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Blue Ox
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1989 - 1995 GEO Tracker
Confirmed to Fit
1989 - 1995 Suzuki Sidekick
Confirmed to Fit
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Custom Designed: Each Blue Ox BX3503 Tow Bar Bracket is custom designed for each specific 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 BX3503 Tow Bar Bracket is a robust, meticulously designed product that ensures secure installation for your towed vehicles. Crafted from premium-grade steel with a sleek black powder coat finish, this base plate is not only durable, but also resistant to corrosion and wear. It's designed for a simple bolt-on mounting that makes the installation process a breeze. Furthermore, the Blue Ox BX3503 comes with all the necessary mounting hardware and comprehensive instructions to facilitate a seamless, do-it-yourself installation. With this tow bar bracket, you'll have peace of mind knowing your vehicle is securely towed.
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
2 compatible vehicles
| Year | Make & Model | Style | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 - 1995 | GEO Tracker | 2-Door | Comes with Standard Attachment Tabs Install Rating 3 Minor Drilling Required Specific Dingy Towing Restrictions Apply Confirm the Towability and the Pre: towing Procedures of you Vehicle with the Owner's Manual or Contact the Vehicle's Manufacturer for Specific Towing Procedures |
| 1989 - 1995 | Suzuki Sidekick | 2-Door | Comes with Standard Attachment Tabs Install Rating 3 Minor Drilling Required Specific Dingy Towing Restrictions Apply Confirm the Towability and the Pre: towing Procedures of you Vehicle with the Owner's Manual or Contact the Vehicle's Manufacturer for Specific Towing Procedures |
Yes, the BX3503 baseplate is designed for 1989-95 Suzuki Sidekick (2 Door) and 1989-95 Geo Tracker (2 Door) models. The manual does not confirm fitment for 4-door versions of these vehicles.
Yes, the baseplate can be installed on vehicles with a skid plate, but the skid plate must be modified. Two slots must be cut in the skid plate: each slot is 3/8" wide and 2 3/4" deep from the top edge, positioned 13 5/8" center to center. The rear two skid plate mounting bolts are reused, and the front two bolts are replaced by baseplate bolts.
Required tools are: 3/4" socket, 12mm socket, 13/32" transfer punch, 13mm socket, hacksaw, 13mm open-end wrench, 1/8" drill bit, 11/32" drill bit, and 3/4" open-end wrench. A drill press or hand drill capable of drilling 11/32" holes is also necessary.
Yes, drilling is required. You must drill three 11/32" holes in each of the vehicle's "A" arm mount tubes (six holes total). The manual recommends using a 13/32" transfer punch to mark the holes, then drilling a 1/8" pilot hole first, followed by the 11/32" hole. The baseplate arm holes serve as a template.
Yes. After all bolts are aligned and tightened, you must cut off the rod ends that protrude out of the "A" arm tubes using a hacksaw.
The kit includes: 1 baseplate weldment (61-3304), 2 straight handle weldments (61-3301), 2 "L" handle weldments (61-3303), 2 bent handle weldments (61-3302), 1 tie down clamp (102-2730), 1 bolt 1/2-13 x 2 (201-0283), 8 bolts 8mm-1.25 x 35mm (201-0418), 1 nut 1/2-13 (202-0005), 1 lock washer 1/2" (203-0012), 4 flat washers 3/8" (203-0003), 8 lock washers 8mm (203-0102), 2 safety cables 36" (226-0046), and 4 quicklinks 3/8" (229-0359).
Yes, the manual states "with help" when positioning the baseplate on the vehicle, indicating that at least two people are recommended for proper alignment during installation.
Yes, Loctite must be used on all bolts. The manual specifies using Loctite on all bolts but not tightening them until all bolts are aligned. The general information section recommends using Loctite Red and tightening to the recommended specifications.
The manual provides torque specifications for metric bolts in a table: Grade 8.8 bolts are torqued to 16 foot-pounds, and Grade 10.9 bolts are torqued to 22 foot-pounds. The parts list does not specify which grade is supplied, so verify the bolt grade before torquing.
The manual provides torque specifications for inch bolts in a table: Grade 5 bolts are torqued to 78 foot-pounds, and Grade 8 bolts are torqued to 119 foot-pounds. The 1/2-13 x 2 bolt supplied (part 201-0283) is Grade 5, so torque to 78 foot-pounds.
1. Locate the threaded hole on the outside of each front "A" arm mount tube. 2. Position the baseplate so the rear arms straddle the "A" arm tubes and the front outer hole aligns with the threaded hole; the tie down bracket must rest on the wire tie down loop. 3. Install 3/8" flat washers and hand-start 8mm-1.25 x 35mm bolts with lock washers through the outer baseplate arms into the threaded holes. 4. Insert the 1/2-13 x 2 bolt through the tie down clamp, loop, and bracket; loosely secure with lock washer and nut. 5. Drill three 11/32" holes in each "A" arm tube using the baseplate arm holes as a template. 6. Install the nut rod weldment with one bend up through each "A" arm tube, aligning the nut with the front-most hole; hand-start an 8mm bolt. 7. Insert an 8mm nut on the straight rod through each tube, aligning with the rear-most hole; hand-start an 8mm bolt. 8. Tighten all bolts securely. 9. Cut off protruding rod ends.
1. Unbolt the skid plate; reuse the rear two mounting bolts and replace the front two bolts. 2. Position the baseplate so the rear arms straddle the "A" arm tubes and the front outer hole aligns with the threaded hole; the tie down bracket must rest on the wire tie down loop. 3. Hand-start 8mm-1.25 x 35mm bolts through the baseplate arms into each "A" arm tube. 4. Insert the 1/2-13 x 2 bolt through the tie down clamp, loop, and bracket; loosely secure with lock washer and nut. Use Loctite on all bolts from this point on. 5. Drill three 11/32" holes in each "A" arm tube using the baseplate arm holes as a template. 6-8. Install the nut rod weldments and straight rod nuts as described for vehicles without skid plate. 9. Cut off protruding rod ends. 10. Cut two slots in the skid plate: each 3/8" wide, 2 3/4" deep, 13 5/8" center to center. 11. Cut the slots. 12. Remove the front bolt from both baseplate outer arms. 13-15. Reposition the skid plate, swing the front up so the side mounting flanges slide between the baseplate outer arms and "A" arm tubes, and reinstall the 8mm bolts with lock washers using Loctite. 16. Tighten all bolts securely.
The manual notes that dimensional variations between otherwise identical vehicles can be considerable. If a bolt does not align, it may be necessary to file a hole slightly to allow the bolt to clear.
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 frame and baseplate fails. The cables must be connected from the baseplate to the frame rail or cross member. However, permanent baseplate safety cables are not 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 recommended arrangements in illustrations.
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 using Loctite Red.
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 against a wire or hose, it could cause fluid leaks or electrical shorts some time after installation.
Yes, it is crucial to register your product online at www.blueox.com so that you may be alerted of product offerings, updates, upgrades, maintenance and safety bulletins, and/or recalls.
The BX3503 fits 1989-95 Suzuki Sidekick (2 Door) and 1989-95 Geo Tracker (2 Door) models.
Yes, you must drill three 11/32" holes in each "A" arm mount tube (six holes total). Use a 13/32" transfer punch to mark, drill a 1/8" pilot hole first, then the 11/32" hole. You must also cut off protruding rod ends with a hacksaw.
Yes, if your vehicle has a skid plate, two slots must be cut: each 3/8" wide, 2 3/4" deep, positioned 13 5/8" center to center. The rear two skid plate bolts are reused; the front two are replaced by baseplate bolts.
Required tools: 3/4" socket, 12mm socket, 13/32" transfer punch, 13mm socket, hacksaw, 13mm open-end wrench, 1/8" drill bit, 11/32" drill bit, 3/4" open-end wrench, and a drill capable of drilling 11/32" holes.
Permanent baseplate safety cables are strongly recommended when towing. They must connect from the baseplate to the frame rail or cross member and are not a replacement for legally required safety cables.
The manual notes that dimensional variations between otherwise identical vehicles can be considerable. If a bolt does not align, file the hole slightly to allow the bolt to clear.
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