Towing with a Bronco II

[laurentide]

The torque converter in an auto trans vehicle is going to be much easier on the drive train than a manual. As long as you keep it out of OD (not a real "gear" at all) and the van is rated for the total weight of the boat and trailer it should be fine. I also--briefly--pulled an 18' aluminum boat with an automatic Subaru impreza. No problem at all pulling and stopping. I'd tow with an AT minivan over a manual that wasn't engineered to tow a load.

If you look at any of the vehicles sold with tow packages in recent years, they're all AT except for some of the big diesels.

A transmission cooler would be good cheap insurance, and pretty easy to install yourself.

 

[Joolz]

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.

Really? Good spotting, I never even realized that. Looks like I'll be starting a new thread here pretty soon on that.

Yes, having her drive the B2 with the tent trailer in tow is something we're considering, the trailer only weighs some 1200 lbs loaded. The only reason why that didn't weigh heavily in is that she's never towed anything before and the minivan with its stronger motor would prove a bit easier/less drama for her. She's as proficient as it can be with a manual but add a trailer to the mix and it could become a bit of an issue, especially in city traffic and downhills.

And you're correct, I have this love/hate relationship with the B2. But the thought of buying a cheap used TV has me considering giving the B2 another chance. At this price point you could be getting all sorts of issues that the seller may know and not tell you. Another idea is to exchange those mud tires with all seasons, that would have more contact with the pavement.

And we thought that after having purchased a dream boat that our search had come to an end...

About the auto vs. manual: thanks for the clarification that manual isn't necessarily better for towing. As someone that has always driven manual I distrust autos and always assumed the tranny would give up at some point. But if there's one strong point in this Nissan Quest minivan it is the tranny. Have never heard of anyone having issues with it. I never tow with the overdrive on and will certainly be looking at adding a tranny cooler to it just as an extra insurance.

Looks like the B2 is staying put. At least as of this writing.

 

[scoutabout]

I think you are worrying too much about that Ford. She will tow a boat of that weight just fine I predict. Start with the devil you know, insure the Bronc, put a real hitch on it if it's got the bumper mount now and go towing for a few hours in different conditions and see how she does.
I towed with a manual tranny CRV for 15 years no issues. Half a million hard km on the original clutch and I did plenty of scrambling up steep launch ramps with loads I'd be embarrassed to admit here. Sure, it was a Honda but still, how you drive a load can make or break any driveline.

Make sure your cooling system is in good shape, brakes and tires in good nick, leave lots of room in front of you and don't treat every traffic light like a county fair tractor pull. You will be fine.

 

[smokeonthewater]

It's interesting that everyone says it's a horrible tow vehicle and then one guy pops up saying it's good and you're going for it....

Sounds to me like you already had your mind made up but were just waiting for what you wanted to hear.

Just remember that while you are towing alone with your wife and kids in the van so they'll be safe that everyone else's wife and kids are in the other vehicles that have to meet you on the road...

When things do go bad towing it usually happens suddenly and without warning... By the time you realize the tail is wagging the dog it's too late.

 

[scoutabout]

I agree, the idea isn't to put your family in another vehicle to keep them safe only to put other users of the road at risk. If it's that squirrelly don't use it. It seems though you've got no frame of reference on if it's any good or not and an easy way to at least get a sense of how it handles. Driven carefully I think it would be ok but if course I ain't driving it. Also, it might be worth investigating what the cost of retrofitting that trailer with brakes might be. Or selling it and buying one already so equipped.

 

[Joolz]

Wow, how did I go from asking a simple question on towing to becoming a wreckless, irresponsible driver on a murderous spree gunning for innocent women and children?
Oh yeah. It's called the internet

 

[ondarvr]

The only thing that will pull a 1,700 lb boat safely is a 1 ton dually diesel, you should have known that already.

Seeing as I'm the only one that has pulled a similar size boat with B2 that is commenting here, it may be the most informed opinion.

I didn't say it was a great tow rig, only that it was OK and didn't do anything scary. It's under powered, which probably makes it safer too. To run out and buy something else before he even tries it wouldn't make sense.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Joolz YOU were the one who said you would have your family in another vehicle so you wouldn't be endangering them... I simply reminded you that you are sharing the road with other people's families... Never once called you a murderer.

Ondarver I drove a couple BII for years and have had several family members and friends with them I have towed with them both on and off road. I found them to be under powered, have poor brakes, and to not be very stable with anything but the smallest trailer... An older jeep wrangler is a better tow rig and a 16' tinny is near the top of what it should be pulling on the highway.

Not one person has made any such stupid comment here as him needing a dually... Nobody even suggested a full size truck...

A simple test tow will tell a relative novice pretty much nothing about how the vehicle will react in sudden maneuvers.

The advice I and many others here have given has been based on many years of experience and with nothing but the best intentions.

 

[sportrider]

I tow my 19' maxum with my jeep cherokee with no issues, granted the farthest I've towed it is 40 miles away but it was at highway speeds and going up hill.

 

[64osby]

I tow my 19' maxum with my jeep cherokee with no issues, granted the farthest I've towed it is 40 miles away but it was at highway speeds and going up hill.

Both ways. :facepalm:

 

[scoutabout]

....A simple test tow will tell a relative novice pretty much nothing about how the vehicle will react in sudden maneuvers...

Damn it man! I'm talking empty, wet, Wally World parking lot at 3am with a good head of steam!....................

I'm kidding, of course.

I will confess to never having driven a BII. I have however been towing all sorts of boats and loads for 30 years behind all sorts of vehicles, fit and not so fit and have a good feel for vehicle handling. Was just trying to offer the good intentioned insight you referenced.

God Bless the Trailer and Towing Forum. Never a dull moment!

 

[smokeonthewater]

Actually the Wally World parking lot would ALMOST be a great plan... At least the chances of injury would be very low.... Tho I suspect that wrapping the boat around a light pole would be bad lol....

The biggest hole in the plan tho is that the anemic 2.9 would need 9 Wally World parking lots and a tail wind to get up to test speed lol.

 

[sportrider]

Both ways. :facepalm:

lol, technically... it is lots of hills and valleys. but thats nothing to the barefoot walk to school in the winter when I was a kid... but thats a story for another day.

 

[bruceb58]

I drove a Bronco II once. I never wanted to drive one ever again. I would be scared to tow anything with one. It was scary without a trailer!

 

[Blind Date]

This is my first boat. 16' Century OB w/3.0 MerCruiser. It's behind my Olds Cutlass here. Mostly it was towed with my buddies EB Bronco II. His had the V6/auto. Nothing unsafe about towing that boat with the Bronco II. Went down the interstate like a dream. Zero sway, steady as a rock. Plenty of power to pull it and brakes to stop it.

 

[naturelover]

Awesome. What year was yours. My 84 Cutlass was my first vehicle. Still rusting away on the yard, need to get rid of it but always thought of restoring it. Only the 3.8 version though.

Problem is when you have the time, you don't have the money, and when you have the money, you don't have the time....

I'd be leery of the b2, wet roads and the short wheelbase will mean you'll need to be extra careful, and if it did happen to start wagging, probably wish you had a bigger vehicle.

You don't need a dually though, you need a diesel dually.

One way to tell, hook it up and test it.

 

[Richmond2000]

I drove a 86? Bronco II pulling a 20 FT travel trailer in BC Canada once
driven "properly" it was OK at best but you could feel it trying a bit to get away from you and the V6 in those is NOT "brilliant" and I believe the trannies in those are MAZDA units and not to tolerant of abuse

the Nissan VAN I assume it is a QUEST not the mercury villager clone or the earlier caravelle / caravan RWD van
the FWD quest van the primary concern I would have is tranny temps and would consider a tranny cooler and a gauge (if it is 2007 or newer a scan gauge / BT torque APP for your phone can be used with NO permanent mods to the van)

I see you live in Alberta and I wonder if your planning on traveling into the rock pile? and if so the tranny cooling in the van is even MORE important

If I where to suggest a good tow car I would take a blazer/TrailBlazer or an early explorer / the Explorers are quite common still and dirt cheap / a JEEP Grand cherokee is an excellent choice but LESS on the cheap front
I have towed on the BC side of said rock pile using a 4.0L Expoader and a 5.3L G cherokee with excellent results

 

[CARiD]

I think the 4x4 is a little better for towing and the grip, but it seems like the minivan has more torque with it's newer engine.

 

[JasonB]

An '86 B2 would not have a Mazda trans unless it was installed later as Ford went to those in '88 or '89. That M50D was used in Ranger/Bronco/F-150's for years. I have one with 251k miles of abuse and still going. In '86, that B2 most likely got a Mitsubishi FM145 (trans code D), or possibly a Toyo Kogo (code 5). They aren't bad transmissions, but are decent workhorses if taken care of.

I drove an '86 B2 4x4 as a youth. Power was ok, I just always felt it was too top heavy for my liking. Some of that feel may have come from the twin-I-beam front end as I wasn't used to it and those don't handle like other trucks to me. I later put 200+k miles on a '2wd 92 ranger with a 3.0 Vulcan v6 and 5spd. Still have that truck and being a reg cab short bed, it is the same basic chassis as the B2. I pulled a 1800'lb boat for 15 years behind it. Plenty of power, but could have used more weight when braking in the rain. More wheel base would have been nice, but it did the job admirably, I was just extra cautious when the roads were wet. On paper, the 3.0 has 5 more HP and 5lbft. less torque than the 2.9 Cologne v6 and that B2, esp in 4x4, likely has better gears than the 3.45's in my Ranger.

If the B2 is in excellent condition, I tend to think that boat is within it's limits if driven sensibly.

 

[Fleetwin]

I did some towing with B II's back in the days they were new. I had a 1988 and a 1990. Both 2.9L/Auto/4WD. I was towing a 17' Mako. Not nearly as heavy as your I/O.

I wouldn't recommend it. They have the same basic components as Rangers of the same vintage but are MUCH shorter.

Short wheelbases and towing stability are mutually exclusive.

I did tow the same rig with a Ranger that shared the same components and it was much more stable. Longer WB (Super Cab).

While it may pull it OK, controlling it is another ball game.The same can be said for Jeeps and some early import SUV's.