Towing a camper trailer w/ my Maverick Hybrid

[The Real Maverick]

I didn't know the hybrid Maverick could be modified to pull 4000 lbs. Can the transmission handle it without any coolers added?

Yes it can. I've towed with my 2022 "modified" and with additional gauges via the OBDII port and it's very capable.

There was no magic added to the 2025.
Just AWD (which necessitated the HF55) and that's not really magic now is it?

AWD is for sure better. I've said FWD was the weakest link all along.

No over heat troubles with the 2022 towing 3000+ uphill 7% on a 100°F day.
I've done it time and time again.

I will never tell people what they SHOULD do with their truck. I will post what the trucks really CAN do, as demonstrated in real world conditions.

You may not always be in the fast lane.
But as other vlogs show, you can pass semis while towing with a hybrid Maverick and that's good enough for me.

Sponsored

 

[The Real Maverick]

The Hybrid AWD with 4k tow package has the trans cooler and other upgrades.

The 2022 Hybrid FWD has a trans cooler, doesn't need a larger fan, and as MANY folks have shown, was only missing a brake controller and 7 pin which was implied in my post #5.

FWD is adequate on pavement, but AWD is for sure an advantage in all conditions.

 

[Whitty1]

Yes it can. I've towed with my 2022 "modified" and with additional gauges via the OBDII port and it's very capable.

There was no magic added to the 2025.
Just AWD (which necessitated the HF55) and that's not really magic now is it?

AWD is for sure better. I've said FWD was the weakest link all along.

No over heat troubles with the 2022 towing 3000+ uphill 7% on a 100°F day.
I've done it time and time again.

I will never tell people what they SHOULD do with their truck. I will post what the trucks really CAN do, as demonstrated in real world conditions.

You may not always be in the fast lane.
But as other vlogs show, you can pass semis while towing with a hybrid Maverick and that's good enough for me.

That is impressive if I ever have the need. How big of a hit did you take to fuel consumption?

 

[The Real Maverick]

I would think AWD would be better for towing. I was under the assumption that 2000 lbs was the max towing for a FWD hybrid. I didn't know they could be modified to tow more. I am wondering if the transmission can handle it or would it need more cooling.

It does not need more cooling.
The hybrid does not have a traditional transmission. The "gears" do no get hot. Not above 140°F on a 100°F day while towing uphill.

Extensive testing well north of 3000 lbs but not quite 4000 shows the generator is the only component that gets hot with sustained high output.

High output means sustained power above 50% on the dash power meter.

But you'll all be surprised, dare I say amazed at what you can pull with the power needle in the 30% to 40% range.

Horsepower is mostly used to accelerate. Which is a temporary condition. It does not take much horsepower to cruise. Towing, or otherwise. This is not realized by most folks.

Cruising in a light / unloaded truck needs only 20-25 horsepower.

Cruising with a trailer attached needs only 40-50 horsepower. I've done it. I've tested and measured it.

High torque is needed to get rolling from a dead stop. And to accelerate. Not for cruising.

Let's say the "battery pack" only lasts for two minutes of high output.

When is the last time you held your foot to the floor for two minutes? Never?

TFL did it for close to 8 minutes in the absolute worst case scenario. Their truck was really, truly maxed out. But, did the AWD do ANYTHING for them in their test? I think no. They were on what looked like pretty good highway pavement to me.

They would not have been able to accelerate on that hill with the 2025. So the 2022 would have been the same. They actually slowed from 60 mph to 56 mph. The 2022 would have done the same. All Maverick have the same horsepower, same battery capacity, same torque generated.

It was single digit F outside, which probably aided in things staying cool. Not the fan. Not the HF55.

I do not "peg out" my FWD. I slow down.
By distributing the same amount of work over a longer time frame, you need less power. Look at semis. They are slow on hills for a good reason.

It's not magic, and this is no super duty truck. Just if you are reasonable, and realistic, YES YOU CAN haul up to 4000 lbs, occasionally, if you have the need.

By all means if you are retired and haul an RV full time, get a larger truck.

I personally am not spending more to tow 4000 lbs a few times a year.

 

[The Real Maverick]

This is the post I am referring to. My question is can the transmission handle it without modifications.

Yes it can. In 99% of all conditions.

If you are in the 1%. If you are going to be absolutely brutal to your truck, like go up heavy grades every single day in summer.... don't do it.

If you fall into the 99% of customers, and are even a tad bit conservative, it will handle it with flying colors.

Do not sustain greater than 50% power output. But try it. You'll be surprised that unless you are on the Ike Gauntlet, 8 miles of 6% and 7% at 10,000 feet elevation, you won't need to.

 

[The Real Maverick]

If you get pulled over and it's over tow rating you can be fined. Long term it would be hard on the transmission, since it's not designed to tow that much.

#1 no you can't. That's not even a thing.
Ask around. I asked in multiple western states.

#2 long term towing will hurt ANY transmission. I'm curious why you'd be any more concerned here. Is it because you don't have a good feel for how the eCVT in our hybrids work? There's less "wear & tear" than a traditional automatic actually.

 

[The Real Maverick]

That is impressive if I ever have the need. How big of a hit did you take to fuel consumption?

Double the weight = half the MPG.

No magic there either.

It's been shown Hybrid and EB MPG are nearly identical while towing. Which is logical.

 

[SLJ]

Double the weight = half the MPG.
No magic there either.
It's been shown Hybrid and EB MPG are nearly identical while towing. Which is logical.

Neither of those are a thing.
At highway speeds frontal area becomes the huge factor on MPG. At highway speeds going up long hills the 2025's 4K hybrid 191hp gas engine has barely enough power to maintain the speed limit.
Can it tow more than it's rated at? Sure. Should you? No.
Here's the real specs from Ford:
https://www.ford.com/towing/

 

[The Real Maverick]

Neither of those are a thing.
At highway speeds frontal area becomes the huge factor on MPG. At highway speeds going up long hills the 2025's 4K hybrid 191hp gas engine has barely enough power to maintain the speed limit.
Can it tow more than it's rated at? Sure. Should you? No.
Here's the real specs from Ford:
https://www.ford.com/towing/

How fast you planning to go Steve?!???

At 60 mph / 100 kmh it's no sweat on the level and 3-4% grades. At 6-7% more like 50 mph is "comfortable".

I have a 7x12x9 tall utility trailer at 3,xxx loaded. 2022 hybrid Maverick has pulled that just fine all over the Rocky Mountain West.

How much of your time will you spend on those 6-7% grades? Minutes? Minutes per year?

Not a thing to get your panties in a bunch over.

 

[scottp01]

That's not true. The 25 ECVT was beefed up. Also you need AWD and the 4k tow package has an upgraded fan, transmission oil cooler, conventional spare and requires 360 co-pilot besides the 7 pin wire harness and the brake controller. Some like the co-pilot 360 and spare are safety

I want to know which trailer that is that has pop outs, dual axles, walk-on roof and still is under 4000lbs...

 

[Draiders]

Is this something Ford has stated? Doesn't towing more than your vehicle is rated void the warranty? In 2025 with the 4k rating on the hybrid they went from the HF45 to the HF55 which has a a higher torque rating. Might be more involved than just an upgraded brake controller.

When the Maverick was coming out it listed 4k tow package on the hybrid as well and was even on the order sheets, many early adopters ordered it that way then ford decided to not offer it in fwd so the orders had to be adjusted. so i doubt the hp45 is an issue. If id hazard a guess its the junk cv axles that can hardly handle driving the pickup around. But who knows i dont tow with mine that 1500 lb payload is what matters to me its great for that.

 

[SLJ]

How fast you planning to go Steve?!???

At 60 mph / 100 kmh it's no sweat on the level and 3-4% grades. At 6-7% more like 50 mph is "comfortable".

I have a 7x12x9 tall utility trailer at 3,xxx loaded. 2022 hybrid Maverick has pulled that just fine all over the Rocky Mountain West.

How much of your time will you spend on those 6-7% grades? Minutes? Minutes per year?

Not a thing to get your panties in a bunch over.

 

[SLJ]

At 60 mph / 100 kmh it's no sweat on the level and 3-4% grades. At 6-7% more like 50 mph is "comfortable".

"comfortable" The hybrid will not maintain much over that on those grades, even the 2025. 50mph with the weaker gas engine whining... no thanks. The ecoboost is the tow vehicle.

I have a 7x12x9 tall utility trailer at 3,xxx loaded. 2022 hybrid Maverick has pulled that just fine all over the Rocky Mountain West.

Telling people it's okay to tow 50% more than you're truck is rated for...

 

[Scupking]

I want to know which trailer that is that has pop outs, dual axles, walk-on roof and still is under 4000lbs...

That's the secret 2028 Maverick hybrid they are testing that can tow 6,000lbs .

You can almost guarantee the redesigned Maverick will be able to tow 5,000lbs with a 500lb tongue weight limit to match the Hyundai Santa Cruz.

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

I want to know which trailer that is that has pop outs, dual axles, walk-on roof and still is under 4000lbs...

I have to wonder if that is Photoshopped/AI, look how far back the tandem axles are,,,,,,

HRG

Sponsored