Tow Package After Purchase

[Soulstice]

My on-lot Bronco didn’t have tow package. Even if just for bikes or cooler, I think I want one. Any benefit to warranty going through dealer? Any thing to know or look for otherwise? I won’t be pulling a camper or anything, maybe a small trailer. Also wouldn’t mind having auto start stop turned off all the time with that trailer hookup up hack. Is this just a class 2 with a plug? They don’t add any cooling to engine etc correct? Thoughts? 2.7 2D

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[Dral97]

I got the Ford kit installed after the fact by my dealer. It was not cheap from a labor standpoint. The dealer told me it was an absolute pita to install (the electrical part I believe).

 

[Soulstice]

I got the Ford kit installed after the fact by my dealer. It was not cheap from a labor standpoint. The dealer told me it was an absolute pita to install (the electrical part I believe).

Thanks. I don’t know why my search didn’tshow all the previous discussions. I must be searching wrong. But your reply opened a lot of reading just below this in related posts…I thought they had it all wired and just need to bolt it in and plug in a 7 pin. Can’t understand why it would be that difficult. Maybe just after market for a bike/cooler rack. I don’t want to have to have so much hacked wiring added. Why they all just don’t come with one is a bummer.

 

[laxpatrick]

Same - Ford Accessories price wasn't bad and included labor which my dealer honored. I needed 7 pin/round - so wanted to make sure it was done right.

Had considered buying another mfg hitch, with the 2024+ the wiring install is pretty straightforward - plug in at the hitch, module on the driver's side wheel well.

BUT figured the risk of breaking stuff (clips), plus the need to make the FORSCAN mod, it was cheap peace of mind to have them do it.

Trailer hitch kit link here

And there's a 15% off code.

 

[gbub]

If you have a 24 and probably 25, the wiring is already installed at the factory. I don't know why the dealers want so much to install the factory kits for them. I did it myself and it was not a big deal. The most time consuming thing for me was figuring what bolts to take out to get the bumper off. It is not clear in the instructions.

A lot of the interior in the back must be taken out to get to the area where the module is installed. Again, it is not difficult , is just takes time and a clue to how to get the side panel off. Actually, there is a smaller section of the side panel that can come out and I think you could get access to the module area through that. It may be may not be as easy installing the module but you would not have to take off the entire side panel and you would probably not have to take out the floor of the cargo area.. Having prior knowledge to that module area would help a lot.

Knowing how to activate the module with Forscan is also very helpful. I am pretty sure that information is available on this website. I think that is where I learned how to do it. You really only should do that if you plan to tow. Not needed for bike racks and such inserted in the receiver.

The dealer where I bought my Bronco gave me a better quote to install than I have seen elsewhere, but after talking to the manager of the RV department that was going to do the install, I dropped that approach. He wanted to install all new wiring. I told him that was true for Broncos prior to 2024 but the 24s had the wiring installed at the factory. He argued that I was wrong. He also was going to install and aftermarket receiver. I told him I wanted the Ford kit installed. He told me there was no such thing. I also asked about programming the module and he said that was not required. No wonder the dealers want so much to install the tow kits. Most probably don't know how to do it. If they do know how they would not need to charge so much. I can't imagine it would take much more than an hour for anyone that had done it before.

 

[wheeldude]

My on-lot MY24 Bronco also did not have the tow package . I had another Ford dealership purchase the kit and install it, definitely worth it to go that route (in my opinion). Note that you should shop around different dealerships though to get the best price. At the dealership where I bought the Bronco they quoted me something like $1,200 parts and labor! They could not explain why their pricing was outrageous. After shopping around, I found another local Ford dealer that was $500 parts and labor, which I believe is still the considered "normal" pricing. I will only tow once or twice a year however the bike rack... I use it 3 to 4 times a week.

 

[gbub]

My on-lot MY24 Bronco also did not have the tow package . I had another Ford dealership purchase the kit and install it, definitely worth it to go that route (in my opinion). Note that you should shop around different dealerships though to get the best price. At the dealership where I bought the Bronco they quoted me something like $1,200 parts and labor! They could not explain why their pricing was outrageous. After shopping around, I found another local Ford dealer that was $500 parts and labor, which I believe is still the considered "normal" pricing. I will only tow once or twice a year however the bike rack... I use it 3 to 4 times a week.

I don't think any 24 Bronco had the tow package but they all have the wiring for it. Before 24 you could order the complete tow package, but it may have been a dealer install.

 

[laxpatrick]

If you have a 24 and probably 25, the wiring is already installed at the factory. I don't know why the dealers want so much to install the factory kits for them. I did it myself and it was not a big deal. The most time consuming thing for me was figuring what bolts to take out to get the bumper off. It is not clear in the instructions.

A lot of the interior in the back must be taken out to get to the area where the module is installed. Again, it is not difficult , is just takes time and a clue to how to get the side panel off. Actually, there is a smaller section of the side panel that can come out and I think you could get access to the module area through that. It may be may not be as easy installing the module but you would not have to take off the entire side panel and you would probably not have to take out the floor of the cargo area.. Having prior knowledge to that module area would help a lot.

Knowing how to activate the module with Forscan is also very helpful. I am pretty sure that information is available on this website. I think that is where I learned how to do it. You really only should do that if you plan to tow. Not needed for bike racks and such inserted in the receiver.

The dealer where I bought my Bronco gave me a better quote to install than I have seen elsewhere, but after talking to the manager of the RV department that was going to do the install, I dropped that approach. He wanted to install all new wiring. I told him that was true for Broncos prior to 2024 but the 24s had the wiring installed at the factory. He argued that I was wrong. He also was going to install and aftermarket receiver. I told him I wanted the Ford kit installed. He told me there was no such thing. I also asked about programming the module and he said that was not required. No wonder the dealers want so much to install the tow kits. Most probably don't know how to do it. If they do know how they would not need to charge so much. I can't imagine it would take much more than an hour for anyone that had done it before.

Agreed on the time it takes - took about 90 minutes at the dealer - so 60 plus time for paperwork shuffle, etc.

 

[WR1]

Dealer just outside Atlanta wanted $1550 installed for a Ford hitch :-/

 

[MNBigfoot]

A Curt hitch costs about $100 and can be installed in 10 minutes by an 8 year old.
You are correct in the Bronco towing package is just wiring, nothing else is involved (suspension/engine/cooling/etc.).
https://www.napaonline.com/accessories/curt-receiver-hitch/11724d1d

 

[Nate88]

If you have a 24 and probably 25, the wiring is already installed at the factory. I don't know why the dealers want so much to install the factory kits for them. I did it myself and it was not a big deal. The most time consuming thing for me was figuring what bolts to take out to get the bumper off. It is not clear in the instructions.

A lot of the interior in the back must be taken out to get to the area where the module is installed. Again, it is not difficult , is just takes time and a clue to how to get the side panel off. Actually, there is a smaller section of the side panel that can come out and I think you could get access to the module area through that. It may be may not be as easy installing the module but you would not have to take off the entire side panel and you would probably not have to take out the floor of the cargo area.. Having prior knowledge to that module area would help a lot.

Knowing how to activate the module with Forscan is also very helpful. I am pretty sure that information is available on this website. I think that is where I learned how to do it. You really only should do that if you plan to tow. Not needed for bike racks and such inserted in the receiver.

The dealer where I bought my Bronco gave me a better quote to install than I have seen elsewhere, but after talking to the manager of the RV department that was going to do the install, I dropped that approach. He wanted to install all new wiring. I told him that was true for Broncos prior to 2024 but the 24s had the wiring installed at the factory. He argued that I was wrong. He also was going to install and aftermarket receiver. I told him I wanted the Ford kit installed. He told me there was no such thing. I also asked about programming the module and he said that was not required. No wonder the dealers want so much to install the tow kits. Most probably don't know how to do it. If they do know how they would not need to charge so much. I can't imagine it would take much more than an hour for anyone that had done it before.

gbub, were you able to activate tow mode via Forscan? Did it work right for you? I’ve read posts saying that you can activate tow mode but it throws errors because it was never fully implemented on the Bronco. See one thread below.

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/tow-haul-mode.109855/post-2464964

 

[RoverDude]

gbub, were you able to activate tow mode via Forscan? Did it work right for you? I’ve read posts saying that you can activate tow mode but it throws errors because it was never fully implemented on the Bronco. See one thread below.

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/tow-haul-mode.109855/post-2464964

There is no tow mode, for non-bronco raptors.

 

[gbub]

gbub, were you able to activate tow mode via Forscan? Did it work right for you? I’ve read posts saying that you can activate tow mode but it throws errors because it was never fully implemented on the Bronco. See one thread below.

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/tow-haul-mode.109855/post-2464964

I don't think there is anything like that kind of tow mode for the Bronco. Activating the module with the tow kit just lets the computer know the module is there and communicates with it. This allows operation of the lights and shows up on the screen when the lights or test kit is hooked up.

From what I understand it also puts the Bronco into a tow mode when the trailer lights are hooked up. I think it has some kind of stabilization system that is activated. So, if this is true, in a way I did activate tow mode with Forscan.

No errors were thrown and all works right. I have not installed a trailer brake system yet, but I understand that is independent of the tow module.

 

[Nate88]

I don't think there is anything like that kind of tow mode for the Bronco. Activating the module with the tow kit just lets the computer know the module is there and communicates with it. This allows operation of the lights and shows up on the screen when the lights or test kit is hooked up.

From what I understand it also puts the Bronco into a tow mode when the trailer lights are hooked up. I think it has some kind of stabilization system that is activated. So, if this is true, in a way I did activate tow mode with Forscan.

No errors were thrown and all works right. I have not installed a trailer brake system yet, but I understand that is independent of the tow module.

Ok. I've installed the hitch, but I haven't done the electrical portion yet. It's mainly for a bike rack, but I still want to be able to pull a trailer. So what did you need to do to "activate the module"? Did it work automatically after you plugged in the module? Or was there some setting you had to activate with Forscan for the Tow module to work?

I'm just trying to understand if I need to make some change in software after I install the electrical portion (tow module and 7 pin connector), or is it basically plug n play. I don't see any setting for activating the Tow module in the Forscan document below.

FORScan - 2021+ Bronco Bronco 6G Copy - Google Drive

 

[RoverDude]

Ok. I've installed the hitch, but I haven't done the electrical portion yet. It's mainly for a bike rack, but I still want to be able to pull a trailer. So what did you need to do to "activate the module"? Did it work automatically after you plugged in the module? Or was there some setting you had to activate with Forscan for the Tow module to work?

I'm just trying to understand if I need to make some change in software after I install the electrical portion (tow module and 7 pin connector), or is it basically plug n play. I don't see any setting for activating the Tow module in the Forscan document below.

FORScan - 2021+ Bronco Bronco 6G Copy - Google Drive

Entire post about it,
forscan setting included

DIY Factory Tow Package using OEM parts with Forscan As-built Data (without error codes)

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