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bpesto

Badlands
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Orange County, CA
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Your Bronco Model
Badlands
Ford definitely says NOT to use the recovery points to Flat Tow. I chose to not try to use the recovery points and went with a proven supplier of Flat Tow equipment. May cost a bit more but when towing a $50K plus vehicle, figure it's worth the piece of mind.

After hearing of some of the issues with damaged transmissions, I was sweating bullets during my first Flat Tow. Printed out, like many of you, the instructions and followed them to the letter. I did some short tests of about 20 miles and all went well. So a month later, I had a successful tow of about 400 miles from Az to Silverton, Co then back.
Have:
- Badlands (no Sas) with 2.7L Auto
- Blue Ox Accent Tow Bar
- Blue Ox baseplate
- Blue Ox Patriot BRK-2022 Aux Braking system
- Fused Aux charge line from motorhome to Bronco
- Curt tail light wiring harness
- Software updated to resolve Inconsistent Supplemental Brake Feel

When putting in Neutral Tow, sometimes I'll hear the transfer case shift, sometimes not, but the NEUTRAL TOW MODE ENABLED will show whether I hear it or not. Opening the door, the NEUTRAL TOWN MODE ENABLED shows. This is comforting as during stops, I'd check this.

When exiting NEUTRAL TOW, even though the instructions are followed, 70% of the time I'll get the warning: SHIFT DELAYED, DRIVE FORWARD message. The 2H light is flashing. The Ford manual instructions say what to do in this case, but these steps didn't always work. Eventually, I'll shut off the engine, restart, and press 2H button and it usually is solid and the NEUTRAL TOW MODE ENABLED message is gone. No grinding or anything. I never get the NEUTRAL TOW DISABLED message unless it works the other 30% of the time.

I really like the Patriot Brake system. Works smooth and remote adjustments are nice to have.
Had one issue with it on return trip. Kept getting a REPOSITION BRAKE THEN RESTART UNIT on the trip home every 15 minutes of towing. Did reset of unit, then it returned again. Called Blue Ox and they think it was a seat adjustment that maybe the brake pedal didn't have enough clearance. They would send an RMA to ship back for testing. I thought I set it up correctly as it worked fine on the outbound trip.

Did a test tow when back in AZ for 30 minutes and it worked just fine again. So I did not send it back. I still have a year and a half left on the warranty. Go figure.

Re: the Software update for Inconsistent Supplemental Brake Feel. I noticed that when putting Bronco in Neutral Tow Mode, as the little line went across during the shift to Neutral, with my foot on brake as instructed, the brake pedal rose up, similar to loosing vacuum in a vacuum brake booster system. With the EBB unit, I'm guessing this is what the software update does, it shuts off the EBB to allow the Aux brake system to work properly.

Anyway, all went well and no funny noises or operation after 1000 miles since the Flat Tow.

Ford Bronco Flat Towing Success - What's Your Setup? IMG_0760


Ford Bronco Flat Towing Success - What's Your Setup? IMG_0761


Ford Bronco Flat Towing Success - What's Your Setup? IMG_0763
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josh1121

Wildtrak
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Clubs
 
I agree with Ford that the recovery points are not suitable for towing - as they come stock. Lobo Off-Road has a crash bar erase / brace kit that provides tire clearance & bumper reinforcement that is really top notch. The install is relatively easy (provided you aren't afraid to cut the crash bar) and the bolts pass through the frame. I have flat towed the bronco off-road through parts of Johnson Valley from the recovery points and my nighthawk tow bar with absolute confidence. I highly recommend the product and am in no way affiliated with Lobo, he just makes excellent products.

Also, I went with the RVI suite for my Wildtrak 2.7. The charger, wireless breakaway, and portable brake. All work well and the command center ties it all together nicely. I even added the tire sensors to have the RV and Bronco all in one screen while I'm driving.
 

73Corvetteman

Big Bend
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Big Bend
Clubs
 
I put the Lobo crash bar delete kit on as well. Really pleased with the result. Much stronger tow point this way.
 

Shregg

Badlands
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Purchased 22 4 Door Badalands SAS in Oct last year used with 650 miles on it. We replaced our 97 LX450. We are full time travelers and flat towed the LX around 30K miles. So far, we have had no issues with the bronco. We left Kerrville in April and now find ourselves in Northern Wi.

2010 Tiffin 42' Pusher.
Blue OX Tow Bar
Blue Ox baseplate
Blue Ox Patriot BRK-2022 Aux Braking system
Fused Aux charge line from motorhome to Bronco
Tail light wiring harness
TPS Tire sensors

After reading the horror stories we had it professionally installed. Each time we put it into tow mode we open the manual and follow each step....then pray...

Quick question for clarification on the placement of the key. Do you leave it in the car or keep it with you in the bus? When we are all set up hit the key, it goes out of accessory mode and the dash indicates town mode. I close, then open the door and get the same indicator. We are moving Sunday so ill add a pic.. We double triple check every couple hunnert miles

Today's run. Jen follows in the Fj62 while we are up North. It goes back in storage when we head south.

www.wegonow.net

Ford Bronco Flat Towing Success - What's Your Setup? bronco flat tow 2


Ford Bronco Flat Towing Success - What's Your Setup? bronco flat tow 1
 
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JimboSlice

Outer Banks
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Clubs
 
We have been driving our RV back and forth from Florida to Lake Tahoe twice a year. So far we've done it three times without a toad. It sucks not having a vehicle to use on the two-week trip. I planned on towing my Bronco back to Florida in September. After doing a lot of reading about what everybody uses, I started seeing all the horror stories. My solution was to buy a two-door 2014 Wrangler Sport that was already set up to tow. The Jeep is much lighter than my four door Bronco and my Bronco will be safe in the garage for the winter. :LOL:
 

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Tilzbow

Badlands
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Badlands
Clubs
 
Purchased 22 4 Door Badalands SAS in Oct last year used with 650 miles on it. We replaced our 97 LX450. We are full time travelers and flat towed the LX around 30K miles. So far, we have had no issues with the bronco. We left Kerrville in April and now find ourselves in Northern Wi.

2010 Tiffin 42' Pusher.
Blue OX Tow Bar
Blue Ox baseplate
Blue Ox Patriot BRK-2022 Aux Braking system
Fused Aux charge line from motorhome to Bronco
Tail light wiring harness
TPS Tire sensors

After reading the horror stories we had it professionally installed. Each time we put it into tow mode we open the manual and follow each step....then pray...

Quick question for clarification on the placement of the key. Do you leave it in the car or keep it with you in the bus? When we are all set up hit the key, it goes out of accessory mode and the dash indicates town mode. I close, then open the door and get the same indicator. We are moving Sunday so ill add a pic.. We double triple check every couple hunnert miles

www.wegonow.net

I take the key with me in the motorhome. Once I execute the last step and shut off accessory mode I don’t want the Bronco to go into accessory mode for some weird reason and that shouldn’t be possible without the key in the Bronco.
 

zjtr10

Outer Banks
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There's a thread somewhere about it, but the consensus at least after a while was 4A made it more likely to explode the transmission. I think all or nearly all of the reports on 6g were equipped with 4A.
I don’t mean to hijack the thread but how do I tell if I have the 4A system?
Ford Bronco Flat Towing Success - What's Your Setup? IMG_2029
Ford Bronco Flat Towing Success - What's Your Setup? IMG_2027
Ford Bronco Flat Towing Success - What's Your Setup? IMG_2028
 

Fordified1

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Clubs
 
You don’t. It would have 4A on the dial.
 

jd4714

Outer Banks
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I have a 2023 Outer Banks, 2.3L with a Blue Ox base plate and tow bar. I have towed her 10,000+ miles this year and have had zero issues. I screen shot the cheat sheet and have it on my phone in case I need it.
 

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ssmegapunish

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Just a word of caution...the EBB update to allow you to tow without pulling fuses isn't 100% reliable. I've had two brake lockups after dealer confirmed I have the update. Few probably flat tow as much as we do so maybe a rare case where a cosmic particle flips a bit in the software somewhere every 10k miles??? I always pull fuses.
 

Ricknichols

Wildtrak
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I just bought a new 24 wildtrak. Do I still need to get this software update done or can I assume it’s already done since to new? What fuses are pulled or is this no longer needed? Thanks
 
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Tilzbow

Badlands
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Clubs
 
I just bought a new 24 wildtrak. Do I still need to get this software update done or can I assume it’s already done since to new? What fuses are pulled or is this no longer needed? Thanks
The software update on my 2022 was rolled out in late 2022 or early 2023 so it’s probably safe to assume your 2024 has the updated software.
 

m_grovs

Base
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Base
Clubs
 
-JCR Vanguard winch bumper with Warn winch installed
- Roadmaster Sterling All-Terrain tow bars (connect directly to JCR bumper)
I have the same bumper. Did you attach the Tow Bar to the shackle tabs on the JCR bumper? Do you have pics?
 

Fordified1

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I have a Fab Fours front bumper which is thicker than most and has extra plates that attach to the bottom of the frame with 2 more bolts on each side and also have the LOD reinforcement brackets which bolt through the frame also (had to modify them). So I’m confident using the recovery tabs with adapters to my Blue Ox 10,000# tow bar.
Ford Bronco Flat Towing Success - What's Your Setup? IMG_8089
Ford Bronco Flat Towing Success - What's Your Setup? IMG_1470
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