Yes, you can flat tow a Ford Bronco behind an RV. Ford actually documents the procedure in the owner's manual, which makes it sound like a simple, approved process. And it mostly is, until it isn't.
There are three specific things that have cost Bronco owners transmissions, denied warranty claims, and real out-of-pocket money. None of them are obvious from reading the owner's manual alone. If you are asking whether your Ford Bronco can be flat towed, the answer is yes, with these three things understood first.
1. The Advanced 4WD System Has a Documented Problem Most Owners Only Find Out About After Towing
Broncos equipped with Ford's Advanced 4WD system, the setup that includes the 4A mode allowing the truck to automatically shift between 2H and 4H while driving, have a documented history of the transfer case shifting out of neutral tow mode mid-tow. Not sometimes. Enough times that it became one of the most discussed flat tow issues in Bronco owner communities.
When the transfer case shifts back out of neutral while the truck is being towed, the transmission is no longer in a protected state. The result is transmission destruction, and it happens at highway speed. Several owners have reported following the flat tow procedure exactly as written and still losing a transmission. Ford denied a significant number of those warranty claims, taking the position that the procedure was not followed correctly.
If your Bronco has Advanced 4WD and you plan to flat tow it regularly, this is not a hypothetical risk. It is a documented failure mode that has already happened to real trucks. The full procedure breakdown, what the transfer case settings actually mean, and what owners have learned through hard experience is in our complete guide on how to flat tow a Ford Bronco.
That is the biggest one. There is a second issue that is smaller individually but compounds the risk of the first, and almost every owner on a long RV trip eventually skips it.
2. There Are Two Requirements in the Flat Tow Procedure That Most People Ignore After Day One
Ford's flat tow procedure for the 2021-2026 Bronco is not just hook it up and drive. There are two operational requirements that have to be followed for every day of towing, and neither one is intuitive if you have not read the full procedure.
The first is a speed limit. Ford specifies a maximum towing speed of 70 mph when flat towing the Bronco. This is not a suggestion buried in fine print. It is a hard limit in the procedure, and exceeding it puts additional stress on the drivetrain components that are already spinning freely behind the tow vehicle.
The second is a daily engine start requirement. Once per day of towing, you are required to stop, start the Bronco's engine, and cycle through Drive and Reverse before continuing. The purpose is lubrication. Certain transmission components do not get fluid circulation when the engine is off and the truck is rolling. Running the engine for a few minutes once per day keeps those components protected.
Most owners skip the daily engine start on long trips. It feels unnecessary when everything seems fine. The transmission disagrees, just not immediately, which makes it easy to miss the connection when something eventually fails.
Those two requirements are real, they matter, and there is one more thing to check before you flat tow a Ford Bronco that has had any prior drivetrain work done to it.
3. If Your Bronco Has Had Transmission or Transfer Case Work, Check Your VIN Before You Hook Up Anything
In April 2026, Ford issued recall 26V236 covering 2021-2025 Ford Broncos that had previous transmission or transfer case repairs. The issue is a misaligned joint between the transmission and the transfer case that causes spline wear over time. If the wear progresses far enough, the truck can lose drive power unexpectedly or roll away while in Park.
This recall does not affect every Bronco. It specifically targets trucks that have had prior drivetrain service, a transfer case replacement, transmission work, or a driveshaft seal job. If your Bronco has had any of that work done, check your VIN at nhtsa.gov before flat towing. Towing puts additional rotational load on the drivetrain, and doing that with a compromised transmission-to-transfer case joint accelerates the wear significantly.
If your VIN comes back clear and your Bronco has not had drivetrain service, this one does not apply to you. But it takes two minutes to check and it is worth knowing either way.
Flat towing a Ford Bronco is doable, and plenty of owners do it without problems. These three things are what separate the ones who do from the ones who end up with a transmission bill at a shop three states from home.
Quick Note on the Ford Bronco Sport
If you searched "can you flat tow a Ford Bronco Sport" and landed here, the Sport has different flat tow rules from the full-size Bronco. The Sport is a completely separate platform, a car-based unibody rather than the body-on-frame architecture of the full-size truck, and the towing procedure and limitations are not the same. This guide covers the full-size 2021-2026 Ford Bronco only.
Frequently Asked Questions About Flat Towing a Ford Bronco
Can you flat tow a Ford Bronco?
Yes. Ford documents the flat tow procedure for the 2021-2026 Bronco in the owner's manual. The procedure requires the transfer case in a specific neutral setting, a maximum towing speed of 70 mph, and a daily engine start to cycle lubrication through the transmission. Broncos with the Advanced 4WD system have had documented transfer case shift-out issues mid-tow that have caused transmission failures, so that configuration requires extra attention before towing regularly.
Can a Ford Bronco be flat towed behind an RV?
Yes, the 2021-2026 Ford Bronco is on Ford's approved flat tow list. It is a common choice for RV owners specifically because of that approval and the Bronco's body-on-frame construction. The key requirements are the 70 mph speed limit and the daily engine start. Miss either one consistently and you are shortening the life of the transmission.
What Ford Bronco models can be flat towed?
All standard 2021-2026 Ford Bronco trims are flat towable following the Ford procedure. The concern is not which trim, it is which transfer case. Broncos with the Advanced 4WD system (4A mode) have the documented shift-out issue. Manual transfer case Broncos have not shown the same pattern of failures.
Does flat towing void the Ford Bronco warranty?
Not if the procedure is followed correctly. Ford includes flat towing in the owner's manual as an approved use. The warranty claims that have been denied were in cases where Ford argued the procedure was not followed, specifically around the transfer case setting and daily engine start requirement. Document that you are following the procedure if you tow regularly.
What is the flat tow kit for a Ford Bronco?
A standard flat tow setup for the Ford Bronco includes a tow bar, baseplate, safety cables, and a supplemental braking system, which is legally required in most states. Some owners also add a battery maintainer since accessories draw power from the battery while the truck is being towed with the ignition in accessory mode. The flat tow kit itself does not change the procedure or the risks outlined above.
Questions about your specific Bronco's setup or anything else Bronco-related? Reach out at contact@broncoforge.com or (909) 772-8050.
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About This Guide
This was put together by the team at Bronco Forge. Our founder spent time as a Ford salesman before launching Bronco Forge, giving us firsthand knowledge of how Broncos are sold, what buyers get wrong, and what dealers don't always tell you. We sell aftermarket parts exclusively for the Ford Bronco and spend time in Bronco owner communities tracking what owners actually experience. Questions about fitment or anything Bronco-related? Reach out at contact@broncoforge.com or (909) 772-8050.
