Flat tow 2024 bronco Black Diamond

[Dkirk]

I have a build date for Jan 8, 2024 for my Black Diamond which i want to flat tow. I have been flat towing a 2004 Honda Element for almost 20 years and think it’s time to upgrade. Roadmaster is researching what’s different about the 2024 Bronco from the 2023 as far as base plates installation. If anyone has installed their own base plate, for any age bronco, I would like to hear about how easy/difficult it is. Still deciding about which base plate to use. It seems like most change out the rescue hooks for tow adapter. My Black Diamond comes standard with the steel bumper. Don’t know if that makes a difference between the modular steel bumper concerning base plate?

I plan on using my Roadmaster air brake controller. It seems that most folks with transmission issues were using electronic brake controllers connected to Bronco battery. I must admit it’s a little concerning hearing about these transmission problems. It’s also good to hear from folks who have been flat towing many miles without incident.

For those of you who flat tow your bronco:
1. Do you run 12v line from motorhome to towed vehicle?
2. Does anyone use a roadmaster air brake system? If so is there room under the hood for controller?
3. Do you use your Bronco lights to connect to motorhome or some kind of external system for lights while towing?

Just trying to sort all of this out before I get my Bronco!

Thanks for your reply

Dean

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[PWillette]

I see that you are new to the forum. I suggest you do a search for flat tow related threads...many, many horror stories.

 

[rayhil67]

If you RV often, spend the coin and get a "Tow Dolly" with a towing light bar. Always a safer option, this is what my parents always did.

 

[grtharris]

If you RV often, spend the coin and get a "Tow Dolly" with a towing light bar. Always a safer option, this is what my parents always did.

Ford states do not put the New Bronco on a Tow Dolly.

 

[Dkirk]

Thanks for your reply’s. Yes, I have read the horror stories About flat towing Broncho’s with auto transmission . Very concerning! That’s why I’m trying to avoid these issues with relevant information.

Don’t like tow Dollie’s . Always an issue of what to do with it when you arrive at destination.

Dean

 

[dgorsett]

1. Towed 2 years without 12v line, no problem. Just added one using the RVI towed battery charge system, just to be safe.
2. I use the RVI 2 system.
3. I had a set of hang on lights, Changed for the Curt plug and play about a year ago, really like it. If your Bronco does not have the tow option, the Curt system allows you to add trailer tow lights with just one hook up to your taillights.

I have the basic plastic bumper and used the Blue Ox plates. They are fine but eliminate the stock under bumper tow hooks (plastic bumper only) and caused some difficulty mounting my RC Hidden Winch mount.

 

[Dkirk]

Thanks for your info. I am interested in the Curt plug and play wiring harness. Was it an easy hook-up? I did order the tow package not sure if that would affect the type of plug and play electrical harness I should order. Did you buy off Amazon?

So you can get your RC winch on with your base plate? Very nice!

 

[Baysquatch]

If you RV often, spend the coin and get a "Tow Dolly" with a towing light bar. Always a safer option, this is what my parents always did.

I’m 99% certain that you cannot dolly tow the bronco or any 4x4 for that matter

 

[Baysquatch]

We use a Roadmaster tow bar. Curt adapters to the factory recovery points on the modular bumper. LOD bumper tie in brackets. Curt plug and play wiring harness. And blue ox patriot brake system.

 

[ChrisZ]

We have a 2023 Wildtrak that we plan to flat tow.

We plan on using the brakemaster which is air operated and has the air unit mounted in the our class A Gas MH. We have used this on several different vehicles and it has worked well. The only item that would need to be under the hood is the brakeaway actuator which I have not installed yet.

We plan to add a charge wire for the MH to the Bronco to ensure the battery stays charged.

We installed the Curt plug and play our has the tow package and it plugged into the tailights just fine. I think there are two options one with LED and one without. Purchased it from NAPA.

I upgraded our tow bar to the 8k non binding roadmaster tow bar just to make it easier.

Not sure if we are going to install the roadmaster base plates or use the tow hook adapters from Curt since we have the capable bumper. Ill likely go with the base plates.

I have talked to other Bronco owners that flat tow, some have had transmission issues. They suggest taking a picture of the Bronco screen when tow is enable. And starting the Bronco each day after towing to ensure the battery stays charged.

The Broncos are made to flat tow and that is why we purchased ours as well as many other Bronco owners.

 

[dgorsett]

Thanks for your info. I am interested in the Curt plug and play wiring harness. Was it an easy hook-up? I did order the tow package not sure if that would affect the type of plug and play electrical harness I should order. Did you buy off Amazon?

So you can get your RC winch on with your base plate? Very nice!

Curt is pretty easy, you have to get into each taillight area and plug in, and you have to route your 4 wire to the front. If you have the tow package it will not affect the type of kit you get, you just won't need the other trailer tow kit. The kit will vary on whether you have LED tails or not. I got it from etrailer. The RC Hidden fit, but I had to trim the bash plate to fit around the Blue Ox stuff, but I had the plastic bumper..

 

[Dmcclure]

I just bought a 23 Wildtrack last month and set up to flat tow. I had the modular bumber and installing blue ox base plate was pretty easy and straightforward. I ordered the Curt plug and play from Amazon and took about an hour to install. This was an easy process as well. I swapped out the 4 prong front trailer prong on the Curt to a 7 pin because I wanted to hook up a battery minder and needed the hot wire. I use the Rvibrake and I’ve discovered that the cigarette plug in the console loses power after about 45 minutes after putting vehicle into Tow Enabled mode. Looking at either hooking up to an always hot fuse or using an Ankor power bank to plug into. I have noticed during an aggressive stop the brakes on the Bronco are locking or slow to release. I’m trying to read up on the cause such as the electronic brake booster.

 

[Dkirk]

We use a Roadmaster tow bar. Curt adapters to the factory recovery points on the modular bumper. LOD bumper tie in brackets. Curt plug and play wiring harness. And blue ox patriot brake system.

So you used Curt base plate and wiring harness. I looked at there web page and did not look user friendly. Typed in Bronco base plate with no results. Did you buy from Curt or Amazon? If you installed how was it?

thanks Cash

We have a 2023 Wildtrak that we plan to flat tow.

We plan on using the brakemaster which is air operated and has the air unit mounted in the our class A Gas MH. We have used this on several different vehicles and it has worked well. The only item that would need to be under the hood is the brakeaway actuator which I have not installed yet.

We plan to add a charge wire for the MH to the Bronco to ensure the battery stays charged.

We installed the Curt plug and play our has the tow package and it plugged into the tailights just fine. I think there are two options one with LED and one without. Purchased it from NAPA.

I upgraded our tow bar to the 8k non binding roadmaster tow bar just to make it easier.

Not sure if we are going to install the roadmaster base plates or use the tow hook adapters from Curt since we have the capable bumper. Ill likely go with the base plates.

I have talked to other Bronco owners that flat tow, some have had transmission issues. They suggest taking a picture of the Bronco screen when tow is enable. And starting the Bronco each day after towing to ensure the battery stays charged.

The Broncos are made to flat tow and that is why we purchased ours as well as many other Bronco owners.

Thanks for those extra details Cash. I’ve been using the brakemaster air brake for about 20 years. Very good proportional braking. My question revolves around where I would mount the brake away actuator device under the hood and how easy it is to get through the firewall for the air attachment Tubing. I like the idea of not using 12v power during the towing process. It seems like most of the auto transmission problems revolve around battery drain. Possible from the braking systems That drain the battery. Let me know how your install goes for the brake master.

 

[Dkirk]

I just bought a 23 Wildtrack last month and set up to flat tow. I had the modular bumber and installing blue ox base plate was pretty easy and straightforward. I ordered the Curt plug and play from Amazon and took about an hour to install. This was an easy process as well. I swapped out the 4 prong front trailer prong on the Curt to a 7 pin because I wanted to hook up a battery minder and needed the hot wire. I use the Rvibrake and I’ve discovered that the cigarette plug in the console loses power after about 45 minutes after putting vehicle into Tow Enabled mode. Looking at either hooking up to an always hot fuse or using an Ankor power bank to plug into. I have noticed during an aggressive stop the brakes on the Bronco are locking or slow to release. I’m trying to read up on the cause such as the electronic brake booster.

Thanks for your reply Dean (Not many of us left). I’m with you on running the 12v line to maintain battery. As I told Chris (above) I’ve used the air brake master for 20 years. It has worked very well with no 12v drain. But, you do need a motorhome with available air compressor. That Ankor power bank sounds like a good idea to maintain your battery voltage.

My 2024 Black Diamond comes with steel bumper (not modular). Looking into my options for baseplate now. Called Roadmaster who is still trying to figure out if the 2024 is the same as 2023. Thanks again!

 

[Baysquatch]

So you used Curt base plate and wiring harness. I looked at there web page and did not look user friendly. Typed in Bronco base plate with no results. Did you buy from Curt or Amazon? If you installed how was it?

thanks Cash


Thanks for those extra details Cash. I’ve been using the brakemaster air brake for about 20 years. Very good proportional braking. My question revolves around where I would mount the brake away actuator device under the hood and how easy it is to get through the firewall for the air attachment Tubing. I like the idea of not using 12v power during the towing process. It seems like most of the auto transmission problems revolve around battery drain. Possible from the braking systems That drain the battery. Let me know how your install goes for the brake master.

we bought the Curt adapters from Amazon as well as the Curt wiring kit. Etrailer is also a good resource
https://elitetruck.com/products/701...MIqI715_yTgwMVhYGGCh2ruAZAEAQYAyABEgLaWvD_BwE

The tie in brackets are pretty important. Some conflicting info out there on whether or not you can flat tow off of the factory recovery points. It was strictly a visual for me. I think blue ox, road master, etc base plates and brackets look hideous
https://lodoffroad.com/assets/pdfs/BFT2100 Bronco 2021 Front Bumper Frame Tie Brackets.pdf

I wanted to use the demco air brake system but didn’t want to cut into the vacuum lines, so we use the blue ox patriot 3 brake system.

I wired in a constant 12volt power outlet that is under the drivers seat and out of sight as well as a constant power to the battery from the 7 to 6 wiring from Rv to bronco. Mounted the 6wire plug into the skid plate it too is out of sight. You have to squat to look under the vehicle to see it.
I just find many of the required pieces to tow your vehicle unsightly and took a little extra effort to camouflage them

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