Hypothetical: Process to recover a dead Bronco with complete electical failure

[nmmike]

New guy!

I've been reading this forum for some time and I'm trying to decide between a Bronco and Wrangler. I've had a XJ and first year TJ Rubicon. I sold the TJ in 2006 and have a Tacoma. I need a vehicle I can flat tow and would like to start doing trail rides. At this point I'm leaning toward the Bronco because it would be more than capable for the type of off-roading I'd be doing and I want a vehicle with decent road manners. My latest thoughts have been on how to recover a vehicle that has so many systems controlled by electronics.

So I wondering what is the process to recover a completely dead bronco? The situation is you're on a trail and have complete electrical failure and can't put the transfer case into neutral, but other than that the vehicle will roll. Would you have to drop the drive shafts? Does the Bronco have a electric steering rack? If yes I'm assuming that you'd have no steering. I've been reading the 30 page flat towing thread and I know that the 2.7L has electric boosted brakes. I'm under the impression you'd have some brakes even with no power. I know that there are allot of other failure modes that would prevent a simple tow but I'd like to have a contingency for that case.

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[Bronc5280]

Oh boy, I have broached this topic before and got crucified.... by the "modern car" sycophants that like to talk down to us analogue focused millennials and Gen x'ers.

If ford had made the offroader they had pitched originally with mechanical transfer case, manual windows, mechanical steering, etc. Instead of a rolling super computer that doesn't have the parts/chips to operate they would have cleaned up the market and this discussion would have never happened...

Short answer. No, if your electrical system fails deep in da'woods you are FUBAR.

 

[mini4mw]

Just do manual shift to neutral.
Post 9 below shows it. Pretty sure every auto trans has this feature.

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/thre...ake-shift-interlock-page-180-of-manual.42867/

 

[Donkeygyrl]

Oh boy, I have broached this topic before and got crucified.... by the "modern car" sycophants that like to talk down to us analogue focused millenials.

If ford had made the offroader with mechanical transfer case, manual windows, mechanical stearing, etc. Instead of a rolling super computer they would have cleaned up the market and this discussion would have never happened...

Short answer. No, if your electrical system failes deep in da'woods you are FUBAR.

I totally agree on the too much tech part ,but the complaints about no heated seats cupholders too much wind noise,top leaks,saggy windows,bad mileage ect kinda shows what this crowd is like.

 

[BottleShark]

Mine has a lever in the console. If you put the lever in the middle where it's lose, you and tow it off the trail

 

[mini4mw]

Ps. No EBB (elec brake boost) is close to old non boosted brakes when it has no power. Still works but you gotta press hard. I believe steering would be the same. Once you're rolling it's not too bad. At least the steering column doesn't lock.

 

[Tricky Dick]

@Razorbak86 had to do a similar recovery due to a dead fuel pump. I'd read up on his report of it.

 

[VIRUS]

Always travel with a tent, slim Jim's, cooler full of beer and toilet paper.
If it ever happens, tell your friend you've moved off-grid

 

[Bronc5280]

I totally agree on the too much tech part ,but the complaints about no heated seats cupholders too much wind noise, top leaks, saggy windows, bad mileage etc. kind of shows what this crowd is like.

Now I want to reactivate the modem delete thread and take some more abuse from that crowd. I just got an email about activating fordpoints for my pending delivery and it had a tinytext clause at the bottom that the modem had to be active for 60 day and connected to the smart phone app for 6 months for diesel owners to qualify...
cant wait for that clause to hit us and ruin my plans to rip that shit out if/when we crack it.

Woke ford is the worst ford. I just wish they would give us the modern off-road rig we wheelers wanted and not the bloatware and spyware "they" are forcing into the market.

 

[Silver-Bolt]

Read the threads about the dead fuel pump. Trail recovery is not a big deal. The steering is electronically assisted. You still have a mechanical connection between the steering wheel and tires. You still have brakes as well.

 

[‘21OBX]

Buy and keep one of the newer battery jump packs they have gotten pretty compact.

 

[66Fan]

Just do manual shift to neutral.
Post 9 below shows it. Pretty sure every auto trans has this feature.

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/thre...ake-shift-interlock-page-180-of-manual.42867/

Correct. Shift to neutral.
Even with electric power steering and brakes, you still have both with no electrical.
It's electric BOOSTED brakes and electric power ASSIST steering.
Ya just gotta man up a bit.
Now, that said, you won't have Apple Car Play for hands free texting while recovering, but hey!

 

[da_jokker]

Since you specifically mentioned flat towing, it sounds like you read that thread. Seems like the Bronco doesn't flat tow very well so in that regard, the Jeep might be a better choice.

When it comes to those small jumper boxes, they're only going to help you if the alternator goes out because you went through muddy water... One person did exactly that and a jumper box got him back to base camp. How are if you truly have a complete electrical failure, jumper box isn't going to help cuz it ain't the battery that's the issue.

But as others have said, the ability to put the Bronco in neutral, and to be able to break in steer with no power, would at least provide you the opportunity to get drug out.

Which reminds me, I should practice that exact scenario (shifting it into neutral with no power) just to make sure I know how to do it.

 

[Razorbak86]

Just do manual shift to neutral.
Post 9 below shows it. Pretty sure every auto trans has this feature.

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/thre...ake-shift-interlock-page-180-of-manual.42867/

For those who don’t want to dig through the links, it’s covered in the Owners Manual on the following pages…

 

[BroncoSarge]

I have two portable jumpers for common power Issues. I carry them if we go trailing. If it’s a total failure that I cannot jump, the vehicle can still go into neutral. Worse case I will two using the other Bronco until I hit a recoverable area.

I recommend the jump boxes. I also love my big jumper. Has compressor built in just in case too.

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