Flat Towing the 2021 Ford Bronco: Neutral Tow Mode How-To

By Laura Zielinski

Yes: You can flat tow a 2021 Bronco! In this video, Nashville Early Bronco’s Jon Melton walks the Bronco Nation through steps to engage and disengage flat tow mode.

The Engage Neutral Tow Mode

To safely tow your Bronco behind a vehicle –– say, a motorhome –– and without a trailer, you’ll want to follow these instructions, viewable on page 306-309 of the 2021 Owner’s Manual.

1. Enter accessory mode: Push the ignition button once without your foot on the brake.
2. Press 2H on the four-wheel drive mode control.
3. Depress the brake (automatic transmission) or the brake and clutch together (manual transmission).
4. Put the gear shift lever into Neutral.
5. While holding the brake/brake and clutch, use the instrument panel controls on the steering wheel to select Settings.
6. Select Neutral Tow.
7. Press and hold OK until the confirmation message appears.
8. Release the brake/brake and clutch.
9. Switch off your Bronco by pressing the ignition once.

You may hear a clunk as the neutral tow mode engages –– this is the transfer case shifting, and it’s normal.

Informational Messages

These are the three messages that can appear, confirming the process was completed correctly or instructing you on how to proceed.

Message	Description
Neutral Tow Enabled Leave Transmission in Neutral	The transfer case is in the neutral position and your vehicle is safe to tow with all four wheels on the ground.
Shift Delayed Drive Forward	There is a transfer case gear tooth blockage present. With your vehicle running, shift the transmission into Drive and roll forward, up to 3 ft.
Neutral Tow Disabled	The transfer case is not in the neutral position and your vehicle is not safe to tow with all four wheels on the ground.

To Disengage Neutral Tow

The steps to turn flat tow mode off are similar to engaging it:

1. Enter accessory mode: Push the ignition button once without your foot on the brake.
2. Depress the brake (automatic transmission) or the brake and clutch together (manual transmission) for approximately seven seconds.
3. Wait until the instrument panel displays 2H and Neutral Tow Disabled.
4. Release the pedals.
5. Apply the parking brake, then disconnect your vehicle from the tow vehicle.
6. Release the parking brake, start your Bronco, and shift in Drive or Reverse to make sure the transfer case is out of the neutral tow position

Watch the full video to see these steps in action, and visit our YouTube channel to see more how-to videos for the 2021 Bronco.