- Joined
- Jul 2, 2022
- Threads
- 3
- Messages
- 16
- Reaction score
- 11
- Location
- Orange County, CA
- Vehicle(s)
- Audi, RAV4
- 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.
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.
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