RV Dinghy Tow

I thought I read somewhere that the Bronco can't be flat towed.

I could be wrong...

It can be flat towed. Read your manual(after you download it) to be sure your doing it correctly and safely. If i were to flat tow mi e using the recovery points. I would add an extra chain or something from the bumper to the frame. But again, your manual should cover that.

Orf

I thought I read somewhere that the Bronco can't be flat towed.

I could be wrong...

I never asked IF it could be flat towed. I already know this information. Sorry, but not the question or answer I am asking. Have a great day!

Slownstddy

It can be flat towed. Read your manual(after you download it) to be sure your doing it correctly and safely. If i were to flat tow mi e using the recovery points. I would add an extra chain or something from the bumper to the frame. But again, your manual should cover that.

I understand all of this, I HAVE flat towed for 14 years already. I have read the manual. I already have safety cables. Thanks for the imput, however this does not answer my question. Have a great day!

srhollen

I understand all of this, I HAVE flat towed for 14 years already. I have read the manual. I already have safety cables. Thanks for the imput, however this does not answer my question. Have a great day!

What are you asking then. The "D-Rings" in the bumper are recovery points attached to the frame. I dont know if they will hold up to constant pull like that. Thats why I suggestef the manual. Perhaps you can unbolt the recovery loops and bolt in a tow bar. I know that is your delema but not sure anyone has a right answer for you. Have fun on your adventures and trail on. :cool:

srhollen

I just want to know whether FORD made these points for this kind of connection?
Anybody...anybody???

NO, they are made as off-road recovery points. There is a full thread on flat towing

ResidualGenius

NO, they are made as off-road recovery points. There is a full thread on flat towing

I have read the thread and do not see anywhere in it that FORD actually says that they are just recovery points. IF you are talking about the manual, the manual is specifically talking about the regular bumper that has round recovery "rings" under the bumper. I am specifically asking about the D-rings that are attached to the ends of the frame that come with the modular bumper. Have you seen this information come directly from FORD? Or is it just hearsay?

srhollen

I have read the thread and do not see anywhere in it that FORD actually says that they are just recovery points. IF you are talking about the manual, the manual is specifically talking about the regular bumper that has round recovery "rings" under the bumper. I am specifically asking about the D-rings that are attached to the ends of the frame that come with the modular bumper. Have you seen this information come directly from FORD? Or is it just hearsay?

Yes, that is the MOD and capable bumpers you are talking about with the shackles for an attachment point for recovery. Those are direct to the frame so you are pulling the frame, I'd go to the tow bar company and ask their recommendations as I will bet Ford will not give any to stay out of any transmission issues from improper towing and/or what they are rated for under a constant load from towing

Funny you ask this as I am getting my bronco tomorrow and have been looking for all the same info. I am planning on buying the adapter shackles. Scary hearing some of the responses above considering Broncos are rated one of the top flat tow vehicles made. haha. Anyway it looks like the modular bumper already has the 1" eyes bolted to the frame. I'm not sure what more would be needed ( another bar bolted to the frame????). A quick look underneath with how it actually attaches will solidify my choice tomorrow. Purchasing the shackle adapters for towmaster to go on the ends seems legit at this point. When visualizing the minimal forces that connection point would receive its hard to believe it would not work. Im mean it is ther HD bumper option.

fyi, mod bumper doesn't have "shackles" or "d" rings. So I guess there needs to be clarification on that first when talking to tech

tjcezar

Scary hearing some of the responses above considering Broncos are rated one of the top flat tow vehicles made. haha.

Curious, you got the link for the testing for flat towing? Love to read it and pass it to Bro-n0Laws dad thats looking but likes Jeep ugh

The shackle mounts on the modular bumper that I circled in the picture should be fine for flat towing. They’re forged steel and bolted directly to the frame so there’s no reason they shouldn’t work, in my opinion. I’ve read they’re rated to 7,500 pounds each but I can’t find that at the moment. We were also told the same thing at the Las Vegas Bronco Off-Rodeo event last October.



Good luck getting Ford to put this in writing though, I’ve tried to get them to confirm over phone and email without success. Also the manual says nothing about how and where to hook up tow bars nor does it mention auxiliary brakes. Ford is leaving that to the owner and aftermarket to figure out. Lawyers and Liability…. The manual only mentions how to set the vehicle up so the wheels will spin freely.

For using the shackle mounting points for flat towing, Roadmaster 035-1 tow bar adapters attach to these without modification. This has been confirmed on the other forum. If you want to reinforce the mount attachment points and provide a secondary spot to attach safety cables check into the LOD Off-road tie in brackets via the first link. LOD also makes tow bar adapters that’ll fit Blue Ox or Roadmaster tow bars and should work with the modular bumper’s shackle mounting points, see second and third links. Confirm this since I haven’t. The stock shackle mounts are 1” wide.

I‘m personally going with a JCR Off-road Vanguard winch bumper that‘s approved by them for flat towing and will use the LOD brackets to attach my safety cables.

https://lodoffroad.com/products/2021-bronco-black-ops-front-bumper-frame-tie-in-brackets

https://lodoffroad.com/products/blue-ox-tow-bar-adaptor-kit

https://lodoffroad.com/products/roadmaster-tow-bar-adaptor-kit

So everyone can see how they’re constructed, here are some good pictures of the stock shackle mounts included with the modular after removal at the lower left of the picture.

Tilzbow

The shackle mounts on the modular bumper that I circled in the picture should be fine for flat towing. They’re forged steel and bolted directly to the frame so there’s no reason they shouldn’t work, in my opinion. I’ve read they’re rated to 7,500 pounds each but I can’t find that at the moment. We were also told the same thing at the Las Vegas Bronco Off-Rodeo event last October.

View attachment 27681

Good luck getting Ford to put this in writing though, I’ve tried to get them to confirm over phone and email without success. Also the manual says nothing about how and where to hook up tow bars nor does it mention auxiliary brakes. Ford is leaving that to the owner and aftermarket to figure out. Lawyers and Liability…. The manual only mentions how to set the vehicle up so the wheels will spin freely.

For using the shackle mounting points for flat towing, Roadmaster 035-1 tow bar adapters attach to these without modification. This has been confirmed on the other forum. If you want to reinforce the mount attachment points and provide a secondary spot to attach safety cables check into the LOD Off-road tie in brackets via the first link. LOD also makes tow bar adapters that’ll fit Blue Ox or Roadmaster tow bars and should work with the modular bumper’s shackle mounting points, see second and third links. Confirm this since I haven’t. The stock shackle mounts are 1” wide.

I‘m personally going with a JCR Off-road Vanguard winch bumper that‘s approved by them for flat towing and will use the LOD brackets to attach my safety cables.

https://lodoffroad.com/products/2021-bronco-black-ops-front-bumper-frame-tie-in-brackets

https://lodoffroad.com/products/blue-ox-tow-bar-adaptor-kit

https://lodoffroad.com/products/roadmaster-tow-bar-adaptor-kit

Thanks, I am thinking that I read your info on another thread, however am glad to you reiterated here. I thought by opening a new thread that maybe we could get some new attention focus again. I actually have someone at FORD Corp looking into this and supposed to be tracking down someone from the engineering group that they dissolved...tho, I don't know whether she will ever get back with me.

My main issue with changing the shackles to the Roadmaster mounting plate is that I will no longer have off-roading recovery shackles. What am I gonna do then? This was the reason that I changed to the modular bumper, to have the shackles to pull with.

So my question after I read everything that you wrote is...what are OTHER bumpers' shackles rated at? Do they have specs that are comparable to the 7500lbs each on the Bronco?

srhollen

I have towed a Jeep Wrangler for the last 14 years behind our RV. I sold it to get the Bronco to tow. My only question is did anyone solve the issue of whether we can use the MODULAR BUMPER D-RINGS as connections points?
I have read pretty much there is to read AND I see people doing it, I just want to know whether FORD made these points for this kind of connection?
Anybody...anybody???

I have a blue ox system I used to tow My f150. Just got my Bronco. I change the end,s of the blue ox tow bar and bought this wire harness. ( Curt #58992 plug and play wire harness) and the ( Blue Ox # BX88358) .The blue ox adapter’s connect directly to the Ford Moduler bumper. Hope this helps.

68 galaxie

I have a blue ox system I used to tow My f150. Just got my Bronco. I change the end,s of the blue ox tow bar and bought this wire harness. ( Curt #58992 plug and play wire harness) and the ( Blue Ox # BX88358) .The blue ox adapter’s connect directly to the Ford Moduler bumper. Hope this helps.

Great...Thanks for the info. So you trust the specs on the modular bumper shackles to be able to tow with them!! My question for you is, have you found somewhere to hook up your safety cables? TilZbow writes above the links for adding connections for these, but am wondering if you found any other solution.

srhollen

Thanks, I am thinking that I read your info on another thread, however am glad to you reiterated here. I thought by opening a new thread that maybe we could get some new attention focus again. I actually have someone at FORD Corp looking into this and supposed to be tracking down someone from the engineering group that they dissolved...tho, I don't know whether she will ever get back with me.

My main issue with changing the shackles to the Roadmaster mounting plate is that I will no longer have off-roading recovery shackles. What am I gonna do then? This was the reason that I changed to the modular bumper, to have the shackles to pull with.

So my question after I read everything that you wrote is...what are OTHER bumpers' shackles rated at? Do they have specs that are comparable to the 7500lbs each on the Bronco?

I can’t answer your last question and please keep us updated on what you hear from Ford. It’ll be awesome to get confirmation directly from Ford.

As far as recovery shackles, the tow brackets are removed from the towed vehicle when not in use. They’re permanently mounted to the tow bars but only connected to the towed rig when it’s being towed. Get to your campsite, disconnect the tow bars via the 035-1 adapters, replace with recovery shackles at that time or only when needed and you’re ready to go. I personally don’t plan to drive around with recovery shackles installed because I see no reason to do that. Take a look at the pics below. Simply pull the pin on the adapter that goes through the shackle mount on the bumper to remove the two bar and you’re good to go. Tow bars stay connected to your RV and swing up and out of the way. The newer tow bars work this way while tow bars if the past stayed connected to the towed vehicle.

srhollen

Great...Thanks for the info. So you trust the specs on the modular bumper shackles to be able to tow with them!! My question for you is, have you found somewhere to hook up your safety cables? TilZbow writes above the links for adding connections for these, but am wondering if you found any other solution.

My son welded two clips on the frame under the BRACKETS OR HOLES WORKS JUST LIKE A REAR TRAILER HITCH

68 galaxie

My son welded two clips on the frame under the BRACKETS OR HOLES WORKS JUST LIKE A REAR TRAILER HITCH

You can’t see them unless you bend down