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Blue Ox
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2008 Kia Spectra5
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Custom Design: Each Blue Ox tow bar bracket is specifically tailored to fit each towed vehicle, ensuring a secure, tight fit.
Material: Steel
Color: Black
Finish: Powder Coat
Mounting Type: Bolt On
Mounting Hardware Included Yes/No: Yes
Introducing the Blue Ox BX2713 Tow Bar Bracket - a reliable, durable solution for your towing needs. Custom designed for each specific towed vehicle, this tow bar bracket guarantees a perfect fit and an easy, hassle-free installation. Made of robust steel with a black powder-coat finish, it offers excellent resistance to rust and corrosion, ensuring longevity even in harsh weather conditions. The package comes with all the necessary hardware, making it a convenient DIY installation project for even novice users. Be it for road trips or daily towing, the Blue Ox BX2713 Tow Bar Bracket is a must-have for safe and secure towing.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Kia Spectra5 | Comes with Removable Attachment Tabs Install Rating 3 Bumper Fascia Must Be Removed/Replaced During Install Requires Some Trimming of Bumper Fascia/Plastic/And/Or Grill Minor Drilling Required Headlights Must be Removed and Replaced During Installation Use only w/Motorhome Mount Tow Bars Or PN BX8833/BX88151 Adapters Only Use Acclaim w/23”: 30” Spaced Removable Tab Baseplates 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 Adapters |
Yes, the BX2713 is designed specifically for the 2008 Kia Spectra 5. However, due to dimensional variations between otherwise identical vehicles, minor adjustments may be necessary to compensate for manufacturer tolerances. These may include filing a hole slightly, bending electrical rods, and/or bending end plates.
No. Due to the design of the removable tabs on the BX2713, RangeFinder II tow bars cannot be used with this baseplate.
Most adapters cannot be used with the BX2713 baseplate. Only the BX8833 and BX88151 adapters are compatible.
The attachment tab height is 14 1/2" and the attachment tab width is 24".
Required tools are: flat screwdriver, Phillips screwdriver, utility knife, tape measure, hammer, 10MM socket, 12MM socket, 9/16" socket, large vise grip, reciprocating saw, and 13/32" drill bit. Loctite RED is also required for all bolts.
Yes. The installation instructions require removal of the plastic cover, fascia, headlights, and bumper core. The bumper core is removed in steps 9 and 10 using a 12MM socket and 10MM socket.
Yes. Drilling is required. A 13/32" drill bit is used to drill holes into the frame for the baseplate mounting bolts. The baseplate is used as a template to mark the drilling locations.
Yes. Trimming of the frame rail is required. The bumper bracket on the frame end must be trimmed using a reciprocating saw. Measurements are: 4 3/4" down from the top of the bumper for the top horizontal cut, 8 3/4" for the lower horizontal cut, and 1 5/8" in for the vertical line. After cutting, paint the newly cut area to prevent rusting.
The bumper requires three cuts using a reciprocating saw: (1) On the back side, mark an area 2 1/4" up and 1 1/4" wide and cut; (2) Repeat on both ends of the bumper; (3) Cut 2 1/4" over from the edge and back to the weld on both sides of the vehicle. Additionally, a tab on the side of the frame must be bent straight down with a hammer on both sides.
The removal sequence is: (1) Remove eleven plastic screws from the top edge of the fascia and remove the black plastic piece; (2) Remove Phillips screws from the wheel well on both sides; (3) Remove three pushpins from the bottom corner of the fascia on both sides; (4) Remove four pushpins from the bottom of the fascia; (5) Remove Phillips pushpin at the front of the wheel well on both sides; (6) Pry up the clip underneath the headlight and remove the fascia; (7) Remove two 10MM bolts from the top of the headlights on both sides; (8) Remove the 10MM nut holding the headlights on the back side on both sides; (9) Remove two 12MM bolts below the bumper on both sides; (10) Remove two 12MM bolts on top of the bumper and one 10MM bolt in the center on both sides, then remove the bumper core.
For 3/8-16 Grade 5 bolts, the torque specification is 33 foot-pounds. All bolts must have Loctite RED applied before tightening.
For 10MM Grade 8.8 metric bolts, the torque specification is 31 foot-pounds.
Slide the baseplate on so that on the driver's side, the middle back hole slides over the existing nut. Ensure the baseplate is level. Use a large vise grip to clamp the baseplate into place on both sides of the vehicle. The baseplate is then used as a template to mark drilling locations.
Use a 13/32" drill bit to drill into the frame using the baseplate as a template. On the driver's side, drill the lower back hole first and insert a 3/8-16 x 1 1/2" hex bolt with 3/8" lock washer, tightening to the 3/8-16 nut plate. On the passenger side, drill the bottom hole first using the same procedure. Then drill the remaining three holes on each side. Guide the nut plates through the openings in the frame and frame rail opening to align with the baseplate holes. Apply Loctite RED to all bolts before tightening.
The baseplate is mounted using 3/8-16 x 1 1/2" hex bolts (Grade 5, part 201-0440), 3/8" lock washers (part 203-0010), and 3/8-16 nut plates (part 61-5208). A 1/4" x 1" spacer is used between the baseplate and frame on some mounting points. All bolts must be secured with Loctite RED before tightening.
Permanent baseplate safety cables are strongly recommended when towing a vehicle with a tow bar. Two safety cables (part 226-0046, 36" CL III) are included with the BX2713. They must be connected from the baseplate to the frame rail or cross member of the vehicle's frame, positioned around the lower frame extension or as close as possible, or around a solid piece of the frame if that position is not available. Do not mount safety cables against wires, hoses, or brake lines. Safety cables must remain installed as long as the baseplate is installed and are to be used in conjunction with, not as 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. Ensure all bolts are secured with Loctite RED and tightened to the recommended torque specifications. Confirm the towability and pre-towing procedures for your vehicle with the owner's manual or contact the vehicle's manufacturer. All electrical connections must be plugged in properly and functioning.
Before reinstalling the bumper, headlights, fascia, and plastic cover, ensure that all electrical connections are plugged in properly and functioning. Then reinstall all screws, pushpins, and bolts in reverse order of removal.
The hardware kit includes: 1 weld mount (61-6598), 12 welded nut plates 1/4x1x1 (61-5208), 4 nut plates 1/4x1x1 (102-5484), 12 3/8-16 x 1 1/2" hex bolts Grade 5 (201-0440), 12 3/8" lock washers (203-0010), 2 #12-14 x 1" self-drilling screws (201-0979), 2 10-32 x 1/2" slot round head screws (201-0192), 2 #10 lock washers (203-0054), 2 #10-32 hex nuts (202-0047), 2 4-way connector adapters (101-5822), 2 attachment tab assemblies (62-3468), 2 baseplate safety cables 36" CL III (226-0046), 2 quicklinks 3/8" (229-0359), and 2 receiver cap plugs black (290-0437).
No. Even though bolts may exist in the vehicle, do not assume they are adequate for baseplate mounting. Always use the hardware supplied in the hardware kit and existing hardware specified in the Baseplate Installation Instructions. Using improper hardware could result in separation of the towed vehicle from the tow bar.
No. Use only genuine factory replacement parts on your baseplate. Do not substitute homemade or non-typical parts. If a bolt is lost or needs replacement, use a replacement bolt of the same grade (in most cases Grade 5). Replacement parts may be ordered through your nearest Blue Ox Dealer or Distributor, or by calling the 24/7 Customer Care Team at (402) 385-3051.
Yes. Blue Ox towing products and accessories are intended to be installed by Blue Ox Dealers who are familiar with the products and have the equipment necessary and knowledge to do "fit work". Blue Ox Dealers can be found at www.blueox.us or by contacting the Customer Care Department at (402) 385-3051.
The BX88199 Light Bar, Receiver Mounted is recommended for this vehicle.
Yes, the BX2713 is designed for the 2008 Kia Spectra 5. Minor adjustments may be needed to compensate for manufacturer tolerances.
Yes. A 13/32" drill bit is required to drill mounting holes into the frame. Frame rail trimming using a reciprocating saw is also required.
Required tools: flat and Phillips screwdrivers, utility knife, tape measure, hammer, 10MM/12MM/9/16" sockets, large vise grip, reciprocating saw, 13/32" drill bit, and Loctite RED.
Yes. The plastic cover, fascia, headlights, and bumper core must be removed and reinstalled during installation.
33 foot-pounds. Apply Loctite RED to all bolts before tightening.
Yes. Two 36" CL III baseplate safety cables are included and strongly recommended. They must be connected to the frame rail and remain installed as long as the baseplate is on the vehicle.
No. RangeFinder II tow bars cannot be used with the BX2713 due to the removable tab design. Only BX8833 and BX88151 adapters are compatible.
The dimensional variations between otherwise identical vehicles can be considerable. Minor adjustments may be necessary to compensate for manufacturer tolerances. These adjustments may include filing a hole slightly, bending electrical rods, and/or bending end plates. Ensure the baseplate is level before clamping it into place with the large vise grip.
Guide the nut plate through the opening in the frame and the frame rail opening to align with the baseplate hole. The bottom nut plates are guided through the bottom opening, and the top three nut plates are guided through the top opening. Take care to position them correctly before tightening the bolts.
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