Blue Ox Base Plate Failure! Public Service Announcement

[BradnChristine]

Add one more Blue Ox failure. Braked, no even hard and the driver side receiver is bent! I ordered a new one but will not install it. Based on threads, going with a Demco!

I've made several trips now towing with my Demco baseplate. Tomorrow will start another 2500 mile trip. About 6500 trouble-free miles so far.

Sponsored

 

[Twinboat]

Came up with a idea, and implemented it, to brace my BluOx baseplate. Although I have a longer arm towbar, and not had an issues with it, I figured it's cheap insurance.

I ordered a 1" X 2" X 4 ft, 1/8 thick box beam and 2 - 4" X 4" X 1/4 " thick steel plates. Drilled 1-1/2" holes in the plates, rounded the corners and welded them to the box beam at the proper spacing.

I slip it over the adaptors pins and hitch up the tow bar to keep it in place.

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

Came up with a idea, and implemented it, to brace my BluOx baseplate. Although I have a longer arm towbar, and not had an issues with it, I figured it's cheap insurance.

I ordered a 1" X 2" X 4 ft, 1/8 thick box beam and 2 - 4" X 4" X 1/4 " thick steel plates. Drilled 1-1/2" holes in the plates, rounded the corners and welded them to the box beam at the proper spacing.

I slip it over the adaptors pins and hitch up the tow bar to keep it in place.

Well done! HRG

 

[realshelby]

Add one more Blue Ox failure. Braked, no even hard and the driver side receiver is bent! I ordered a new one but will not install it. Based on threads, going with a Demco!

What brand/model towbar were you using?

 

[Charlie23]

Blue 0x. Blue ox said I need one 2 inches long but they will cause base plate to bend also with enough stopping force. Problem is the spread is 41 inches and no tow bar will, regardless of what Blue Ox says, will prevent the base plate from being bent. Was just at a Tiffin Rally and before I could tell people I bent my base plate, everyone said do not put a blue ox on a Maverick. They will bend! Replaced with a Roadmaster. Only 28 inches wide within industry standard.

 

[realshelby]

Blue Ox will tell you they offer 2 or 3 tow bars that are recommended. They have legs about 2" longer than the Blue Ox towbar I had, and likely the one you used. Two problems with that. First is that there is already confirmed failure of the Blue Ox base plates USING the recommended length tow bars!!! Second is that NOWHERE in any of the literature or mounting instructions did is say a minimum length towbar is required. "Compatible" tow bar was all that was stated, and my Blue Ox was 100% compatible in fitment. Language has been changed, but STILL does not confirm what a customer must use to prevent base plate failure.

Blue Ox has denied all claims as far as I can tell with the slight exception where they sent a customer a replacement base plate package ( no compensation for labor) for his failure ( while using the recommended length tow bar). Blue Ox refuses to acknowledge the flaws in this design and continues to sell them.

 

[BradnChristine]

Blue Ox will tell you they offer 2 or 3 tow bars that are recommended. They have legs about 2" longer than the Blue Ox towbar I had, and likely the one you used. Two problems with that. First is that there is already confirmed failure of the Blue Ox base plates USING the recommended length tow bars!!! Second is that NOWHERE in any of the literature or mounting instructions did is say a minimum length towbar is required. "Compatible" tow bar was all that was stated, and my Blue Ox was 100% compatible in fitment. Language has been changed, but STILL does not confirm what a customer must use to prevent base plate failure.

Blue Ox has denied all claims as far as I can tell with the slight exception where they sent a customer a replacement base plate package ( no compensation for labor) for his failure ( while using the recommended length tow bar). Blue Ox refuses to acknowledge the flaws in this design and continues to sell them.

Yeah...that's the end of my EVER considering any Blue Ox products. Failing to warranty an obviously BAD design is terrible customer service. Their engineers made a mistake; they should own up to it.

 

[shadow76]

After reading the issues with tow bars, tying into the electrical and braking systems, elected to go with a tow dolly equipped with surge brakes.

Towed the Maverick nearly 4k miles this summer without an issue. Takes about ten minutes to drive the truck onto the dolly, strap in, attach safety chains and plug the dolly into the RV.

As I chose to tow any one of three different vehicles, the tow dolly made economic sense vs a tow bar set up for each vehicle. Additionally I have sufficient room to store the dolly when not in use.

 

[kbausman]

I had the exact same thing happen to me. And of course Blue Ox denied my claim. This is a very poor design. There are also Jeep owners that have had the front bumper mount crack at the weld from the same type design. I won’t ever be recommending or buying another blue ox product again. My next move is to file a claim with the NTSB.

 

[kbausman]

I

I had the exact same thing happen to me. And of course Blue Ox denied my claim. This is a very poor design. There are also Jeep owners that have had the front bumper mount crack at the weld from the same type design. I won’t ever be recommending or buying another blue ox product again. My next move is to file a claim with the NTSB.

I have also filed a complaint with the NH

I had the exact same thing happen to me. And of course Blue Ox denied my claim. This is a very poor design. There are also Jeep owners that have had the front bumper mount crack at the weld from the same type design. I won’t ever be recommending or buying another blue ox product again. My next move is to file a claim with the NTSB.

I have filed a claim with the NHTSA. I urge all others with this condition to do the same.

 

[BradnChristine]

I

I have also filed a complaint with the NH

I have filed a claim with the NHTSA. I urge all others with this condition to do the same.

The fact that Blue Ox has now changed its baseplate due to MULTIPLE failures as reported here is full evidence that they KNOW they had a defective product. Yet they still don't stand behind the failures, unless they've recently been doing so with NDAs.

Blue Ox will never get any business from me, after listening to all that has been reported here. And as far as I see, bolting an extra piece is a very poor "fix". Baseplates should have both sides (connection points) welded onto the crossbar for many applications, including the Maverick.

 

[kbausman]

Add one more Blue Ox failure. Braked, no even hard and the driver side receiver is bent! I ordered a new one but will not install it. Based on threads, going with a Demco!

I had the blue ox front packets mounted to my maverick. I didn't even get nine miles before The front of my truck ended up running into the back of my motor home. Both the brackets we're pushed outward, just as described in previous post.
I would happily be part of a civil action suit against blue Ox. They should not be allowed to knowingly keep selling this inferior product. Them and e trailer.

file a report with the NHTSA

 

[kbausman]

I had the blue ox front packets mounted to my maverick. I didn't even get nine miles before The front of my truck ended up running into the back of my motor home. Both the brackets we're pushed outward, just as described in previous post.
I would happily be part of a civil action suit against blue Ox. They should not be allowed to knowingly keep selling this inferior product. Them and e trailer.

Please file a report with the NHTSA

 

[Dave O]

All (3) major baseplate manufacturers are struggling to fit the refreshed 2025 Maverick Lariat AWD Hybrid with a compatible baseplate due to Ford relocating the ACC Radar hopefully Demco comes through soon it seems to be the least destructive to the front end - I have been talking to all three looks like it will be awhile longer for Demco and RoadMaster BlueOx has one for sale but I am hesitant to go with BlueOx with their recent issues although I have been flat towing with their equipment for years just don’t want to risk it with my new Maverick

 

[DaveTS]

All (3) major baseplate manufacturers are struggling to fit the refreshed 2025 Maverick Lariat AWD Hybrid with a compatible baseplate due to Ford relocating the ACC Radar hopefully Demco comes through soon it seems to be the least destructive to the front end - I have been talking to all three looks like it will be awhile longer for Demco and RoadMaster BlueOx has one for sale but I am hesitant to go with BLueOX with their recently issues although I have been flat towing with their equipment for years just don’t want to risk it with my new Maverick

I'm eagerly awaiting a Demco solution too. They promised to call me when they have one ready.

Sponsored