The Bronco was reintroduced into Ford’s truck lineup as a compact SUV in 2021 and remains available through the present. Ford vehicles are known for their reliability and for having the features consumers expect from today’s SUVs, including towing. But what is the towing capacity of a Ford Bronco?
The Ford Bronco has a towing capacity of 3,240 to 4,500 pounds depending on the configuration and model year.
There’s a bit more to know about Ford Bronco towing capabilities which we’ll cover in today’s guide.
Ford Bronco Towing Capacity By Year
As we covered earlier, the current Ford Bronco can tow a maximum of 4,500 lbs when properly equipped.
The 2023 Ford Bronco has a towing capability of 3,240 pounds to 4,500 pounds depending on the engine, trim level, axle ratio, and whether it is a 2-door or 4-door model.
The current generation Ford Bronco has been in production from 2021 through the present. We’ve listed out the maximum tow capacity by year below for reference.
2023 Ford Bronco Tow Capacity: 3,500 pounds
2023 Ford Bronco Sport Tow Capacity: 2,200 pounds
2023 Ford Bronco Raptor Tow Capacity: 4,500 pounds
2022 Ford Bronco Tow Capacity: 3,500 pounds
2022 Ford Bronco Sport Tow Capacity: 2,200 pounds
2022 Ford Bronco Raptor Tow Capacity: 4,500 pounds
2021 Ford Bronco Tow Capacity: 3,500 pounds
Note that for each model year, there are many variables that affect the total towing capability of each vehicle year, so we recommend checking your specific Colorado model year below for an in-depth guide and to get the most accurate information.
You can also read our guide on what makes a vehicle towing capacity to learn all the aspects that go into it.
Here’s a video showing the Ford Bronco being put to a real-world off-road and towing test:
Ford Bronco Braked Vs. Unbraked Towing Capacity
All vehicles have different towing capacities based on whether or not you’re towing a trailer that has trailer brakes installed.
Trailer brakes allow the trailer to stop faster than if only the vehicle is using its brakes, allowing the vehicle to tow more weight, so braked towing capacity will always be higher than unbraked towing capacity.
Ford Bronco Braked Towing Capacity: 3,240 lbs – 4,500 lbs.
Ford Bronco Unbraked Towing Capacity: 1,500 lbs.
Ford Bronco Towing Capacity Factors
There are a few factors that affect the Ford Bronco tow capacity.
Engine Options
The engine options for Ford Broncos hasn’t change a whole lot throughout the past few years it’s been available, and they also didn’t make a significant difference in the towing capability compared to other factors.
2-Door Vs 4-Door
Whether a Bronco is a 2-door or a 4-door model can play a small role in how much the Bronco can tow, even if all other specs are the same.
Generally, 2-door Broncos can tow more than 4-door Broncos.
Axle Ratio
The Bronco is a little different than most vehicles because it offers four different axle ratios, and there are only certain axle ratios available on certain trim levels and engine options.
Most often, the smaller the axle ratio number, the higher the Bronco towing capability, but there are exceptions to this.
Trim Level
Ford makes each one of the Bronco’s trim levels a little different, and some may have access to certain engine specs or axle ratios that aren’t offered on others.
Even so, the towing capacity of your Bronco may vary a bit even within the same trim level based on the other factors we mentioned above.
Ford Bronco Engine Specs
The current generation of the Ford Bronco has three engine options.
2.3 Liter EcoBoost I4 Engine
The most common Ford Bronco engine is the 3.2 Liter EcoBoost I-4 engine.
This engine produces 300 hp and 325 lb.-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Quick note: Ford states that this engine produces 325 torque with premium fuel only, and 315 lb.-ft of torque with regular fuel.
This engine is available on all Bronco trims except the Wildtrak and Raptor.
2.7 Liter Twin-Turbo V6 Engine
The second Ford Bronco engine is the 2.7 Liter Twin-Turbo EcoBoost V6 engine.
This engine produces 330 hp and 415 lb.-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Quick note: Ford states that this engine produces 415 torque with premium fuel only, and 410 lb.-ft of torque with regular fuel.
This engine is available on all Bronco trims except the Everglades and Raptor.
3.0 Liter Twin-Turbo V6 Engine
The second Ford Bronco engine is the 3.0 Liter Twin-Turbo EcoBoost V6 Raptor engine.
This engine produces 418 hp and 440 lb.-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
This engine is available only on the Ford Bronco Raptor trim level.
Ford Bronco Tow Package Info
Does The Ford Bronco Have A Tow Package?
The towing package for Ford Bronco is called the Towing Capability Package (53Q), and is available on all trim levels of the Bronco except the Raptor, which it comes standard on.
The Ford Bronco towing capability package 53Q includes the following:
- Class II tow hitch receiver
- 4 and 7-pin Wiring Harness
- Trailer Module
All Bronco models also come with the additional towing features standard:
- Trailer Sway Control
- Lane Keeping Alert
- Full-Size Spare Tire
The Bronco Raptor trim comes with everything above, plus the following:
- Auxiliary Auto Transmission Oil Cooler
- Tow/Haul Mode
- 360-Degree Camera
Can You Install A Trailer Hitch On a Ford Bronco?
If you plan on towing anything with your Ford Bronco, you’ll need a tow hitch and wiring harness.
Depending on what you’re towing, you’re going to need a ball mount (aka a trailer ball hitch) so you can attach items for towing.
Make sure to get the right trailer ball size that matches your hitch and trailer.
Ford Bronco Tow Hitch
Trailer hitches come in different hitch classes, which are rated for different vehicle sizes and weight limits.
The Ford Bronco uses a Class 2 hitch.
Here’s a great option for a Class II Ford Bronco trailer hitch:
- Durable black powder coat
- Easy At Home Installation.
- Class III 2" Hitch Receiver allows you to pull a trailer.
- Hardware Included ,
- Backed by Rough Country's Lifetime Warranty
Here’s a great ball mount option so you can hook up different types of trailers for towing with your Bronco:
- DEPENDABLE STRENGTH. Rated to tow 3,500 pounds gross trailer weight and 350 pounds tongue weight, this ball hitch offers dependability for your towing setup (weight capacity may change if trailer ball is removed)
- VERSATILE USE. This trailer hitch ball mount comes with a 1-1/4-inch shank to fit virtually any industry-standard 1-1/4-inch receiver. The ball mount has a 3-1/4-inch drop, 2-inch diameter ball, 1/2-inch hitch pin hole and 7-1/4-inch overall length
- READY TO TOW. Hitching up your trailer is easy with this ready-to-use trailer hitch ball mount. It comes with a pre-attached tow ball for ready coupling and a trailer hitch pin to securely mount onto your hitch receiver
- CORROSION-RESISTANT. For long-lasting use, this ball hitch is protected with a durable black powder coat finish, and the trailer ball has a polished chrome plating. These finishes resist damage from rain, dirt, road salt and other corrosive threats
- EASY TO INSTALL. To install the trailer hitch ball mount on your vehicle, simply insert the shank into your vehicle's 1-1/4-inch hitch receiver. The rounded shank makes installation easy
Ford Bronco Tow Hitch Installation
If you’re considering having a tow hitch added to your Bronco, expect to pay between $100 and $200 to have a tow package professionally installed (excluding the cost of the tow hitch and wiring harness).
If you’re handy and looking to save money, you can install the trailer hitch and wiring harness yourself.
Always follow the manufacturer’s directions and use proper safety precautions.
Here’s a great video walkthrough on a Ford Bronco trailer hitch installation:
Hitch Receiver Vs Rear Step Bumper Towing
Some vehicles allow for bumper towing, which means you can mount a tow hitch ball directly on the bumper instead of installing a tow hitch to the vehicle’s frame.
Can I Bumper Tow With A Ford Bronco?
The Ford Bronco does not allow for bumper towing, so you’ll need to use a frame-mounted hitch.
How Do I Know If My Ford Bronco Has A Tow Package?
You can start by looking under the rear bumper of your Bronco to see if you notice a trailer hitch or trailer ball.
That will give you a good indication of if you have a tow hitch already installed on your Bronco.
Another way to research this is by checking the paperwork that came with your vehicle or taking it to a local dealer to see what’s installed.
Make sure to have your VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) handy if you call the dealer so they can look up the exact specs and whether or not your vehicle has any towing packages or features installed on it.
Ford Bronco Sasquatch Towing Capacity
The Ford Bronco Sasquatch towing capacity ranges from 3,240 pounds to 3,500 pounds.
The Bronco Sasquatch package is an off-road package which features larger tires, the HOSS 2.0 system, and electronic-locking front and rear axles.
The Sasquatch package is available on all trim levels except the Bronco Raptor.
Ford Bronco Sport Towing Capacity
The Ford Bronco Sport was introduced as a compact crossover SUV in 2022 and remains available through this year.
The Ford Bronco Sport has a towing capacity of 2,000 lbs to 2,200 lbs depending on the trim level.
Data Accuracy
We’ve gathered all data represented here from the official Ford Bronco Owner’s Manuals on Ford’s site and have checked all data thoroughly for accuracy.
Having said that, we still recommend you refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual yourself before towing with a Ford Bronco.