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Old 01-07-2025, 03:21 PM   #1
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Blue Ox Baseplate failure

A warning for those folks who are using Blue Ox baseplates on their toads. I have a 2019 Jeep Cherokee which I flat tow behind our 2020 Newmar Baystar. The baseplate was installed 4 years ago, and we have had no issues at all towing until last week. While on a secondary road approaching the Mayport Naval Station, the passenger side baseplate broke which allowed our Jeep to quickly move into the right lane behind the RV. Luckily for us there were no folks in the lane next to us and I was able to get stopped safely with no damage to the Jeep or MH.
In examining the baseplate, it was not only rusted but the weld on the pin portion of the bracket looked bad and probably was the reason for the failure. In reviewing Google comments as well as the NHTSA website, Blue Ox has had many complaints about this very issue for many years.
I'm changing over now to a Roadmaster baseplate with a Roadmaster tow bar (our tow bar got tweaked while holding onto the Jeep with one arm). The Roadmaster baseplate looks a lot stouter, and I haven't found any complaints about it failing while towing.
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Old 01-07-2025, 05:14 PM   #2
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Is this a 2 piece baseplate? Is the passenger side separate from the drivers side?
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Old 01-07-2025, 05:17 PM   #3
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Did you contact Blue Ox? You should.
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Old 01-07-2025, 08:01 PM   #4
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Just remember to follow the maintenance instructions to the letter.
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Every 3,000 miles, the owner must inspect all mounting points for cracks or fatigue, and check the fasteners for proper torque, according to the bolt torque requirements chart on the last page of these instructions.
In other words remove all the front-end plastic and check and retorque the bolts.
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Old 01-07-2025, 08:21 PM   #5
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Please submit a NHTSA compliant. The more reports, the better chance they will investigate.
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Old 01-08-2025, 09:11 AM   #6
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two-piece base plate..
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Old 01-08-2025, 09:13 AM   #7
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Please submit a NHTSA compliant. The more reports, the better chance they will investigate.
Yes, I have filed a complaint with NHTSA this week, viewed many other similar complaints regarding the Blue Ox base plates.
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Old 01-08-2025, 09:15 AM   #8
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Did you contact Blue Ox? You should.
Yes I did call customer service and had to leave a message. I'm just hoping they will pay me for a new base plate. I don't plan on installing anything else from Blue Ox. Looking at Roadmaster or just use a tow dolly...

Thanks!
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Old 01-08-2025, 09:20 AM   #9
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[QUOTE=RRR;6929914]Just remember to follow the maintenance instructions to the letter. [QUOTE] Every 3,000 miles, the owner must inspect all mounting points for cracks or fatigue, and check the fasteners for proper torque, according to the bolt torque requirements chart on the last page of these instructions. /
Quote:

In other words remove all the front-end plastic and check and retorque the bolts.
I did review the maintenance instructions and while I always inspected the connections to make sure I could not see any cracks, the only way to check the bolt torque is to remove the facia off the front of the car and that's not going to happen every 3000 miles Looks like Roadmaster also has the same recommendations as well. I do not want this to happen again so I'm now shopping for a car dolly. A little more work for me, two more tires to take care of but much easier to complete the necessary safety checks!
Thanks for the information!
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Old 01-08-2025, 09:27 AM   #10
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[QUOTE=RRR;6929914]Just remember to follow the maintenance instructions to the letter. [QUOTE] Every 3,000 miles, the owner must inspect all mounting points for cracks or fatigue, and check the fasteners for proper torque, according to the bolt torque requirements chart on the last page of these instructions. /
Quote:

In other words remove all the front-end plastic and check and retorque the bolts.

Really? That’s just a CYA statement from them. Nobody is going to do that religiously. On my GMC Sierra the two components are build very well but they chose to use the cheapest fasteners they could find and most of them rusted so bad or failed in 6 years. They supplied safety cables for them which was good but if they just used Grade 8 bolts and nuts instead of the low grade junk they chose it would be good for life. This installed on a truck that very rarely has seen winter weather. Can’t imagine the failure rate on trucks that are up north
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Old 01-08-2025, 12:48 PM   #11
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Whatever you do, do not send the baseplate back to BlueOx. The NHTSA might want the unit for a failure analysis. After reading the other BlueOx/Hopkins NHTSA reports, I believe their welding and some of their designs are suspect.
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Old 01-08-2025, 12:58 PM   #12
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Baseplate installation instructions say to use locktite red. A properly torqued bolt using locktite red is essential.

Re torqueing baseplate bolts would require what kind of loosening method?

Taking the fascia off my Acadia isn't going to happen.

Inspecting for a tight baseplate connection and any signs of rust is doable.

My Blue Ox baseplate instructions say nothing about 3000 miles or taking it all apart.
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Old 01-08-2025, 01:07 PM   #13
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two-piece base plate..
I've read reports of two piece and one piece designs failing.

I don't see how the 2 piece design can be robust enough but I had no idea a 2 piece design even existed until I read accounts of them failing

Sorry this happened to you and I understand not using a Blue Ox product again - I wouldn't either and Ive got all Blue Ox equipment
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Old 01-09-2025, 10:54 AM   #14
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Originally Posted by Waldo57 View Post
I don't plan on installing anything else from Blue Ox. Looking at Roadmaster or just use a tow dolly...
Don't discount a Demco baseplate if available. I watched the Etrailer baseplate installation videos for Blue Ox, Roadmaster, and Demco for my Equinox. I went with Demco.

That thing is literally bulletproof in spots because it uses 1/4" steel plates to bolt the baseplate to the structure holding the impact beam ("bumper"). The plates are bolted to the baseplate on each side with two 1/2" bolts.

Plus it came with two internal safety cables. Those cables are behind the fascia and wrapped around the one-piece baseplate and the frame. Even is the entire baseplate tears off the car the internal safety cables keep it loosely attached on both sides.

We do use a Roadmaster Nighthawk tow bar with it. Interestingly, the "tabs" that are normally removed and installed each time get bolted to the end of the Nighthawk so that's less steps and less things to misplace when connecting and disconnecting.

Ray
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