What you need to tow 1,500 lb with a 2026 Ford Bronco

Every published configuration of the 2026 Ford Bronco is rated for 1,500 lb. At 1,500 lb you are at 33% of this vehicle's 4,500 lb ceiling. The hardware is sized to the trailer: Class 1 in a 1-1/4 in receiver, a ball mount rated past your 150–225 lb tongue weight, lighting wiring.

Which Bronco configurations are rated for 1,500 lb

The lowest-rated configuration that clears 1,500 lb is the 2.7L EcoBoost V6 (10-Speed Auto) — Badlands with 4.70 axle, 4-Door at 3,460 lb. Anything rated below that will not do it. Closest-margin configurations first — the last column is how much headroom is left over.

Engine	Axle	Cab	Max trailer (lb)	Headroom
2.7L EcoBoost V6 (10-Speed Auto) — Badlands	4.70	4-Door	3,460	1,960 lb
2.3L EcoBoost I4 (10-Speed Auto) — Base	3.73	2-Door	3,500	2,000 lb
2.3L EcoBoost I4 (10-Speed Auto) — Base	3.73	4-Door	3,500	2,000 lb
2.3L EcoBoost I4 (10-Speed Auto) — Big Bend	3.73	4-Door	3,500	2,000 lb
2.3L EcoBoost I4 (10-Speed Auto) — Outer Banks	3.73	4-Door	3,500	2,000 lb
2.3L EcoBoost I4 (10-Speed Auto) — Big Bend	4.46	4-Door	3,500	2,000 lb
2.3L EcoBoost I4 (10-Speed Auto) — Badlands	4.46	2-Door	3,500	2,000 lb
2.3L EcoBoost I4 (10-Speed Auto) — Base	4.70	2-Door	3,500	2,000 lb

Showing the 8 tightest-margin configurations of 25 that qualify. Full chart with GCWR →

Source: 2026 Ford Bronco manufacturer trailering chart · last verified 2026-08-29

What 1,500 lb leaves for the truck itself

GCWR caps the truck and the trailer together. Subtract the trailer and what remains is everything else — the vehicle, fuel, passengers, cargo, and the tongue weight sitting on the rear axle.

Qualifying configuration GCWR	Trailer	Left for the loaded vehicle
8,500 lb (lowest)	1,500 lb	7,000 lb
10,650 lb (highest)	1,500 lb	9,150 lb

Compare that against your vehicle's actual curb weight plus its load. If the loaded truck exceeds it, you are over GCWR even though the trailer is inside the tow rating — and your 150–225 lb of tongue weight is part of the truck side of that sum, not the trailer side.

Your kit for 1,500 lb behind a Bronco

In the order you should buy it. Every requirement comes from a published manufacturer guide or standard — the full reasoning for each item is on the 1,500 lb kit page.

RequiredClass 1 hitch (1-1/4 in receiver)
A 1,500 lb trailer needs a hitch rated at or above 1,500 lb gross trailer weight.
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RequiredBall mount rated above 225 lb tongue weight
Your tongue weight lands in the 150–225 lb band (10–15% of 1,500 lb).
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RequiredHitch ball — 1-7/8 in or 2 in
The ball must match the size stamped on your coupler exactly.
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Required4-pin or 7-pin wiring harness
At 1,500 lb you are under the 1,500 lb trailer-brake threshold, so a 4-pin flat connector carrying running lights, turn signals and brake lights is usually enough.
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RequiredSafety chains rated for the trailer
Chains must be rated at or above 1,500 lb and cross under the tongue in an X, so the tongue is caught rather than dropped if the coupler releases.
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RecommendedHitch pin and lock
Keeps the ball mount in the receiver and makes it much harder to walk off with.
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RecommendedTowing mirrors
If the trailer is wider than your vehicle you must be able to see down both sides of it.
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One number still has to come from you: payload. Addition of trailer hitch weight cannot cause vehicle weights to exceed Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (RGAWR) or Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). These ratings can be found on the certification label located on the driver door or doorframe. Your 150–225 lb of tongue weight comes out of that payload, not out of the tow rating — which is why a truck rated for 4,500 lb can still be overloaded at 1,500 lb once four passengers and a full bed are in it.

Common questions

Can a 2026 Ford Bronco tow 1,500 lb?

Yes — every published configuration of the 2026 Ford Bronco is rated for 1,500 lb or more. That is a ceiling for a properly equipped vehicle that is otherwise unloaded — your passengers, cargo and tongue weight all come off it, and your payload is on your own door-jamb label.

What hitch do I need to tow 1,500 lb with a Bronco?

Class 1 hardware with a 1-1/4 in receiver, rated to 2,000 lb. The hitch is sized to the trailer, not to the truck — a 1,500 lb trailer needs the same Class 1 hitch behind any vehicle. Ratings are set per part number, so check the sticker on the hitch itself.

What is the tongue weight for 1,500 lb behind a Bronco?

150–225 lb — 10 to 15% of the loaded trailer. No manufacturer publishes a tongue-weight figure per trailer, because it depends entirely on how the trailer is loaded.

Do I need trailer brakes to tow 1,500 lb with a Bronco?

Not on weight alone — 1,500 lb is under the 1,500 lb threshold GM's trailering guide publishes for this class of vehicle; check your Ford owner's manual for its own figure. State law varies and some set it lower, so check your state.

Other weights behind a Bronco

Tow 1,000 lb with a Bronco Tow 2,000 lb with a Bronco Tow 2,500 lb with a Bronco Tow 3,000 lb with a Bronco Tow 3,500 lb with a Bronco Tow 4,000 lb with a Bronco Tow 4,500 lb with a Bronco

Other vehicles at 1,500 lb

Tow 1,500 lb with a Traverse Tow 1,500 lb with a Explorer Tow 1,500 lb with a Maverick Tow 1,500 lb with a Bronco Sport Tow 1,500 lb with a Escape Tow 1,500 lb with a Transit Passenger Van The 1,500 lb kit for any vehicle →