How do Bronco's do towing?
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,908
Likes: 1
From: Algona, Washington
So all years had tranny issues, I thought the 80's Bronco's did but the 90's were pretty good.
Can't remember which tranny I was told to look for. And could I tell that by the vin#?
This one is an 93' with 137k miles and the 351, but don't know which tranny.
Thanks, and yeah my tranny in my F250 was around $2k for a rebuild. But my mechanic is 60mi away and won't be able to take this one that far.
Anything to look for with the tranny, other than slipping and shifting issues?
Can't remember which tranny I was told to look for. And could I tell that by the vin#?
This one is an 93' with 137k miles and the 351, but don't know which tranny.
Thanks, and yeah my tranny in my F250 was around $2k for a rebuild. But my mechanic is 60mi away and won't be able to take this one that far.
Anything to look for with the tranny, other than slipping and shifting issues?
I am not sure how comparable they are but I have a 1979 bronco. I have pulled with it so much, and never had a problem with it pulling. It had a 351 that I swapped for a 400 both would pull any load I would put on it. The suspension would sag less then a 80s f150 with air suspension. I am just saying what I got, I hope that the one you are looking at would be as strong
I have towed 10 ton loads behind my '91 bronc, slowly, of course. But the weight was distributed mostly on the trailers axles not so much on the rear of the bronco. I love the bronco for backing trailers because of a nice tight turning radius, and the hitch is usually closer to the axle centerline than say a F 250's. I haul pickup box trailers loaded to the max with firewood, usually about 2,000- 3,500 lbs of wood most of the winter with more handling problems from the trailer then the bronc. It takes awhile to get used to but have been scared as much pulling with a full sized truck. I would get the $1500 one asap, good price and in better shape then my '91 when I bought it.
Never liked the E4od trans for pulling anything, so swapped in the M5 manual trans and looking for the ZF 5 speed to go behind the 5.8 swap in the works. (Yes, I still have a 5.0 under the hood!)
Never liked the E4od trans for pulling anything, so swapped in the M5 manual trans and looking for the ZF 5 speed to go behind the 5.8 swap in the works. (Yes, I still have a 5.0 under the hood!)
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,189
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From: SE Georgia
I've towed my Ford 3000 tractor with implements on a 20' trailer. 1990 Ford Bronco, 300 I6 with M5OD. It did good but I hate the M5OD 1st and Revs gear ratio. Takes off to fast. Got me a ZF5 off of a guy here and put it in..towed with it some....love it. Fixing to put a 6" lift on it, get some more add-a-leafs.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 667
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From: Small acerage in Nebraska
I'll admit to wanting 4.11 gears and helper bags for the rear. LOL I still have a slightly built 5.0 and M5od. Working on a 5.8, ZF, and NP205 combo for it. If the right parts truck comes along I might convert to sas, and 3/4 ton rear.
SPONSOR
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 543
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
If you are interested in air bags on the rear of a 1980-1996 Bronco 4WD or 1983-1990 Bronco II 4WD, we have a 59501 kit that would be great to prevent rear sag when carrying loads and adjust when no load is present. You can learn more about it here: Ride Control; Leaf Spring Leveling Kit. Let me know if you have any questions or need more information.
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 87
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My bronco tows my boat no problem up the cajon pass (6% grade) at 55 mph and about 2400 rpm if i remember correctly and thats being light on the pedal with plenty of power left. Because of the short wheelbase I like to stay at 55 mph. I'm running a 5.8L, headers, jet chip, underdrive pulleys, msd, k&n, 9mm plug wires, 37" cooper discoverer STT's Dana60 front with a Powerlock, Sterling 10.25 rear with a Detroit, 4.88's and a BUILT E4OD with extreme duty clutch pack, 4R100 internals and a transgo stage II shift kit.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,018
Likes: 0
From: Longview, TX
Towing and tires.
Towing update. Last weekend when towing back from my deer lease on a four lane I was able to stay in the oil field truck lane ruts and drive with one hand. I could not do that previously and drove in the fast lane. I finally have BFG long trail tour on all four. Just replaced the Uniroyal Laredos off the front which I moved to the trailer.
Tire selection makes a huge difference in towing control.
Tire selection makes a huge difference in towing control.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,789
Likes: 5
From: Sand GAp, KY
I tow quite often with mine and it does just fine. You just have to remember that it is a shorter vehicle and acts differently than longer trucks. As far as sag goes on my baby there is not much. But it does have a 10.25 rear with 1 ton springs all around. The bigger brakes help as well.
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: DFW
Thanks for all the input guys, I really appreciate it.
Went and looked at the 2nd Bronco I posted. Had to walk away from that, the suspension felt like marshmellows, had to almost put it to the floor to get the thing moving, spitted and sputtered, and couldn't get it past 55mph.
He showed me the little car lot he bought it from and said the owner of the lot told him that Bronco was the hardest truck he's ever tried the sell. lol
The 1st one I posted is still for sale and is down to $3390. Haven't gone and seen it though.
Would like a decent Bronco, but also considering a 90's Tahoe or Suburban. As long as it doesn't have onstar. For the money, it just seems that there are cleaner Tahoe/Suburban's than Bronco's.
Bronco's just look amazing when done right, hence Bro-J's and most of them on here.
Bro-J, saw your pics of your Bronco with the Black wheels in the snow, IMO perfect combo!
But also in no big hurry.
Went and looked at the 2nd Bronco I posted. Had to walk away from that, the suspension felt like marshmellows, had to almost put it to the floor to get the thing moving, spitted and sputtered, and couldn't get it past 55mph.
He showed me the little car lot he bought it from and said the owner of the lot told him that Bronco was the hardest truck he's ever tried the sell. lol
The 1st one I posted is still for sale and is down to $3390. Haven't gone and seen it though.
Would like a decent Bronco, but also considering a 90's Tahoe or Suburban. As long as it doesn't have onstar. For the money, it just seems that there are cleaner Tahoe/Suburban's than Bronco's.
Bronco's just look amazing when done right, hence Bro-J's and most of them on here.
Bro-J, saw your pics of your Bronco with the Black wheels in the snow, IMO perfect combo!
But also in no big hurry.
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 87
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The black wheels were 10" wide with a 2.75 back spacing so although the tires sat wider they hit the fenders and would get cut up when flexing. I plan to lower my truck 2" as I once had it so I went with the the stock F350 Alcoa rims and now they tuck in nice and the truck stays cleaner
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 63
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From: DFW
Ahh ok, I didn't now all the issues with it. lol Maybe I used "combo" in the wrong context. I was just saying IMO it looks the best with the black wheels. I just really like the look of black wheels on a black vehicle.
But either way your Bronco as well as most on here look great.
But either way your Bronco as well as most on here look great.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
From: Backwoods Massachusetts
.As to towing, I did a bit with mine and in fact built it up some to suit same. I was crew chief for a bud doing some racing so towed him around the few tracks in New England with my then still-pretty-new 302 2bbl 3.55 gear and quad shock truck. It hurt a bit getting up the 9 mile long hill on the way to Lime Rock but otherwise did the job, a few white knuckle sways but that's pulling a real 5k+ lbs (car, open trailer, tools and tires and stuff) and not necessarily well adjusted tongue-wise. So I eventually beefed up the springs, took a later 351 and put a 4bbl/rv cam etc. Beyond the power bump the best thing I did was go to Dunlop Radial Rover tires at 50psi - huge difference in towing stability over the Uniroyal Laredos I'd run since new.
When all was said and done and I figured out I need to go enclosed trailer (ie 7k gwr) for my own racing support the one thing I can't fix on the Bronco is the wheelbase. So I am regrettably retiring my old faithful for a diesel f350.
Cheers,
- Jeff
New User
Joined: Jul 2012
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Just to let you know the rotors on the 95 and 96 broncos are a solid hub and rotor which is a bit pricey. I have a 95 and spent 300 on a pair of hubs and rotors. Bronco graveyard has them for 200, which I found out afterwards. The wheel bearings and seals are worth replacing if you put new rotors on and if it has manual locking hubs then ford recommends you replace the spindle nut. I just did all of this to my Bronco and it can be expensive.
200 rotors, 50-120 in bearings, 40 spindle nut set, 20-50 brake pads, 40-80 calliper depending on quality of parts.
Also, the style of the hub and rotor assembly prevents shops from simply turning the rotors. This is all due to the 4 wheel abs which you also have a hydrolic brake booster seperate from a standard brakebooster. If thats bad tack on another 200. Its definitely worth spending a hours worth of labor to make sure you don't spend too much on it.
Regardless of how much money I put into my Bronco I'd never get rid of it.
200 rotors, 50-120 in bearings, 40 spindle nut set, 20-50 brake pads, 40-80 calliper depending on quality of parts.
Also, the style of the hub and rotor assembly prevents shops from simply turning the rotors. This is all due to the 4 wheel abs which you also have a hydrolic brake booster seperate from a standard brakebooster. If thats bad tack on another 200. Its definitely worth spending a hours worth of labor to make sure you don't spend too much on it.
Regardless of how much money I put into my Bronco I'd never get rid of it.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,908
Likes: 1
From: Algona, Washington
Wait 300 or 3000? The most i have towed with TGM was some dudes GM car. I got payed $5 to drag it back to his house. turns out the wire for his fender well fuel pump had come unplugged. An easy $5.
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