My First Flat Tow Experience - 23 WT

[thompsdw]

I have a 23 Wildtrak with an Air Force 1 braking system. I also had a charge line installed. I recently went on a 1,200 mile trip with 12 cycles in and out of flat tow mode. I feel bad for those that have had issues, but my experience was flawless. I did use a checklist and take my time to make sure I followed the procedure. I did have 2/12 cases where I had to move the Bronco forward a bit for proper gear mesh, but other than that it went very well. I did also get the check brakes message so my WT must be updated to ensure the brakes are disabled.

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[the quietman]

I have a 23 WT we bought for flat towing. I am trying to buy all the pieces as my budget allows.

 

[Bill K]

I have a 23 Wildtrak with an Air Force 1 braking system. I also had a charge line installed. I recently went on a 1,200 mile trip with 12 cycles in and out of flat tow mode. I feel bad for those that have had issues, but my experience was flawless. I did use a checklist and take my time to make sure I followed the procedure. I did have 2/12 cases where I had to move the Bronco forward a bit for proper gear mesh, but other than that it went very well. I did also get the check brakes message so my WT must be updated to ensure the brakes are disabled.

Smart move on both the checklist and charge line. I too have a laminated checklist and used mine last week. It just makes sense to have one if I only flat tow it 2-3 times a year. If I'm going on a longer trip, I find I can dispense with it since frequent repetition seems to improve my short term memory which is getting more questionable of late

 

[Iowa Hawkeye]

We just bookmark it from the electronic owners manual and just bring it right up on your dash screen.

 

[Brian_B]

We just bookmark it from the electronic owners manual and just bring it right up on your dash screen.

You are living in the future.

 

[thompsdw]

LOL. I am doing the list. Works for me. I just thought it would be good to send the success. There is so much negative information on this, I just wanted to share my story. It sure does seem like it was an early model software issue that may be corrected now.

 

[crzyhawk]

When I was flying in the Army, we had a checklist for pretty much everything related to that airplane before-during-and post flight. The risks of damage from improper flat towing make it seem like a no-brainer to me. It's not the old days when you could get away with just dropping the rear driveline and calling it a day. The computer's got it's fingers into everything and that fact should be respected.

If I ever find myself needing to flat tow, I will 100% have my checklist and it will be laminated so I can physically check things off with an old fashioned overhead pen every time I do the procedure. There's no confirmation in my mind quite as good as the action of physically checking something off when a step's been properly performed.

 

[thompsdw]

Here was one reflection I had after all the cycles. I was actually impressed that the bronco flat tow controls were pretty dummy proof (me). For example, I keep shifting to D instead of N. The system kept fussing at me and it wouldn't let me progress.

 

[dgorsett]

We just bookmark it from the electronic owners manual and just bring it right up on your dash screen.

I use paper. The very act of having the Bronco in acc at the wrong time, or the manual on screen might confuse me or the Bronco.

 

[Oilbrnr]

So did you pull fuse 28 and 29 as still listed in the online flat tow steps when using supplemental braking?

Any chance you could get a shot of how the AirForce One vacuum actuator is attached to the brake pedal? I've got the system in my Land Cruiser and will be doing the install here soon on the Bronco.

 

[Iowa Hawkeye]

So did you pull fuse 28 and 29 as still listed in the online flat tow steps when using supplemental braking?


What online flat tow tips are you talking about, I'm pretty sure on a Bronco you need power to everything to flat tow. I've flat towed mine around 8K miles, never pulled a fuse but have a charge line from the motorhome.

 

[thompsdw]

So did you pull fuse 28 and 29 as still listed in the online flat tow steps when using supplemental braking?

Any chance you could get a shot of how the AirForce One vacuum actuator is attached to the brake pedal? I've got the system in my Land Cruiser and will be doing the install here soon on the Bronco.

I did not pull those fuses. There is some debate on this in the Bronco flat tow group on Facebook. I get the "check your brakes" popup message so in my case I know it is disconnecting the brakes from functioning and the owners manual for my year does not say to pull fuses. The 25's seem to be different, but I decided not to pull fuses. So far so good.

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