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Blue Ox
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1996 - 2000 Honda Civic
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Custom-Designed: Each Blue Ox BX2217 Tow Bar Bracket is designed specifically for each towed vehicle, ensuring an optimal fit and performance.
Material: Steel
Color: Black
Finish: Powder Coat
Mounting Type: Bolt On
Mounting Hardware Included Yes/No: Yes
The Blue Ox BX2217 Tow Bar Bracket is a robust and reliable solution for all your towing needs. Custom-designed for each specific towed vehicle, this premium tow bar bracket ensures a perfect fit and optimal performance. It is built with high-quality steel for superior strength and durability, and features a powder coat finish in black for an extra layer of protection against rust and corrosion. The bolt-on mounting type allows for an easy and secure installation. The Blue Ox BX2217 comes with all necessary hardware and detailed instructions for a hassle-free, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 - 2000 | Honda Civic | No CX Comes with Standard Attachment Tabs Install Rating 3 Requires Some Trimming of the Belly Pan |
The BX2217 baseplate is designed for 1996-2000 Honda Civic models, excluding the CX trim. If you have a Civic CX, this baseplate is not compatible. For other model years or trims, consult the manual or contact Blue Ox directly.
Yes, 1989 and newer Honda automatic transmission vehicles can be towed on all four wheels without special pumps or drive shaft disconnects. However, you must shift the transmission from Drive to Neutral before turning off the engine. Do not shift from Reverse to Neutral, as this leaves the transmission partially in reverse and will cause damage when towing on four wheels.
You will need: 10mm socket, 14mm socket, 14mm combination wrench, 17mm socket, 17mm combination wrench, utility knife or tin snips, and Loctite Blue. These tools are required to remove the belly pan, remove and reposition fasteners, and enlarge the belly pan slots.
The baseplate includes six 10mm-1.25 x 30mm Grade 8.8 hex bolts (part 201-0422) and six 10mm lock washers (part 203-0104). These bolts attach the baseplate to the vehicle's tie down mount holes. You will also receive a Honda transmission set-up decal (292-2127), two 36-inch safety cables (226-0046), and four 3/8-inch quicklinks (229-0359).
Yes, the manual specifies that you need help to hold the baseplate between the frames while aligning the holes with the tie down bracket mounting points. This is required to ensure proper positioning before tightening the bolts.
You must remove the plastic belly pan located right behind the front bumper (held by three bolts and six plastic bolt/rivets) and the six tie down brackets (three on each side, held by six bolts total). The tie down brackets will not be reused; set them aside. The belly pan will be reinstalled after baseplate installation.
1. Remove the plastic belly pan and tie down brackets as described. 2. With help, hold the baseplate between the frames and align its holes with the tie down bracket mounting holes. 3. Apply Loctite Blue to the six supplied 10mm x 30mm bolts. 4. Insert the bolts with lock washers and snug them. 5. Push up on the front of the baseplate to position it as close as possible to the bottom of the bumper. 6. Tighten all six bolts securely. 7. Reinstall the belly pan, enlarging the slots as needed to accommodate the baseplate.
Yes. After installing the baseplate, the slots in the belly pan that originally held the tie down brackets will need to be enlarged to accommodate the baseplate. Use a utility knife or tin snips to make these modifications. The manual notes that dimensional variations between cars can be considerable, and it may be necessary to file holes slightly to allow bolts to clear.
The manual states that dimensional variations between otherwise identical cars can be considerable. If a bolt does not clear, it may be necessary to file a hole slightly to allow proper alignment. This is a normal part of the installation process for this baseplate.
The baseplate uses six 10mm-1.25 x 30mm Grade 8.8 hex bolts with 10mm lock washers. Loctite Blue must be applied to all bolts before installation. The bolts should be tightened securely, though a specific torque value is not provided in the manual.
Shift the transmission from Drive to Neutral before turning off the engine. Do not shift from Reverse to Neutral. If you shift from Reverse to Neutral, the transmission will be partially in reverse (a false-neutral condition that cannot be detected by revving the engine), and towing on four wheels will damage the automatic transmission. Always shift Drive → Neutral → Off before towing.
Permanent baseplate safety cables are strongly recommended. The BX2217 includes two 36-inch safety cables (part 226-0046) that must be connected from the baseplate to the frame rail or cross member of the vehicle's frame. These cables prevent the towed vehicle from breaking loose if the connection between the frame and baseplate fails. The cables must not be mounted against wires, hoses, or brake lines. Permanent safety cables are in addition to, 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. Tighten all bolts to the recommended specifications using Loctite Red. It is the owner's responsibility to perform these inspections and ensure all equipment is properly maintained.
The BX2217 has a limited warranty. The warranty is invalidated if the baseplate is used with any tow bar not approved by Automatic Equipment Mfg. Company. You must use only the tow bar pin and clip supplied with your tow bar; do not substitute other devices. For full warranty details, register your product online at www.blueox.com.
Yes, it is crucial to register your baseplate online at www.blueox.com. Registration ensures you will be alerted of product offerings, updates, upgrades, maintenance and safety bulletins, and recalls.
The six tie down brackets (three on each side) should be removed and set aside. They will not be used to install the baseplate and should be retained for reference or future use.
Yes, a Honda transmission set-up decal (part 292-2127) is included in the manual package. You should place this decal on your Honda's dash, on the tow bar, or anywhere it will remind you to properly shift the transmission before towing. The decal reinforces the critical requirement to shift from Drive to Neutral (not Reverse to Neutral) before towing on four wheels.
After installing the baseplate and reinstalling the belly pan, install the tow bar and safety cables according to the instructions included in their packages. Ensure the transmission set-up decal is placed where it will remind you of the correct shifting procedure before towing. Read the General Instruction Sheet included with the baseplate for additional guidance.
Yes, the BX2217 is designed for 1996-2000 Honda Civic models, excluding the CX trim.
Six 10mm-1.25 x 30mm Grade 8.8 hex bolts with lock washers, plus two 36-inch safety cables and four 3/8-inch quicklinks.
Yes, you must remove the plastic belly pan and the six tie down brackets (three on each side). The belly pan will be reinstalled after baseplate installation.
Yes, you need help to hold the baseplate between the frames while aligning and tightening the bolts.
Shift from Drive to Neutral before turning off the engine. Never shift from Reverse to Neutral, as this will damage the transmission when towing on four wheels.
Yes, two 36-inch permanent baseplate safety cables are included and strongly recommended. They must be connected from the baseplate to the vehicle's frame rail or cross member.
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