Towing capacity - any real world feedback yet?

I have been researching this question and thinking about possibly changing my order to get a manual. I can't speak from experience towing with a new Bronco, but here is how my thought process has evolved. There is no answer that will be right for everyone, but maybe some perspective will help you like it did me.

I owned a 1984 full size Bronco with the 351HO (High Output) Motor and towed a boat trailer that was around #5500 for years and many miles at 7000 feet of altitude and never felt that I was lacking for power. I should also add that I am comfortable towing at speed limits and respectful of the equipment when towing. Others may feel they require more power. I used this as a basis to compare to the new Bronco and below is what I discovered.

For comparison the HP for the 351 HO motor in 1984 was 210 and the torque was 305 lb-ft per this article: https://www.automobile-catalog.com/car/1984/884450/ford_bronco_5_8l_ho_v-8_automatic.html . I compared this versus the new 2.3L at 275/300*HP and 315/325* lb-ft Torque (* Premium Fuel). Also noteworthy is that the 2.3L engine is rated to tow up to #7000 in the Ranger, but there is no manual transmission offered and typically the clutch can be weak link when towing heavy loads with a manual transmission.

I further compared the unladen weigh of that 1984 Bronco, #4740 and gross weight that topped out about #6000 versus a 2022 Bronco which is approximately #4900 unladen and up to approximately #6200 gross weight.

Then I compared the wheelbase and the overall length for the 1984 which was 104.7" and 177.4" versus 2022 2dr at 100.4" WB and 173.7" . This made it clear to me that towing stability on a new 2 dr wouldn't be an issue since the numbers are so close.

I also read that the tow rating for the Bronco is most likely limited by the attachment for the hitch because the new Bronco Raptor adds additional bracing and increases the tow rating to #4500. The standard Bronco hitch attaches to a single crossmember of the frame just behind the bumper. On the Raptor, the exhaust/muffler changed freeing up space for braces that don't exist on the standard Bronco which argues to the engine not being the limitation for the Bronco tow rating.

Long answer (sorry I am a numbers geek and was bored on a cold day when I was doing research), but my math said the 2.3 should easily do the work of moving the trailer up to the maximum tow rating of #3500 and the towing stability should be fine. My current order is the V6/auto/2dr, but since I have to sacrifice the manual or the V6 in the build I am debating changing. Sadly, no dealer has offered to let me take a new one out and try trailer towing with making this my best guess at what it might be like if I changed.

I hope it helps.

They all pretty much have the same tow rating regardless of engine or transmission so you should be fine regardless of your choice. SAE J2807 is the standard that is used and it is very conservative with the ratings. I’m getting the 7MT/2.3L and plan to tow my boat that is about the same weight (maybe a bit over) and have no concerns.
https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/1502-sae-j2807-tow-tests-the-standard/

Bluemach1

I have been researching this question and thinking about possibly changing my order to get a manual. I can't speak from experience towing with a new Bronco, but here is how my thought process has evolved. There is no answer that will be right for everyone, but maybe some perspective will help you like it did me.

I owned a 1984 full size Bronco with the 351HO (High Output) Motor and towed a boat trailer that was around #5500 for years and many miles at 7000 feet of altitude and never felt that I was lacking for power. I should also add that I am comfortable towing at speed limits and respectful of the equipment when towing. Others may feel they require more power. I used this as a basis to compare to the new Bronco and below is what I discovered.

For comparison the HP for the 351 HO motor in 1984 was 210 and the torque was 305 lb-ft per this article: https://www.automobile-catalog.com/car/1984/884450/ford_bronco_5_8l_ho_v-8_automatic.html . I compared this versus the new 2.3L at 275/300*HP and 315/325* lb-ft Torque (* Premium Fuel). Also noteworthy is that the 2.3L engine is rated to tow up to #7000 in the Ranger, but there is no manual transmission offered and typically the clutch can be weak link when towing heavy loads with a manual transmission.

I further compared the unladen weigh of that 1984 Bronco, #4740 and gross weight that topped out about #6000 versus a 2022 Bronco which is approximately #4900 unladen and up to approximately #6200 gross weight.

Then I compared the wheelbase and the overall length for the 1984 which was 104.7" and 177.4" versus 2022 2dr at 100.4" WB and 173.7" . This made it clear to me that towing stability on a new 2 dr wouldn't be an issue since the numbers are so close.

I also read that the tow rating for the Bronco is most likely limited by the attachment for the hitch because the new Bronco Raptor adds additional bracing and increases the tow rating to #4500. The standard Bronco hitch attaches to a single crossmember of the frame just behind the bumper. On the Raptor, the exhaust/muffler changed freeing up space for braces that don't exist on the standard Bronco which argues to the engine not being the limitation for the Bronco tow rating.

Long answer (sorry I am a numbers geek and was bored on a cold day when I was doing research), but my math said the 2.3 should easily do the work of moving the trailer up to the maximum tow rating of #3500 and the towing stability should be fine. My current order is the V6/auto/2dr, but since I have to sacrifice the manual or the V6 in the build I am debating changing. Sadly, no dealer has offered to let me take a new one out and try trailer towing with making this my best guess at what it might be like if I changed.

I hope it helps.

Thanks for the detailed reply, I used to tow with my '94 Bronco and had not thought about comparing the specs like that. My '94 had the 302 engine, which I regretted but purchased it used and didn't know any better at the time. It was still a stout tow vehicle, but hunted for gears on the highway and had to run high revs on even small hills. I'm not a suspension expert, but feel like the older Broncos were more F150 based and the new models are built with off-road manners in mind since they are going after Wrangler market share. So I assumed the suspension was limiting the tow rating, but did notice the increase with Raptor which seems odd since that is of course more of an off-road spec. I was not aware the hitch is mounted one one cross-member, makes me wonder if there would be a better option after-market later, but if that involves re-routing exhaust I'll just take caution with the stock hitch.

I do worry about the clutch being the weak link, but feel like the crawl gear could help on steep launch ramps if needed. And I'm sure my towing will be less than 10% of overall miles, so don't want to completely change my build plans for that 10% usage. There are some other issues (like wish I could get the manual in Outer Banks trim), but that's another thread, haha.

Crawler Green

They all pretty much have the same tow rating regardless of engine or transmission so you should be fine regardless of your choice. SAE J2807 is the standard that is used and it is very conservative with the ratings. I’m getting the 7MT/2.3L and plan to tow my boat that is about the same weight (maybe a bit over) and have no concerns.
https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/1502-sae-j2807-tow-tests-the-standard/

Interesting read, never realized it was so "standardized" I guess. Are you getting 2 door or 4 door? Feels like it may be a wash for towing also - longer wheelbase offset by additional curb weight.

Fillups

Interesting read, never realized it was so "standardized" I guess. Are you getting 2 door or 4 door? Feels like it may be a wash for towing also - longer wheelbase offset by additional curb weight.

I’m getting the 4-door.