Flat tow equipment needed to flat tow the 2021 Bronco?

[grtharris]

On my 2021 OBX with the Modular Heavy Duty bumper the bottom of the bumper hit the loops on the LOD brackets. I do not need the loops so I removed the bottom of the LOD bracket.
Remember the brackets are made for the LOD bumper and it was a after thought to use them on the stock bumper, the reason for some modification required.

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[lamokadave]

I'm thinking all but one poster has had to modify the brackets to get them to fit, at least with the modular bumper. Not sure what was different for that person

 

[grtharris]

I'm thinking all but one poster has had to modify the brackets to get them to fit, at least with the modular bumper. Not sure what was different for that person

I just hope his bumper is not setting with the bottom about a 1/2' forward.

 

[The Chief]

I wanted to mention something i didn't really see talked about before as most people have the mod/standard bumper.


I ordered the blue ox base plates for the capable bumper (w/ d-rings) and it definitely wasn't cheap by any means. I later came to see someone in this thread use the Ford Tow Hooks to replace the fatcory D-ring hook ups on the capable bumper. The price comparison isn't even close and you basically get mod bumper tow hooks and can use the same techniques described elsewhere in this current thread for the mod bumper.

I don't know if anything special was required to get it installed, but I highly doubt it. Could save some a few hundred bucks and I personally plan on eventually moving to the tow hooks as they can then double as recovery points whilst thats not really possible with the base plates install w/ something like this: (not my bronco btw)

My only question to everyone else is why would you choose this expensive base plate setup over the factory tow hooks other than the lack of Ford to claim load capacities on those points ? It seems like a no brainer to keep the recovery points while also having the ability to flat tow. Am I way off base ? lol

Where to get this 6-way plug mounting bracket?

 

[Sethtsmith]

I just hope his bumper is not setting with the bottom about a 1/2' forward.

You freaked me out with this comment, so I double checked my bumper. LoL! It's sitting flush against the frame, so not sure why I didn't have to cut anything. It was a pain in the butt getting the brackets on and such. Here's a few pics, though I dunno if it shows enough.

 

[WVBroncoMark]

Thanks for all the replies about the LOD tie in brackets! I've decided to add them! Below is my setup if anyone is interested.

Roadmaster Nighthawk Tow Bar
Ford Performance Tow Hooks
Demco Stay-In-Play Duo Braking System
Curt Custom Towed-Vehicle RV Wiring Harness 58992
LOD Black Op Front Bumper Tie in Brackets on the way!

Links to custom mounts for Stay-In-Play Duo, Breakaway Switch, and 6-Pin Socket shown in pics:

Mount for Stay-In-Play Duo for Bronco 6G
Mounts for Breakaway Switch and 6-Pin Socket (capable bumper only)

 

[grtharris]

You freaked me out with this comment, so I double checked my bumper. LoL! It's sitting flush against the frame, so not sure why I didn't have to cut anything. It was a pain in the butt getting the brackets on and such. Here's a few pics, though I dunno if it shows enough.

Sorry about that. I see you have the capable bumper and it does not extend as far back as the modular bumper does.

 

[Sethtsmith]

Sorry about that. I see you have the capable bumper and it does not extend as far back as the modular bumper does.

Look again... I have the HD steel modular bumper, not the capable. At least that is what my window sticker calls it.

 

[lamokadave]

Look again... I have the HD steel modular bumper, not the capable. At least that is what my window sticker calls it.

Your bumper is definitely different than the modular steel. I shot a(poor) pic of mine from one side. Also a pic that shows only a fingers thickness space between the bumper and bash plate

 

[Sethtsmith]

Your bumper is definitely different than the modular steel. I shot a(poor) pic of mine from one side. Also a pic that shows only a fingers thickness space between the bumper and bash plate

Here is a better shot... Looks like the same bumper you have to me. Perhaps my other pics were not good enough. My window sticker definitely says HD steel modular on it.

 

[Dirtrider]

On my 2021 OBX with the Modular Heavy Duty bumper the bottom of the bumper hit the loops on the LOD brackets. I do not need the loops so I removed the bottom of the LOD bracket.
Remember the brackets are made for the LOD bumper and it was a after thought to use them on the stock bumper, the reason for some modification required.

For what it is worth....I submitted an e-mail question and called LOD asking specifically if the brackets worked with the Modular Bumper and was assured they would. I ended up heavily modifying them including making a drill template, bending the loops outboard 60 degrees, making nut plates for inside the frame tube to eliminate loose nuts and washers, spacers between the frame and plates to clear the 'bumps' on the frame, and cutting the brackets flush with the top of the frame so I could re-use the OEM bumper mounting (3 nut) plates. In my humble opinion, Addictive Desert Designs makes a better reinforcement system (locknuts and frame 'bump' spacers) but doesn't have the 'loops' or allow the re-use of the OEM (3 nut) plates or provide additional nuts for reinstalling the bumper.

 

[magua]

Thanks to all that have shared their flat towing setups.
I am swapping from capable bumper d rings to using the ford performance tow hooks that come with the modular bumper. ($134.99 shipped)

Just got my generic Amazon blue ox tow bar adapters ($84.99 on Amazon) widened 1/8” to fit. The cost to switch my Toad from our 2019 Tacoma to 2023 Bronco isn’t bad at all.

So to be clear in addition to the Performance Tow hooks you swapped out you had to widen the adapters from Blue Ox. If so how did you go about doing that? No other 3rd party had adapters that would be wide enough?

Thanks

 

[magua]

I just want to say thanks to everyone who has helped out - Jim specially.

We got creative and since the bumper was off we decided to see if we couldn’t use the holes to fit the 6 pin. My friend is a whiz with this kind of stuff.

Here are the results

So now when I flat tow I just pop off the fascia, when I don’t need to flat tow-the whole front end of my badlands looks completely stock.
I am going to do a similar hidden behind fascia mount for the break away switch for my RVI.

May I ask are these tow hooks the Performance Tow Hooks if so did you add them and where did you get them. I just ordered a set of red Performance Hooks and I would rather have the black but that wasn't a choice. RED, blue or orange were the choices.

 

[magua]

Thanks to all that have shared their flat towing setups.
I am swapping from capable bumper d rings to using the ford performance tow hooks that come with the modular bumper. ($134.99 shipped)

Just got my generic Amazon blue ox tow bar adapters ($84.99 on Amazon) widened 1/8” to fit. The cost to switch my Toad from our 2019 Tacoma to 2023 Bronco isn’t bad at all.

I just ordered a set of these tow hooks for my 24'. They are the red ones though. Is that what they refer to as the "capable" bumper? Did you do the install/swap out of the hooks from the OEM "D" ring? If so could you provide me with any details required to dis assemble the bash plate and more importantly the bumper itself. Any torque requirements if possible.

Thanks

 

[AUG41]

Not sure what you mean I used the LOD reinforcement for the factory recover hook bases and a nighthawk 1 adapter.

1st trip done just under 1k miles no issues-video the flat tow procedure each time and the reversal.
Bronco did well motorhome threw a code and it was a bad could that sent problems all throughout the V10. All fixed no damage never went into limp mode

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