Towing 3,000+ lbs - Actual experience input requested

[Rydfree]

Is anyone aware of airbags that work for the bronco I was looking at the suspension set up in the back and didn’t quite see any out there that would fit or work for it

I installed these on my '23 2dr Badlands and they work great towing my Dutchman BH1400 camper. It is right at 2800lbs currently loaded. Added a RedArc brake controller and have had zero issues.

If you do any real off roading be sure to get the cradles for them to sit in also.

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[BaseModelCanadian]

We are looking at some new travel trailers, and the ones we like best have a dry-weight ~3,200 lbs. So, with our stuff we will be close, if not slightly over, 3,500 lbs rating. I have towed our current, 2,900 lbs trailer for over 20k miles with the Bronco (2.7L V6). It tows great, with plenty of power and 17+ MPG, but I do feel the weight a little bit on downhills.

Request - I'm looking for input from other Bronco owners that have towed with trailers >3,000 lbs. Good/bad/other? Extra credit for those towing R-Pod trailers.

Note - I've read several other threads (and other sources), so understand how tow capacity works and to include passengers, luggage, etc. Really hoping to get actual experience vs. opinions. Thanks.

Towing an 18' bowrider, dry weight 3,150lbs, it seems really doable. I don't have trailer brakes for it, and if I was towing it all the time, or super long distance, I would want them. The only real "sketchy" thing about it is how soft the rear suspension is under a heavier tongue weight. But it certainly didn't feel unsafe or like I was really pushing it at 85Kph/53MPH

 

[AZGX]

This has been a great thread...

I am looking to get into towing a travel trailer myself and have been doing some research on it with so many different opinions and many of which were speculation...

I am glad to see some of you have real world experience with some of the exact models of travel trailers I have been looking into...

For those who have been towing a 3000lbs+ travel trailer could you please share with me your exact hitch set up with names and models of equipment used.. (or ones you wished you used)

I have a 2021 Wildtrak (2.7L) 4 door with SAS, it came with factory tow package, Lux pkg, still have factory tires and wheels, all stock.

1. Which brake controller did you go with?
2. Which ball mount and hitch? (extender, drop etc) a form I was reading up on suggested getting a part to raise the mounting bracket of my bronco spare tire, any thoughts?
3. Which WDH with sway control?
4. Sumo springs or Air bags? (thoughts)
5. Hitch weight max. Looks like it supposed to be 350lbs, one RV dealership I went into said "Ah that doesn't matter"... so idk..

Any insight is greatly appreciated!
I am currently looking into KZ Sportsmen Classic 180BH or Keystone Coleman 17BX

 

[Tonka Bronka]

This has been a great thread...

I am looking to get into towing a travel trailer myself and have been doing some research on it with so many different opinions and many of which were speculation...

I am glad to see some of you have real world experience with some of the exact models of travel trailers I have been looking into...

For those who have been towing a 3000lbs+ travel trailer could you please share with me your exact hitch set up with names and models of equipment used.. (or ones you wished you used)

I have a 2021 Wildtrak (2.7L) 4 door with SAS, it came with factory tow package, Lux pkg, still have factory tires and wheels, all stock.

1. Which brake controller did you go with?
2. Which ball mount and hitch? (extender, drop etc) a form I was reading up on suggested getting a part to raise the mounting bracket of my bronco spare tire, any thoughts?
3. Which WDH with sway control?
4. Sumo springs or Air bags? (thoughts)
5. Hitch weight max. Looks like it supposed to be 350lbs, one RV dealership I went into said "Ah that doesn't matter"... so idk..

Any insight is greatly appreciated!
I am currently looking into KZ Sportsmen Classic 180BH or Keystone Coleman 17BX

1) Factory Ford (Red Arc) plug and play, works great.
2) I run a 6" rise with a max 360 coupler but this will depend on your trailer.
3) None and I pull a little over 3500 lbs.
4) Sumo blue with Bilstien 6100 on clip position 5.
5) It does matter with the Bronco and if the trailer is designed properly it won't be a problem.
FWIW I pull an Xpedetion Voyager.

 

[Taltyman]

We are looking at some new travel trailers, and the ones we like best have a dry-weight ~3,200 lbs. So, with our stuff we will be close, if not slightly over, 3,500 lbs rating. I have towed our current, 2,900 lbs trailer for over 20k miles with the Bronco (2.7L V6). It tows great, with plenty of power and 17+ MPG, but I do feel the weight a little bit on downhills.

Request - I'm looking for input from other Bronco owners that have towed with trailers >3,000 lbs. Good/bad/other? Extra credit for those towing R-Pod trailers.

Note - I've read several other threads (and other sources), so understand how tow capacity works and to include passengers, luggage, etc. Really hoping to get actual experience vs. opinions. Thanks.

MPG 17+??? what the ??? We tow a Kawasaki mule on a 12' aluminum trailer with our Braptor and the MPG goes from 16 down to 10. I can fill up after towing for a while and after filling it will say 188 miles to empty.

 

[jakej]

MPG 17+??? what the ??? We tow a Kawasaki mule on a 12' aluminum trailer with our Braptor and the MPG goes from 16 down to 10. I can fill up after towing for a while and after filling it will say 188 miles to empty.

Yep, I generally get 17+ towing, provided I stay under 65 mpg. Many of our camping trips go from San Diego (sea-level) to Eastern Sierras (8,000+ ft). I back off speed climbing grades and coast a bit on way back down. Not towing I recently got 21.8 mpg roundtrip from SD to Mammoth (9,000 ft), with 77 mph most of the trip. 77 seems to be a sweet spot for mpg.

I have the 2.7 V6 Ecoboost, which is a super nice motor. Plenty of power for towing, but economic. I see that Braptor has 3.0 V6 and an additional 1,300 lbs curb weight - that probably has a lot to do with MPG variance.

 

[Jakob1972]

I pull a light homebuilt < 1500lbs I have a hitch extension and 0 drop ball. no trailer brakes and it does fine with the 2.3l don't even know its back there. if I were towing >3500 I would consider removing the spare and storing that in or on the trailer. So you would not need the extension. For short trips (just me and the wife) we take the little trailer, for longer trips we pull the big trailer with the Truck and the wife follows in the Bronco. Still cheaper than staying in hotels and we can bring the Great Danes. the gas isn't that bad because the bronco get 22-24mpg when following the trailer.

 

[Fast Eddie]

Yep, I generally get 17+ towing, provided I stay under 65 mpg. Many of our camping trips go from San Diego (sea-level) to Eastern Sierras (8,000+ ft). I back off speed climbing grades and coast a bit on way back down. Not towing I recently got 21.8 mpg roundtrip from SD to Mammoth (9,000 ft), with 77 mph most of the trip. 77 seems to be a sweet spot for mpg.

I have the 2.7 V6 Ecoboost, which is a super nice motor. Plenty of power for towing, but economic. I see that Braptor has 3.0 V6 and an additional 1,300 lbs curb weight - that probably has a lot to do with MPG variance.

I have a 2025 w/2.7 and 285/70/17 tires. On the highway I average 16.5-17mpg on cruise control if I keep it below 70ish and that is without towing! To get 17mpg towing UPHILL is wild.

 

[TheKim]

I pull a light homebuilt < 1500lbs I have a hitch extension and 0 drop ball. no trailer brakes and it does fine with the 2.3l don't even know its back there. if I were towing >3500 I would consider removing the spare and storing that in or on the trailer. So you would not need the extension. For short trips (just me and the wife) we take the little trailer, for longer trips we pull the big trailer with the Truck and the wife follows in the Bronco. Still cheaper than staying in hotels and we can bring the Great Danes. the gas isn't that bad because the bronco get 22-24mpg when following the trailer.

Removing the spare also helps with weight on the rear end, if someone is close to the 350 pound max.

 

[EilersPark]

23 BD SAS. I pull this trailer 1-2 times a month. We load up at Sams with food to build 1000 bags of food for the homeless. that build will include 26 cases of water (40 packs), 86 cases of Chef Boyardee, 55 cases of vienna sausage, etc. Fully loaded, it squats a little but handles fine. I only drive about 5-10 miles, not on the highway.

I also pull a 19ft Four Winns on a single axle trailer no problem either.

 

[jakej]

1) Factory Ford (Red Arc) plug and play, works great.
2) I run a 6" rise with a max 360 coupler but this will depend on your trailer.
3) None and I pull a little over 3500 lbs.
4) Sumo blue with Bilstien 6100 on clip position 5.
5) It does matter with the Bronco and if the trailer is designed properly it won't be a problem.
FWIW I pull an Xpedetion Voyager.

1) Factory Ford (Red Arc) plug and play, works great.
2) I run a 6" rise with a max 360 coupler but this will depend on your trailer.
3) None and I pull a little over 3500 lbs.
4) Sumo blue with Bilstien 6100 on clip position 5.
5) It does matter with the Bronco and if the trailer is designed properly it won't be a problem.
FWIW I pull an Xpedetion Voyager.

Agree with this, with a couple added items:
1) You can purchase same Red Arc brake controller on Amazon or eTrailer for much less than Ford (just doesn't have Blue Oval logo).
2) I purchased a 12" extended hitch to provide clearance for spare tire. I purchaded Curt 45260, which has 2" rise/drop. How much rise/drop you need is based on height of trailer tongue.

 

[killaz05]

Having towed heavy for the Bronco in FL and the Mountains of NC, the power is fine as well as the cooling. I put the Bronco in sport mode, or you can manually lower the gear in the transmission for downhill which helps a good bit. I have a Curt Wireless Brake Controller which helps immensely and I can honestly say I can stop with confidence. I do not feel the trailer is pushing the Bronco.

Lastly, I put the last picture to show the difference between an extra-long hitch and a hitch extension. The extra-long hitch is so much better. The extension introduced an extra pivot point which I did not feel comfortable while driving and there was some trailer sway that I felt. The sway was not present with the extra-long hitch. I also understand now that I have done research that the extension cuts your towing capacity.

So, the proper hitch and a brake controller should make towing a trailer very easy. If you plan to tow the Travel Trailer a lot, I might recommend a weight distribution hitch.

 

[Taltyman]

On our Braptor when I hook up the trailer lights it suggests tow mode for goat. Usually put it there.

 

[PAULWESTSKI]

We tow an R-Pod 153 DSO, it's 3k dry weight. We normally fill the fresh water tank upon arrival to the campground.

Ordered the Bronco with the factory tow package.
Swapped all of the coil overs to Eibach Pro Truck 2.0s spec'd with additional load carrying coil springs. 500lbs in the rear and 150lbs in the front. The coil overs offer lift up to 2.6" front and 3" rear. I have the adjustable collars on the coilovers set at the lowest position, least amount of lift.

I removed the factory tow hitch and installed a modified Ranger tow hitch that bolts to both the frame rails and the existing crossmember, Very stout.

I use a Curt TruTrack 4P Trailer-Mounted Weight Distribution Hitch. Swapped the weight distribution bars for some 600lb ones.
Have a Redarc brake controller.

The Bronco pulls this trailer just fine, the biggest concern is the large frontal area on the R-Pod since it has the factory independent coil suspension which raises the camper about four inches plus.

I haven't had any issues with too high of a transmission temperature, but as a preventive measure I'll be installing a CSF Race transmission cooler and a PPE deep transmission pan.

Mileage is not great since our R-pod has such a large frontal area.

 

[23OBX2.7]

We tow an R-Pod 153 DSO, it's 3k dry weight. We normally fill the fresh water tank upon arrival to the campground.

Ordered the Bronco with the factory tow package.
Swapped all of the coil overs to Eibach Pro Truck 2.0s spec'd with additional load carrying coil springs. 500lbs in the rear and 150lbs in the front. The coil overs offer lift up to 2.6" front and 3" rear. I have the adjustable collars on the coilovers set at the lowest position, least amount of lift.

I removed the factory tow hitch and installed a modified Ranger tow hitch that bolts to both the frame rails and the existing crossmember, Very stout.

I use a Curt TruTrack 4P Trailer-Mounted Weight Distribution Hitch. Swapped the weight distribution bars for some 600lb ones.
Have a Redarc brake controller.

The Bronco pulls this trailer just fine, the biggest concern is the large frontal area on the R-Pod since it has the factory independent coil suspension which raises the camper about four inches plus.

I haven't had any issues with too high of a transmission temperature, but as a preventive measure I'll be installing a CSF Race transmission cooler and a PPE deep transmission pan.

Mileage is not great since our R-pod has such a large frontal area.

Why not drop the trailer suspension or just use airbags?

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