If you check my Evil deisel thred you will see a D60 swaped into a Bronco frame with no lift and no cutting of the crossmember.

 

You dont understand the geometry of towing. The Bronco will tow better than the short bed 150 and can tow better than a long bed.
I towed a trailier with no problem that my friend was having a heck of a time towing in his long bed F150. A Bronco was designed to tow because of the short distance from the hitch to the axle. Look at a semi. It has short wheelbase and more importantly, no distance from hitch to axle. (fifthwheel)

Of course, that doesnt change the fact that a Bronco only weighs 5000-6000 lbs.

 

helirich, friend, I have to stop you short on this one. The kind of control you get by having the weight of the entire front half of the trailer sitting OVER a drive axle (or two) cannot be accurately compared to towing with the front of the trailer bobbing up and down as the trailer axle(s) allow it to rock back and forth as both vehicles move down the road. The Bronco's short wheelbase becomes part of the problem since if the trailer becomes "tongue light" (a situation that not only cannot but does not happen with semi's and fifth-wheel trailers) it tends to pick the rear of the tow vehicle up with it. That is easier to do when pivot point for the remainder of the tow vehicle is much closer to the rear axle. The pivot point being the front axle of the tow vehicle. This makes for a squirrelly ride in a short wheel-base vehicle. Further, a 2WD, RWD, short wheel-based vehicle would have the drive axle lightened to a point of potential traction loss especially if the trailer outweighs and out stretches the tow vehicle by two or more.

Wind is going to be an issue no matter what you are towing and what you are towing with. Even semi drivers will tell you that.

 

I think the Bronco also has softer springs in the rear, which isn't an issue for most of us because like none of us run completely stock. Though my F150 wasn't stock and had overloads, even a junked spring pack I picked up had thicker individual springs with no spacers inbetween.

Then that stupid CV joint in the driveshaft. F150s don't have it? Dunno about 80s+, but my 78's driveshaft and U-joints are like twice the size of my Bronco's, its frame is also more reinforced and nevermind the frontend. Might be a 78 vs. 1990 thing though?

Either way, I know that boat threw that GMC Safari all over the place, I couldn't break safely, etc.. it was a 2000 with 80k miles on it. Hooked it up to my Bronco and it was like it wasn't even there, no sway or anything. It's not some little old trihaul either, it's a big dual axle trailer with a Searay Seville sitting on it.

and for those of you towing 26' trailers in F150s, stop endangering me on the interstate. I don't care how tough you think your truck is, try to pass someone else doing the same thing and you'll understand why I absolutely hate people who either overload their trucks OR don't drive at safe speeds. Even mowers with two ZTRs go for 3/4 or 1tons (might be a tad overkill). Just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD.

One more time if I have already said it. the Bronco is a GREAT vehicle, but I'm much more concerned about frame strength and body weight more than anything else when towing. There are a few spots where I could see my frame snapping in two if I try to push it too hard. The amount of flex I get offroad is sickening.. It's great for towing REASONABLE loads, but when you're pushing your 1/2 ton trucks well above what they should be towing, then sure, maybe the Bronco is a tad less safe.

and for wheelbases? Cmon, we're ONLY comparing to 1/2ton trucks which are made for towing and hauling. Again, against an Expedition, Excursion, F150, F250, F350, F450 and all similer vehicles, the Bronco isn't a tow vehicle.. but for NORMAL needs, it's not just adequate, it's flat out good. Throw on the stiffer lift springs that we just about all do and it becomes even better, and we all know spring rate and engine power have more to do with towing than the wheelbase of all things.
I'd trust my lifted Bronco over any stock pre-96 F150 any day of the week to pull anything within reason.

 

ok, wow, that was interesting. my steering is already a little funky but Im working on that. I appreciate all the info. on this subject. I think the only way for me to really find out is to just do a little trial and error and continue my resarch. after all to each his own. thanks alot folks.

 

I think the Broncos went to the big ujoints in 80'.
I was courius about frames. The F250 I got my D60 brackets from was .270" thick. My 92' Bronco's frame is .210" thick. I believe the F150 is identical to the Bronco.
The Bronco, Expedition and F150 are all 1/2 ton trucks.

Gerystreak, The F150 is lighter then a Bronco on the rear wheels. (unless you fill the bed.) My point about the semi is the closer your hitch is to the axle, the less the trailer can sway the tow vehical. I'm not sudjesting a Bronco will tow better than a F250 or F350. But I'll take the Bronc over the F150 any day.

 

Amen, I'll drink to that!! What was this thread about again?

 

Every other thread in here that talks about towing with a Bronco says it's a bad idea. Do a search. One just started yesterday.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ton-truck.html

As everyone has been saying for years and years, a Bronco makes a lousy tow rig. The wheelbase is just too short. You guys can argue with me until you're blue in the face, but it doesn't change the laws of physics. Vehicles with shorter wheelbases don't tow as well as vehicles with longer wheelbases.

 

edit: nevermind, this is stupid. Everyone just stop towing with your Broncos