ft-lbs, Grade 8.8 10MM bolts = 31 ft-lbs, Grade 10.9 10MM bolts = 40 ft-lbs. See the torque chart on page 1 for all sizes.
The BX8869 Bulb and Socket Wiring Kit is recommended for this vehicle.
Inspect all towing equipment for cracked welds, missing or worn parts and loose bolts. Ensure all bolts are tightened to specification with Loctite Red. Verify all electrical connections are functioning properly.
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