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Blue Ox
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1997 - 2003 Ford F-150
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2004 Ford F-150 Heritage
Confirmed to Fit
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1. Custom-Designed: The Blue Ox BX2131 is specifically designed for each towed vehicle, ensuring a perfect fit and optimal performance.
Material: Steel
Color: Black
Finish: Powder Coat
Mounting Type: Bolt On
Mounting Hardware Included Yes/No: Yes
The Blue Ox BX2131 Tow Bar Bracket is the perfect solution for safely and securely towing your vehicle. This custom-designed base plate is constructed from robust steel and finished with a black powder coat for maximum strength and durability. With a practical bolt-on mounting type, this product is easy to install, and all necessary hardware is included in the package. This means you can complete the installation yourself, with the help of the included instructions.
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 | Style | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 - 2003 | Ford F-150 | Standard Cab Pickup | Comes with Standard Attachment Tabs Install Rating 2 Requires Some Trimming of Bumper Fascia/Plastic/And/Or Grill Minor Drilling Required 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 Will Not Fit the Harley Davidson or STX Special Edition Trim Package for 2003: 2005 Model Years Height Deviation up to 4” higher on the Towing Vehicle Allowed When Used for Utility Applications Only with an Allure Tow Bar |
| 2004 | Ford F-150 Heritage | Standard Cab Pickup | Comes with Standard Attachment Tabs Install Rating 2 Requires Some Trimming of Bumper Fascia/Plastic/And/Or Grill Minor Drilling Required 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 Will Not Fit the Harley Davidson or STX Special Edition Trim Package for 2003: 2005 Model Years Height Deviation up to 4” higher on the Towing Vehicle Allowed When Used for Utility Applications Only with an Allure Tow Bar |
Yes, the BX2131 is designed specifically for 1997–2003 Ford F-150 4WD models. These vehicles weigh over 3500 lbs and require a Class III (5000 lbs) rated tow bar, hitch and accessories. Ensure you use only a tow bar approved by Automatic Equipment Mfg. Co.; use of non-approved tow bars voids the limited warranty.
A Class III (5000 lbs) rated tow bar, hitch and accessories are required. The vehicle weighs over 3500 lbs. You must use a tow bar approved by Automatic Equipment Mfg. Co.; using any other tow bar invalidates the limited warranty.
Yes, bumper removal is required. You must remove the four bolts holding the bumper to the frame, disconnect the electrical connectors to the blinkers, and remove the four plastic inserts holding the plastic molding to the flexible belly pan. The bumper is reinstalled after the baseplate is secured.
Yes, drilling is required. The holes in the side of the angle mount must be drilled using a 17/32" drill bit. With the baseplate bolted to the frame, you punch and drill the side holes of the baseplate. If you cannot reach all holes while the baseplate is in place, you may need to remove it, drill the holes, and reinstall it.
The following tools are required: 10mm wrench, 13mm wrench, 3/4" wrench, 17/32" drill bit, and Loctite Blue. A punch is also needed to mark the side holes before drilling.
The kit includes: one baseplate (61-4943), four 1/2-13 x 1 1/2" Grade 5 hex bolts (201-0051), eight 1/2" lock washers (203-0012), two 1/2" flat washers (203-0005), and four 1/2" wire nuts (61-4029). The installation also reuses the four existing bolts from the tow hooks.
The baseplate mounts to the frame using the same bolt holes that the tow hooks use. Remove the bolts from each tow hook, place the baseplate and tow hooks on the frame, and bolt them in place using the same bolts. The side holes of the angle mount must be drilled (17/32" drill bit) and secured with the provided 1/2 x 1 1/2" bolts, lock washers, flat washers and wire nuts.
The baseplate is secured using 1/2 x 1 1/2" Grade 5 hex bolts (part 201-0051) with 1/2" lock washers (203-0012), 1/2" flat washers (203-0005), and 1/2" wire nuts (61-4029). The existing tow hook bolts are reused to attach the baseplate to the frame.
Yes, Loctite Blue must be used with all bolts to ensure they do not loosen. This is a required step in the installation process.
Permanent baseplate safety cables are strongly recommended when towing a vehicle with a tow bar. They prevent the towed vehicle from breaking loose if the connection between the towed vehicle's frame 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. Safety cables must not be mounted against wires, hoses or brake lines.
No. Permanent baseplate safety cables are to be used in conjunction with, and NOT as a replacement for, legally required safety cables that attach the towed vehicle to the towing vehicle. Both are necessary.
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 comes into contact with 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.
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 use Loctite Red on all bolts.
Yes, it is crucial to register your baseplate online at www.blueox.com. Registration ensures you are alerted of product offerings, updates, upgrades, maintenance and safety bulletins, and/or recalls.
Remove the attachment tabs when the baseplate is not in use.
Yes. Requires Class III (5000 lbs) rated tow bar approved by Automatic Equipment Mfg. Co. Non-approved tow bars void the warranty.
Yes, the bumper must be removed to access the frame mounting points. It is reinstalled after the baseplate is secured.
A 17/32" drill bit is required to drill the side holes of the angle mount.
10mm wrench, 13mm wrench, 3/4" wrench, 17/32" drill bit, Loctite Blue, and a punch.
Yes, Loctite Blue must be applied to all bolts to prevent loosening.
Yes, strongly recommended. They prevent the towed vehicle from breaking loose if the baseplate connection fails. They must be used with, not instead of, legally required safety cables.
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