Towing with an EB

[Justin]

The wife and I have talked about getting a small, cheap tent trailer. Both of our families had them when we were growing up and they were a great way to get away. How well would a Bronco pull one? More importantly, how would a built EB on 37's and a mild wheelbase stretch pull one? If we pick one up, I'd consider a small lift to make getting it out to dispersed camping sites easier.

[Digger]

Good question. We used to tow a popup and a boat (not at the same time) with an '89 Bronco II. (also 92" wheelbase). It towed fine, even with the anemic 2.9 V6.


I'll report back soon on how the EB tows a popup. I just got my Tom's receiver hitch installed last night and I will be dragging our popup home soon to do an axle flip on it.

[Kinder]

Bubba Smurf did great towing our 1970 Starcraft pup. Of course it's only rolling 33's.

[crawlercreations]

I've not towed a trailer with mine but I have flat towed another vehicle to Lakewood from Boulder. Doesn't really apply to your question as the forces are completely different. I do wonder how it will do though as I always have the feeling that one day I may have to tow my truck with it

[phyler]

I'm pretty sure that HIX just did this with his.

[Justin]

Thanks, guys! So it looks like an EB can pretty reasonably tow a small to medium sized popup. What's the realistic weight and size limit to what an EB can tow? I may want to rent a small excavator for a landscaping project, but they think the combined trailer/equipment weight is something like 7500lbs. I'm assuming that this is too much for an EB, even over the 5 miles between Home Depot and my home?

[Gunnibronco]

I *think* it would be fine. My pop-up is pushing the limits of the Bronco, and wasn't super fun driving through the canyon outside Gunnison. But once things opened up, it was good. Driving 75 on the highway in Utah, I kept thinking I should probably slow down.

If I remember, my pop-up was about 2500# (factory spec), but it now sits on a 3500# axle (with brakes) & 28" tires, and has an extended tongue & cargo rack on the front. All the upgrades were 'homemade', that, and the extra weight may contribute to the driveability issues. Behind my Superduty, it is unnoticeable.

[Justin]

Thanks. I just broke out my Google-fu, and 7500lbs is well beyond the original rated towing capacity. I'm guessing that my wheelbase stretch, F-150 axles and NP435 have upped the capacity some, but that doesn't help the fact that it's still a short wheelbase vehicle.

[sykanr0ng]

Slow speed back street tow?

Or down the Interstate?

[crawlercreations]

Thanks, guys! So it looks like an EB can pretty reasonably tow a small to medium sized popup. What's the realistic weight and size limit to what an EB can tow? I may want to rent a small excavator for a landscaping project, but they think the combined trailer/equipment weight is something like 7500lbs. I'm assuming that this is too much for an EB, even over the 5 miles between Home Depot and my home?

7500 lbs is way too much for an EB. Especially with a soft suspension, lift and 37s. No way I'd do it without trailer brakes working, even with such a short drive. I would never want to tow more than the EB weighs without a trailer brake controller and trailer brakes. IF I ever have to tow my truck with it(i.e. the truck breaks down while towing the bronco) then I will take the time and pull the trailer brake controller out of the truck and install it in the bronco before I ever hook the bronco up to the trailer. Get that much weight behind you moving in an undesirable direction with no way to straighten it up and you're toast.

[Justin]

Trailer brake controller is planned, at least if we ever get anything heavy enough to need trailer brakes.

[Justin]

Slow speed back street tow?

Or down the Interstate?

Side streets, probably from Wadsworth and Alameda to Kipling and Jewell.

[Gunnibronco]

I am clearly exceeding the capacity & tongue weight when I'm towing the pop-up. I did a cheap brake controller, it might be worth a better one. The braking, in the twisty bits, was the scary part. Seemed to yank the Bronco around.

[Digger]

If I remember, my pop-up was about 2500# (factory spec), but it now sits on a 3500# axle (with brakes) & 28" tires, and has an extended tongue & cargo rack on the front. All the upgrades were 'homemade', that, and the extra weight may contribute to the driveability issues. Behind my Superduty, it is unnoticeable.

Where are the pics?

[Gunnibronco]

If I remember, my pop-up was about 2500# (factory spec), but it now sits on a 3500# axle (with brakes) & 28" tires, and has an extended tongue & cargo rack on the front. All the upgrades were 'homemade', that, and the extra weight may contribute to the driveability issues. Behind my Superduty, it is unnoticeable.

Where are the pics?

Here you go, I don't have a pic of it popped up. Its a very nice upgrade from a tent, even the big canvas tent & wood stove we have for hunting camp. Everything works, but I'm seriously thinking of pulling out the water tank, sink & fridge, they just aren't worth the space, and a 5 gallon container & a cooler serve the same purpose. I just need the heater. Sorry for the crappy phone pic, my phone's camera is garbage.

[Kinder]

Get a nice brake controller, I run a Prodigy 2 in BSD and it tows the flatbed with a vehicle on it very well. But..... I'm still not yanking around 7500 lbs with it, more like 5500.

[sykanr0ng]

Slow speed back street tow?

Or down the Interstate?

Side streets, probably from Wadsworth and Alameda to Kipling and Jewell.

That should be less trouble then, especially if you can avoid heavy traffic times.

Mass X the square of velocity

[Kinder]

Here you go, I don't have a pic of it popped up. Its a very nice upgrade from a tent, even the big canvas tent & wood stove we have for hunting camp. Everything works, but I'm seriously thinking of pulling out the water tank, sink & fridge, they just aren't worth the space, and a 5 gallon container & a cooler serve the same purpose. I just need the heater. Sorry for the crappy phone pic, my phone's camera is garbage.

I'm digging the cargo area you built on the front, I think something like that will be in my future for my pup.

[Gunnibronco]

I can't take credit. I bought it exactly the way it sits.

[Digger]

I like it. It's nearly identical to mine with the mods I wanted to do.

[Mr. Lav]

I use to tow a Coleman pop up camper with my 69 with 33 in tires. Towed just fine in the flats but going thru the canyons it swayed really bad. I install a sway control bar and it was a lot better

[BOBS 2 68S]

My dad pulled a 20ft camping trailer with his stock 68. I have pulled my box trailer with over 3000lbs of road base. Bronco did fine, 20 year old trailer tires not so fine

[Jesus_man]

A pup on the lighter side, doable. 7500lbs of excavator...not for me! I'd call on your bronco brethren with big trucks for a favor! Or *gulp* rent the truck too??

[HIX]

Yeah it will tow a bigger popup with nno issues if you have the brake controller. Mine is a Coleman that is lifted 6inches and is 2500 wet and the only time really worried about it was going down the hills on I70 at hwy speed...but the prodigy brake controller madebit a non issue

[mickphatmac]

Big Thanks to Viperwolf1!!!
Finally used his instructional tutorial (@CB.com) on how to put the wiring together for my trailer hitch.
Super easy and worked 1st try! & that says a lot considering me and electricity are anti-simpatico!

Thank You Phil!

[Kinder]

Campers look best behind a Bronco!