Towing hitch reciever

2021 bronco towing capacity guide

Its not a towing beast but it is pretty capable
Its not a towing beast but it is pretty capable

Can the new ford bronco Tow?

With the new Ford Bronco, you would think this compact SUV would be tough and off-road worthy – but can it actually tow anything? Yes it can! But its not a towing beast. Its shorter wheelbase and softer off-road geared suspension means it has its limitations. We will break down these details in our 2021 Bronco towing capacity guide.

**this is not an articles detailing towing for the bronco sport**

Regardless of which of its two engines you select, the 2021 Ford Bronco’s towing capacity is always 3,500 pounds. The trailer sway control is a basic feature of all the models of the new Bronco, regardless of which model you purchase. This is true for both the models cmoming with tow packages and without it. 

The new Ford Bronco is available with two engines making them work slightly differently. You can choose either of them considering what serves you the best. The trim level of your Ford Bronco will impact how well you can do with towing.

How much will the new Bronco tow?

2 Doors4 Doors
Engine specs / type2.3L I-4 300hp 2.7L V-6 330hp
Maximum Towing Capacity3500lbs3500lbs

Looking at the different engine options, 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the Ford Bronco comes with a powerful 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. It’s impressive that this engine has numbers like that. Transmission options include a manual 7-speed transmission or an automatic 10-speed transmission.  with a 2.7-liter V6 turbocharged engine for 330 HP and 415 lb-ft. This upgrade gets rid of the manual transmission options and uses the same 10-speed transmission and replaces it

Certainly, the larger engine provides more torque. However, the total towing capacity remains 3500 lbs regardless of body styles and regardless of which engine is chosen. The bigger engine, though it does not increase towing capacity, will make towing much easier, and bring a bigger smile to off-road adventures because of the higher torque. However, both engines are excellent for the Bronco, with plenty of horsepower for the sort of thing an off-road-focused SUV like this is made for.

What is the bronco hitch receiver size?

The newly released 2021 Ford Bronco is equipped with a 2-inch receiver hitch when you get the towing package that costs $595. towing features in This package also includes 4 and 7 pin wiring to handle trailers with electronic brake control to manage the extra weight. All broncos also come with roll stability control. Some owners are opting to wait until they need to tow and looking to adding on a aftermarket hitch down the road.

Does a tow package increase towing capacity?

Not technically. Adding a hitch does not increase this number but it does add all the accessories needed to successfully tow the extra weight more safely. This package comes with the factory hitch and trailer wiring as mentioned above. If they can improve all important components of towing, such as transmission, drivetrain, and brakes among others, along with a hitch, it will be possible. They improve the truck’s performance when facing heavy loads and frequent towing, but fail to improve performance in other circumstances.

The 2021 Ford Bronco is capable of towing 3,500 pounds. However, a Ford Bronco tow package, known as the Class II Trailer Tow Package, is required for the vehicle to have its maximum towing capabilities. This package includes – 2” Class II Receiver- 4 and 7 pin wiring harness. The safety features included in this vehicle make your journeys more secure, like the Trailer Sway Control function.

Can the 2021 Ford Bronco tow a camper?

Along with other specifications, the most important question that RVers have is, can the 2021 Ford Bronco tow a camper or a travel trailer?  

Yes, the new Ford Bronco with four cylinders can tow a camper up to 3500 lbs, and the two versions with V-6 engines are similar in performance but with more power when it comes to towing vehicles up to 3500 lbs. 

Any travel trailer under 3,500 pounds should be fine to tow with this one. Pop-up campers are very popular and are almost always within the required weight limit. However, when it comes to vehicles such as BMW and Toyota cars, the Ford Bronco cannot tow these since these are above the specified limits of this vehicle. Whenever you want to tow any vehicle you need to make sure of one very important thing. You should not only measure the weight of the vehicle which is to be towed but also weigh the total weight of whatever is inside the vehicle too! If you are not careful while towing a vehicle, you could risk major damage to all the components inside the Ford Bronco. 

Can the new Bronco tow a car?

How big is the car? The Ford Bronco can easily tow any vehicle weighing around 3500 lbs which makes which generally is too heavy for both car and trailer. But For off-road vehicle recovery, a bronco should be able to pull any vehicle out of a stuck situation and tow it to safety without any issues. 

What else can it tow?

bronco towing  a rzr
Image from Bronco6g.com Bronco towing a RZR side by side

While you may not be able to tow a vehicle on a trailer, you should have not issues towing other offroad toys. A small trailer for Dirt Bikes, ATVs or even a full size 4 door UTV should be no issue weight wise for your bronco.

Flat Tow Your Bronco – Bonus Feature

One great feature of the Ford Bronco is that if you need to tow it behind another vehicle you can put the transfer case in neutral and flat tow its. This means both front and rear axles are disconnected from the transmission so it can be towed without any drivetrain damage. This feature isn’t discussed much to the new owners but it is indeed a great hidden feature. 

Key Takeaways..

  • It’s not a towing monster but 3500lbs is decent
  • Get the V6 is you want good towing power (all models have the same towing capacity
  • Remember, the bronco was built to be and offroad king (short wheelbase, soft suspension)
  • You should be able to tow most items that should practically be towed but an off road SUV not built on a ½ ton frame.

Still Looking for more Bronco news and upgrades?

We have plenty of review and ideas for Bronco Upgrades you should check out

Tony Farnsworth
The Man behind BeyondTheRaptor.com. Striving to share his obsession for product research and trucks with the world | Raised in Detroit | Studied Cars and Computers and Business | 25 years of Ford Family Employees