Yes, you can flat tow a full-size Ford Bronco. Any 2021 through 2026 Bronco with a 4×4 drivetrain can be towed with all four wheels on the ground, and it works with both the manual and the automatic transmission. The key is a built-in setting Ford calls Neutral Tow Mode, which disconnects the drivetrain so the wheels can roll freely behind a motorhome without spinning the transmission.
There is one big exception, and it catches a lot of people out. The Bronco Sport cannot be flat towed at all. It is a different vehicle under the skin, and towing it four wheels down will wreck it. So the short version is this: the real Bronco, yes; the Bronco Sport, never. Below is exactly how to do it right, what gear you need, and the risks worth knowing before your first trip.
Which Broncos can be flat towed
Flat towing, also called dinghy towing or four-down towing, means pulling a vehicle behind an RV on its own four wheels, with no trailer or dolly. It is popular with RV owners who want a small, capable vehicle to explore in once the motorhome is parked. The Bronco is a favorite for exactly that reason.
Here is what can and cannot be flat towed:
| Model | Transmission | Flat towable? |
| Full-size Bronco (2021–2026), 4×4 | 7-speed manual | Yes |
| Full-size Bronco (2021–2026), 4×4 | 10-speed automatic | Yes |
| Bronco Sport (any year) | Automatic (AWD) | No |
The reason comes down to the drivetrain. The full-size Bronco is a true 4×4 with a transfer case that has a neutral position. When you engage Neutral Tow Mode, that transfer case disconnects the wheels from the transmission, so nothing internal is forced to spin while you roll down the highway. Because the disconnect happens at the transfer case, the transmission itself never turns, which is why both the 7-speed manual and the 10-speed automatic are approved.
The Bronco Sport is built completely differently. It is a car-based, unibody crossover with all-wheel drive and no low-range transfer case, so it has no way to fully disconnect the drivetrain. There is no Neutral Tow Mode for it, and Ford does not approve it for four-down towing. If you own a Bronco Sport and want to bring it along, you need a trailer or a tow dolly instead.
How to put a Bronco in Neutral Tow Mode
The Bronco has no manual lever for this. Neutral Tow Mode is software-controlled through the instrument cluster, so the steps have to be followed in order, every single time. This is the general procedure; always confirm it against your own year’s owner’s manual, since details shift slightly between model years.
- Line the Bronco up on flat ground behind your tow vehicle and connect the tow bar.
- Enter accessory mode by pressing the ignition button once without your foot on the brake.
- Press 2H on the four-wheel-drive mode control.
- Press and hold the brake (automatic) or the brake and clutch together (manual).
- Shift the gear lever into Neutral.
- Still holding the pedal, use the steering-wheel controls to open Settings and select Neutral Tow.
- Press and hold OK until the confirmation message appears.
- Release the pedal, then switch the Bronco off by pressing the ignition once.
You may hear a clunk as the mode engages. That is the transfer case shifting, and it is normal. Do not start driving until you see the message confirming the vehicle is in Neutral Tow Mode. To disable it at your destination, you run a similar sequence in reverse: enter accessory mode, hold the brake for about seven seconds, shift to Park, and wait for the display to read Neutral Tow Disabled before you disconnect.
The gear you need
Neutral Tow Mode handles the drivetrain, but a safe, legal flat-tow setup needs real hardware too. None of it is exotic, and a good RV shop can install most of it in a day, but each piece does a specific job and none of it is skippable. Here is the core kit:
- A baseplate. This bolts to the Bronco’s frame and gives the tow bar solid, rated attachment points. It is Bronco-specific and should be professionally installed.
- A tow bar. This connects the baseplate to the hitch on your motorhome. Buy one rated for the Bronco’s weight, which runs well over 4,000 pounds depending on trim.
- Safety cables. A required backup connection so the Bronco stays tethered if the tow bar ever fails.
- A lighting or wiring kit, so the Bronco’s brake lights and turn signals mirror the RV’s.
- A supplemental braking system. This applies the Bronco’s brakes in step with the motorhome. It is not optional in the way people think; most states legally require independent braking on a towed vehicle above a certain weight, and the Bronco is over that threshold in every configuration.
- A battery charge line. Because the Bronco sits in accessory mode with electronics awake, its battery can drain over a long tow. A charge line keeps it topped up from the RV.
Skipping the supplemental brakes or the charge line is where people get into trouble. Both exist for real reasons, and both are cheap next to a dead battery on the roadside or a failed stop with 20,000 pounds of combined weight behind you.
The risks worth knowing before you tow
Flat towing a Bronco is approved by Ford and done safely by many owners, but early models had two documented issues that are worth understanding, especially if you are buying used.
First, the automatic transmission and Neutral Tow Mode. On some 2021 to 2023 Broncos with the automatic, owners reported the system dropping out of Neutral Tow Mode mid-trip with no warning and no error code. When that happens on an automatic, the transmission is suddenly forced to drive a spinning drivetrain, and it can destroy itself. Ford pushed software updates, including one in 2024, and newer models appear far more reliable. If you have an early automatic Bronco, get the latest software applied at a dealer before you tow, and follow the procedure exactly every time.
Second, the brakes on early cars. The 2021 and 2022 Broncos with the electronic brake booster had a fault where the braking system could time out and lose assist during a tow, which matters a lot when a supplemental brake system is relying on it. Ford issued a software fix in 2023. If you have one of those years, confirm the update is on your vehicle before your first trip.
None of this means the Bronco is a bad choice for dinghy towing. It means you should do three simple things: make sure your software is current, install a supplemental braking system, and run the Neutral Tow procedure the same careful way every single time. Owners who do all three tow their Broncos for years without drama.
Is the Bronco a good flat-tow vehicle?
For most RV owners, yes. It is genuinely capable off-road once you unhook it, it seats a family, and Ford designed it with four-down towing in mind rather than as an afterthought. Compared with a tow dolly or a trailer, flat towing is simpler once you are set up: no ramps, no loading, and nothing extra to store at the campsite. You unhook, drive off, and reconnect when you leave.
It also compares well against the usual alternatives. A Jeep Wrangler is the classic flat-tow SUV and works much the same way, but if you already want a Bronco, you are not giving up towability to get one. Against a tow dolly, flat towing wins on convenience, since a dolly still has to be stored, hitched, and loaded onto every time, and it only carries the front wheels. Against hauling the Bronco on a full trailer, flat towing is lighter and far less hassle at the campground.
The honest caveats are the ones above. You have to buy the Bronco Sport’s name out of your head, because it will not work. You have to invest in proper braking and a charge line. And if you go used, you have to check that the early software fixes are in place. Handle those, and the Bronco slots in as one of the better modern vehicles you can pull behind a motorhome.
So, can you flat tow a Ford Bronco? For the full-size 4×4, the answer is a confident yes, in either transmission, using Neutral Tow Mode and the right gear. For the Bronco Sport, the answer is a firm no. Match your setup to the vehicle you actually own, follow Ford’s procedure, and the open road, and the trail at the end of it, are both yours.
Frequently asked questions
Can you flat tow a Bronco with an automatic transmission?
Yes. The full-size Bronco’s 10-speed automatic is approved for flat towing through Neutral Tow Mode. On 2021 to 2023 automatics, make sure the latest software update is installed first, since early cars had a mode-dropout issue Ford has since addressed.
Can you flat tow a Bronco Sport?
No. The Bronco Sport is an all-wheel-drive crossover with no transfer case neutral and no Neutral Tow Mode. Towing it four wheels down will damage it. Use a trailer or tow dolly instead.
Do I need a supplemental braking system to flat tow a Bronco?
In almost all cases, yes. Most states legally require independent braking on a towed vehicle above a weight threshold the Bronco exceeds in every configuration. It is also a real safety necessity given the combined weight of an RV and Bronco.
Will flat towing void my Bronco’s warranty?
Flat towing is a Ford-approved capability, so doing it correctly does not void your warranty. Damage from skipping the procedure or ignoring known software updates is a different matter, so follow the steps and keep your software current.
How do I turn off Neutral Tow Mode?
Enter accessory mode, hold the brake for about seven seconds, shift into Park, and wait for the display to read Neutral Tow Disabled before disconnecting. Then confirm the Bronco shifts normally into Drive and Reverse.
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