Our in-house experts typically reply within one business day.
Blue Ox
Verify Fitment
Select your vehicle to confirm this part fits.
1986 - 1994 Suzuki Samurai
Confirmed to Fit
Always the correct part
We know our products
Quality Products
Free Shipping!
Always the correct part
We know our products
Quality Products
Free Shipping!
Custom Design: Each Blue Ox BX3501 Tow Bar Bracket is specifically designed for a precise fit to your towed vehicle, ensuring optimal performance and security.
Material: Steel
Color: Black
Finish: Powder Coat
Mounting Type: Bolt On
Mounting Hardware Included Yes/No: Yes
The Blue Ox BX3501 Tow Bar Bracket is a robust, high-quality accessory that is specially designed for your specific towed vehicle. Made from rugged steel and finished with a black powder coat, this bracket is not only durable but also aesthetically pleasing. With a bolt-on mounting type, it is easy to install and comes complete with all the necessary hardware and comprehensive instructions. The Blue Ox BX3501 Tow Bar Bracket is a must-have for anyone looking to enhance their towing experience.
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.
Experts available to answer your questions
Call 888-634-94943 Years
1 compatible vehicles
| Year | Make & Model | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 - 1994 | Suzuki Samurai | Comes with Standard Attachment Tabs Install Rating 2 Height Deviation up to 4” higher on the Towing Vehicle Allowed When Used for Utility Applications Only with an Allure Tow Bar |
The BX3501 baseplate is designed for 1986–94 Suzuki Samurai models only. If your vehicle is outside this year range or is a different model, this baseplate will not fit. Verify your vehicle's year and model before purchasing.
Yes, removal of the front bumper is required. The bumper is attached with two bolts on each side and must be removed to gain access to the chassis for baseplate installation. The bumper will be reinstalled after the baseplate is mounted.
Required tools are: Phillips head screwdriver, 12 mm socket, 9/16 inch socket, 3/4 inch socket, 9/16 inch combination wrench, and Loctite Red. These tools are needed to remove turn signals, disconnect fasteners, and secure the baseplate bolts.
The kit includes: six 3/8-16 x 1 inch hex bolts (Grade 5, zinc-plated), three 3/8-16 x 1 1/2 inch hex bolts (Grade 5, zinc-plated), nine 3/8-16 hex nuts (zinc-plated), nine 3/8 inch lock washers (zinc-plated), nine 3/8 inch flat washers (zinc-plated), one tie-down insert (part 101-4481), one flat tie-down clamp (part 102-2664), two 36-inch Class III safety cables (part 226-0046), and four 3/8 inch quicklinks (part 229-0359).
Nine bolts total are used: six 3/8 x 1 inch bolts and three 3/8 x 1 1/2 inch bolts. The six 3/8 x 1 bolts go through the upright brackets into the frame rails (three on each side). The three 3/8 x 1 1/2 bolts secure the tie-down clamp and insert to the rear baseplate bracket and tie-down loop.
Yes, Loctite Red must be used on all nine bolts. This is specified in steps 10, 11, and 12 of the installation instructions. Loctite prevents bolts from loosening due to vibration during towing.
1. Read the General Instruction Sheet. 2. Untwist fasteners holding turn signal wires to bumper and frame. 3. Remove turn signal screws and plastic lenses, noting socket orientation. 4. Pull socket forward, rotate so lights face up and short ends face rear, then push through bumper hole. 5. Remove front bumper (two bolts per side). 6. Remove any 'L' shaped shipping brackets from frame rail ends. 7. Position baseplate so upright bracket holes align with frame rail holes and rear bracket rests on tie-down loop. 8. Insert six 3/8 x 1 bolts through upright brackets and frame rails, loosely secure with lock washers and nuts using Loctite. 9. Hold tie-down clamp under rear bracket and loop, insert two 3/8 x 1 1/2 bolts through lower clamp and bracket holes using Loctite. 10. Slide tie-down insert into pocket, insert third 3/8 x 1 1/2 bolt through bracket, insert, and clamp, loosely secure with lock washer and nut using Loctite. 11. When all bolts align, tighten securely. 12. Reinstall bumper and turn signals. 13. Install tow bar and safety cables per their instructions.
Yes, some vehicles have 'L' shaped shipping brackets bolted to the end of the frame rails. These must be removed before positioning the baseplate. Check both frame rail ends during installation preparation.
Yes, it may be necessary. The manual states that dimensional variations between otherwise identical Samurai models can be considerable. While the baseplate holes were designed for easy installation, you may need to file a hole slightly to allow a bolt to clear. Check bolt alignment before final tightening.
Permanent baseplate safety cables are strongly recommended. Two 36-inch Class III safety cables are included with the kit. These cables must be connected from the baseplate to the frame rail or cross member and serve to prevent the towed vehicle from breaking loose if the baseplate connection fails. Safety cables must not be mounted against wires, hoses, or brake lines. These cables are in addition to, not a replacement for, legally required safety cables connecting 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 tightened to the recommended specifications and that Loctite Red has been applied. This is the owner's responsibility and is critical for safe towing.
Yes, Blue Ox strongly recommends registering your baseplate online at www.blueox.com. Registration ensures you receive alerts about product offerings, updates, upgrades, maintenance and safety bulletins, and recalls.
Remove the screws from the turn signals in the front bumper and remove the plastic lenses. Note which way the light socket sits in the bumper before removal, as it could be reversed during reinstallation. After noting the orientation, pull the socket forward and turn it so that the lights are up and the short ends of the socket face the rear, then push the socket through the hole in the bumper.
During installation, watch for oil cooler and air conditioner lines, electrical wires and hoses, and missing parts or attaching points on the frame. Do not mount the baseplate or safety cables against wires, hoses, or brake lines. Improper installation against these components could cause fluid leaks or electrical shorts some time after installation. This is the installer's responsibility to verify.
Remove the attachment tabs when not in use, if applicable to your tow bar model. This helps protect the attachment points and keeps the baseplate in good condition when the vehicle is not being towed.
Do not substitute other devices if the tow bar pin and clip are lost. Obtain replacement parts from Blue Ox to ensure safe towing operation. Using substitute devices could compromise the safety of your towing system.
The BX3501 is designed for 1986–94 Suzuki Samurai only. Verify your vehicle year and model before purchasing.
Yes, the front bumper must be removed to access the chassis. It is attached with two bolts on each side and will be reinstalled after the baseplate is mounted.
Required tools: Phillips head screwdriver, 12 mm socket, 9/16 inch socket, 3/4 inch socket, 9/16 inch combination wrench, and Loctite Red.
Yes, Loctite Red must be applied to all nine bolts during installation to prevent loosening from vibration.
Yes, two 36-inch Class III safety cables are included and strongly recommended. They must be connected from the baseplate to the frame rail or cross member and are in addition to legally required safety cables.
Inspect all towing equipment for cracked welds, missing or worn parts, and loose bolts. Ensure all bolts are tightened to recommended specifications with Loctite Red applied.
Yes, register online at www.blueox.com to receive alerts about product updates, maintenance bulletins, and recalls.
On Sale Today
Original price was $699.99. Current price is $639.00.You save $60.99 (9%)
Free Shipping
Ships free on all orders
Authorized Dealer
FREE ShippingFREE SHIPPING
Estimated delivery Sat, Aug 29 - Tue, Sep 1
Order before 2 PM EST Monday–Friday for same-day processing
Guaranteed safe & secure checkout
No reviews have been added for this product.
