"AWD only comes with the 2.0 Turbo gas engine, which drops the mpg considerably. Sensible driving goes a long way.
Years ago, I saw a Four Wheel Drive Truck get stuck on the same dirt road I just drove with a 63 Chevy station wagon."
Concur 100%.
Most of those tracks in baja from Mex1 to the beach where made by 2wd pickups, some as far back as Model T's.
I always remind myself: "Self, you can get further back and twice as stuck in 4wd".
To some extent, its the same using AWD.
"Man's gotta know his limitations"...the famous movie quote.
Newer cars and the trucklets using AWD are geared for fuel economy for fleet averages. My Alltrack has 3 "overspeeds" in 6mt, gears 4, 5, 6 when equipped with plus 2 tire size vs OEM. 1st is at 3-4 mph which is too fast to really crawl when picking a line in rocky rutted and sandy washes so I gotta get out and scope it out some down unfamilar roads...ask me how I know...
Fords "Tremor" lifted and big wheeled soft-roading/overlandish version of the Maverick is interesting as it advertises a "slow crawl speed" which is what you need and get in a typical "true" 4x4 with low low. Like the Tacoma...but the Taco's typical 17 mpg all the time is a painful price to pay for a all-in-one daily driver with "sometimes in the dirt" as a CI tow vehicle,
When at the pump vs 30 mpg (my Alltracks hwy when slick on street tires, then it goes down to high teens towing max gear loaded)
And, at todays gas prices for example in CA...$6.50/gal last month...
so I'm following your early adopter success closely on the so far best example of towing on unibody trucklets.
Plus cant forget the cost to upgrade on CI gear- Even at $40k for a basic Tremor its a screaming deal vs full size 4x4 new at 60k plus...for basic 4x4 models in full size trucks.
It will be even more interesting to see how Ford engineers integrate the mechanical FWD with electrical motors in rear for the hybrid AWD...
Pls keep us posted. Thats such a great rig!
Really like the match up with CI as best towed small glamping luxury and quality and the Mavericks extra capability with 30mpg, towing. Its proving out even better than expected in the long term reviews, like Motor Trends, for all around and you are the first reliable towing example, so I appreciate you!