Blue Ox | Towing Products for Recreational & Commercial Towing

Blue Ox - Recreational & Commercial Towing Products

Blue Ox is known internationally for its quality towing products, including tow bars and baseplates, sway control and weight-distributing hitches, and best-in-class customer service. As a manufacturer since 1925, Blue Ox products are built on a long tradition of quality. With our foundations deeply rooted in customer service, we pride ourselves on listening to our customer’s wants and needs, making their expectations paramount in the design and use of the entire Blue Ox product line. With a product and accessory line as diverse as our customer base Blue Ox has everything to meet your recreational or commercial needs.

Tow Bars

We offer RV tow bars to meet all of our customer’s needs. Towing ranges from 6,500 to 15,000 lbs, and accessories make hooking up easy. Blue Ox tow bars set the standard in the industry with our premium models featuring 2” longer legs providing more room between the tow vehicle and your flat towed vehicle. Patented non-binding latches quickly disconnect even in the most rugged terrain. Blue Ox's premium powder coat over e-coat accents any coach or tow vehicle.

Blue Ox baseplates set the standard in the industry with removable tabs that give a clean OEM look when not in use. Their supplemental brake systems offer cutting-edge technology and simplicity. We want you to enjoy their travel and flat towing experience.

Patriot Flat Tow Brake

Blue Ox Patriot Brake

Versatile

Whether you flat tow a full-size SUV, pickup, compact car, hybrid, or multiple vehicles with different floorplan configurations, the Patriot Brake system will work for your tow vehicle with no special brackets required.

Dimensions: 8” X 7.5” X 11.5”

Real Braking

Braking action provides the same force as a foot on the brake pedal, in the middle of the pedal, at the same angle for true, responsive braking.

Faster Extension of the braking action for quicker, more responsive stops.

Control

Compact, dash-mounted in-cab controller:

Adjusts the braking force
Overrides automatic braking
Monitors brake function for your tow vehicle
Breakaway alert
Visual and audio alerts
Great for flat towing

Ready

Everything you need is in the box. No tank to drain, no pumps or hoses to connect. No mess.

Quick Setup

Attach the brake claw, plug in the power cord and breakaway switch, and push the setup button.

The Patriot will cycle once. The Indicator light will light up, indicating that you are ready to go.

Blue Ox Patriot Brake

Tow Brakes are Required in all of Canada and 49 US States.

Versatile

Whether you flat tow a full-size SUV, pickup, compact car, hybrid, or tow multiple vehicles with different floorplan configurations,

the Patriot Brake will work for you; no special brackets are required.

Dimensions: 8” X 7.5” X 11.5”

New, lighter design, 6.2 lbs. vs. the 9.5 lbs. of the previous Patriot Brake.

Real Braking

Braking action provides the same force as a foot on the brake pedal, in the middle of the pedal, at the same angle for true, responsive braking.

Faster Extension of the braking action for quicker, more responsive stops.

Control

Compact, dash-mounted in-cab controller:

Adjusts the braking force
Overrides automatic braking
Monitors brake function
Breakaway alert
Visual and audio alerts

Ready

Everything you need is in the box:

Brake claw
RF brake in-cab controller
Adjustable push pad
12 Volt power cord
Adjustable feet for uneven floorplans
Breakaway switch
No tank to drain, no pumps or hoses to connect. No mess.

No tank to drain, no pumps or hoses to connect. No mess.

Quick Setup

Attach the brake claw, plug in the power cord and breakaway switch, and push the setup button.

The Patriot will cycle once. The Indicator light will light up, indicating that you are ready to go.

Flat Tow Brake System FAQs

Also known as a “dinghy towing brake,” a flat tow brake system is a device that applies the brakes of the dinghy based on an input from the towing vehicle due to a braking event. The tow brake goes into action as soon as the brake receives that input. Another way for the brakes to engage is to use the remote to engage the brakes. Contact Us and learn more about how flat tow brakes work.

They are easy to install and easy to use. These are designed to apply the brakes in your flat towed vehicle at the same time and with the same intensity with which you apply the brakes in your RV. Proportional systems tend to be the most preferred among RV enthusiasts.

Sometimes referred to as an active system, the vacuum-assist system works via the power-assist function of your towed vehicle’s brakes. Power-assist will multiply the force placed on the RV brake pedal to make braking much easier for the driver. This system offers the most natural braking, however it does not offer full emergency braking capabilities.

A dinghy towing brake like the Patriot Brake will help the coach and dinghy slow down sooner and safer. Flat tow brakes are also required by law, depending on the weight limits in your state.

Direct systems are connected to your tow vehicle’s air or hydraulic brake lines and sense when you apply your RV brakes and with what intensity. It works by transferring air or hydraulic pressure from the brake lines to the air cylinder of the tow vehicle. The actuator replicates the same timing and pressure in the tow vehicle that you are using in the RV.

It is required by law to use flat tow brakes in 49 states as well as Canada. The weight limits may vary from state to state, so be sure to know the regulations where you are going. However, planning to travel with a flat tow brake installed will be the safest option regardless of where you are headed. Contact Us and learn more about why you need a flat tow brake system.

Blue Ox CUSTOM-DESIGNED BASEPLATES
• Baseplates are custom-designed for each vehicle, bolting directly into the chassis.
• Design and engineered to use as many attachment points as possible.
• Most Blue Ox baseplates feature removable tabs that leave a clean look when the vehicle is not being towed.
• Requires no welding for installation.
• Baseplates are hidden beneath the vehicle body.
• A three-year limited warranty backs all baseplates.
Contact Us for Baseplate application details OR Send Us a Quote

Weight Distribution

Why Do You Need a Weight Distributing Hitch?

A weight distribution hitch does just what the name says — it evenly distributes the weight of your payload. It works by using adjustable spring bars and tension to distribute the load of the trailer tongue to the trailer and the tow vehicle axles. In most cases, weight distribution hitches allow you to back up without disconnecting from your camper. Shop our weight-distributing hitches for towing campers and RVs: from SwayPro™, TrackPro™, and 2-Point™

Blue Ox Patriot Brake

What Does Trailer Tongue Weight Mean?

The tongue weight is the static force the trailer tongue exerts on the hitch ball. For instance, if a 2,000-pound conventional trailer is loaded with 1,000 pounds of cargo, the proper tongue weight of the loaded trailer should be between 300 and 450 pounds or 10-15 percent of the loaded 3,000-pound total. A tongue scale will confirm actual tongue weight.

Select the Weight Distribution That is Right for You

Blue Ox Tow Bars SwayPro

SwayPro

Premium Sway Prevention

Features:

Evenly distributes weight over axles of the tow vehicle and trailer
Noise-free sway prevention never stops working, even in rain or snow
Caster in the hitch head constantly centers the trailer
Spring bars augment the suspensions of the tow vehicle & trailer
Rotating latches with clamp-on brackets for quick and easy setup
Back up without disconnecting
Powder coat over e-coat finish
Steel construction

Specifications:

Tongue weights available: 350, 550, 750, 1000, 1500 & 2000lbs
Gross Towing Weight 20K maximum
2” receiver, 2-1/2” receiver shank available

Blue Ox Tow Bars TrackPro

TrackPro

Premium Sway Management

Features:

Evenly distributes weight over axles of the tow vehicle and trailer
Manages sway caused by bad roads, wind, and weather
Caster in the hitch head constantly centers the trailer
Spring bars augment the suspensions of the tow vehicle & trailer
Rigid L-brackets provide additional points of sway-controlling friction
Back up without disconnecting
Powder coat over e-coat finish
Steel construction

Specifications:

Tongue weights available: 600, 800, 1000 & 1300lbs
Gross towing weight: 13K maximum
2” receiver, 2-1/2” receiver shank available

Blue Ox Tow Bars 2-Point

2-Point

Best Value Weight Distribution

Features:

Evenly distributes weight over axles of the tow vehicle and trailer
Steel-on-steel friction minimizes sway. Round spring bars flex for a controlled ride
L-Brackets keep spring bars in place. Clamp-on brackets
Black powder coat
Steel construction

Specifications:

Tongue weights available: 600 (2-inch ball), 800, and 1200 lbs (2-5/16” ball).
Gross towing weight: 12K maximum
2” receiver

Weight Distribution Hitch FAQs

A weight distribution hitch is a towing system that evenly distributes the tongue weight of a trailer across the tow vehicle’s axles, preventing trailer sway and improving stability and control.

Read the installation instructions for your hitch thoroughly. Set the hitch ball height of the hitch head per instructions. Install the frame brackets per the installation instructions. Attach the hitch head to the tow vehicle’s receiver. Connect spring bars to the hitch head. Attach the trailer to the hitch head and raise the trailer coupler with the tongue jack. Connect spring bars to trailer brackets. Learn how to install the Trackpro Weight Distribution Hitch, and how to install the SwayPro Weight Distribution Hitch.

No, it doesn’t increase the towing capacity. It improves stability and control while towing within your vehicle’s limits.

A weight distribution hitch works by distributing the weight more evenly to the tow vehicle. It uses spring bars and brackets to spread the trailer’s tongue weight across both the trailer and tow vehicle’s axles, reducing sway and improving balance. Learn more about how a weight distribution hitch works.

No, it doesn’t reduce tongue weight; it redistributes it across the axles for better balance. Learn more on our guide to measuring tongue weight.

When towing anything 5,000 pounds or more, especially a travel trailer, installing a weight distribution hitch can make a massive difference in your towing experience by improving safety and stability. Most of the midsize and half-ton trucks out there will require a weight distribution hitch when towing something that is 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.

How Much Can You Tow?

If your receiver hitch is rated for use with weight distribution, the weight distribution system will allow you to tow at the maximum capacity of the receiver hitch. Weight distribution doesn’t “increase” your receiver’s capacity so much as it will enable the hitch to be used at its maximum capacity.

Generally, most people who choose to tow something try to keep the total weight at around 80 percent of their vehicle’s maximum towing capacity. This is the best way to make sure you don’t cause damage to your vehicle or increase the potential for accidents or difficulty hauling the trailer.

What Happens if You Tow More Than Capacity?

Max towing capacity should not be taken lightly. Exceeding what your vehicle is designed to tow can strain your engine and transmission, accelerate brake wear, damage your tires, and even warp your chassis. This could trigger catastrophic failure while driving and lead to property damage or severe injury.

Blue Ox 5th Wheel Hitch

BXR2100

Attaches to 2-5/16” Gooseneck Hitch 21,000 Gross Towing Capacity 5,000 lb. Vertical Load Limit

Blue Ox 5th Wheel BXR2100