Rear tow hook

[Weston52]

Whomever wrote this copy wasn't party to decisions made later in build, apparently.

Should you need to be recovered from the rear, a rear recovery point is mounted directly to the frame of the vehicle. It provides a reliable location to connect tow straps, kinetic ropes or other aids.

I think the “ pins” are stored on the same shelf as the engine covers now. Did anyone here get a pin with their vehicle?

Sponsored

 

[AllTerrain]

I think the “ pins” are stored on the same shelf as the engine covers now. Did anyone here get a pin with their vehicle?

Anyone?

 

[bjbena]

If anyone is interested, I have the rear impact bar that has the threaded hole in it for sale.

Send an offer. https://www.broncosportforum.com/forum/threads/rear-impact-bar.4755/

 

[sajohnson]

I don't see any way to thread the bolt in (picture attached). All I see is an empty hole in there. I wonder if that's Badlands or tow package specific. Could somebody compare and confirm please?

Our BS BL with tow package is the same. It seems odd to me that Ford would make that change.

 

[Benanza]

Our BS BL with tow package is the same. It seems odd to me that Ford would make that change.

If you have a factory tow package it blocks the thread

 

[sajohnson]

If you have a factory tow package it blocks the thread

That could be, but I looked pretty closely with a flashlight and didn't see it. I could have missed it though.

See posts #17 and 18.

Of course either way a tow eye can't be used. My primary question is, do any BS trim levels come with a tow eye? I'm almost certain that I've read posts that say at least some do. They definitely should unless they are the BL with tow package.

 

[Major Kong]

That could be, but I looked pretty closely with a flashlight and didn't see it. I could have missed it though.

See posts #17 and 18.

Of course either way a tow eye can't be used. My primary question is, do any BS trim levels come with a tow eye? I'm almost certain that I've read posts that say at least some do. They definitely should unless they are the BL with tow package.

A little digging and I found the dealer correspondence concerning the towing eye, engine cover and passenger side dash panel

 

[sajohnson]

A little digging and I found the dealer correspondence concerning the towing eye, engine cover and passenger side dash panel

Thanks for posting that.

I can't say whether that's true or not, but I'd like to hear it directly from Ford. Most dealers have a pretty casual relationship with the truth, particularly when it benefits them.

This Ford page seems to directly contradict what the dealer told you:

https://www.ford.com/support/how-tos/ford-services/parts-and-service/ford-bronco-sport-off-road-hardware/

"Rear Recovery Points
Should you need to be recovered from the rear, a rear recovery point is mounted directly to the frame of the vehicle. It provides a reliable location to connect tow straps, kinetic ropes or other aids.

To find them, use a suitable tool, such as a flathead screwdriver, then pull from the top edge of the towing eye cover (the towing eye cover has a small lanyard to keep it attached to the bumper)
To retrieve the pin, lift up the load floor in the cargo area and locate the pin in the tray next to the spare tire
To use it, screw the pin into the recovery point; for optimum strength, make sure you completely thread in the screw"

I posted that on the other thread (#95):
https://www.broncosportforum.com/forum/threads/anyone-else-missing-the-panel-under-the-dash-above-the-passenger-side-fuse-box-where-the-floor-air-ducts-are.5290/page-7#post-99505

 

[Wolf256]

I read somewhere (no I don’t recall where) that there is not a tow point on the rear of Badlands because it has two tow points on the front end. I have not checked mine, yet. Any other Badlands owners without the tow package that do or do not have this?

 

[Escape2Bronco]

I read somewhere (no I don’t recall where) that there is not a tow point on the rear of Badlands because it has two tow points on the front end. I have not checked mine, yet. Any other Badlands owners without the tow package that do or do not have this?

No recovery pin required when you have the tow package. The hitch mounting bracket replaces the bar used for the recovery point. I’ve got a 22 Badlands with tow. No recovery pin. I bought a Gear America 2 inch shackle.

 

[sajohnson]

I read somewhere (no I don’t recall where) that there is not a tow point on the rear of Badlands because it has two tow points on the front end. I have not checked mine, yet. Any other Badlands owners without the tow package that do or do not have this?

Our 2022 Badlands has the tow package and does not have a threaded hole behind the towing eye cover. I would also like to hear from BL owners *without* the tow package.

It seems odd that Ford would go to the trouble of eliminating it. It would be easier & cheaper to just leave the threaded hole there regardless of whether the particular BS has a receiver hitch. Benanza suggested (in post 35) that it may be covered by a part of the hitch. That could be true, but I looked around pretty good -- it appeared to be just an open space behind the cover. Either way though, a tow eye cannot be used.

It seems unlikely that the lack of a rear recovery point is due to the BL having 2 recovery hooks on the front. There should be at least one on the rear. My guess is that on any BS (BB/OB/BL) with a tow hitch, the thinking is that the hitch can be used as a recovery point. That's true, but:

a) There is some debate as to whether a hitch -- especially a light-duty class 2 hitch -- can safely be used in all situations. An icy parking lot is one thing, buried to the axles in mud down in a ditch is another.

b) If Ford thinks that all BS owners with a receiver hitch can use it as a recovery point (under all conditions), then they should supply us with something like Escape2Bronco linked to in post #40. Otherwise, the true cost of the tow package is hidden from buyers -- it is really an additional $60 (+/-).

 

[sajohnson]

No recovery pin required when you have the tow package. The hitch mounting bracket replaces the bar used for the recovery point. I’ve got a 22 Badlands with tow. No recovery pin. I bought a Gear America 2 inch shackle.

Thanks for the link!

This (or similar) is a good option to replace the missing tow eye -- one that Ford should include with the (already overpriced) tow package.

The BS models without the tow package have the tow eye included as standard equipment (or if not, they definitely should). BS models with the receiver hitch not only do not have the tow eye -- they do not even have the capability to use one (no threaded hole)!

This sort of thing is discouraging. It shows lack of concern by Ford for it's customers. A generous person might suggest that it was an oversight. A cynical person would say that all mfrs, including Ford, go over their vehicles numerous times before production. They know exactly what they are doing. It's much more likely that Ford thought (correctly) that most owners would not notice -- not unless/until they need to have their BS pulled out of a tough spot.

This is a potential problem for any vehicle, but particularly one like the BS BL, that is specifically designed to be driven off road -- and therefore is more likely to get seriously stuck.

 

[Escape2Bronco]

Our 2022 Badlands has the tow package and does not have a threaded hole behind the towing eye cover. I would also like to hear from BL owners *without* the tow package.

It seems odd that Ford would go to the trouble of eliminating it. It would be easier & cheaper to just leave the threaded hole there regardless of whether the particular BS has a receiver hitch. Benanza suggested (in post 35) that it may be covered by a part of the hitch. That could be true, but I looked around pretty good -- it appeared to be just an open space behind the cover. Either way though, a tow eye cannot be used.

It seems unlikely that the lack of a rear recovery point is due to the BL having 2 recovery hooks on the front. There should be at least one on the rear. My guess is that on any BS (BB/OB/BL) with a tow hitch, the thinking is that the hitch can be used as a recovery point. That's true, but:

a) There is some debate as to whether a hitch -- especially a light-duty class 2 hitch -- can safely be used in all situations. An icy parking lot is one thing, buried to the axles in mud down in a ditch is another.

b) If Ford thinks that all BS owners with a receiver hitch can use it as a recovery point (under all conditions), then they should supply us with something like Escape2Bronco linked to in post #40. Otherwise, the true cost of the tow package is hidden from buyers -- it is really an additional $60 (+/-).

The threaded hole isn’t covered up with the hitch bracketry, it is replaced by it.

 

[sajohnson]

The threaded hole isn’t covered up with the hitch bracket RC, it is replaced by it.

That's how it looked to me. It does not appear that there is a threaded hole, covered or not.

At the risk of sounding dense, what does "RC" stand for? I should probably know, just suffering some brain fade I guess.

 

[Escape2Bronco]

That's how it looked to me. It does not appear that there is a threaded hole, covered or not.

At the risk of sounding dense, what does "RC" stand for? I should probably know, just suffering some brain fade I guess.

RC is for spell check nanny. I put “bracketry”. The spell check nanny decided I meant RC!

Sponsored