Flat Towing a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco: What the Owner’s Manual Says

By Jeff McDonough, Founder of TowPro Academy, 10+ years and 250,000+ miles of towing experience.

Short answer: The 2026 owner’s manuals for the Jeep Wrangler and the Ford Bronco both allow flat towing, but they get there differently. On the Wrangler you shift the transfer case into Neutral (N) yourself, leave an automatic in PARK (a manual in gear) and tow forward only. On the Bronco you hook up first, then turn on a Neutral Tow feature from the instrument cluster, leave the transmission in Neutral, and pull two fuses if you use a supplemental braking system. The Bronco Sport is a different vehicle, and Ford’s 2026 towing guide lists it as a no for four-wheel-down towing. The manual for your own model year has the final say.

The Wrangler and the Bronco come up all the time when RV owners shop for a toad. This guide walks through how each 2026 manual lays out recreational towing, what it tells you to do and in what order, and what it doesn’t say. Use it as a map for reading your own manual, not a substitute for it.

Where to find the towing section in each manual

• 2026 Jeep Wrangler: the owner’s manual PDF covers it under “Recreational Towing” in the Starting and Operating chapter, pages 218–219. A separate section, “Towing a Disabled Vehicle,” on pages 269–270, covers a commercial tow truck after a breakdown.
• 2026 Ford Bronco: the owner’s manual PDF (edition date 202512) has a “Towing Your Vehicle” chapter on pages 324–330. It has separate recreational towing procedures for the manual transmission (page 324) and the automatic (page 326), then emergency towing (page 329) and the display messages (page 330). Ford also posts manuals on its owner manuals page.
• Ford’s cross-check: the 2026 Ford RV & Trailer Towing Guide has a “Four-Wheel-Down Availability” chart on page 48 and a “Tow-Dolly Availability” chart on page 49.

In both manuals, read the recreational section, not the emergency or disabled-vehicle section. They give different rules.

Jeep Wrangler: what the 2026 manual says

The Wrangler section opens with a chart titled “Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle” for four-wheel-drive models:

• Flat Tow (no wheels off the ground): “See Instructions.” Automatic transmission in PARK, manual transmission in gear (not in Neutral), transfer case in Neutral (N), and tow in the forward direction.
• Dolly Tow, front or rear: “NOT ALLOWED.”
• On Trailer: “OK.”

Then come the cautions, and they’re blunt: “DO NOT dolly tow any 4WD vehicle.” “Tow only in the forward direction,” because towing backward can severely damage the transfer case. Don’t use a fascia- or bumper-mounted clamp-on tow bar, which will damage the bumper face bar. And damage from improper towing is not covered under the New Vehicle Limited Warranty (2026 Jeep Wrangler owner’s manual, page 218).

One warning matters every time: the transfer case Neutral position “disengages both the front and rear driveshafts from the powertrain,” so the Jeep can roll even in PARK. Always set the parking brake when you’re not in the driver’s seat.

How the “Shifting Into (N) Neutral” procedure is built

The manual gives 14 numbered steps. Copy them word for word into your own checklist. In outline, they go like this:

1. On level ground, hold the brake, put the automatic in Neutral (or press the clutch), and turn the engine off.
2. Shift the transfer case lever into Neutral (N).
3. Check it: start the engine, shift into Reverse, release the brake (and clutch) for five seconds and confirm there’s no movement. Repeat in Drive (or First).
4. Engine off, parking brake on firmly, automatic in PARK (manual in gear).
5. Attach the tow bar, then release the parking brake.

Notice the order: the transfer case goes into Neutral and gets checked before the tow bar goes on. A caution also says not to shift into PARK with the transfer case in Neutral and the engine running.

Shifting back out has its own 14 steps. You stay connected, set the parking brake, briefly run the engine to put the transmission in Neutral, then shut it off and move the transfer case lever. The manual says the engine should stay off for that shift “to avoid gear clash.” Only then do you disconnect, start up, release the parking brake and check normal operation (2026 Jeep Wrangler owner’s manual, page 219).

What the Wrangler section doesn’t say

Pages 218–219 give no maximum towing speed, distance limit, engine-run stops or fuse steps for recreational towing. That doesn’t mean there are no limits. Your motorhome, tow bar, baseplate and braking system have their own ratings, and the manual says to follow state and provincial laws. For a written answer on your exact Jeep, or if you’re unsure the procedure covers your version, ask a Jeep dealer to check your VIN.

Ford Bronco: the Neutral Tow procedure

The Bronco manual states the rule in one sentence: “You can only tow your vehicle with all four wheels on the ground by placing the transfer case in its neutral position by engaging the recreational tow feature.” It also tells you to do the steps “after positioning your vehicle behind the tow vehicle and properly securing them together.” That’s the opposite order from the Wrangler. On the Bronco you hook up first, then switch to Neutral Tow.

Switching Neutral Tow on

Here’s the outline for the automatic transmission (pages 326–327 of the 2026 Bronco owner’s manual):

1. Switch to accessory mode by pressing the push-button ignition without pressing any pedals.
2. Press the 2H button on the four-wheel-drive mode control.
3. Hold the brake and shift into Neutral (N).
4. In the instrument cluster, go to Settings, then Neutral Tow, and hold OK until the display reads “Neutral Tow Enabled Leave Transmission in Neutral.” If you don’t see that message, start over from the beginning.
5. Release the brake, leave it in Neutral, and switch the vehicle off.

The manual-transmission version (pages 324–325) is the same idea, except you leave the gearshift in Neutral and hold both the clutch and the brake.

If you use a supplemental braking system, the manual adds steps 9 through 14. Open the hood, close the doors and wait five minutes for sleep mode. Then remove fuse 29, then fuse 28, from the under-hood fuse box, in that order, and install the brake system. Because an add-on braking system may discharge the battery, the manual says to “Connect a 12-volt external power source to the towed vehicle’s battery for the duration of the tow.”

The Bronco warnings and notes worth memorizing

• Don’t disconnect the battery. The manual warns this “prevents the transfer case from shifting properly and could cause the vehicle to roll, even if the transmission is in park (P).” Never borrow another vehicle’s checklist.
• Make sure it’s off. Turn the vehicle off after enabling Neutral Tow “to prevent the transfer case from switching out of neutral when the battery voltage is low.”
• Check the status anytime by opening the driver door or switching to accessory or on.
• Doors off? A tone could sound for up to 30 minutes.

Switching Neutral Tow off

If you used a braking system, take it off first. With the Bronco off, wait five minutes for sleep mode, then reinstall fuse 29, then fuse 28. Next, with the Bronco still secured to the tow vehicle, follow the manual’s steps to hold the brake about seven seconds and shift into Park until the display shows 2H and “Neutral Tow Disabled.” Then set the parking brake, disconnect, start up and shift into Drive to confirm the transfer case is out of neutral. If it isn’t, set the parking brake and have it checked as soon as possible (automatic, pages 327–328; manual, page 325).

If you see “Shift Delayed Drive Forward,” the manual says to shift into Drive and let the vehicle roll forward up to 3 feet (page 330).

What Ford’s towing guide adds

Ford’s 2026 four-wheel-down chart lists the Bronco as “Yes” for both transmissions. Note 4 says to use the transfer case neutral tow position and “refer to Owner’s Manual to follow additional steps.” The automatic also carries note 3, an engine-run routine: run the engine a few minutes at the start of each day and every six hours or less, shifting into Drive and Reverse with your foot on the brake before going back to Neutral. The manual’s recreational pages don’t include that routine, so ask a Ford dealer which applies to your Bronco and get it in writing. The guide also says towed vehicles should have a separate functional brake system (Ford 2026 RV & Trailer Towing Guide, page 48).

One more trap: the Bronco’s emergency towing section (page 329) gives a 35 mph maximum speed and 50-mile maximum distance. Those limits are for an inoperable Bronco with no dollies or trailer available, not recreational towing.

Wrangler vs Bronco, side by side

The Bronco Sport is a different vehicle

The Bronco Sport shares a name, not a towing procedure. Ford’s 2026 four-wheel-down chart lists the Bronco Sport as “No,” and its tow-dolly chart lists it as “No” too, with the note that “AWD/4WD vehicles cannot be towed with 2 wheels lifted off the ground” (Ford 2026 RV & Trailer Towing Guide, pages 48–49). For a 2026 Bronco Sport, that points to a car trailer. Check the Bronco Sport’s own manual for your model year, and never use the Bronco’s Neutral Tow steps on it. Our Flat Tow vs Tow Dolly vs Car Trailer guide compares the options.

Still deciding whether your vehicle qualifies? Start with how to check if your car can be flat towed. For the full hookup order, see our step-by-step guide to flat towing behind a motorhome. If the Bronco’s fuse steps have you wondering about brakes, read Do You Need Supplemental Brakes to Flat Tow?

FAQ

Can you flat tow a Jeep Wrangler with an automatic transmission?

Yes, according to the 2026 Wrangler manual’s chart for four-wheel-drive models. The transfer case goes in (N) Neutral, the automatic stays in PARK, and you tow forward only. Follow the manual’s full “Shifting Into (N) Neutral” procedure first.

Is there a speed limit for flat towing a Wrangler or Bronco?

Neither 2026 manual gives one in its recreational towing pages. The Bronco’s 35 mph and 50-mile limits are for emergency towing only. Your equipment ratings and local laws still apply; ask a dealer to confirm for your VIN.

Can you flat tow a Ford Bronco Sport?

Not the 2026 model, according to Ford’s 2026 RV & Trailer Towing Guide. It lists the Bronco Sport as “No” for four-wheel-down towing and “No” for dolly towing. Check the Bronco Sport’s own manual for your year.

Should I disconnect the Bronco’s battery while flat towing?

No. The 2026 Bronco manual warns that disconnecting the battery stops the transfer case from shifting properly and could let the vehicle roll. If you use a supplemental braking system, the manual has you pull fuses 29 and 28 and connect a 12-volt external power source instead.

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