Flat tow equipment needed to flat tow the 2021 Bronco?

[Jmor]

Did a first test to tow my 2021 Bronco Badland behind a motorhome today.

My setup:

Blue Ox BX88357 After Market Bumper Adapter 7/8 Serial N 00708 1220
(had to modify to open it up a bit per grtharris post)
https://www.blueox.com/product/bx88357-bumper-adapter-kit-fits-7-8″-pin/

BX7420 Avail Tow Bar (2″ Receiver)
https://www.blueox.com/product/bx7420-avail-tow-bar/

Roadmaster 7-to-6 Wire Flexo-Coil wiring kit Part 146-7
(came with the 6 wire outlet for the Bronco)
https://www.roadmasterinc.com/products/accessories/electrical/cords.php

CURT 58992 RV Towing Harness for 2021 Ford Bronco
https://www.curtmfg.com/part/58992

Hopkins Brake Buddy Towed Vehicle Battery Maintainer - Part No 39332
(to keep Bronco battery charged while towing)
https://www.brakebuddy.com/towed-vehicle-battery-maintainer.html

Blue Ox BRK2019, Patriot 3 Brake Braking System
(came with the breakaway switch that i mounted behind bumper)
https://www.blueox.com/product/brk2019-patriot-3-brake/

Cigarette Lighter Socket Power Outlet Heavy Duty 30A Fuse 12 from Amazon
(to keep constant 12V for the braking system)

D Ring Shackle (2 Pack) with 7/8 Pin
(to attach safety cables to the modular bamper)

------------------------
My Motorcame had a 7 wire plug but no constant 12 V so had to ad a wire and a fuse from the motorhome battery to the plug.

Any recommendations and advise is welcome.
Planning a trip from Canada to California in a week so hopefully this setup will work!

Alex, what are you attaching the breakaway saftey cables to?
I have an hd modular bumper on order. I cant figure out where the cables should attach if I use the adapters to use the recovery to attach to blue ox tow bar? Any help would be appreciated.

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[grtharris]

Alex, what are you attaching the breakaway saftey cables to?
I have an hd modular bumper on order. I cant figure out where the cables should attach if I use the adapters to use the recovery to attach to blue ox tow bar? Any help would be appreciated.

Go back an look at post #92, I don't like to hook my safety chain to the same bracket that the tow bar is connected too.

 

[wrbix]

Here and in prior threads re brake boost, it’s become apparent that 2.3 brakes are vacuum boosted but not through normally aspirated engine generated vacuum but rather by a pump - is the 2.3 “vacuum pump” electrically driven, cam driven, belt driven?…….might impact how to keep brake boost alive while towing, or if that’s even possible.
Anyone know?

 

[goatman2]

Here and in prior threads re brake boost, it’s become apparent that 2.3 brakes are vacuum boosted but not through normally aspirated engine generated vacuum but rather by a pump - is the 2.3 “vacuum pump” electrically driven, cam driven, belt driven?…….might impact how to keep brake boost alive while towing, or if that’s even possible.
Anyone know?

My Air Force One brake system supplies it's own vacuum to the booster, since the engine isn't running anyway. Boost comes from the control box converting air pressure from the coach to vacuum which is supplied to the booster.

Great question, if it's possible to keep boost going on other systems. I suspect no matter what that everything goes to sleep after a certain amount of time. Modern cars have such big power draws that it has to go asleep or we'd all have dead batteries.

 

[Ranbronc]

Has anyone installed an NSA ready brute system yet?
pictures of drilling would be nice.

 

[LeeMac]

Got the Bronco hooked up and flat towed 260 miles with about a 800 ft elevation increase with no problems. 4 Door Badlands 2.7 MIC Blue Ox off road milled out, Alpha 2 tow bar, Patriot 3 brake. I ran it in Hybrid mode for the first 30min. (Prolly an hour after I placed it in flat tow mode) I swapped it to level 5 and realized quickly that it was too high. Force setting of 3 felt about right. I pulled it with a Forest River FR3. I was concerned about how it would pull it considering it is right at the towing limit, but it pulled fine. If I got checked up in traffic on a hard grade I slowed down to 50mph but could hang 60-70 most of the time. First time to flat tow and was pleased with it.

 

[LeeMac]

 

[wrbix]

Got the Bronco hooked up and flat towed 260 miles with about a 800 ft elevation increase with no problems. 4 Door Badlands 2.7 MIC Blue Ox off road milled out, Alpha 2 tow bar, Patriot 3 brake. I ran it in Hybrid mode for the first 30min. (Prolly an hour after I placed it in flat tow mode) I swapped it to level 5 and realized quickly that it was too high. Force setting of 3 felt about right. I pulled it with a Forest River FR3. I was concerned about how it would pull it considering it is right at the towing limit, but it pulled fine. If I got checked up in traffic on a hard grade I slowed down to 50mph but could hang 60-70 most of the time. First time to flat tow and was pleased with it.

Blue Ox Alpha 2 and Patriot 3 is the system I have and have used to tow my Element. When you say “milled out”, do you mean the orifices for the connector pin are milled out to match the Bronco’s recovery points?
I note via e trailer.com that Blue Ox has a “base plate” for Bronco that is essentially a modified recovery point with additional cross-bolted attachment that apparently matches their tow bar.
I’m also watching aftermarket winch bumpers that might be Blue Ox compatible.
….oh the choices!

 

[LeeMac]

Blue Ox Alpha 2 and Patriot 3 is the system I have and have used to tow my Element. When you say “milled out”, do you mean the orifices for the connector pin are milled out to match the Bronco’s recovery points?
I note via e trailer.com that Blue Ox has a “base plate” for Bronco that is essentially a modified recovery point with additional cross-bolted attachment that apparently matches their tow bar.
I’m also watching aftermarket winch bumpers that might be Blue Ox compatible.
….oh the choices!

Opened it up the match the width of the modular bumper recovery point.

 

[wrbix]

Got the Bronco hooked up and flat towed 260 miles with about a 800 ft elevation increase with no problems. 4 Door Badlands 2.7 MIC Blue Ox off road milled out, Alpha 2 tow bar, Patriot 3 brake. I ran it in Hybrid mode for the first 30min. (Prolly an hour after I placed it in flat tow mode) I swapped it to level 5 and realized quickly that it was too high. Force setting of 3 felt about right. I pulled it with a Forest River FR3. I was concerned about how it would pull it considering it is right at the towing limit, but it pulled fine. If I got checked up in traffic on a hard grade I slowed down to 50mph but could hang 60-70 most of the time. First time to flat tow and was pleased with it.

…..and what is “hybrid mode”?

 

[LeeMac]

…..and what is “hybrid mode”?

It’s the H setting on the Patriot 3. Hybrid vehicles use electronic brake boost. The 2.7l Bronco also uses electronic boost but grtharris identified that it timed out about 45 min after being placed in tow mode.

 

[wrbix]

It’s the H setting on the Patriot 3. Hybrid vehicles use electronic brake boost. The 2.7l Bronco also uses electronic boost but grtharris identified that it timed out about 45 min after being placed in tow mode.

Thanks for sharing your experience and expertise.
Looking forward to towing Bronco, when I get it.

 

[Tilzbow]

It’s the H setting on the Patriot 3. Hybrid vehicles use electronic brake boost. The 2.7l Bronco also uses electronic boost but grtharris identified that it timed out about 45 min after being placed in tow mode.

This time out of the electronic brake boost wasn’t an issue for you?

 

[grtharris]

Blue Ox Alpha 2 and Patriot 3 is the system I have and have used to tow my Element. When you say “milled out”, do you mean the orifices for the connector pin are milled out to match the Bronco’s recovery points?
I note via e trailer.com that Blue Ox has a “base plate” for Bronco that is essentially a modified recovery point with additional cross-bolted attachment that apparently matches their tow bar.
I’m also watching aftermarket winch bumpers that might be Blue Ox compatible.
….oh the choices!

The Blue Ox Bronco base plate replaces the shackle brackets with there quick release tow bar setup, you loose the front recovery points.

 

[LeeMac]

This time out of the electronic brake boost wasn’t an issue for you?

Initially I but the patriot 3 in Hybrid mode to account for the electronic brake boost. After an hour from the time I placed the Bronco in Neutral Tow I placed the Patriot 3 in normal “force” mode and changed the settings until I felt like the response was good enough to help.

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