Frequently Asked Questions
Great idea! Warranty registration is important so our Customer Care team can quickly and easily pull up your information should you need assistance. You can find all warranty information on our warranty page.
You may find instructions for your Blue Ox products on the individual page for the product that you purchased. Type the product number in the search bar to go to a particular product page.
You cannot backup with your Blue Ox tow bar connected to your towed vehicle. The tow bar must be disconnected from the tow vehicle and stowed before backing up the motorhome.
To determine if your vehicle is flat towable, please consult the manufacturer and check the owner’s manual. Once you have determined your vehicle can be towed, you can use our Baseplate Finder. If you cannot locate your vehicle on our finder, it is possible we have not yet created a fit for that year, make, or model. If that is the case, please contact our team using the New Vehicle Baseplate Fit Request. Someone from our team will be in touch to tell you about our Fit Program if you are able to make to trip to visit us in Pender, Nebraska.
In most U.S. states and Canadian provinces/territories, a supplemental braking system is required by law whenever you’re towing. In all but a few states, you MUST have a towed car braking system installed whenever you tow a trailer of a certain weight or any vehicle. A towed car brake system helps to reduce the strain on your RV’s primary brakes. Your motorhome will brake more easily and the wear and tear on the brakes will be reduced considerably by using a supplemental braking system. Also, here at Blue Ox it will put less strain on your tow bar and baseplate.
The tow bar should be kept as level as possible, with no more than a three-inch height difference between the RV hitch and the baseplate, to prevent component strain.
While not required, installing a weight distribution hitch when towing anything 5,000 pounds or more, especially a travel trailer, can make a significant difference in your towing experience by improving safety and stability. Most midsize and half-ton trucks will require a weight distribution hitch when towing loads of 5,000 pounds or more. Heavy-duty trucks can vary a bit, ranging from 6,000 pounds to 8,500 pounds. Learn more about deciding whether you need a weight distributing hitch or not.
No, it doesn’t increase the towing capacity. It improves stability and control while towing within your vehicle’s limits.
Instructions: Serial numbers for most major products can be found in the instructions in the upper right-hand corner.
Tow Bars: Currently, most models will have an SN sticker on the driver’s side leg. Older models may be engraved in the metal at the bottom of the driver’s side leg, so you may need to look more closely.
Brakes: Found on a sticker on the side of the brake.
WD Hitches: In the hitch head between the bar pivots.
5th Wheel Hitches: Engraved on the base of the hitch.
Phone: 1-800-228-9289
Email: info@blueox.com
Live Chat: You may start a Live Chat with a Blue Ox Customer Care Representative by clicking on the Chat Function in the lower right-hand corner of any page on the website.
You will need:
- A motorhome with a 2″ or 2-1/2″ receiver hitch
- Blue Ox tow bar rated to match the GVRW of the vehicle you intend to tow
- Blue Ox baseplate designed to fit the vehicle you intend to tow
- Blue Ox Patriot dinghy tow brake
- A Wiring Kit, or
- Blue Ox Accessory Kit (includes wiring kit; 7-6 electrical cable; hitch locks; hitch immobilizer; and a tow bar cover
Suggested:
We recommend servicing your tow bar every two years or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first. Tow bars older than eight years should be replaced. We offer a $150 trade-in program with many of our dealers to help offset the cost of ensuring your tow bar is functional for the wear and tear of dinghy towing.
Blue Ox regularly attends events offering tow bar service. Check the events list here and sign up for early bird service.
- Swing the legs inwards towards each other.
- With legs together, swing them up towards the towing vehicle.
- Rotate the legs down to either side until the ears of the leg capture the hold-up tab of the hitch connector.
- Keep the tow bar covered when not in use, on or off the towing vehicle. This will cut down on the dirt build-up on the legs and joints of the tow bar. A BX88309 tow bar cover is recommended.”
Yes, you may back up your tow vehicle and trailer while connected to any Blue Ox weight distributing hitch.
At Blue Ox, we use a 5 dimple system:
SwayPro:
- 350lb Bar – O Dots
- 550lb Bar – 1 Dot
- 750lb Bar – 2 Dots
- 1000lb Bar – 3 Dots
- 1500lb Bar – 4 Dots
- 2000lb Bar – 5 Dots
TrackPro:
- 300lb Bar – 0 Lines
- 600lb Bar – 1 Line
- 800lb Bar – 2 Line
- 1000lb Bar – 3 Line
- 1300lb Bar – 4 Line
When it comes to towing, there are many factors to consider. However, as we like to say, “Towing Doesn’t Have to be a Drag!” You can find all the information you need about towing with our Blue Ox Products in our comprehensive Towing Guide.
Great idea! Warranty registration is important so our Customer Care team can quickly and easily pull up your information should you need assistance. You can find all warranty information on our warranty page.
Instructions: Serial numbers for most major products can be found in the instructions in the upper right-hand corner.
Tow Bars: Currently, most models will have an SN sticker on the driver’s side leg. Older models may be engraved in the metal at the bottom of the driver’s side leg, so you may need to look more closely.
Brakes: Found on a sticker on the side of the brake.
WD Hitches: In the hitch head between the bar pivots.
5th Wheel Hitches: Engraved on the base of the hitch.
You may find instructions for your Blue Ox products on the individual page for the product that you purchased. Type the product number in the search bar to go to a particular product page.
Phone: 1-800-228-9289
Email: info@blueox.com
Live Chat: You may start a Live Chat with a Blue Ox Customer Care Representative by clicking on the Chat Function in the lower right-hand corner of any page on the website.
You cannot backup with your Blue Ox tow bar connected to your towed vehicle. The tow bar must be disconnected from the tow vehicle and stowed before backing up the motorhome.
You will need:
- A motorhome with a 2″ or 2-1/2″ receiver hitch
- Blue Ox tow bar rated to match the GVRW of the vehicle you intend to tow
- Blue Ox baseplate designed to fit the vehicle you intend to tow
- Blue Ox Patriot dinghy tow brake
- A Wiring Kit, or
- Blue Ox Accessory Kit (includes wiring kit; 7-6 electrical cable; hitch locks; hitch immobilizer; and a tow bar cover
Suggested:
To determine if your vehicle is flat towable, please consult the manufacturer and check the owner’s manual. Once you have determined your vehicle can be towed, you can use our Baseplate Finder. If you cannot locate your vehicle on our finder, it is possible we have not yet created a fit for that year, make, or model. If that is the case, please contact our team using the New Vehicle Baseplate Fit Request. Someone from our team will be in touch to tell you about our Fit Program if you are able to make to trip to visit us in Pender, Nebraska.
We recommend servicing your tow bar every two years or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first. Tow bars older than eight years should be replaced. We offer a $150 trade-in program with many of our dealers to help offset the cost of ensuring your tow bar is functional for the wear and tear of dinghy towing.
Blue Ox regularly attends events offering tow bar service. Check the events list here and sign up for early bird service.
In most U.S. states and Canadian provinces/territories, a supplemental braking system is required by law whenever you’re towing. In all but a few states, you MUST have a towed car braking system installed whenever you tow a trailer of a certain weight or any vehicle. A towed car brake system helps to reduce the strain on your RV’s primary brakes. Your motorhome will brake more easily and the wear and tear on the brakes will be reduced considerably by using a supplemental braking system. Also, here at Blue Ox it will put less strain on your tow bar and baseplate.
- Swing the legs inwards towards each other.
- With legs together, swing them up towards the towing vehicle.
- Rotate the legs down to either side until the ears of the leg capture the hold-up tab of the hitch connector.
- Keep the tow bar covered when not in use, on or off the towing vehicle. This will cut down on the dirt build-up on the legs and joints of the tow bar. A BX88309 tow bar cover is recommended.”
The tow bar should be kept as level as possible, with no more than a three-inch height difference between the RV hitch and the baseplate, to prevent component strain.
Yes, you may back up your tow vehicle and trailer while connected to any Blue Ox weight distributing hitch.
While not required, installing a weight distribution hitch when towing anything 5,000 pounds or more, especially a travel trailer, can make a significant difference in your towing experience by improving safety and stability. Most midsize and half-ton trucks will require a weight distribution hitch when towing loads of 5,000 pounds or more. Heavy-duty trucks can vary a bit, ranging from 6,000 pounds to 8,500 pounds. Learn more about deciding whether you need a weight distributing hitch or not.
At Blue Ox, we use a 5 dimple system:
SwayPro:
- 350lb Bar – O Dots
- 550lb Bar – 1 Dot
- 750lb Bar – 2 Dots
- 1000lb Bar – 3 Dots
- 1500lb Bar – 4 Dots
- 2000lb Bar – 5 Dots
TrackPro:
- 300lb Bar – 0 Lines
- 600lb Bar – 1 Line
- 800lb Bar – 2 Line
- 1000lb Bar – 3 Line
- 1300lb Bar – 4 Line
No, it doesn’t increase the towing capacity. It improves stability and control while towing within your vehicle’s limits.
When it comes to towing, there are many factors to consider. However, as we like to say, “Towing Doesn’t Have to be a Drag!” You can find all the information you need about towing with our Blue Ox Products in our comprehensive Towing Guide.