Flat Tow the Ford Bronco

[@andyt2461]

What a great, easy to follow, clear and concise video. I am about to buy a toad vehicle and highly considering the Ford Bronco. This video has made me feel a lot better about my purchase, and made me feel safe this will work! Thanks again.

[@whidbeyben]

Glad it was helpful!

[@hillcountryexplorer267]

Thank you! This is exactly the information we were needing.

[@whidbeyben]

Glad it was helpful!

[@frankie5367]

Towing the Bronco with "HD Mod" bumper is Ok IMHO, Ive done for over 4k miles in the mountains of Oregon, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado and Idaho and plan to do much more without worry! I have Demco duo "stay N Play braking installed. I'm towing with a 11,000lb Ford Transit MH with 3.5L V6 rated at 5,000lb tow capacity. Previously I flat towed a Jeep Glad for 10k on same mountain roads with same type of bumper and tow bar mounts(same MH). I'm using Roadmaster Falcon and the Roadmaster tow adapter 035-1 with a 4" Curt #45798 7,500lb rated riser to make the towbar horizontally flat and even(which is a must when MH hitch is much lower than mount points the Wildtrak Bronco). Get braking installed, not only the law it makes for a breeze to tow.

[@TonyBenigno-j9j]

The owners manual says specifically not to use these tow bars for towing. They are to be used for recovery towing out of mud sand. I recently bought the correct base plates and when I put them on, I noticed there was only three bolts holding each one on. And the bolts were grade 5 I could see now why it would be an issue just a heads up.

[@whidbeyben]

Although it says "Note: Do not use recovery hooks to recreationally tow your vehicle" on page 294, they probably mean not to use them without other equipment such as a tow bar and may be assuming a vehicle equipped with the standard "Capable" bumper. The optional heavy duty steel modular bumper, with the tow bar adapter described in this video creates as beefy a connection to the vehicle frame as other bolt on base plates. The recovery hooks on the standard "capable" bumper is certainly not up to the task of recreational towing. If your Bronco has a factory bumper that is not the optional heavy duty steel modular bumper, you do need a dedicated base plate. IMHO recovering a vehicle out of sand or mud puts way more stress on a recovery point than recreational towing in most situations.

[@TonyBenigno-j9j]

@ I have the same bumper as you. The other thing you’re not considering is the safety cable that comes with the new tow plates that are a fail safe when all else fails. It wraps around the cross member. The new plates also add another bolt that runs through the frame so a total of 4 now. And the extra one has shear strength instead of just the 3 heads holding it on. I’m all for not spending money for no reason but I don’t want to kill somebody accidentally cause I was cheap and found LIABLE.

[@whidbeyben]

There’s more than one way to skin a cat. A dedicated baseplate is the best option for Broncos that don’t have the heavy duty modular steel bumper. And there’s no reason not to use one even with the modular steel bumper, other than additional weight and labor. Some of the base plates on the market were developed before the HD modular steel bumper rolled off the production lines. I had actually planned on getting one when I ordered my Bronco in 2021, but mine didn’t get delivered until 2024. This solution came out after the modular steel bumpers were on the road for some time and manufacturers had more time to test solutions. As for liability, the manufacturers of these products are on the hook when they market products for specific applications. I have flat towed my Bronco over a thousand miles without a problem and there is no sign of damage or wear in any of the towbar components.

[@zjtr10since80]

Good job

[@Bob9999]

Thank you for creating the video. Can you tell me when you flat tow the Bronco does the odometer record miles?

[@whidbeyben]

It does not run the odometer up at all. That did surprise me. Our Bronco will end up a low mileage vehicle in the end.

[@Bob9999]

@whidbeyben Thats great! Thank you.

[@steventank1113]

Ben, I see that e-trailer offers this Curt Rambler system for the 2021 Bronco only. Your Bronco is a 2023 correct? Did you make any modifications to your recovery points to strengthen them for flat towing? Thanks

[@whidbeyben]

There are no modifications to the optional Ford Heavy Duty Steel Modular bumper between its initial introduction to the 2024 model year. The solution in this video only applies to Broncos equipped with the optional heavy duty steel modular bumper.

[@gregwilloughby870]

Do I need to go to settings and make sure 2h 4x4 reads disengaged on the display?

[@whidbeyben]

The 4WD system status is not displayed in settings. Just make sure the LED above 2H is lit on the GOAT knob on the center console behind the shifter.

[@harveyandthehorse]

Do you have a battery charger from RV to Bronco to keep the Toad battery charged?

[@whidbeyben]

Yes, there is a charging circuit fed by the RV in the umbilical to keep the Bronco's battery charged. kzbin.info/www/bejne/emWpd3aAjat3mc0 details the TOAD conversion including the charging circuit.

[@ar_2ditu]

How is your View handling flat towing Bronco so far? What’s the curb weight of your Bronco with Sasquatch pkg?

[@whidbeyben]

I think our Badlands 2Dr V6 Sasquatch is about 4700 pounds. Pretty close to the max rating on our VS30 Sprinter based Class C. But towing has been surprisingly easy. It does slow considerably on steep grades, but acceleration and stopping around town and rolling hills is no problem. I haven’t yet taken it over any major mountain passes, but would anticipate getting into the slow lane for that.

[@makingmeetingsSTICK]

I thought the modulating bumper was not supported for towing the vehicle so you know for sure. I had a RV person quote me the onxy system and said the bumper is not supported

[@steventank1113]

Ben I’m making an assumption you’re on Whidbey Island?? If so, who installed your braking and tow system? Thanks

[@whidbeyben]

@@makingmeetingsSTICK There are several bumper options for the Bronco. The steel modular heavy duty bumper is rated for towing. The heavy steel "tow hooks" that are part of the HD modular steel bumper are bolted directly to the frame. If you have a plastic "Capable" bumper, you will probably need a steel baseplate mounted directly to the frame.

[@whidbeyben]

@@steventank1113 I did the install myself. Here's the video on the installation steps. kzbin.info/www/bejne/emWpd3aAjat3mc0feature=shared

[@craigfarmer5245]

Isn’t that bronco too heavy for that RV or doesn’t it matter when flat towing?

[@whidbeyben]

The Sprinter 3500HD chassis is rated to flat tow 5000#. This Bronco at 4700# is close to that max, but it doesn't seem to sweat it too much unless hauling up a steep incline.

[@whidbeyben5675]

This set up is specifically designed to work with the factory optional Heavy Duty Steel Modular Bumper. Perhaps not for the standard “Capable” plastic bumper.