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Ford Bronco XLT 5.0L or 5.8L?

10K views 11 replies 0 participants last post by  Marlin Singer 
G
#1 ·
I am looking at 1987-1997 Bronco, automatic, 4x4, in very good shape to be
able to plow my driveway and tow a 6000 pound boat. What axle code should I
look for to make sure the truck can tow that much? Are these years reliable
if the vehicle was taken care of or are there years to avoid?
Rocky
 
G
#2 ·
Broncos are way too short to pull that big of a boat safely. You can pull it
unsafely, though, with either.

"Rocky" <jcadellano.spam@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:pazif.18418$Un7.4428@fe12.lga...
>I am looking at 1987-1997 Bronco, automatic, 4x4, in very good shape to be
>able to plow my driveway and tow a 6000 pound boat. What axle code should
>I look for to make sure the truck can tow that much? Are these years
>reliable if the vehicle was taken care of or are there years to avoid?
> Rocky
>
 
G
#3 ·
The full size bronco is too small to tow the boat? Would I be better off
shopping for an older expedition but then I give up the snow plow
capability?

"Joe" <Joe@dontspam.net> wrote in message
news:X%Pif.5199$DW6.2074@fe03.lga...
> Broncos are way too short to pull that big of a boat safely. You can pull
> it unsafely, though, with either.
>
> "Rocky" <jcadellano.spam@optonline.net> wrote in message
> news:pazif.18418$Un7.4428@fe12.lga...
>>I am looking at 1987-1997 Bronco, automatic, 4x4, in very good shape to be
>>able to plow my driveway and tow a 6000 pound boat. What axle code should
>>I look for to make sure the truck can tow that much? Are these years
>>reliable if the vehicle was taken care of or are there years to avoid?
>> Rocky
>>

>
>
 
G
#4 ·
He said it's too "short" to pull the boat. The Expedition isn't much
longer.

"Rocky" <jcadellano.spam@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:y9Qif.33806$7n6.22052@fe08.lga...
> The full size bronco is too small to tow the boat? Would I be better off
> shopping for an older expedition but then I give up the snow plow
> capability?
>
> "Joe" <Joe@dontspam.net> wrote in message
> news:X%Pif.5199$DW6.2074@fe03.lga...
>> Broncos are way too short to pull that big of a boat safely. You can pull
>> it unsafely, though, with either.
>>
>> "Rocky" <jcadellano.spam@optonline.net> wrote in message
>> news:pazif.18418$Un7.4428@fe12.lga...
>>>I am looking at 1987-1997 Bronco, automatic, 4x4, in very good shape to
>>>be able to plow my driveway and tow a 6000 pound boat. What axle code
>>>should I look for to make sure the truck can tow that much? Are these
>>>years reliable if the vehicle was taken care of or are there years to
>>>avoid?
>>> Rocky
>>>

>>
>>

>
>
 
G
#5 ·
Since you didn't say how long the boat was, how can someone decide the
Bronco is too short to tow it?

Advocate wrote:
> He said it's too "short" to pull the boat. The Expedition isn't much
> longer.
>
> "Rocky" <jcadellano.spam@optonline.net> wrote in message
> news:y9Qif.33806$7n6.22052@fe08.lga...
>
>>The full size bronco is too small to tow the boat? Would I be better off
>>shopping for an older expedition but then I give up the snow plow
>>capability?
>>
>>"Joe" <Joe@dontspam.net> wrote in message
>>news:X%Pif.5199$DW6.2074@fe03.lga...
>>
>>>Broncos are way too short to pull that big of a boat safely. You can pull
>>>it unsafely, though, with either.
>>>
>>>"Rocky" <jcadellano.spam@optonline.net> wrote in message
>>>news:pazif.18418$Un7.4428@fe12.lga...
>>>
>>>>I am looking at 1987-1997 Bronco, automatic, 4x4, in very good shape to
>>>>be able to plow my driveway and tow a 6000 pound boat. What axle code
>>>>should I look for to make sure the truck can tow that much? Are these
>>>>years reliable if the vehicle was taken care of or are there years to
>>>>avoid?
>>>>Rocky
>>>>
>>>
>>>

>>

>
>
 
G
#6 ·
It has nothing to do with the size of the trailer, but the weight. He
wants to tow a 6000lb boat, plus trailer, plus people, and everything
else like fuel. Weight will end up being around 8000lb+. Way too much
for a Bronco. Also the longer the wheel base the better the vehicle will
tow. With that weight, he should probably be looking at a F250. The
Expedition does have a much longer wheel base than a Bronco.
If the the 6000lbs includes trailer and everything else, then an
Expedition would definitely handle it, although the F250 would be
better. Even at 6000lbs, the Bronco would probably be over max towing
weight.

JimV wrote:
> Since you didn't say how long the boat was, how can someone decide the
> Bronco is too short to tow it?
>
> Advocate wrote:
>> He said it's too "short" to pull the boat. The Expedition isn't much
>> longer.
>>
>> "Rocky" <jcadellano.spam@optonline.net> wrote in message
>> news:y9Qif.33806$7n6.22052@fe08.lga...
>>
>>> The full size bronco is too small to tow the boat? Would I be better
>>> off shopping for an older expedition but then I give up the snow plow
>>> capability?
>>>
>>> "Joe" <Joe@dontspam.net> wrote in message
>>> news:X%Pif.5199$DW6.2074@fe03.lga...
>>>
>>>> Broncos are way too short to pull that big of a boat safely. You can
>>>> pull it unsafely, though, with either.
>>>>
>>>> "Rocky" <jcadellano.spam@optonline.net> wrote in message
>>>> news:pazif.18418$Un7.4428@fe12.lga...
>>>>
>>>>> I am looking at 1987-1997 Bronco, automatic, 4x4, in very good
>>>>> shape to be able to plow my driveway and tow a 6000 pound boat.
>>>>> What axle code should I look for to make sure the truck can tow
>>>>> that much? Are these years reliable if the vehicle was taken care
>>>>> of or are there years to avoid?
>>>>> Rocky
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>

>>
>>
 
G
#7 ·
I have a '92 and pulled a 7500 lb 29' travel trailer for 4 years with a
5.8 L. No problem! I would not suggest the 5.0L. Use an anti-sway bar
and put 50 lbs in the tires. You'll be using 2nd gear frequently. But,
that's OK. Just don't lug the engine. I think my rear end is 3.55.
BTW, my '92 now has 207,000 miles on it. The only major repair was the
Transmission at 173,000 miles.


"Rocky" <jcadellano.spam@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:pazif.18418$Un7.4428@fe12.lga...
: I am looking at 1987-1997 Bronco, automatic, 4x4, in very good shape
to be
: able to plow my driveway and tow a 6000 pound boat. What axle code
should I
: look for to make sure the truck can tow that much? Are these years
reliable
: if the vehicle was taken care of or are there years to avoid?
: Rocky
:
:
 
G
#8 ·
I've owned about a half-dozen or so Broncos and pulled trailers weighing
that much and more, with the proper hitch and electric brakes. I believe you
can tow around 7800lbs safely with a 4:10 rear end.

Check this link.
http://trucktrend.com/buyersguide/preowned/163_0210_pre/


Spdloader




"Rocky" <jcadellano.spam@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:pazif.18418$Un7.4428@fe12.lga...
>I am looking at 1987-1997 Bronco, automatic, 4x4, in very good shape to be
>able to plow my driveway and tow a 6000 pound boat. What axle code should
>I look for to make sure the truck can tow that much? Are these years
>reliable if the vehicle was taken care of or are there years to avoid?
> Rocky
>
 
G
#9 ·
Owners manual for the 96 Bronco with 5.8 states max trailer of 7,000 and
max GCWR of 12,000. I would not tow near the max with any vehicle. Makes
it to easy to get in trouble.

Spdloader wrote:
> I've owned about a half-dozen or so Broncos and pulled trailers weighing
> that much and more, with the proper hitch and electric brakes. I believe you
> can tow around 7800lbs safely with a 4:10 rear end.
>
> Check this link.
> http://trucktrend.com/buyersguide/preowned/163_0210_pre/
>
>
> Spdloader
>
>
>
>
> "Rocky" <jcadellano.spam@optonline.net> wrote in message
> news:pazif.18418$Un7.4428@fe12.lga...
>> I am looking at 1987-1997 Bronco, automatic, 4x4, in very good shape to be
>> able to plow my driveway and tow a 6000 pound boat. What axle code should
>> I look for to make sure the truck can tow that much? Are these years
>> reliable if the vehicle was taken care of or are there years to avoid?
>> Rocky
>>

>
>
 
G
#10 ·
It might be like you say, around 7000, I was going from memory, which aint
that great, and experience. But I have towed a lot of weight with mine,
particularly with a '80, and with a '95 I owned at the same time, with the
proper hitch and electric brakes, and they both did great. the '80 model had
a 3.89 rear end, and the '95 had a 4.10.

I now have a '99 SuperDuty Dually that I tow with, and use the Broncos and
Jeeps for fun.

Spdloader



"Marlin Singer" <marlin.singer@verizon.SPAMDAM.net> wrote in message
news:Oh4jf.4458$P33.760@trnddc01...
> Owners manual for the 96 Bronco with 5.8 states max trailer of 7,000 and
> max GCWR of 12,000. I would not tow near the max with any vehicle. Makes
> it to easy to get in trouble.
>
> Spdloader wrote:
>> I've owned about a half-dozen or so Broncos and pulled trailers weighing
>> that much and more, with the proper hitch and electric brakes. I believe
>> you can tow around 7800lbs safely with a 4:10 rear end.
>>
>> Check this link. http://trucktrend.com/buyersguide/preowned/163_0210_pre/
>>
>>
>> Spdloader
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "Rocky" <jcadellano.spam@optonline.net> wrote in message
>> news:pazif.18418$Un7.4428@fe12.lga...
>>> I am looking at 1987-1997 Bronco, automatic, 4x4, in very good shape to
>>> be able to plow my driveway and tow a 6000 pound boat. What axle code
>>> should I look for to make sure the truck can tow that much? Are these
>>> years reliable if the vehicle was taken care of or are there years to
>>> avoid?
>>> Rocky
>>>

>>
 
G
#11 ·
thanks Marlin.
How is the reliability of the Broncos with 5.8L & 4x4?
Rocky

"Marlin Singer" <marlin.singer@verizon.SPAMDAM.net> wrote in message
news:Oh4jf.4458$P33.760@trnddc01...
> Owners manual for the 96 Bronco with 5.8 states max trailer of 7,000 and
> max GCWR of 12,000. I would not tow near the max with any vehicle. Makes
> it to easy to get in trouble.
>
> Spdloader wrote:
>> I've owned about a half-dozen or so Broncos and pulled trailers weighing
>> that much and more, with the proper hitch and electric brakes. I believe
>> you can tow around 7800lbs safely with a 4:10 rear end.
>>
>> Check this link. http://trucktrend.com/buyersguide/preowned/163_0210_pre/
>>
>>
>> Spdloader
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "Rocky" <jcadellano.spam@optonline.net> wrote in message
>> news:pazif.18418$Un7.4428@fe12.lga...
>>> I am looking at 1987-1997 Bronco, automatic, 4x4, in very good shape to
>>> be able to plow my driveway and tow a 6000 pound boat. What axle code
>>> should I look for to make sure the truck can tow that much? Are these
>>> years reliable if the vehicle was taken care of or are there years to
>>> avoid?
>>> Rocky
>>>

>>
 
G
#12 ·
I have never owned a Bronco, got the info off the Motorcraft site, but
have owned multiple 5.8 4x4s. 5.8 is a good engine. I had 2 f150s that
between them I put on 260k. No real engine problems, although the last
one with 160k on was starting to get blow by.
As far as the 4x4, for me the weak points were U-joints and hubs. On the
one truck, I had to have the fronts hubs and spindles replaced, although
I had extended warranty at that time and it didn't cost me. If I were
paying it could have been around $1k. U-joints because they are not
greasable and not used a lot can go bad. Then you have to tear apart a
lot to replace. Can't just drop them like the rear drive shaft.
Hope this helps.

Rocky wrote:
> thanks Marlin.
> How is the reliability of the Broncos with 5.8L & 4x4?
> Rocky
>
> "Marlin Singer" <marlin.singer@verizon.SPAMDAM.net> wrote in message
> news:Oh4jf.4458$P33.760@trnddc01...
>> Owners manual for the 96 Bronco with 5.8 states max trailer of 7,000 and
>> max GCWR of 12,000. I would not tow near the max with any vehicle. Makes
>> it to easy to get in trouble.
>>
>> Spdloader wrote:
>>> I've owned about a half-dozen or so Broncos and pulled trailers weighing
>>> that much and more, with the proper hitch and electric brakes. I believe
>>> you can tow around 7800lbs safely with a 4:10 rear end.
>>>
>>> Check this link. http://trucktrend.com/buyersguide/preowned/163_0210_pre/
>>>
>>>
>>> Spdloader
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "Rocky" <jcadellano.spam@optonline.net> wrote in message
>>> news:pazif.18418$Un7.4428@fe12.lga...
>>>> I am looking at 1987-1997 Bronco, automatic, 4x4, in very good shape to
>>>> be able to plow my driveway and tow a 6000 pound boat. What axle code
>>>> should I look for to make sure the truck can tow that much? Are these
>>>> years reliable if the vehicle was taken care of or are there years to
>>>> avoid?
>>>> Rocky
>>>>

>
 
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