Ford Maverick Truck!!

Jim & Selma

Jim & Selma

Novice
Hi guys… Does anyone here have any experience towing with the 2022 Maverick truck?
They offer a 2.5L Hybrid model, which is rated for 2000 lbs towing, with great mpg and good reviews.
MotorTrend towed a ton with it and got over 30 mpg. This year is sold out, but we’re thinking hard about a 2023 when the come out.
 
Last edited:
I don’t have any experience with it but have been intrigued. One major disappointment is that AWD is not available on hybrid. Also, I believe tow package is only 4 pin. Not sure how easy or difficult it would be to add 7 pin.

I can say my RAV4 is HV and rated for 1750 towing. It tows just fine with my 560.
 
JohnC said:
I don’t have any experience with it but have been intrigued. One major disappointment is that AWD is not available on hybrid. Also, I believe tow package is only 4 pin. Not sure how easy or difficult it would be to add 7 pin.

I can say my RAV4 is HV and rated for 1750 towing. It tows just fine with my 560.
Click to expand...

Agree - but the rav is a little light in cargo area. A truck with a hard toneau would be awesome to have. Chairs, generator, tents....especailly when the tents are wet after a trip....just throw them under the cover without packing a went tent into a stuff sack...

I'm really pissed with the cafe standards and what its doing to us....
 
Sweeney said:
Agree - but the rav is a little light in cargo area. A truck with a hard toneau would be awesome to have. Chairs, generator, tents....especailly when the tents are wet after a trip....just throw them under the cover without packing a went tent into a stuff sack...

I'm really pissed with the cafe standards and what its doing to us....
Click to expand...

I wasn't trying to sell the Rav but rather just pointing out that the 2K towing capacity on the truck should be fine. I guess technically you might be able to haul more in the truck. But then, what happened to the idea that a teardrop is as simple as tent camping to setup and tear down? :D
 
JohnC said:
I wasn't trying to sell the Rav but rather just pointing out that the 2K towing capacity on the truck should be fine. I guess technically you might be able to haul more in the truck. But then, what happened to the idea that a teardrop is as simple as tent camping to setup and tear down? :D
Click to expand...

Absolutely. RAV4 works. I suspect the towing capacity is under rated, I have seen reviews using interactive code readers pulling 2000 pound trailers around without an issue. These OBD tools gave detailed information about gearbox temperatures and such. Your experience may differ.

My observation is simply that the cargo space (cubic footage) is somewhat limiting.

Additionally, and Personally, when towing I am below the weight limit and I maintain a strict limit of no faster than 60mph. I also feather the throttle and brakes. It annoys those behind me who are in a hurry I am sure. Thats what the left lane is for, feel free to pass me and wave as you pass. Whole hand please, no single digits are necessary.
 
Sweeney said:
Absolutely. RAV4 works. I suspect the towing capacity is under rated, I have seen reviews using interactive code readers pulling 2000 pound trailers around without an issue. These OBD tools gave detailed information about gearbox temperatures and such. Your experience may differ.

My observation is simply that the cargo space (cubic footage) is somewhat limiting.

Additionally, and Personally, when towing I am below the weight limit and I maintain a strict limit of no faster than 60mph. I also feather the throttle and brakes. It annoys those behind me who are in a hurry I am sure. Thats what the left lane is for, feel free to pass me and wave as you pass. Whole hand please, no single digits are necessary.
Click to expand...

I've certainly learned to drive differently since acquiring the 560. I drive a lot slower now except when occasionally passing a truck going even slower (which isn't very often!). I never thought I'd see the day I was passed by so many trucks. LoL! Now it happens all the time!

Your ability to react to on road issues is so much more impeded when towing anything. You don't have nearly the same reaction time as when not towing. It's also why I hate seeing people talk about how some trailers are light enough to not need trailer brakes. Just because it may not be legally required to have brakes doesn't mean it's a good idea. Is personal safety really not worth a few hundred dollars to some people? IMO, brakes are the last place you cheap out when buying a trailer. :(
 
JohnC said:
I've certainly learned to drive differently since acquiring the 560. I drive a lot slower now except when occasionally passing a truck going even slower (which isn't very often!). I never thought I'd see the day I was passed by so many trucks. LoL! Now it happens all the time!

Your ability to react to on road issues is so much more impeded when towing anything. You don't have nearly the same reaction time as when not towing. It's also why I hate seeing people talk about how some trailers are light enough to not need trailer brakes. Just because it may not be legally required to have brakes doesn't mean it's a good idea. Is personal safety really not worth a few hundred dollars to some people? IMO, brakes are the last place you cheap out when buying a trailer. :(
Click to expand...

Trailer brakes are a must! I've had arguments with people telling me how they aren't necessary. You're choice I suppose. But if you rear-end me --- I'm definitely going to be asking if you have brakes on that rig to be included in the accident report. If you don't ave them -- it might be legal, but it is an argument to neglegence.

Tell ya, even in my F150 I used to pull my 560...the brakes make a difference. Maybe only slight. But you need that advantage.

You're exactly right, everything is different when you are towing, or for that matter are just in a bigger heavier vehicle. I feel for OTR truck drivers. People who pull in front of them then slow down, or worse just "brake check" them. People are stupid --- 40 tons will squash you like a grape. Give the big boys a lot of room, please.

Not practicing what I preach, I don't have one in my car -- but my wife's car does have one....Dashcams. They won't prevent anything, but if something bad happens...it's hard to argue with video.
 
Maverick approved

Top-Gun-Banner.jpg
 
Ford Maverick… it’s always hard to tell until you try towing. Extensively.
They share the same platform as the Escape and Bronco Sport do. We’ve had two Escapes for towing since we bought our 550 in 2012. 45,000 miles and no complaints really.
Our 2010 had the V6 3.0, with a hitch installed for us. Good.
Our 2017 has the 2.0 EcoBoost, with AWD and the 3500 tow package. Better
Both usually get about 21-22 mpg when towing in good conditions. Can go down to 17-18 with wind, mountains, etc.
The 2010 is better for cargo, and the boxy rear end sent our air resistance up and over the camper. We even had our bikes hung on the bumper and hatchback and lost no additional mpg.
The 2017 has a contoured rear end that sends the air down in front of the camper. It’s rear hatch is 2-3” smaller on all sides and isn’t as cargo friendly.
Finally a nice size truck! You can get in and out without a ladder, reach everything in the truck bed with ease. About half the price of a F150. We will put a fiberglass topper with side doors. The bikes will travel on back bumper and hatch like they did on both Escapes. See photos below. Can’t wait. Tiny truck for the tiny camper.
The 2.0 EcoBoost with AWD and 4K tow package runs an extra $4K! With more gas expense too.
My main interest is how the 2.5 Hybrid would tow from coast to coast and in more challenging conditions.
An extra 10 mpg on a 5000 mile trip amounts to about $400. That could add up fast. Intriguing…
John C: There are rumors about Ford adding AWD to the Hybrid for 2023.
 

Attachments

I's wondering how long it would take to see Cruise....wasn't thinking Garner...well played both of you!! Although frankly, I like Gibson's interpretation better...I digress.

The tiny turbo engines scare me...RPM's just too high. A 2 liter truck engine, I'm just thinking the dourability factor will be msising. I'd hate to ahve to replace an an at 175k becuase I just burned it up. I drive a LOT. 20K miles per year is easy number. I like the 5 Liter slow turning diesel or gassers. Simple is good in engineering terms. OK, you're right...the Ford Triton engine has not been the best long term engine either. Wearing timing guides are a BIG problem with that engine...maintenance is hyper-critical, as much probably as the TinyTurbos.

I had a F150 with the Ecoboost 6. That thing was amazing. Smooth, and produced more torque than I knew what to do with. In a "pull off" that little 6 would rip the bumber off my V8 Triton.

Great economy for its size...until you hooked a trailer up. As a friend said "Its Eco OR boost, not both." Pulling a full size trailer (Grand Design 2800BH) I got 8-9 mpg. That sucked. Though when daily driving, barefoot, I'm recalling 32 MPG +. I can do that.

This is the thing about Teardrops in general....they don't weight much, and they are small so they are hidden in the slip stream of the vehicle. When I pulled my 2012 with my F150 it was like it wasn't there, except for about 5 mpg drop. Most of that probably becuase of induced drag of turbulence, I'd wager a few vortex generators would have given me 1 or 2 back...

I have a hybrid -- rav4 -- battery replacmenet still scares me...but not as much as a Tesla...
 
Sweeney said:
The tiny turbo engines scare me...RPM's just too high. A 2 liter truck engine, I'm just thinking the dourability factor will be msising. I'd hate to ahve to replace an an at 175k becuase I just burned it up. I drive a LOT. 20K miles per year is easy number. I like the 5 Liter slow turning diesel or gassers. Simple is good in engineering terms. OK, you're right...the Ford Triton engine has not been the best long term engine either. Wearing timing guides are a BIG problem with that engine...maintenance is hyper-critical, as much probably as the TinyTurbos.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for posting this in particular. All manufacturers have their "problem children", but as a general rule Ford does a fine job with their trucks. But regardless of vehicle, this engine, be it from Ford or anyone else just isn't ideal for this task. Its too small, and peak HP+torque are really not at ideal levels for towing.

I've stewed over making the same comment here. Its not my intent to offend anyone, but I see a lot of "proposed" tow vehicles that generally just scare the c**p out of me for people for anything beyond completely ideal conditions. I've got (2) small trailers I tow, and even as small and light as my Camp-Inn is, I wouldn't want anything less than a large V-6, inline 6 or a V8.

Most of my vacation traveling includes both off-road && off-grid areas, in addition to spending significant time in mountain type environments (i.e. Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming), and certainly that skews my tow vehicle needs some. Regardless, towing any trailer, small or not significantly ramps up the danger factor, and I'm very safety oriented, especially when towing.
 
I tow my 560 Ultra with my 2017 Rav4 hybrid. It has 194 HP and is rated for 1,750 lbs. It tows just fine. If I were buying a new vehicle who's main purpose was to tow, I'd buy something more powerful. But I wasn't about to replace the car with a new tow vehicle just for so called vacation trips. The RAV meets all my needs including towing. I don't drive it fast and when climbing hills I take my time as well. I'm learning not to lead foot everything.

The new Maverick is not intended to compete with an F150. For someone who wants a general purpose vehicle/truck for weekend errands around the house, go to work during the week, and to tow the camper on a few trips now and then it should be just fine. And the extra $30K you save over an F150 can pay the first year's gas bill. ;-)
 
Jerry Kemp said:
Thank you so much for posting this in particular. All manufacturers have their "problem children", but as a general rule Ford does a fine job with their trucks. But regardless of vehicle, this engine, be it from Ford or anyone else just isn't ideal for this task. Its too small, and peak HP+torque are really not at ideal levels for towing.

I've stewed over making the same comment here. Its not my intent to offend anyone, but I see a lot of "proposed" tow vehicles that generally just scare the c**p out of me for people for anything beyond completely ideal conditions. I've got (2) small trailers I tow, and even as small and light as my Camp-Inn is, I wouldn't want anything less than a large V-6, inline 6 or a V8.

Most of my vacation traveling includes both off-road && off-grid areas, in addition to spending significant time in mountain type environments (i.e. Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming), and certainly that skews my tow vehicle needs some. Regardless, towing any trailer, small or not significantly ramps up the danger factor, and I'm very safety oriented, especially when towing.
Click to expand...

I am a 'ford guy', and the best way to start a fight is to say that. Or, equivalently saying Chevy guy, Ram GUY....whatever. Truck brand loyalty is more serious discussion that religion and politics.

As an owner of about 3 of 'em, the Triton was a problem child, mine last one died a horrible death because of a bad design in the timing chain tensioner/guide. Catastrophic failure happening while driving long distances at highway speed. Metal in the oil. Time for a new engine. This was on a 5.3 liter (I think) V8. This was the only problem I had....but I worried about spark plug changes every 100k miles or so.

Size alone isn't the only factor....

In general, I totally agree...tiny turbo's and high RPMs means at the very least you're using expensive synthetic oils, and often. The extended oil change intervals do not apply under extreme use --- and towing is extreme use, I suspect even with a tiny camper.

Throw away vehicles...I don't know how they can be more economical when you factor in the energy and resources to over the shorter vehicle life compared to "fuel savings"...there's more to economy that just milage.

Not a fan of CAFE standards, or $6 gas. But electric vehicles just aren't ready for use in non-urban areas yet, and they probably never will be for non urban users. Hydrogen folks....Hydrogen. Most abundant fuel source in the 'verse.
 
Sweeney said:
But electric vehicles just aren't ready for use in non-urban areas yet, and they probably never will be for non urban users.
Click to expand...

The first half of this statement is indisputably true. Disagree with the second half. A truck like the F150 lightning (320 miles on a charge and you can fully recharge overnight) already probably covers 50-80% of all non-urban use cases. Once EVs are on 800+v architectures and charging stations are plentiful (resulting in abundant ability to charge an EV in 15 minutes), there's no reason an EV would be less practical than an ICE car (one day).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top