Summer Starts Here - Save up to 70%
To see if this custom-fit item will work for you please tell us what vehicle you'll use it with.
Thank you! Your comment has been submitted successfully. You should be able to view your question/comment here within a few days.
Error submitting comment. Please try again momentarily.
Custom designed to fit your vehicle so it can be safely towed behind your RV, this base plate has easily removable arms that offer a seamless look when you're not flat towing. Base plate bolts directly to your chassis, so no welding is required.
Features:
Specs:
This base plate's hidden design creates a clean and seamless look. The bracket arms are easily removable, creating a slick appearance when you're not flat towing. Because the arms can be removed, you also won't have to worry about banging your leg into any protruding arms when you walk by.
Attaching and removing the bracket arms is a breeze. To attach the arms to the base plate, simply insert them into the receivers and rotate them until they lock into place. Once you're finished towing and want to remove the arms, pull the pin to disengage the lock, rotate the arms, and remove them from the receivers. Finally, plug up the now empty receivers with the included receiver covers to help keep dirt and debris out of the base plate and provide a finished look.
Flat towing your vehicle is much more convenient than using a trailer or a tow dolly. These other options take up much more storage space, leaving you less room both at home and at the campsite. In addition, securing your vehicle to a trailer or tow dolly can be a hassle and more time consuming than hooking up with a tow bar.
There are 5 basic components needed when flat towing a vehicle: a tow bar, a base plate kit, a safety cable set, tow bar wiring, and a supplemental braking system.
The tow bar links your towed car to your motorhome. It attaches to the custom-fit base plates that install on the frame of your towed car. Safety cables ensure that your towed car does not separate from your motorhome in the event that your tow bar becomes detached. Tow bar wiring allows your towed vehicle's signal lights to sync up with your motorhome's tail lights, which is required by law in most states. Finally, the supplemental braking system - also required in most states - brakes your towed car when the brakes in your motorhome are activated, preventing wear on the motorhome and decreasing braking distance for your entire setup.
Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Today on our 2016 Chevrolet Traverse, we're going to be taking a look at and installing the Blue Ox Base Plate Kit with Removable Arms, part number BX1706. Here's what this base plate kit is going to look like once it's installed on the vehicle. The most noticeable things you'll see are going to be these convenience links out in front for the safety chains. This base plate kit's going to do a really good job of making sure that it's easy to hook your towed vehicle up to your motor home, so that way when you're ready to go, you just hook it up and you're ready to roll. You don't need to spend a bunch of time tightening bolts and getting everything set and square, but rather you hook it up and you go. This kit has the removable arms. In order to install these, you push them in, twist until they lock in place.
That way, you can hook up your tow bar right here to the arm. Then, whenever you're done and ready to remove them for regular everyday driving, simply pull that pin, rotate the arm, and slide it back out and store it away until you're ready to use it again. Now, with this kit it does come with these little plugs to help keep dirt out of your mounting tabs. That way, it's always going to be easy to slide that arm in and out when you need to use it. Let's show you how to install this base plate. First thing we'll need to do to begin the installation of our base plate is we'll need to remove this top plastic cover underneath the hood.
There's going to be 10 push pin fasteners that we'll need to remove in order to do that. You can take a flat head screwdriver and get under the center of it and pop it up, then you can pull it right out of there. Now, before we take this plastic off we'll need to remove the small little push pin clip that's on our weather stripping here. You can just pry up on that in order to pop it out of there. It's the same on both sides of this. Then we can remove our plastic cover and set it off to the side.
Now we'll unscrew the top of our fascia. There's 7 of these T20 Torx screws along the top edge here. We'll remove those. Got 3 here on the passenger side, and then 4 over on the driver side. Then, on both sides near the headlight there will be a 7 millimeter screw that we'll need to remove.
Now we'll need to take out the 3 screws that are inside our wheel well here. We'll start with a 7 millimeter socket up at the top edge of the fascia where it meets the fender, and then the other 2 will be T20 just like the ones that we're underneath the hood. We'll do that same thing on the other side. Now, underneath on both sides we're going to have 2 T20 Torx screws and then a 10 millimeter bolt that we're going to have to take out. Now we can begin to take the fascia off. In order to do that, you want to grip up on the inside of the fender here and begin to pull outwards to begin to unclip it, and it should just begin to pop out as you work your way around towards the front. Then, with an extra set of hands, you can begin to work it off and get it unclipped from the front of the vehicle. Then, on both sides if you've got fog lights you'll have this connector that you'll need to remove. You push down on the tab, then you can pull that connector right out. Then you can take the fascia and gently set it aside. Next thing we'll need to do is remove our washer fluid tank here. In order to do that, we're going to need to disconnect the lines up higher so that it doesn't spill out everywhere as soon as we begin to take that out. Here are the 2 lines that come off of it, one for the front, one for the rear. I'm just going to take this little clip off here, then right there you can use a flat head screwdriver to get it in there. You can pop those apart so that way you can have a little bit more room to work with these lines separately. What I'm going to do is I'm just going to put a small zip tie on one of them so I can identify which one's going to be going to the rear of the vehicle. It's going to be this one right here. Then, at this little connection here on the 2 little ends where it comes out, squeeze on all the little tabs there and that should pop right apart. Then for the other one, got little clips there which if you pry those 2 little tabs out you'll be able to pull that one right apart as well. Now, down here at the reservoir we'll need to take off the connectors to each of our pumps, and then also the connector for our sensor. Get those disconnected. Just tuck them up out of the way. Then, using a 10 millimeter socket, there's going to be 3 nuts that are holding this on. With those off, we can carefully remove our washer tank. Wherever you set it when you put it aside, you want to be sure to keep it upright so that it doesn't spill out. Now we'll need to take our horn off. You need a 10 millimeter socket for that. To give myself plenty of room to work, I'm also going to take the connector off so I can set the horn aside. Make sure that connector's tucked up out of the way. Then I'll do the same thing for the horn on the other side. Now we'll need to remove our temp sensor that's mounted to the lower side of the front bumper. It's got a push pin fastener that holds that bracket up. We'll remove that. The temp sensor will come right out. Then we'll take that and move it up out of the way while we put our base plate in. Now, on the bracket here, I've gone ahead and marked out the area to be trimmed on each side. I'll be cutting out this section here, and what that's going to allow me to do is to get flush along the bottom edge of that inside frame rail there. Then that's going to allow me to get flush with the outside of the frame rail so that I can get the base plate to slide up into place. I'm going to use a reciprocating saw in order to begin cutting that out. If you don't have a reciprocating saw, you can also use a grinder with a cutting wheel or anything that might cut through this in order to help keep some clean lines. Now, with our access trimmed out in order to get up to the sides of the frame rail, we can take our base plate and begin to slide it up into place. It's not a bad idea to take some jack stands in order to help support it. That way, it'll make it easier to make adjustments and that'll hold it in place once you get it in the correct location. With the base plate put on and positioned where it needs to be according to the instructions, I'll begin drilling out the pilot holes for these 2 bottom ones. I'll step up drill bit sizes until I've reached the size indicated in the instructions to be able to fit the bolts through. From this point on, anything that we do to one side for the installation of the base plate, we'll be doing that same thing to the other side. With the 2 bottom holes drilled out, we'll be installing these 3/8 inch, 1 inch long bolts. They're a little bit shorter ones that come in the kit. When we install them, we'll be putting this red Loctite on them. We'll be doing that for all of the bolts that we'll be using to secure our base plate. If you need to get some of this red Loctite, you can get that on our site, part number LT37420. We can put our bolt through. Then, on the inside we'll put the split lock washer followed by a 3/8 nut. With the lower bolts installed on both sides, we can begin to tighten them up. It'll be a 9/16 wrench and socket in order to do that. Now we can drill out our other holes in order to begin installing the bolts. Now, we'll be putting these handle nuts up to the inside of the frame for our other bolt holes, and we'll be using that access hole right there in order to feed them up into place. You'll need to bend the handle on these in order to get them to line up properly with the holes that you drilled in the side of the frame. Then, when you get them lined up, the bolts that you'll be feeding into them will be the longer 1 1/2 inch 3/8 bolts. You'll want to be sure to put a lock washer on there along with that Loctite on the end of it. Once you've got the nut lined up on the inside of the frame, take your bolt and begin to thread it in. With it threaded in, take a 9/16 socket and just tighten it down. Then the excess for the handle down here, you can either cut off using a grinder or a cutting bit on a dremel tool, or you can just bend it up out of the way. Then we'll repeat that same process for the other bolt and handle nut on this side. Then we'll go to the other side and do those too the same way. With all of our hardware tightened down, we want to be sure to go back and double check the torque and make sure it's torqued to the specification listed in the instructions. Now we can take our temp sensor and reinstall it. You can either put it back into its factory location or you can relocate it somewhere in the plastic that's nearby, but I can squeeze it back in here so I'm just going to reinstall it in its factory location. Now we'll take our safety cables that come in the kit and we'll route them around the section in the frame. It shows you a good way to do that in the instructions. Then we'll bring them back to this connection point and connect them there using the quick link that they provide. At this point now, if you've got a breakaway switch that you'll need to mount up for a supplemental braking system, now is going to be a good time to do that. They do give you this bracket and a self-tapping screw in order to put it wherever you'd like here along the front of the bumper to make it easily accessible. I'm just going to put it right here using this self-tapping screw. I'm just going to center it right above where the wiring will come out. I took the bracket here that's mounted to the breakaway switch and I bent it so that it would match up to this so that it'll come straight out. Get my nylon lock nut started there. I'll use a 7/16 socket and wrench in order to tighten up my breakaway switch. Now on those 3 studs that attach our windshield washer fluid tank to the outside of our frame rail there, now in order to space it out properly we'll put 6 flat washers that come with the kit and slide them onto each stud. Now we can grab our reservoir tank and begin to put it up into place. Now we can reinstall the horns. Now we can test fit our fascia in order to see where we'll need to cut and trim. Now, after test fitting it on there, I've marked an area that I know I'm going to need to trim out, and then I can test fit it again and make any more adjustments or trim anything else needed in order to make it fit. Once we've got the fascia far enough on the vehicle that it'll stay, you can see where you'll need to trim out in order to get your tabs to come through. I marked it, and I'll begin to trim that section out. I'll do the same thing for the other side. Now we can reinstall our fascia. When you reinstall your fascia, don't forget to plug those electrical connections back in. We can reinstall our 3 screws into each fender. Underneath, we'll reinstall our 4 screws and 2 bolts in order to secure our paneling back in underneath here. Reinstall all the screws along the top of the fascia underneath the hood. That's going to complete our look at and installation of the Blue Ox Base Plate Kit with Removable Arms, part number BX1706, on our 2016 Chevrolet Traverse.
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (3015 Customer Reviews)
Custom designed to fit your vehicle so it can be safely towed behind your RV, this base plate has easily removable arms that offer a seamless look when you're not flat towing. Base plate bolts directly to your chassis, so no welding is required.Installed base plate , the video was very helpfull and the job took me eight hours . I took my time . Seems good ,will test run soon.
video was very helpful for installation going to try it out next week
Just completed installation of Patriot Brake and Blue Ox tow bar to 2017 Chevrolet Traverse. All works like advertised. Patriot Brake setup is easy with remote. Found I had to change force from default of 6 to max of 9 to feel adequate braking from Patriot on Chevrolet Traverse.
Great service
Works as expected.
The size of the box terrified me but I had to do this one myself.
This project is not for the faint of heart. When you think about what could go wrong you could wet yourself. I went with my gut and just opened the box. Hmmm, packaged very well with everything you need for the install. No going to the hardware store for this or that. Sat there with a cold sarsaparilla and read the very detailed instructions, went back to the etrailer web site and checked out some vids and pics. Hmm, it didn’t seem that daunting of a job. On my 04 Lexus GX470 most of the holes were drilled. Before I knew it 5 hours had past and I owned a toad! I took it to my local Rv service center for an inspection and it was deemed safe to use.
This thing is awesome, tracs straight as an arrow.
Now, I have to figure out this diode lighting kit. Camping is fun! Yah!!! :) Noah and etrailer made this a tolerable project. I urge everyone to take advantage of the resources that are on this sight. I always learn something when I’m there. See y’all on the trail….Rod
Well, I'm glad I'm good with tools, grinders, drills, and such. It was not just bolt-on dal. The car grill was able to be used any longer as it was too tight of a fit. Some of the lower fascia had to be trimmed and also removed OEM nuts from the front, the angle wouldn't allow the stock nuts to work. But in the end, I got to work out. So prepare to spend around 4-6 hours playing with it to get it to work. I am positive it's going to work as intended.
everything bolted up easy, i simply drilled hole’s into were needed and supplied my own bolts straight through for easy installation.
This kit fit well, had decent instructions, and performed perfectly every time once installed. If doing the install yourself, you'll need some metal fabrication tools to notch the D-ring plates behind the bumper but it's not complicated, just a little time consuming depending on the tools you're using. The look is also a little weird on the front of a new Bronco since you're losing the burly bumper D-rings, but it's a well engineered setup overall. I only used the tow bar setup a couple times before the vehicle was lost in a wildfire so I can't comment on the longevity, but I have no doubt it would still be working fine today.
I am really happy, not only with the product but the customer care I received. Very quick and helpful!!
I would make one suggestion. Take the headlights out when doing this on a Chevy Cobalt. It will make it much easier to get to the 3 bolt holding the fender to the fascia.
I will start with the people that work here at etrailer are great to deal with and very helpful! These baseplates for my 2023 bronco have been great. i bought and installed myself. install pretty straight forward. and these work great for flat towing my bronco behind my motorhome.
eTrailer was very helpful in choosing the correct hitch for our rv and car. They also provided a special brake application in the car that makes it super easy for toad braking.
I am 72, and I hook up this toad and pull it with confidence. The instructions to hook up the toad was presented with ease. They knew exactly what they were doing, and we didn't rush through the demonstration. I would recommend eTrailer to anyone.
Installed successfully on my 2024 Trax LT. However, with respect to the following installation steps, I made some changes:
All - Don't use a reciprocating saw! An oscillating tool and saw attachment works best, allowing more precise cuts.
Step #8 - After consultation with BlueOx Tech Support, I elected to re-install the plastic shroud. Wasn't difficult and I felt better about maintaining the integrity of the original equipment.
Step #28 - I moved the temperature sensor to a forward facing position in the grill section directly above the baseplate.
Baseplate installation went pretty smooth with no surprises. I chose to separate the lower grill piece while I had the bumper cover off. This allowed me to install the bumper cover over the baseplate and then accurately determine where to make my cuts in the grill for the baseplate protrusions. The Blue Ox base plate is well made and fit perfectly.
Etrailer offered competitive pricing for the base plate and the package was shipped promptly and arrived very quickly...much faster than I had anticipated.
The packaging was excellent and included all documentation. Installation was very straightforward and the unit was a perfect fit with minimal modifications to the car itself. Only a few small pieces of plastic had to be trimmed for a perfect fit.
We did have some trouble with 2 of the nuts-with-wires attached in that the bolts did NOT want to thread in to them. For some reason, they just did not want to 'start' easily and this made the blind installation of the nuts on the bolts extremely time-consuming. The nuts/bolts did not cross-thread and there were no other issues once we were able to use a tool to jam the blind nut and stop it from moving so that the bolt could be tightened and torqued. 4 of the 6 went in smoothly and with zero issues, so do I not believe that it was 'installer error' (!).
In the end, a perfect installation and the base plate is nearly invisible. I would definitely purchase from eTrailer again and can easily recommend their products based on this experience.
Pretty easy to do my self but the instructions could have been a bit larger with more pictures. I think the hardest part was drilling the holes to attach the two brackets as there was only one hole on each frame. Getting the square nuts with wire attached were difficult to get both aligned because the wire on the first one got in the way each time
My only negative comment is that this base plate sets the tow bar connections 23" above the ground making it somewhat of a pain to fine towbar and hitch connections. It mounts relatively easy.
Everything as advertised. Followed the videos and instructions for installing the base plates and tow bar and all were good. Did a test pull today and it towed great, straight as a dye. I only have 2 suggestions. There was no mention in the video of the space plate, which was included. Figured it out. Second suggestion, Install a 2" ball on your work bench and adjust the receiver to it. The instructions tell you what socket to adjust it with but that could have been done on the bench before shipping. Great product, so excited. We are off on a few hundred mile trip with the Fit behind the motorhome Wednesday. So excited. No more tow dolly.
It turned out fine but my opinion is that you should have some average or above mechanical skills to install this yourself. As you can see, the base plate protrusions are hardly noticeable at a distance with the tow pins removed. One thing worth mentioning is I had to mount it more rearward on the frame because the front valance would not mount back on correctly. Overall, good base plate.
Bought it at etrailer as I have with other trailer hitch related parts. Installed it myself, and it was a real job. I figure about 10 hours to get it right so I didn't have to worry if my 'toad' would pass my motorhome as I tooled down the road. Fit was perfect for my 2008 Honda CRV, but make sure you keep that oil cooler line up as high as possible or you will be redoing the fit to get the front cowling back on the car. Bought an angle grinder with cutoff wheels and that made the frame notching a lot easier. Note that if the removeable attachment pins are a tight fit into the base plate, they will loosen up with a good silicone lubricant and the wear of towing. I have towed with confidence for a year without a hitch (pun intended).
Do you have a question about this Base Plate?
Info for this part was:
At etrailer.com we provide the best information available about the products we sell. We take the quality of our information seriously so that you can get the right part the first time. Let us know if anything is missing or if you have any questions.
Diana
7/22/2022
It’s been fantastic