Sudden stop, bent hitch.

[DriveAllNight]

I love folks blaming everything except ford’s weak design...what do ya think is gonna happen when folks hook a 10,000lb winch, tow strap, snatch strap to that 3500lb receiver...Ford is at fault here!

It's not about not blaming Ford or blaming Ford, but specs are specs and you can't argue with physics. It's just math. Once you start deviating from that, it's on you. Yea, we as consumers have come to expect the tolerances to be greater than what they report, but how much greater can you expect?

That's not saying they couldn't be better, of course they can, but in this situation, he created a pretty big lever and then put max foce on it, which is literally just math. He exceeded the limits and it failed just as predicted by Ford.
How anyone can be surprised at that is the real question.

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[mcinfantry]

It's not about not blaming Ford or blaming Ford, but specs are specs and you can't argue with physics. It's just math. Once you start deviating from that, it's on you. Yea, we as consumers have come to expect the tolerances to be greater than what they report, but how much greater can you expect?

That's not saying they couldn't be better, of course they can, but in this situation, he created a pretty big lever and then put max foce on it, which is literally just math. He exceeded the limits and it failed just as predicted by Ford.
How anyone can be surprised at that is the real question.

Idk. Math is cool and all but I’m pretty sure everyone said this thing can tow just like a similarly equipped ranger.

so you have to pick a side
1) online experts know more than the engineer paid to design it and safely rate it
2) the engineer who was paid to design it and safety rate it knows more than online experts.

 

[DriveAllNight]

Idk. Math is cool and all but I’m pretty sure everyone said this thing can tow just like a similarly equipped ranger.

so you have to pick a side
1) online experts know more than the engineer paid to design it and safely rate it
2) the engineer who was paid to design it and safety rate it knows more than online experts.

No way in hell can you compare it to the Ranger which has a tow cap of 7500 not 3500 . If you read that somewhere and believed it over the published specs that's on you, not Ford.

And the tow specs on pickups varies a lot based on set up, the off road versions always end up with lower tow rates then the others.

Everyone on this forum seems to understand when you add a lift, your geometry changes and you have to compensate for that, towing is no different.

I think most of the comments are logical and in line with Ford, not playing both sides. The engineers had it right and that's what the outcome proved. The OP, altered his vehicle, which exceed the specs, whether he realized it or not due to his lift and creating extra force based on a simple lever. Like I said, its just math.

 

[Tilzbow]

Idk. Math is cool and all but I’m pretty sure everyone said this thing can tow just like a similarly equipped ranger.

so you have to pick a side
1) online experts know more than the engineer paid to design it and safely rate it
2) the engineer who was paid to design it and safety rate it knows more than online experts.

Who’s everyone? I’ve never heard or read anyone make that statement. Not sure I understand your post since the Ranger is rated to tow 7,500 with the tow package. Hook up a 6” drop hitch on the bumper of the Ranger, it is rated at 3,500 with just that and no tow package, and it’d likely have an issue, too. Maybe that’s your point, I dunno…..

 

[Backwater]

Just so everyone is clear, I have not complained about Ford, claimed warranty, or said I don’t have any responsibility for the issue. I found a weak part, and wondered if I was the only one.
Here are a couple pics that display it.

 

[66GT]

Just so everyone is clear, I have not complained about Ford, claimed warranty, or said I don’t have any responsibility for the issue. I found a weak part, and wondered if I was the only one.
Here are a couple pics that display it.

Is it just me... or does the receiver look tweaked... and crossmember look like it fared just fine?

 

[HoosierDaddy]

So you have a 5" lift, and 37's...

....and opted to go off-roading in a rzr instead? Which mall did you park at to unload? :troll:

Holy fucking braindead ignorance Batman!

Nevermind the 2020 Duramax in his sig.
Look at this !!! ....and then he overloads it and tows with it!!! (pardon me ... "toes" with it)
https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/5-lift-37-nittos-highway-speed-is-scary.52143/

This is exactly how mouthbreathing rednecks kill families in minivans ... so they can look cool.

It's a tutorial on incompetence and ignorance at it's highest level.
The producers of Jackass wouldn't even try this shit.

 

[Carbon Bronco]

 

[Bradley Thornton]

I have pulled my boat it has trailer brakes (This was 55-60mph max) and Drove my Honda Pioneer 600 miles to Windrock and Royal Blue (This was 80max mph) No issues

 

[P52Ranch]

Apparently the answer to the OP’s question is that no one else has experienced this problem. An additional observation, many folks posting on this thread have apparently taken a high school physics class.

 

[TXscooterguy]

 

[da_jokker]

So what bent? I don't see the hitch support brackets bent and yet it is obviously at an angle.

When you look at the crossmember are you sure it didn't buckle where the hitch mounts.

Sounds like Ford made the crossmember a crumple zone which doesn't make for a good tow point.

Need to figure out a way to reinforce that crossmember ...... Or maybe somone will make a steel bumper with a hitch built in.

 

[vrtical]

Sounds like Ford made the crossmember a crumple zone which doesn't make for a good tow point.

Another good reason to use the recovery hooks for yanking since well they are on the frame and not a crush bar. Ford forgot to add some more yellow stickers to the receiver which is an after thought. At least Ford partially fixed the issue on the Braptor.

 

[JohnnyBronco]

@Backwater What height of drop drop hitch are you running? Still shouldn't bend, just asking for context as I'm going to be pulling my off-road trailer well, off-road which is typically more load than an on road stop. I had been eying the the braces from the raptor to the tow hitch.

You have to reroute your exhaust but what better time to upgrade

 

[Jhuff]

Lots of flames here. I am a fairly mechanicical minded person with a good grasp of physics, as well as countless hours towing extremely large loads.

That being said, I am surprised and underwhelmed by the design of the receiver, and did not expect it to be this weak.

I've never had a personal vehicle that couldn't handle a drop hitch (or even direct impact...), and am disappointed that the otherwise-capable Bronco isn't built like a tank at that location (for recovery, awkward angles with trail campers, etc).

I will definitely be looking at reinforcements. Thanks OP!

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