Flat towing

[CherylB]

I'm going with2.3L, 10 speed automatic, 4x4 part time selectable engagement and 3.73 open style rear axle in carbonized gray body color. Adding towing package, modular roof, keyless entry pad and running boards. I'm flat towing and wonder if it requires a base plate or if bumper has tow bar hooks. Does anyone forsee a problems with any of my selections? Only adding towing for resale value.

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[MyATV]

 

[ZackDanger]

I'm going with2.3L, 10 speed automatic, 4x4 part time selectable engagement and 3.73 open style rear axle in carbonized gray body color. Adding towing package, modular roof, keyless entry pad and running boards. I'm flat towing and wonder if it requires a base plate or if bumper has tow bar hooks. Does anyone forsee a problems with any of my selections? Only adding towing for resale value.

You should have no problem flat towing. Front of vehicle has multiple frame attachment points... if that’s what you’re asking.

 

[dgorsett]

It kinda depends on your tow bar preference. The front tow loops on models without D-ring style can be replaced with D rings using a rough country adapter. Then you can get adapters for your towbar to fit the D ring mount. If you like the full BlueOx or Roadmaster system you will require a base plate.

 

[ZackDanger]

Just to add to my previous post.

Trims with the modular bumper have the ends of the frame rails exposed in the front and these shackle points accessible. They are colore yellow in this pic:

For trims with the standard bumper (with or without fog lights), these ends are covered so there are two loops bolted to the underside of those same frame rails. You can kind of make them here:

Either way, it would seem that you have a mounting location easily accessible or adaptable in whatever trim/bumper combo your Bronco has.

 

[dgorsett]

Just to add to my previous post.

Trims with the modular bumper have the ends of the frame rails exposed in the front and these shackle points accessible. They are colore yellow in this pic:

For trims with the standard bumper (with or without fog lights), these ends are covered so there are two loops bolted to the underside of those same frame rails. You can kind of make them here:

Either way, it would seem that you have a mounting location easily accessible or adaptable in whatever trim/bumper combo your Bronco has.

I'm thinking I might remove the blocky plastic covers from my BB bumper and mounting the shackle mounts (yellow in your photo)

 

[CherylB]

Just to add to my previous post.

Trims with the modular bumper have the ends of the frame rails exposed in the front and these shackle points accessible. They are colore yellow in this pic:

For trims with the standard bumper (with or without fog lights), these ends are covered so there are two loops bolted to the underside of those same frame rails. You can kind of make them here:

Either way, it would seem that you have a mounting location easily accessible or adaptable in whatever trim/bumper combo your Bronco has.

 

[JamesJBurke]

I strongly advise you not to tow a Bronco. I have heard of a few people that have done so trouble free, but, I have interacted with many more who lost their transmission doing so. Ford uses the codes the Bronco generates when the transmission is ruined to blame you for doing something wrong and if you have the same experience I did, it will cost you $10,000 and a lot of frustration. If you already bought the Bronco, consider buying a trailer to tow it with. It costs about the same as the transmission will cost you. If you lost your transmission RV towing your Bronco, contact me at [email protected]. I am working to create a documentary to protect other Bronco owners from falling into the same trap.

 

[grtharris]

I would like to know how many emails you get from owners with transmission failures while towing.
THANKS!

 

[BlueWaffle]

I strongly advise you not to tow a Bronco. I have heard of a few people that have done so trouble free, but, I have interacted with many more who lost their transmission doing so. Ford uses the codes the Bronco generates when the transmission is ruined to blame you for doing something wrong and if you have the same experience I did, it will cost you $10,000 and a lot of frustration. If you already bought the Bronco, consider buying a trailer to tow it with. It costs about the same as the transmission will cost you. If you lost your transmission RV towing your Bronco, contact me at [email protected]. I am working to create a documentary to protect other Bronco owners from falling into the same trap.

You should expand this venture of yours into more models, as the issue isn't isolated to broncos. Bunch of folks with '19+ rangers have had the same misfortune..

 

[JamesJBurke]

If you know any of them, please have them contact me. Thanks.

 

[Fordified1]

If you know any of them, please have them contact me. Thanks.

Go sign up to the Ranger forums and search. Also I want to know if there have been any failures at all on vehicles with the regular transfer case. (Without 4A) Because we haven’t heard of any here.

 

[CoolContractor]

Has anyone come up with the final answer on what needs to be done to make the Bronco flat towable? I have read many posts where people have said they've done everything correctly to flat tow their Broncos, but have still damaged their transmissions. They have even video taped the entire process and still fried their transmission. Even if the damage would be covered under warranty, who would want to have your daily transportation broken if you are on vacation, out of state and need the Bronco for transportation?

 

[JamesJBurke]

The weekend I purchased my Bronco, I had two friends lose their transmissions. They were experienced RVers and were technically oriented. I wrote letters to Jim Farley, the President of Ford, Matthew Winter, the Brand Manager of the Bronco line, and the owner of the dealership where I purchased it. The response was a request to add nothing, that the Bronco was capable of being towed as it was (Fraud at best). I did add an electrical lead from my coach to the Bronco, which was not enough to keep it from losing power on one of our trips where it was under tow for two days. The day we lost our transmission, I videotaped the departure showing that the Bronco was rolling freely and correctly in tow mode. Ford didn’t care. I was guilty of doing something irresponsible and I was charged $10,000 for a new transmission. My warranty claim was denied without any proof that anything was done wrong. My request…”If you don’t tell me what I did wrong, how can I protect myself from it happening again”. I went through the buy back process and they denied me, but have still not answered my question. I will never flat tow the Bronco again unless Ford comes forward and claims to warranty any damage caused by flat towing. I am buying a trailer to get my Bronco from point A to point B. RV towing a Bronco is just too expensive for my blood. There are too many people who have suffered from this. I am a technical person with experience following rules. I owned a manufacturing company who had UL certification and ICC certification for code compliance worldwide. I was not an irresponsible owner. Good luck!

 

[DC1]

An interesting thing I noticed while comparing the 2024 owners manual and the 2025 owners manual. In the 2025 manual Ford has added pulling two fuses to the procedure when using a supplemental brake system.. Of course in typical Ford fashion there is no explanation of the change and if it applicable to previous years or type of supplemental brake system..

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