Using Roadmaster Base Plates with a Blue Ox Tow Bar on a 2012 Ford Focus SE

Question:

Is a Blue Ox tow bar compatible with a Roadmaster base plate? I have two friends who have offered me Blue Ox tow bars for my 2012 Ford Focus SE, and I’ve read your article on items needed for setting a Focus up for towing. You recommend the Roadmaster base plate and it costs less than the Blue Ox base plate. Thanks.

asked by: Louise V

Expert Reply:

There are adapters to connect Roadmaster base plate kits with Blue Ox tow bars. It depends which tow bar you end up having whether they're compatible but most likely they will be. The adapters work with most Blue Ox tow bars but there's some exceptions if the tow bar is older. Let me know which tow bar your friends have offered you and I'll confirm for sure. I've also linked a help article that lists compatibility between tow bars and base plate kits you can reference if you like.

There are two Roadmaster base plate kits that fit your 2012 Ford Focus SE; the EZ4 # RM-524430-4 and the EZ5 # RM-524430-5. Assuming the adapters work with the Blue Ox tow bar there are different ones you need depending on the base plate kit. If you use the EZ4 kit you can use either the Roadmaster part # RM-032 or the Blue Ox part # BX88178. On the other hand if you choose the EZ5 kit then you need Blue Ox adapters # BX88185.

I've linked the install details of each adapter for you as well.