Flat tow equipment needed to flat tow the 2021 Bronco?

[psdtime]

I promised to share my flat towing with a winch setup and finally took some pictures. I have a 2021 4-dr, 2.7L, and a stock MOD bumper. Here's my setup:
RVI Brake 3 (sits on the floor with no additional bracket required)
RVI towed charger
RVI breakaway wireless adapter
Roadmaster Sterling All Terrain Towbar
Roadmaster 035-1 adapters
LOD front bumper tie in brackets (these strengthen the frame horns for the winch and provide a breakaway connection)
Magnetic taillights ran off separate wires added along chassis frame. I wussed out of using taillight diodes for no particular reason other than an unfounded fear of a diode failure that could potentially cause me an additional headache.
Rough Country High Winch Mount
JCR Prerunner Bar
Mountains2Metal camera relocation kit

My goal was to limit the amount of modification in case I change my mind and decide to sell the Bronco (not likely based on the wide smile I ride around with). Thanks again to all of you early posters for making this so painless! Please reply if you have any questions.

I was wondering if when you tow, do you keep the Bronco parking lights on? The reason why I ask is that I'm kind of doing something similar to your set-up (have full RVI kit from previous Rubicon that I traded in for the Bronco). I was trying to figure out what the law requires, and it seems like side marker lights are required. I'm not sure if those magnet lights glow on side or not. It seems like leaving the parking lights on would take care of that concern. Since you have the RVI charger, your battery will be maintained. I too was not willing to use the diode kits on the Bronco and I'm working on using some Diode Dynamics C2R lights to handle the brake/signal functions while towing, they will also provide running lights that would be redundant if the parking lights were left on. As a bonus, they will add a much brighter back-up light function for when the Bronco is driven normally and can be turned on with the upfitter switches too. It would basically look like this.

The red functions of the light would be powered by my RV when towing and the white would be powered by the Bronco when disconnected. The tow wires will completely independent of the Bronco wire as you are doing now with the magnet lights. I'm getting the lights and harnesses from SPV. I had intended on adding back-ups anyhow, but I think this will kill two birds with one stone.

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[dgorsett]

I was wondering if when you tow, do you keep the Bronco parking lights on? The reason why I ask is that I'm kind of doing something similar to your set-up (have full RVI kit from previous Rubicon that I traded in for the Bronco). I was trying to figure out what the law requires, and it seems like side marker lights are required. I'm not sure if those magnet lights glow on side or not. It seems like leaving the parking lights on would take care of that concern. Since you have the RVI charger, your battery will be maintained. I too was not willing to use the diode kits on the Bronco and I'm working on using some Diode Dynamics C2R lights to handle the brake/signal functions while towing, they will also provide running lights that would be redundant if the parking lights were left on. As a bonus, they will add a much brighter back-up light function for when the Bronco is driven normally and can be turned on with the upfitter switches too. It would basically look like this.

The red functions of the light would be powered by my RV when towing and the white would be powered by the Bronco when disconnected. The tow wires will completely independent of the Bronco wire as you are doing now with the magnet lights. I'm getting the lights and harnesses from SPV. I had intended on adding back-ups anyhow, but I think this will kill two birds with one stone.

I'm not who you asked but my 2 cents: I would not run the parking lights to provide side marker, the Bronco electronics are too touchy to be trusted, even with the RVI charger, and they might actually be confusing to a driver following since the brake/turn will be smaller and in a different location.

I initially used clamp on lights (due to lack of steel for magnets) with no side marker and wasn't worried, there was a giant motor home 15 feet away. I now have the Curt towed wiring into the Bronco taillights and have had no issues.

 

[Fordified1]

I was wondering if when you tow, do you keep the Bronco parking lights on? The reason why I ask is that I'm kind of doing something similar to your set-up (have full RVI kit from previous Rubicon that I traded in for the Bronco). I was trying to figure out what the law requires, and it seems like side marker lights are required. I'm not sure if those magnet lights glow on side or not. It seems like leaving the parking lights on would take care of that concern. Since you have the RVI charger, your battery will be maintained. I too was not willing to use the diode kits on the Bronco and I'm working on using some Diode Dynamics C2R lights to handle the brake/signal functions while towing, they will also provide running lights that would be redundant if the parking lights were left on. As a bonus, they will add a much brighter back-up light function for when the Bronco is driven normally and can be turned on with the upfitter switches too. It would basically look like this.

The red functions of the light would be powered by my RV when towing and the white would be powered by the Bronco when disconnected. The tow wires will completely independent of the Bronco wire as you are doing now with the magnet lights. I'm getting the lights and harnesses from SPV. I had intended on adding back-ups anyhow, but I think this will kill two birds with one stone.

I'm not who you asked but my 2 cents: I would not run the parking lights to provide side marker, the Bronco electronics are too touchy to be trusted, even with the RVI charger, and they might actually be confusing to a driver following since the brake/turn will be smaller and in a different location.

I initially used clamp on lights (due to lack of steel for magnets) with no side marker and wasn't worried, there was a giant motor home 15 feet away. I now have the Curt towed wiring into the Bronco taillights and have had no issues in a few years.

I completely agree with this. Don’t press your luck with the Bronco electronics. You don’t need side marker lights bad enough to risk it. I use Bluetooth magnetic lights. Have flat towed it 10k miles or more and mostly at night.

 

[Cooperhawk]

We just towed my 2023 Outer Banks about 5000 miles throughout the Southwest.

I had ABC Bus install a Blue Ox tow plate and tow bar. I also had them install the Air Force One braking system, (but that's only if you have air brakes). The light package is also installed.

Towing the Bronco is a breeze as long as you are careful putting it in "Tow Mode". The Manual is available on the screen and I just bring that up, select "Towing" and follow the instructions.

The whole package installed cost about $3000.00.

PS, I already had the tow bar and AF1 kit.

 

[Cooperhawk]

So at campsites you are required to unhook your towed vehicle?

Is it hard to back up the RV with the towed vehicle attached?

I have never been in an RV or camped in one. I have seen plenty of RVs with boat trailers at campsites where I’ve tent camped.

We always ask if the Campground has pull throughs and usually they do. We can overnight and never unhook the Bronco from the Motorhome.

 

[Cooperhawk]

I'm not who you asked but my 2 cents: I would not run the parking lights to provide side marker, the Bronco electronics are too touchy to be trusted, even with the RVI charger, and they might actually be confusing to a driver following since the brake/turn will be smaller and in a different location.

I initially used clamp on lights (due to lack of steel for magnets) with no side marker and wasn't worried, there was a giant motor home 15 feet away. I now have the Curt towed wiring into the Bronco taillights and have had no issues.

If you install the light kit you simply turn on the clearance lights on the tow vehicle and they will illuminate the tail lights of the Bronco.

 

[psdtime]

Thanks everyone for the info. I was hesitant to use the Curt kit because of the number of bad reviews, even though there were some good ones mixed in. In my experience, if there’s a defective product out there — even if it’s only a 1-in-1,000 issue — somehow I’m the one who ends up getting it.
The final straw for me with the Curt harness (#58992) was noticing that Etrailer no longer carries it. I’m pretty sure they used to. Maybe my assumption is wrong, but I took that as a possible sign of a higher-than-normal failure rate.
Since a lot of people seem to be using wireless setups or magnetic tow lights successfully, I figured I’d go a similar direction. Because I’m using the RVI brake system, the Bronco still needs power from the RV, so a completely wireless setup wasn’t really an option.
I was already planning to add reverse lights to the Bronco, and I didn’t want to permanently add extra lighting functions beyond backup lights for normal driving. These Diode Dynamics lights seemed like a great middle ground — temporary tow lighting with the convenience of a permanent install, if that makes sense.
I’m going to give this setup a try. If a highway patrol officer ever tells me I need something additional, like side markers, I can always add them later without too much trouble.

 

[dgorsett]

Thanks everyone for the info. I was hesitant to use the Curt kit because of the number of bad reviews, even though there were some good ones mixed in. In my experience, if there’s a defective product out there — even if it’s only a 1-in-1,000 issue — somehow I’m the one who ends up getting it.
The final straw for me with the Curt harness (#58992) was noticing that Etrailer no longer carries it. I’m pretty sure they used to. Maybe my assumption is wrong, but I took that as a possible sign of a higher-than-normal failure rate.
Since a lot of people seem to be using wireless setups or magnetic tow lights successfully, I figured I’d go a similar direction. Because I’m using the RVI brake system, the Bronco still needs power from the RV, so a completely wireless setup wasn’t really an option.
I was already planning to add reverse lights to the Bronco, and I didn’t want to permanently add extra lighting functions beyond backup lights for normal driving. These Diode Dynamics lights seemed like a great middle ground — temporary tow lighting with the convenience of a permanent install, if that makes sense.
I’m going to give this setup a try. If a highway patrol officer ever tells me I need something additional, like side markers, I can always add them later without too much trouble.

You made me look, since I like my Curt. You are right etrailer does not list anymore. Amazon reviews had 79% 4 or 5 star. Of the one stars they said it won't work with LED tail lights, but this one 58992 is the one for LED, I have 58996 for non LED which has been great for me. Curts website shows both. RV Harnesses for 2021 Ford Bronco For those interested, these come with a tap so you can hook up trailer lights also using a special Curt harness. I did my trailer lights first so I had to do some customization.

Anyway, I see your concern and good luck to you

 

[psdtime]

You made me look, since I like my Curt. You are right etrailer does not list anymore. Amazon reviews had 79% 4 or 5 star. Of the one stars they said it won't work with LED tail lights, but this one 58992 is the one for LED, I have 58996 for non LED which has been great for me. Curts website shows both. RV Harnesses for 2021 Ford Bronco For those interested, these come with a tap so you can hook up trailer lights also using a special Curt harness. I did my trailer lights first so I had to do some customization.

Anyway, I see your concern and good luck to you

Maybe the issue is more of a problem with the LED equipped Broncos?

 

[yourbudjim]

I was wondering if when you tow, do you keep the Bronco parking lights on? The reason why I ask is that I'm kind of doing something similar to your set-up (have full RVI kit from previous Rubicon that I traded in for the Bronco). I was trying to figure out what the law requires, and it seems like side marker lights are required. I'm not sure if those magnet lights glow on side or not. It seems like leaving the parking lights on would take care of that concern. Since you have the RVI charger, your battery will be maintained. I too was not willing to use the diode kits on the Bronco and I'm working on using some Diode Dynamics C2R lights to handle the brake/signal functions while towing, they will also provide running lights that would be redundant if the parking lights were left on. As a bonus, they will add a much brighter back-up light function for when the Bronco is driven normally and can be turned on with the upfitter switches too. It would basically look like this.

The red functions of the light would be powered by my RV when towing and the white would be powered by the Bronco when disconnected. The tow wires will completely independent of the Bronco wire as you are doing now with the magnet lights. I'm getting the lights and harnesses from SPV. I had intended on adding back-ups anyhow, but I think this will kill two birds with one stone.

I ran a 4-wire bundle from the front to the rear and plug the front into the RV for power (just like a trailer)

 

[Oilbrnr]

Maybe the issue is more of a problem with the LED equipped Broncos?

I think it is the case, yes. I recently put one in my 25. It backfeeds the RV when turns and stop are active, stopping the flasher in the coach. I'm going to have to diode it before the next trip.

 

[psdtime]

After mulling it over for way too long, I finally was able to mount my tow plug and breakaway. I liked some of the other options that was shown on earlier posts, but I didn't have the tools to make those happen. I wanted them both to be hidden, but at the same I didn't want to modify the Bronco much. They aren't super convenient to get too, but I don't tow that often. The only permanent change to the Bronco was two 1/4" holes in the skid plate. Still waiting on some parts to complete the wiring.

 

[psdtime]

My idea of using the Diode Dynamics C2R lights as back up lights for the Bronco as well as tow lights for when it's being towed behind the RV almost worked. The problem I ran into was that the C2Rs don't seem to play nice with being a running light and also being a brake/turn light. Both my RV and my work truck both gave me a "check tailight" warning when I tested it. However, if I don't use them as a running light, they worked perfectly. So I've decided to just leave the park lights on on the Bronco when I tow. My RVI towed battery charger will keep the Bronco charged and I think it's much saver since both the front and rear side marker lights will be illuminated on the Bronco. Without those, a car might not see it when going through an intersection and T-bone the Bronco. So the C2Rs are only doing brake and turn. They are much brighter than the Bronco's running lights and when my RVI brake applies the brakes the Bronco's brake lights work too. Also, the license plate light goes on with the parking lights so I feel pretty confident if I was to be pulled over, the highway patrol wouldn't have an issue with my set-up, better yet, I don't think they'll pull me over for light violations. I was able to fit both my RVI wireless breakaway and charger on the area between the fuse box and the fender using high strength magnets. Nothing interferes with maintenance items or access to the fuse box. I did mount a breaker on the top of the battery to allow me to cut power to the RVI stuff when not needed so that there won't be any additional drain on the battery when not in use.

 

[psdtime]

Finally finished all my wiring and have tested it. I was able to get the C2Rs to play nice with the RV wiring by just adding more draw when the headlights are on. I did this by adding grill and bumper lights (low power mode) and with the help for a few diodes, have them come on with the tow vehicle headlights. I think what was happening is that the C2R light would have zero draw on the running light circuit when the brakes or blinkers were activated making the RV think there was a broken wire or something. I read somewhere that the parking lights will only stay on for 15 minutes, so I had to figure something out and this seemed to work. All RVI stuff is hidden in the fender. I put them on a breaker so that I could stop them from draining the battery when not needed. Fuse box cover is fully accessible. The only permanent modification to the Bronco was the two little holes in the skid plate to mount the plug for the tow wires.

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