Towing with a Bronco II

[Joolz]

Just got a 16' deep V on a heavy duty trailer (total weight 840kg / 1750 lbs) and not happy towing it with the minivan. For one it's automatic, anemic going uphills despite the Nissan 3.2L with plenty of ponies. But the bigger issue is docking, in order to get the boat off the trailer the tailpipe is submerged, as well as most of the rear wheels (brakes submerged in lake water can't be too good). So I'm now considering using my 86 Bronco 2 with 5 speed manual, 2.9L V6 for the job, as docking would be easier, especially seeing how this is a 4x4.

Question is, does anyone here have FIRST HAND experience towing a boat with a B2? I've towed a tent trailer weighing some 500lbs less without difficulty, then again it was a short distance and not on a highway. The lakes we plan to hit are between 70 to 220km, so plenty of highway to get there. I'd be happy to stick to 100km/h, hopefully not less than 90, in order not to back up traffic and be watching fingers sticking up in the air as they finally get a chance to pass me.

As seen in the pic it has the stock hitch, mud tires and stock suspension, which I think may need to be beefed up as it's rather mushy. Will I have trouble stopping? Trailer has no brakes, so I'd be depending on the Bronco for stopping. It also has a short wheel base, which I understand isn't good for towing. But is 1700 lbs enough of a load to be concerned? Vehicle isn't currently insured and before I go through the trouble of doing that for the sake of testing how it goes, would like first to get some input from anyone that actually tried towing a boat with a Bronco 2.
Thanks

 

[Ming15237]

Just got a 16' deep V on a heavy duty trailer (total weight 840kg / 1750 lbs) and not happy towing it with the minivan. For one it's automatic, anemic going uphills despite the Nissan 3.2L with plenty of ponies. But the bigger issue is docking, in order to get the boat off the trailer the tailpipe is submerged, as well as most of the rear wheels (brakes submerged in lake water can't be too good). So I'm now considering using my 86 Bronco 2 with 5 speed
manual, 2.9L V6 for the job, as docking would be easier, especially seeing how this is a 4x4.

Question is, does anyone here have FIRST HAND experience towing a boat with a B2? I've towed a tent trailer weighing some 500lbs less without difficulty, then again it was a short distance and not on a highway. The lakes we plan to hit are between 70 to 220km, so plenty of highway to get there. I'd be happy to stick to 100km/h, hopefully not less than 90, in order not to back up traffic and be watching fingers sticking up in the air as they finally get a chance to pass me.

As seen in the pic it has the stock hitch, mud tires and stock suspension, which I think may need to be beefed up as it's rather mushy. Will I have trouble stopping? Trailer has no brakes, so I'd be depending on the Bronco for stopping. It also has a short wheel base, which I understand isn't good for towing. But is 1700 lbs enough of a load to be concerned? Vehicle isn't currently insured and before I go through the trouble of doing that for the sake of testing how it goes, would like first to get some input from anyone that actually tried towing a boat with a Bronco 2.
Thanks

I would honestly stick with the minivan. The bronco 2 with the short wheelbase, and the anemic at best 2.9 v6 were not exactly known for build quality and reliability. The short wheel base means that the boat will be driving the truck, and that's not a good situation! The tailpipe being under water is not a problem at all while the motor is running. The the rear brakes will dry within a few applications of the brakes.

 

[littlerayray]

And the brakes get wet when it rains

 

[littlerayray]

But then again the boat your hauling is not that heavy what's the tow rating on the bronco 11

 

[ondarvr]

I had one (actually two) and it towed a small boat OK, but they are a bit under powered and the heads tend to crack as soon as they get hot. Stability was fine on the highway, the short wheelbase wasn't an issue. I bought one that had just been rebuilt, and was given one with a cracked head, the rebuilt one lasted a year or so before a water pump issue caused a slight over heat, which cracked a head. Couldn't sell it even for cheap with a cracked head, gave them both away.

 

[smokeonthewater]

been in and around half a dozen of them... IMHO the BII is a step or two down from the minivan.

 

[Joolz]

Few things to add: the Bronco lacks air con and is pretty hard on gas. Yes, that 2.9 is anemic but being a manual, I suppose it could take the abuse (it's a Ford, so I use the statement above with a good amount of trepidation). Another reason for using the Bronco with the boat is that this would free the minivan for the wife to take the 8' tent trailer on our camping trips, along with the kids and all the gear. It would be a lot easier for her to tow the tent trailer instead of the longer, heavier boat. It's either that or she has to drive the 5 speed VW Jetta diesel towing the tent trailer, also not an ideal situation (although I have no issues towing it).

I would rather not have to start looking for yet another vehicle if the Bronco would cut it. Certainly not interested in buying a large SUV or a 3/4 ton pickup or something in those lines if I can get away with the smaller vehicles already here. Guess the only way to know for sure is to try it on a short run to see how it goes. I know that the cost of gas of using the Bronco instead of the Jetta would be tremendous, then again price of gas is cheap nowadays (did I mention the Jetta hardly sips any diesel, which is far cheaper than gas in my neck of the woods?)
The Bronco is a heavy vehicle but then again it's not necessarily a good vehicle (have I mentioned it's a Ford?) and it could leave us stranded or worse, have the heavy boat jackknife the rig if not careful. May only have an actual answer after taking it on a test drive.

If we were to proceed with this set up I would be alone in the Bronco/boat, while wife would have the minivan/tent trailer and the kids, along with all the gear, following me. I rather take the risk myself than to have her drive the minivan with the boat in tow and/or the jetta with the tent trailer.

Not an ideal situation but we also fear the minivan's tranny will eventually die, seeing how it's an auto (I not only dislike autos I have very little confidence in them). This minivan has proven to be a great ride and would hate to lose it. Much rather see the Bronco die than the minivan. Just as long it doesn't take me with it. Thankfully not many hills on the way to the lakes we plan to go to.

Smokeonthewater, I have to disagree with you there. I find the Bronco to be several steps down from the minivan in so many aspects. But again, if towing a 1750lbs load to be doable, I suppose that's a chance I may have to take. Unless of course a test drive shows this to be a really bad idea.

Thanks for the input, folks.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Good luck.... Or as they say in the movies.... "Hang on to your butts" ..... Maybe you need to polish the heck out of that turd and swap it off for an S-10.... Should get similar gas milage to the browncow but be a much better tow rig.

 

[Frank Acampora]

I liked my S10! Used to tow my 21 foot cuddy with it, no problems.The only reason I got rid of it was because I shortened it about a foot on black ice.

 

[Joolz]

No pickups, need to be able to load child car seats to the back. Isn't the S10 the same chassis as a Blazer? Like the way the Ranger is a Bronco with a bed? Old Blazers are dirt cheap around here. If so and this would be a decent towing vehicle for the boat, I may just have to consider it. I once had a very scary moment while heading to the US on a camping trip while towing a tent trailer with a VW Golf and I sure as hell don't want a repeat of that. And I can totally see that happening again with the Bronco's short wheel base and mud tires, that are clearly not ideal for tarmac.

Hmm, returning to a Chevrollola huh? Can't say I dread the thought too much, after all I did quite enjoy driving a 81 Custom Deluxe. The thing was a rust bucket where pieces would literally fall off whenever you hit a speed bump too fast - but it never leaked any fluids. Only issue was the fact the three-on-a-tree would almost always get stuck in gear. Fun times.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Yep S-10 and S-10 blazer... The 2 door is pretty short but should be fair... The 4 door S-blazer would be perfect plus MUCH easier to load kiddos in the back.

 

[ondarvr]

Didn't some of the S-10's have a sketchy motor, was it the 3.2

 

[Joolz]

K, good to know. I do prefer the shorter version, as long as it still suitable for towing. We truly dread big vehicles (who else do you know tow a tent trailer with 4cyl VWs by choice?) Loading kids to the back isn't a biggie for us, gotten used to it, so 2 doors should be just fine. Would definitely favour the 2 door Blazer especially if it's lighter than the longer 4 door. I'm also limited for space in my alley, where currently the Bronco is sitting attached to my tent trailer. Much longer and I'd be intruding into my neighbour's space. But one critical requirement is: it MUST be a 5 speed manual. No way we're getting another auto, something that nearly prevented us from getting the minivan. Unfortunately around here it seems that a manual Blazer to be rare. Wife detests autos as much as I do, and since this is intended for towing, then it definitely should have a clutch. It seems that the towing capacity of these to be 5,500lbs which is incredible (may have been for the 4 doors, not sure).

Are there any major issues with this vehicle that I should be on the lookout for? Minor stuff I can fix, we have a few pick-n-pull wreckers in town, so finding parts is easy and cheap. But issues with motor like ondarvr mentioned isn't the sort of thing I'd be too keen on. Anyone knows the year range that's good and bad for this car?

 

[littlerayray]

In my experience Most people who say they like smaller vehicles over big ones and do switch to a larger vehicle say they feel safer and see better and are more confident in a larger vehicle and don't want to go back to a small one for example my gf wants to trade her van in for a full size truck she would rather the truck over her van

 

[ondarvr]

I've towed a similar size boat with a Bronco 2 4X4, S-10, 2010 Escape, 2014 Escape, Subaru Outback, Subaru Impreza, F150 4X4 auto, F150 2X4 manual, 3 Chevy trailblazers, Chevy Silverado, GMC AWD van, Nissan PU 5 speed, Mazda PU 5 speed manual plus a couple other vehicles. What I can say is all of them did it OK, of course the bigger vehicles did a better job, but all of the smaller ones did it well enough that I wouldn't go out and buy another rig just to pull the boat (the Impreza was a little too small).

The Escapes actually did it very well for their size, I would buy one of them before I would even look at an S-10. Family friendly, 24 MPH, good reliabilty, auto trans geared perfectly for towing, AWD, many have the factory towing package, easy to find used, small enough for easy parking, 5 speed is available.

As for a manual over an automatic, I would much rather use an auto than a manual for 90% of towing situations, occasionally there's a time when a manual may work slightly better, but it's a non issue really. As for reliability, I tow far more than the average guy and I haven't had a single issue with an automatic, I did smoke the cluch in the Nissan and Mazda, plus worked the F150 a little too hard. Unless the manual was a 4X4 with a 4 low option they didn't do nearly as well as an auto in pulling the boat up the ramp, this was due to having very high first gears.

 

[Joolz]

No Title

That's quite the roster. Your opinion is appreciated as it carries weight, seeing how you've actually used a B2 to pull a boat similar to mine (pic below for reference). So, you didn't experience too many potentially scary situations, like braking down a curvy grade? It is truly a shame that the boat's trailer lacks brakes, else I wouldn't have started this thread. I agree that switching vehicles to be a bit of a drastic action, especially since in my price range (read really low) I could end up with a lemon. At least I know all the issues the B2 has and can live with them. But how hard is it to swap the trailer's axel with one with electric brakes? Or is this too a rather drastic course of action, given the cost and headache involved?

Also including a pic of the Bronco's hitch. As you can see it's not a simple bumper hitch but then again it isn't a weight distribution one either (is it?). As stated earlier, in order for me to even take the B2 on a test run I'd first have to insure it. Which is why now would be a good time to consider switching vehicles, if I could find a decent alternative.

Downsides of the Bronco:
- puny 2.9L engine isn't that powerful, would likely bog down uphills (maybe not to the extent of the minivan then again I really should learn how to drive an auto, which is a new experience to me).
- horrible fuel usage, even while not towing. Think driving a large cube down the highway.
- Has a lot of other small stuff I'd need to fix, including a smashed side window (behind driver's door), courtesy of neighbourhood kids that thought it was amusing to smash it with a rock.
- It's a Ford. Meaning a good likelihood of being stranded on the highway due to a number of possible issues.

Advantages:
- wife enjoys driving it
- 5 speed with a decent clutch
- 4x4 for getting right into the lake if needed, with the assurance I'd make my way out
- not a big size, easy to park, ideal for hooking up my tent trailer to and park in the alley

Then again I'm not emotionally attached to a vehicle (except for the diesel Rabbit, that thing isn't going anywhere) so if switching the B2 for something like a Jimmy, Blazer or Escape makes sense, so be it. Having the input from you guys here has been great, it already had me contact someone with a Jimmy for a possible trade for my old blue boat. Since no one has shown interest in buying it, I'd very welcome a trade, even if I need to thrown in some cash to sweeten the deal.

 

[NYBo]

You keep saying bad things about the B2 yet you seem bound and determined to use it.

What about having the wife use it to tow the camper while you tow the boat with the minivan? Swap at the campground and launch with the B2 if 4WD might be needed.

BTW, your picture of the trailer wheel shows a blown rear grease seal. Better take care of that so you don't end up with catastrophic wheel bearing failure.

 

[smokeonthewater]

The so called questionable motor in an s-10 was a 2.8 but honestly they weren't bad motors as long as they were taken care of...

For the most part the s blazers are gonna be 4.3's with 700r4 autos ..... You can pretty much forget finding a 5 speed version... Rare

The 4.3 auto 4x4 blazers were very reliable and the 4 door vs 2 door only adds a foot or so in length and minimal weight.... Either would be fine

At least worth a test drive/tow.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Btw my car, jeep, and my diesel dually all have manual transmissions.

I actually took an automatic out of the dually and converted to a 6 speed manual... I can say absolutely without a doubt that it was a much better tow vehicle with the auto but I didn't trust the auto and wanted the manual for reliability...... Guess what, the manual developed a leak that I didn't notice in time and I got to spend $2000 to have it rebuild a year after I put it in..... So much for reliability.

 

[ondarvr]

I had a couple 4.3's in differnt things, they were very good.