Towing with spare tire

[Spencer2004]

I looked but couldn't find exactly what I was researching so apologies if it's repetitive. I drove from PA to NC to pick up new light weight camper for family. First off it towed great! 2,400 lbs dry weight going up and down NC and VA long grades. Oil temp stayed below 235 and Trans under 207 the entire time while climbing grades. Stayed around 218 oil temp on normal highway, if not a little lower. Using WDH it towed great.

However I had to use an 8 inch extension hitch plus the weight distribution hitch, which obviously made the distance between trailer and bronco quite large. It seems to have effected MPG with large wind gaps. I have looked on my bronco and figured out how to remove entire spare tire holder and disconnect rear light amd camera. So my questions are
1. Is it illegal to not have a third light while towing

2. Having it closer will reduce wind gap and should improve drive a little?

3. Any spare tire delete kits people have installed?

I prefer to keep spare tire on back while not towing, but when I'm in transit with trailer I'd like to minimize the gap. Will post pictures when I hook up trailer again

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[HBTFD]

Moving the trailer 8” is not going to help mpg much.

 

[LarryZiegler]

When towing, a full size spare tire (which your Bronco has) and a spare tire for your camping trailer are more important to carry. Secondly, you don’t say your MPG’s, but I’d guesstimate with that weight of trailer you are getting about 12-14 mpg, a completely normal number. Anything above that is a bonus, IMO. You don’t specify anything about your Bronco’s tech specs to really provide opinions about what you have and it’s towing performance. Added weight is more the issue than wind resistance, as well as your towing speed. The WDH use is a great idea, but it all adds another 80-100lbs of weight that has to be taken into consideration. With current fuel prices what they are (commonly $6/gal and up on the West Coast), towing anything sucks!

 

[Spencer2004]

When towing, a full size spare tire (which your Bronco has) and a spare tire for your camping trailer are more important to carry. Secondly, you don’t say your MPG’s, but I’d guesstimate with that weight of trailer you are getting about 12-14 mpg, a completely normal number. Anything above that is a bonus, IMO. You don’t specify anything about your Bronco’s tech specs to really provide opinions about what you have and it’s towing performance. Added weight is more the issue than wind resistance, as well as your towing speed. The WDH use is a great idea, but it all adds another 80-100lbs of weight that has to be taken into consideration. With current fuel prices what they are (commonly $6/gal and up on the West Coast), towing anything sucks!

That's all great info, thanks. As far as the specs of my bronco:
2.7 4 door big bend non SAS with 12.5 mpg average at around 65-68 mph on highway. I transported with completely dry water tanks and normal over night luggage. The propane tanks were full. As for the spare tires I completely agree with you, I was going to see about the roof rack carrying it or strapping it into back of bronco cargo area. We don't travel with much extra gear. If that is a dumb idea, let me know as I'm learning about towing with this specific vehicle as I go. I was more worried about the extension hitch making the distance too long in between tow vehicle and trailer. But it drove fine to me. No extra movement from having so many connections

 

[NVCowboy]

A hitch extension will add to the tongue weight “felt” by the tow vehicle. The wd hitch should counter that to some extent. I installed a removable tongue jack on my cargo conversion in anticipation of having a spare tire back there. A removable jack might be tricky with an actual rv, not sure.

 

[Tricky Dick]

Keep your Bronco spare in the trailer while towing maybe?

 

[Dads_bronze_bronco]

I looked but couldn't find exactly what I was researching so apologies if it's repetitive. I drove from PA to NC to pick up new light weight camper for family. First off it towed great! 2,400 lbs dry weight going up and down NC and VA long grades. Oil temp stayed below 235 and Trans under 207 the entire time while climbing grades. Stayed around 218 oil temp on normal highway, if not a little lower. Using WDH it towed great.

However I had to use an 8 inch extension hitch plus the weight distribution hitch, which obviously made the distance between trailer and bronco quite large. It seems to have effected MPG with large wind gaps. I have looked on my bronco and figured out how to remove entire spare tire holder and disconnect rear light amd camera. So my questions are
1. Is it illegal to not have a third light while towing

2. Having it closer will reduce wind gap and should improve drive a little?

3. Any spare tire delete kits people have installed?

I prefer to keep spare tire on back while not towing, but when I'm in transit with trailer I'd like to minimize the gap. Will post pictures when I hook up trailer again

A picture would help.

Also, I would contact eTrailer and see if there is a weigh distributing hitch option that will fit under the spare.

Another idea is if someone make kit that raises the spare up.

 

[AZ_Liberty]

Keep your Bronco spare in the trailer while towing maybe?

My thought as well. Mount the Bronco spare to the trailer.

 

[Tricky Dick]

My thought as well. Mount the Bronco spare to the trailer.

It's almost like losing 70-100lb of tongue weight at the same time.

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