Towing question

[Clean68]

I have a 2021 first edition, 2.7L and a curt hitch.

I understand the weight limit is 3,500 lbs.

I have a 25ft tritoon and 26ft trailer. Comes to about 4,000lbs give or take.

Is it very unsafe to tow approx 8 miles on a mountain road if I stay very slow?

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[MNBigfoot]

It's the same engine and transmission that's in the Ranger that has a towing capacity twice as much. The issue is safety with the suspension.

 

[Rayder]

I would do it if I was in the same position. I've towed our 3,000lb camper with the Bronco and our 4Runner that has a 5,000lb rating and the Bronco is a vastly superior tow vehicle in every single metric I can think of.

 

[Brian_B]

I’m not saying this is a good idea….

But I hauled 2 tons of wood pellets on a 1500lb trailer 10 miles down the mountain.

I hauled a bronco 2 that ate its transmission back down off a mountian - a few miles. Dunno what that weighs but probably about the same. Same trailer

The trick was having the trailer load balanced - not too much tongue weight, and going slow. You got plenty of engine and brake but the suspension is really really soft

 

[swami37]

You’ll be fine. Just take your time

 

[Fordified1]

If it has working trailer brakes you’ll probably be ok if you be careful. Bronco has a really soft suspension so you might want a weight distribution hitch if you’re going to do it more than once.

 

[Iowa Hawkeye]

I would do it but just go slow, would be better with trailer brakes. The biggest weak point is the cross member that the hitch bolts to on the Bronco, probably don't want to go over 300 lb of tongue weight.

 

[RagnarKon]

If you have trailer brakes and a trailer brake controller, I'd personally feel comfortable doing it. Not saying it's the right thing to do, obviously if you get in an accident it could open you up to all kinds of liability. BUT, I'd personally feel comfortable doing it.

If you don't have trailer brakes... eh...... not sure about that.

Also the First Edition tow rating is actually around 3240 lbs. It's a fully optioned vehicle, so it dips below the standard 3500 lbs mark due to its curb weight.

 

[Clean68]

If you have trailer brakes and a trailer brake controller, I'd personally feel comfortable doing it. Not saying it's the right thing to do, obviously if you get in an accident it could open you up to all kinds of liability. BUT, I'd personally feel comfortable doing it.

If you don't have trailer brakes... eh...... not sure about that.

Also the First Edition tow rating is actually around 3240 lbs. It's a fully optioned vehicle, so it dips below the standard 3500 lbs mark due to its curb weight.

I had no idea the first edition had a lower total rating. Thank you so much. I don’t have trailer brakes but I can add them. The trailer does have disc brakes and it is a tandem axle. It looks like the boat fully loaded with fuel is 3300 pounds and the trailer is 1100 pounds, so it looks like I’m definitely a lot over for a short drive. Maybe I need to figure out another truck :/ or solution.

 

[wjtinfwb]

I have a 2021 first edition, 2.7L and a curt hitch.

I understand the weight limit is 3,500 lbs.

I have a 25ft tritoon and 26ft trailer. Comes to about 4,000lbs give or take.

Is it very unsafe to tow approx 8 miles on a mountain road if I stay very slow?

Well... when I was young and incredibly stupid, I towed a 21 ft. Mako center console with a 150 Merc on it 18 miles to a repair shop... with my '77 VW Rabbit and a JC Whitney bolt-on hitch. Car, Boat and driver all lived to tell about it. On a mountain road, the biggest concern will be overheating the brakes. How steep is the mountain and are you going up, or down?

 

[Aonarch]

Get a trailer brake controller.

Redarc is the OEM one.

 

[TheKim]

Also the First Edition tow rating is actually around 3240 lbs. It's a fully optioned vehicle, so it dips below the standard 3500 lbs mark due to its curb weight.

Damn heavy Badlands SAS and First Editions

 

[RallyGorgo]

Don’t most boat trailers have surge-brakes (hydraulic, operate by a master cylinder built into the trailer tongue)? If it has those you don’t need a brake controller in whatever vehicle you use to pull the trailer.

Towing more than what is recommended with the Bronco, that call is on you. If something happens and you say “but the guys online said….”, you will get laughed at. I would probably try it if I had no other options but, thankfully, I do (having a 3/4-ton pickup really comes in handy at times).

 

[DriveAllNight]

Towing limits are based on a number of things:

Engine - we're good here
Torque and horsepower -check

Cooling - not so sure about the trans, especially on inclines.

Brakes - I don't know what's in the Ranger, but I do know 17 inch rims don't allow for big rotors and pads. Overheating can lead to no braking. Even getting slotted rotors would help with cooling.

Suspension- nope, maybe look into something like sumo springs, ( I have no first hand experience with these) but lots of airbag type products to help offset the sag from the tongue weight.

Weight distribution hitch wouldn't hurt either.

Bottom line, you have to look at the weakest points and work up from there.

 

[alzito]

I have a 2021 first edition, 2.7L and a curt hitch.

I understand the weight limit is 3,500 lbs.

I have a 25ft tritoon and 26ft trailer. Comes to about 4,000lbs give or take.

Is it very unsafe to tow approx 8 miles on a mountain road if I stay very slow?

Hi,
the Engine/trans/brakes can easily handle it. The problem is mainly the rear crossmember that the hitch is attached to. Keep in mind that 3500 was standard tow rating with two 150 lb passengers, the FE weighs more with skid plates/sway bar disconnect,etc (like the badlands) so the actual capacity is around 3200 And remember tongue weight is only 350 lbs. Ford increased capacity on the Raptor by adding two braces in the rear from the hitch/rear crossmember to another frame area. These go where the muffler is located on standard Bronco. Plz see attached pic

So here is the deal, can you do it, sure, you can do whatever you want, although you will be outside the published capacity for the vehicle. Depending on your particular circumstances, Mountain roads or flat, highway of local roads may come into your decision to do or not. Your risk is if you are in some type of accident your insurance company may not cover you, secondarily if you have a panic stop there is a slim chance that damage may happen to the vehicle, particular the weak

Damn heavy Badlands SAS and First Editions

link which is the rear crossmember.

if you do decide to do, keep the load in the Bronco very low, like just you in the vehicle. Then also do what you can to lower the weight of the load, take off anchor, accessories, fuel, etc. This is what I would do if I had no other choice. Secondarily/preferably call a friend that likes going out on the water with you that has a pick up truck or something that has 5k+ capacity and buy them lunch or something.

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