Bronco towing vs Ranger, why the difference?

[Jderosa]

I love everything about the Bronco except the tow rating. I have a small Aliner trailer that I was hoping to tow behind my bronco but that 3,500 lbs is really bumming me out. Can someone explain why the Ranger with the same engine, transmission, brakes and axles can tow 7,500 lbs? Is Ford underestimating the Bronco or am I missing something?

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[ZackDanger]

Rear suspension, vehicle weight over the rear axle.

 

[Internally_Combusted]

I'm in the camp that believes it's entirely hitch limited. Every single variation has the same tow rating with no difference for the longer wheelbase of the 4 door, base vs sasquatch suspension, tire diameter, or anything else. The ranger tremor that has the fox shocks and off road suspension tweaks maintains it's 7500lb tow capacity so I'm not buying that argument. There is no reason the bronco can't hit a 5-6k tow capacity.

They equipped the bronco with a class II hitch which has a 3500lb limit. I think this was done for better departure angles at launch or because they hadn't tested it at higher capacities yet. I'm betting a proper tow package with a class III or IV receiver will be added during a later model year.

 

[Jderosa]

I'm in the camp that believes it's entirely hitch limited. Every single variation has the same tow rating with no difference for the longer wheelbase of the 4 door, base vs sasquatch suspension, tire diameter, or anything else. The ranger tremor that has the fox shocks and off road suspension tweaks maintains it's 7500lb tow capacity so I'm not buying that argument. There is no reason the bronco can't hit a 5-6k tow capacity.

They equipped the bronco with a class II hitch which has a 3500lb limit. I think this was done for better departure angles at launch or because they hadn't tested it at higher capacities yet. I'm betting a proper tow package with a class III or IV receiver will be added during a later model year.

Ok cool, We are on the same page. It just doesn't check out. Especially there being no difference between the 2 and 4 door. Heck, a Subaru Outback says it can tow 3,500 lbs!

 

[Lakelife36]

I'm in the camp that believes it's entirely hitch limited. Every single variation has the same tow rating with no difference for the longer wheelbase of the 4 door, base vs sasquatch suspension, tire diameter, or anything else. The ranger tremor that has the fox shocks and off road suspension tweaks maintains it's 7500lb tow capacity so I'm not buying that argument. There is no reason the bronco can't hit a 5-6k tow capacity.

They equipped the bronco with a class II hitch which has a 3500lb limit. I think this was done for better departure angles at launch or because they hadn't tested it at higher capacities yet. I'm betting a proper tow package with a class III or IV receiver will be added during a later model year.

I really hope you're right. I saw somewhere that you can work with your dealer to transfer your reservation to a 2022MY, and if they will be releasing a proper max tow package on those then I will be holding onto mine. Otherwise will likely end up having to let it go.

 

[DHH]

The only place you'll get a definite answer as to why the Bronco has a pathetic tow capacity is from Ford engineering. No disrespect to anyone, but any answer one way or the other is speculation.
Myself, I NEED the Bronco to tow more and don't see why it can't. For every reason why it can't, there are examples of vehicles on the road with the same setup that can.
I agree the hitch limits it, as the 2dr/4dr, 2.3/2.7, Sasq/No-Sasq would never have the exact max rating; but by how much, I don't know
I'm really, really, really hoping I_C is correct and Ford comes out with a tow package. I don't care if it can't be had with the Sasq or not, or has other limitations.
It is now obvious that Ford has released the Bronco before they were ready to. The whole thing has become a cluster-f**k, but to do it properly they would have had to release it for 2022. Hopefully they haven't got around to fully testing the tow capacity and will bump it up later.

I would have no concern over changing the hitch and towing more. The only thing stopping me is the liability..........so Ford, please hear me........WE NEED MORE TOW CAPACITY. Don't make me go elsewhere.

Sorry....can't help ranting.

 

[Deleted member 3063]

just for comparison

2020 Escape 3,500lb rating
2021 B Sport 2,200lb rating

main difference, suspension.

 

[MattECDNdealer]

Although they both share a straight rear axle, the Ranger has leaf sprung rear, whereas the bronco has a coil sprung rear. This is a huge difference when it comes to towing.

A leaf spring rear end can do without a rear sway bar as the springs not only push up under compression, but also pull the axle back up towards the frame on the opposite side, this provides some control over "sway". Some will even add sway bars to leaf sprung rear ends to improve sway control even further. (see https://www.hellwigproducts.com/)

A coil spring only pushes up, and will not "pull" the frame back down towards the axle. This is why almost all coil sprung vehicles employ a rear sway bar in their suspension design. The Bronco has a coil sprung rear end, but with no sway bar. Looking from the bare chassis pics, the shocks have been out boarded to help combat sway, but Ford has elected not to employ a rear sway bar, likely to improve off road performance. This one item is likely what is keeping the Bronco from a higher tow rating.

 

[crowdpleazer]

Soft offroad style suspension is not ideal at all for towing. You can put air bags and a sway bar on the rear to help but then legally you still can't exceed what is on the door sticker.

Not trying to be "that guy", but if people keep pressuring Ford to get it more towing capacities, then it becomes less offroad-able. Think before you vote.

 

[Lakelife36]

A coil spring only pushes up, and will not "pull" the frame back down towards the axle. This is why almost all coil sprung vehicles employ a rear sway bar in their suspension design. The Bronco has a coil sprung rear end, but with no sway bar. Looking from the bare chassis pics, the shocks have been out boarded to help combat sway, but Ford has elected not to employ a rear sway bar, likely to improve off road performance. This one item is likely what is keeping the Bronco from a higher tow rating.

Soft offroad style suspension is not ideal at all for towing. You can put air bags and a sway bar on the rear to help but then legally you still can't exceed what is on the door sticker.

Not trying to be "that guy", but if people keep pressuring Ford to get it more towing capacities, then it becomes less offroad-able. Think before you vote.

The solution, as has been pointed out many many many times already, is to have a separate optional "max tow package" or "HD tow package" or whatever you want to call it that counters all the little issues that keep it from having higher TC. That would likely include a rear sway bar, possibly one that could be disconnected when not towing. The optional package allows those of us who need more towing to get it, while not affecting everyone else.

Also for the record "offroadable" means different things to different people. Are you baja racing? Maybe rock crawling? Those are not the same at all, but are both most certainly "off road". Or maybe you need to tow your trailer up logging roads to your camping/hunting/fishing spots. That is also "off road", and I find it ludicrous that a truck this capable can't do it.

Read the threads on this subject and you'll see that many of us have thought a lot about it.

 

[BroncoBoy22]

I’m all for other options. So I wouldn’t hate it if there were a max HD towing package.

However from Ford's logic they have matched the competitors tow rating (Jeep). And they have the Ranger available if you need higher towing.

4Runner can tow more but doesn’t have removable doors or roof.

So it’s a pick your poison. The only option that has them all is a gladiator. I’m not a big fan of them but they check all the boxes. If Ford decides to make a bronco truck that will fill that gap too

 

[Cookieck]

I’m all for other options. So I wouldn’t hate it if there were a max HD towing package.

However from Ford's logic they have matched the competitors tow rating (Jeep). And they have the Ranger available if you need higher towing.

4Runner can tow more but doesn’t have removable doors or roof.

So it’s a pick your poison. The only option that has them all is a gladiator. I’m not a big fan of them but they check all the boxes. If Ford decides to make a bronco truck that will fill that gap too

Unfortunately for me there’s nothing that actually matches my poison, every option has some sorta compromise to it for one reason or another. It is what it is. But that is why I was hoping for a higher tow cap from the bronco. Even with 5-6k range tow cap it would be a compromise for me, would have to trade my toy hauler in for a slightly smaller one, but with that tow cap it’d at least be doable and could be the least compromising option for me and I’d happily do it to have a bronco. Without that I’m out.

But also in my opinion ford didn’t match jeeps tow rating. Because even Jeep accounts for the wheelbase difference between 2 and 4 door variants, giving a 1500lb tow cap difference. The bronco lacks that. If the 4dr bronco with its 16in longer wheelbase had a 1500lb increase over the 3500lb rating the 2dr has it would work for me. And that would mean it actually beats Jeep at something else which would be a plus.

 

[Mdh186]

I assumed it had more to do with the configuration of how the hitch connects to the frame with just a number of closely oriented bolts that horizontally attach to the rear frame in a narrower contact point that traditional truck bitches that spread the weight across the frame and use vertical mounting bolts. I noticed that on one of the chassis models they displayed at the bronco events.

 

[The Pope]

I assumed it had more to do with the configuration of how the hitch connects to the frame with just a number of closely oriented bolts that horizontally attach to the rear frame in a narrower contact point that traditional truck bitches that spread the weight across the frame and use vertical mounting bolts. I noticed that on one of the chassis models they displayed at the bronco events.

This has already been noted (for months...). All of the images and information that's been provided by FoMoCo is that the reviver hitch that is "currently" being shown/offered is a Class 2 that will accept 2" mounts.

There are Frame Locations (currently where the "D" Rings or "Recovery Points") that a Weight Distribution Hitch (WDH) could EASILY be mounted to.

FoMoCo only needs to offer a "proper" TOW Package Option for those who want it. PERIOD.

 

[Desert6]

I'm gonna go with suspension. Off road oriented vehicles generally have softer spring rates for better off road compliance. For example, look at the Ram 2500 with the 6.4 hemi. The Power Wagon, an off-road "specialist" has a max payload of 1420 lbs with a max tow rating of 9470 lbs.
The other trim versions of the Ram 2500 crew cab 4x4 with the 6.4 hemi, 4:10 gears and the 6' 4" bed have max payloads ranging from 2710 to 2990 lbs, and max tow capacity ranging from 16450 to 16780 lbs. So the Power wagon has roughly half the payload and 2/3 the towing capacity of any other vehicle in their lineup in that configuration.

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