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Just made my first long distance tow with our 21 Bronco Sport Big Bend 1.5L at the 35k mark, turned out to be very successful, mainly because I prepared the vehicle properly with these steps:
- Installed a Curt Class III Hitch and Trailer light wiring kit from etrailer.com using the several YouTube videos that etrailer provided.
- Performed the following vehicle maintenance procedures myself, most of them for the first time, and I’m glad I did as all fluids were getting dark at 35k:
We drove while towing a uhaul 4x8 low profile close trailer from Pensacola, FL to Shenandoah County, VA, a total of 880 miles on all kinds of grades and conditions - rain, hot sun, flatlands, and mountains. Trailer empty weight was 800lbs and cargo (in the car and in trailer total) was fairly light at 500lbs to keep it well within the 2000lb towing limit. I stuck to the speed limit of 55-60 and used 93 octane gas for the first time. The engine and transmission performed flawlessly, pretty much settled into overdrive gear along the way (except hills). The mileage decreased from our normal of 39 mpg unloaded to 28.5 mpg loaded with tow. The engine temperature gauge stayed right in the middle and never move the whole trip. And we used ac the whole way. (Granted, we did have the dealer replace the leaking water pump last year).
All in all, it was a pretty successful trip and I felt confident that I can tow anything that is within limits and loaded properly - like using our own open 4x8 utility trailer for home projects. And I would say that I will continue with the 30k interval for changing all fluids above (except engine oil at 5k of course.)
Some photos are attached!
- Installed a Curt Class III Hitch and Trailer light wiring kit from etrailer.com using the several YouTube videos that etrailer provided.
- Performed the following vehicle maintenance procedures myself, most of them for the first time, and I’m glad I did as all fluids were getting dark at 35k:
- Drained and refilled the transmission with MC OEM fluid.
- Drained and refilled the RDU
- Drained and refilled the PTU
- Changed engine oil and filter (I normally do this every 5k miles)
- Changed engine air and cabin filters
- Rotated tires (they were only 5k old)
We drove while towing a uhaul 4x8 low profile close trailer from Pensacola, FL to Shenandoah County, VA, a total of 880 miles on all kinds of grades and conditions - rain, hot sun, flatlands, and mountains. Trailer empty weight was 800lbs and cargo (in the car and in trailer total) was fairly light at 500lbs to keep it well within the 2000lb towing limit. I stuck to the speed limit of 55-60 and used 93 octane gas for the first time. The engine and transmission performed flawlessly, pretty much settled into overdrive gear along the way (except hills). The mileage decreased from our normal of 39 mpg unloaded to 28.5 mpg loaded with tow. The engine temperature gauge stayed right in the middle and never move the whole trip. And we used ac the whole way. (Granted, we did have the dealer replace the leaking water pump last year).
All in all, it was a pretty successful trip and I felt confident that I can tow anything that is within limits and loaded properly - like using our own open 4x8 utility trailer for home projects. And I would say that I will continue with the 30k interval for changing all fluids above (except engine oil at 5k of course.)
Some photos are attached!
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