removing rear bumper to find tow hook threading

[Wolf256]

My 2023 Outer Banks does not have a hitch, nor the cutout to screw in the recovery eye (and no recovery eye either).

Don't know if I will go through the effort to remove the rear lower bumper cover and do the cutout for it, assuming it has the threaded hole as shown in this thread.

And then I'd have to buy the recovery eye as well.

My 2023 Badlands has the cutout, but I ordered with tow package so the threads are blocked (according to the manual). I ordered the tow eye from Ford when I had a 2022 without the tow package.

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[sajohnson]

My 2023 Badlands has the cutout, but I ordered with tow package so the threads are blocked (according to the manual). I ordered the tow eye from Ford when I had a 2022 without the tow package.

We're all set with a shackle hitch receiver, but out of curiosity I just checked the "Towing Points - 1.5L and 2.0L" section of the '22 manual, and there is no mention of the rear towing eye attachment point being deleted with the addition of the tow package.

Apparently Ford changed the manual for 2023.

 

[Dude]

We're all set with a shackle hitch receiver, but out of curiosity I just checked the "Towing Points - 1.5L and 2.0L" section of the '22 manual, and there is no mention of the rear towing eye attachment point being deleted with the addition of the tow package.

Apparently Ford changed the manual for 2023.

The Ford factory hitch documents the loss of the rear towing eye attachment point which applies to ‘21-‘24 with the Ford factory hitch

The 2025 Bronco Sport appears to support a much more robust setup front and rear

Also … my ‘22 owners manual uses “Accessing the Towing Point (If Equipped)” and similar wording for the Tow Eye (if Equipped) so with the factory hitch the implication is that towing point is not equipped.

 

[sajohnson]

The Ford factory hitch documents the loss of the rear towing eye attachment point which applies to ‘21-‘24 with the Ford factory hitch

The 2025 Bronco Sport appears to support a much more robust setup front and rear

Also … my ‘22 owners manual uses “Accessing the Towing Point (If Equipped)” and similar wording for the Tow Eye (if Equipped) so with the factory hitch the implication is that towing point is not equipped.

Interesting, I've never seen the Ford factory hitch documents. We did not receive them.

I just rechecked our manual. As you said, it does say "(if equipped)" In the tiniest font they could get away with, but a) they are clearly downplaying it, and b) that is not the same as saying -- in the same size font -- "Factory Tow Package deletes rear tow point." As it is, an owner might reasonably assume that since there is a "Towing Eye Cover", there is a towing point behind it.

Why not just say, "If your BS has a factory tow package, there is no rear tow point. You will need a shackle hitch receiver (not included)"? A cynical person might say Ford does not do so because it would be emphasizing a negative.

This is important because many owners will not realize this until they need to have a recovery from the rear, pop the cover, and discover there is no threaded hole. D'OH!

In addition, Ford has deleted the towing eye from many vehicles, while their manual says:

"Note: You must carry the towing eye in your vehicle at all times."

What will be deleted next? The spare and/or jack?

None of this affects my wife and I personally. Because of this forum, I was aware of the above issues -- but the majority of BS owners are not forum members. They expect the typical emergency equipment to be supplied and useable.

How is the 20025 model different?

 

[Dude]

Interesting, I've never seen the Ford factory hitch documents. We did not receive them.

…

How is the 2025 model different?

It’s looks like the 2025 posted articles show and state 2 front and rear towing points (total of 4) but that could be specific models or all IDK - we will have to wait and see

 

[Mwittke5857]

Maybe a stupid question since you will have a receiver tow hitch, but does it have a threaded hole as well for a tow hook?

Then again, there's most likely a bar that can slide into the receiver as a tow hook setup.

Because maybe then, the National Park Service (NPS) will leave you alone and you can go out on the 4WD trails and not get a ticket because you have a AWD equipped with a tow hook!

The Sport is actually a 4WD, not a AWD

 

[sajohnson]

The Sport is actually a 4WD, not a AWD

There continues to be confusion about what constitutes 4WD vs AWD.

There is general agreement that a 4WD system must include 'low range' gearing and a transfer case or lockable center diff.

The BS does not have high/low gearing. It *does* have an 8-speed auto with a low first gear, and the advantages of a torque converter (vs a clutch).

Ford and other mfrs muddy the waters by throwing around the term "4WD" in their marketing materials -- probably because it is seen as more rugged and capable than AWD.

In reality, traditional 4WD is not very useful on-road because it should only be engaged when the pavement is 100% covered in ice & snow. That happens, but a more common scenario is a combination of dry/wet/snow/ice, where 4WD cannot be used. So while Ford (and other mfrs) are trying to imply that AWD vehicles are "better" by referring to them as 4WD -- the opposite is true (on pavement).

In any case, while I agree that the BS -- esp the BSBL -- has advantages over a 4WD vehicle, it comes down to the NPS 'in-house' definition of 4WD -- and the BS/BSBL doesn't meet it.

Hopefully they will come around.

 

[Mwittke5857]

There continues to be confusion about what constitutes 4WD vs AWD.

There is general agreement that a 4WD system must include 'low range' gearing and a transfer case or lockable center diff.

The BS does not have high/low gearing. It *does* have an 8-speed auto with a low first gear, and the advantages of a torque converter (vs a clutch).

Ford and other mfrs muddy the waters by throwing around the term "4WD" in their marketing materials -- probably because it is seen as more rugged and capable than AWD.

In reality, traditional 4WD is not very useful on-road because it should only be engaged when the pavement is 100% covered in ice & snow. That happens, but a more common scenario is a combination of dry/wet/snow/ice, where 4WD cannot be used. So while Ford (and other mfrs) are trying to imply that AWD vehicles are "better" by referring to them as 4WD -- the opposite is true (on pavement).

In any case, while I agree that the BS -- esp the BSBL -- has advantages over a 4WD vehicle, it comes down to the NPS 'in-house' definition of 4WD -- and the BS/BSBL doesn't meet it.

Hopefully they will come around.

Odd... I have this "L" button on my shift dial. Referring to the owner's manual, it appears that button engages a "low" range in the transmission. Imagine that!

 

[RushMan]

Odd... I have this "L" button on my shift dial. Referring to the owner's manual, it appears that button engages a "low" range in the transmission. Imagine that!

Not so odd.
In the good 'ol days of real mechanical shifters on automatic transmission equipped cars, the shift lever was referred as labelled as PRNDL (and on the dash indicator just above the steering wheel), and some had PRNDL1L2.
"L" or "L1" just shifts to the lowest gear. It doesn't add a lower range like a transfer case does.

 

[Mwittke5857]

Not so odd.
In the good 'ol days of real mechanical shifters on automatic transmission equipped cars, the shift lever was referred as labelled as PRNDL (and on the dash indicator just above the steering wheel), and some had PRNDL1L2.
"L" or "L1" just shifts to the lowest gear. It doesn't add a lower range like a transfer case does.

Incorrect (according to the owner’s manual)The “L” indicates low range in the Sports, “Hill Assist” in the Escape, Explorer and Lincoln Nautlis

 

[RushMan]

Incorrect (according to the owner’s manual)The “L” indicates low range in the Sports, “Hill Assist” in the Escape, Explorer and Lincoln Nautlis

Show us all a list of the gear ratios in the 8F35 transmission , highlightjng this special "L" gear. You won't find it.
The Badlands uses the same transmission, and labels the button "M." It is "M" on the Badlands, rather than "L," because of the paddle shifters on the steering wheel allowing for manual gear changes.

 

[RushMan]

Show us all a list of the gear ratios in the 8F35 transmission , highlightjng this special "L" gear. You won't find it.
The Badlands uses the same transmission, and labels the button "M." It is "M" on the Badlands, rather than "L," because of the paddle shifters on the steering wheel allowing for manual gear changes.

Gear Ratios from the Ford Tech Spec document sent to Dealers. Someone posted this on social media a long while back.
Note there is no "special" Low Gear and also note that the gear ratios are identical between all the trims.

 

[Paradocks]

Incorrect (according to the owner’s manual)The “L” indicates low range in the Sports, “Hill Assist” in the Escape, Explorer and Lincoln Nautlis

No. “L” simply forces the transmission to stay in lower gears. From the owner’s manual:

Low(L) (If Equipped)
In low (L) your vehicle holds low gears.
Press the low (L) button when your vehicle is in drive (D) to enter or exit mode.
Note: We recommend using this mode for driving on hilly or mountainous roads or when towing a trailer.

The Badlands replaces the “L” with “M” for manual mode, because the Badlands has paddle shifters to manually change the gears.

There is no low range transfer case in any Bronco Sport.

 

[Mwittke5857]

No. “L” simply forces the transmission to stay in lower gears. From the owner’s manual:

Low(L) (If Equipped)
In low (L) your vehicle holds low gears.
Press the low (L) button when your vehicle is in drive (D) to enter or exit mode.
Note: We recommend using this mode for driving on hilly or mountainous roads or when towing a trailer.

The Badlands replaces the “L” with “M” for manual mode, because the Badlands has paddle shifters to manually change the gears.

There is no low range transfer case in any Bronco Sport.

No there is not a “physical” transfer case, that function is performed via computer

 

[Escape2Bronco]

This thread took an interesting turn………. Recovery point to AWD vs. 4WD.

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