The Chwuck: 2023 Maverick Lariat AWD 4K Build

[Jonny44]

Damn you right. Shit.

Are you *realllly sure* that the tailgate damage couldn't be there because the rearview cam froze and you backed up into a weird shaped post "wink-wink"? damage might be covered by Ford then!

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[thev8man]

Bought my maverick about 15k miles ago (used) for a ridiculously good deal (12k after 10k trade in). I only wanted a truck because my wife's ecosport was able to hit this "short cut" over a curb to the grocery store my fusion couldn't do, sooooo now we're here. I've towed 4k cross country during a move, maintained 70-80mph and averaged 15mpg. Now I'm getting 25mpg after all the add ons.

He's a brief list of everything I've added;

EGR Rugged fender flares (Custom painted)
Ford raptor tailgate Applique (custom cut/molded)
S&B cold air intake
Mabbett light bar
Nilight amber ditch lights
Raptor style grill (paint matched)
Chinese knock off tonneau cover
4 way gang switch routed to sun glass holder (no drilling)
2 inch suspension level kit
265/65/17 all terrains
17/8 Reika wheels
Maverick side decal
Eco/sport mode

Future mods;
Rocker panel delete (heavy welding required)
Raptor bumper fabricated to bolt directly to the body
Modified raptor skid plate
King ranch floor shifter

Planned Future add ons;
Form lighting headlights (whenever they stop gatekeeping)
ECU relocation mount
2 inch hitch spare tire mount

Not planned but desired mods/add ons (hella money required)
2.3l head swap
Turbo upgrade
Functional hood scoop
GR40 suspension
Raptor-esque front and rear fender fabrication


One of the most common questions I get asked is "why". Well simply; i think it's hilarious, and i got it for such a good deal that I don't mind dropping roughly what I paid for in modifications. It's for my amusement, if you're amused, hell yeah. If you're inquisitive, I'm happy to answer whatever questions I can confidently help with. If you hate it, so does my wife.

Booyah
Now you just need some fog lights

 

[Snox801]

I like the build. Nicely done. I run the same size tires on mine no lift. Ran the first few days no rub. Once everything settled I get a bit of rub but it’s been fine for 50k miles.
Do you plan to tune it anytime soon? Heads and turbo are pricey but a tune is quite the add on for mine.

 

[Phimosis]

Nice job with the modifications-

BUT...

I have a feeling your going to need CV axle replacements sooner, rather than later.

Correct. All 2022-2024 maverick’s end up needing CV replacements because of a design flaw that they have since corrected in the 2025 models. The upside is that it’s not a fwd hybrid, because the vast majority of maverick CV failures are in fwd hybrids.

 

[Vaportrail]

Correct. All 2022-2024 maverick’s end up needing CV replacements because of a design flaw that they have since corrected in the 2025 models. The upside is that it’s not a fwd hybrid, because the vast majority of maverick CV failures are in fwd hybrids.

I'd say, the vast majority of lifted trucks with bigger tires fail the fastest...

Just an observation after reading all over the Internet about Maverick axle failures for the past 18 months.

 

[Snox801]

I don’t think the bigger tires have anything to do with it. I have 265’s on mine been tuned for 50k and a lot of abuse. Axles have outlasted stock ones.
So who knows what is really causing it. Lifted probably. Big tires probably not

 

[Vaportrail]

I don’t think the bigger tires have anything to do with it. I have 265’s on mine been tuned for 50k and a lot of abuse. Axles have outlasted stock ones.
So who knows what is really causing it. Lifted probably. Big tires probably not

I'm no engineer, but I know many dealerships refuse warranty coverage for failed CV axles if the truck has bigger tires.

 

[Vaportrail]

And one reason you hear about axle failures more on hybrid Mavericks, is because there's a lot more of them on the road.

 

[Abisial]

Nice job with the modifications-

BUT...

I have a feeling your going to need CV axle replacements sooner, rather than later.

TWas only a matter of time before someone mentioned the CV Axles lol

 

[Abisial]

Are you *realllly sure* that the tailgate damage couldn't be there because the rearview cam froze and you backed up into a weird shaped post "wink-wink"? damage might be covered by Ford then!

Oh shiiiiiiiiiiiit

 

[Vaportrail]

TWas only a matter of time before someone mentioned the CV Axles lol

Not a big deal, if you can find parts, and replace the axles yourself.

Which lift kit did you use?

Did you install it?

 

[Snox801]

I'm no engineer, but I know many dealerships refuse warranty coverage for failed CV axles if the truck has bigger tires.

I’m not saying it is not a factor but far too many are stock to say that causes it. And if a dealer denies for tire size that’s a dealer to swap. Tire size should not hurt the driveline. Sure it adds some weight and size but our bench is trq limited. So no matter what size you have the same amount of trq is added.
So we can pretty much stop the bull about the bigger tires. Lifts sure it changes angles.
Then again that should but I know several that have lifts that are over 60k of off road and some hard driving. Zero issues. But we definitely have some soft driven bone stock ones killing them in 30k.
We could assume it’s bad parts at this point.

 

[710-oil-614]

And one reason you hear about axle failures more on hybrid Mavericks, is because there's a lot more of them on the road.

No you hear about them because they have a different CV axle than EcoBoosts or Tremors and that is the CV axle that was prone to failure.

 

[Maverick323]

Bought my maverick about 15k miles ago (used) for a ridiculously good deal (12k after 10k trade in). I only wanted a truck because my wife's ecosport was able to hit this "short cut" over a curb to the grocery store my fusion couldn't do, sooooo now we're here. I've towed 4k cross country during a move, maintained 70-80mph and averaged 15mpg. Now I'm getting 25mpg after all the add ons.

He's a brief list of everything I've added;

EGR Rugged fender flares (Custom painted)
Ford raptor tailgate Applique (custom cut/molded)
S&B cold air intake
Mabbett light bar
Nilight amber ditch lights
Raptor style grill (paint matched)
Chinese knock off tonneau cover
4 way gang switch routed to sun glass holder (no drilling)
2 inch suspension level kit
265/65/17 all terrains
17/8 Reika wheels
Maverick side decal
Eco/sport mode

Future mods;
Rocker panel delete (heavy welding required)
Raptor bumper fabricated to bolt directly to the body
Modified raptor skid plate
King ranch floor shifter

Planned Future add ons;
Form lighting headlights (whenever they stop gatekeeping)
ECU relocation mount
2 inch hitch spare tire mount

Not planned but desired mods/add ons (hella money required)
2.3l head swap
Turbo upgrade
Functional hood scoop
GR40 suspension
Raptor-esque front and rear fender fabrication


One of the most common questions I get asked is "why". Well simply; i think it's hilarious, and i got it for such a good deal that I don't mind dropping roughly what I paid for in modifications. It's for my amusement, if you're amused, hell yeah. If you're inquisitive, I'm happy to answer whatever questions I can confidently help with. If you hate it, so does my wife.

Absolutely amazing looking man, it's a lot to ask but could you provide the links to everything? Once you do all the stuff you plan to, this thing is literally gonna be the perfect Maverick

 

[notfast]

Well they were SUPPOSED to connect it and take a picture of the side view to verify it sat low enough to not impede the use of the tailgate. Cross country tow included a bed extender, and everything was good untill the suspension settled, had they dropped it one inch lower it wouldn't have been an issue.

How do you know that was part of the process? I worked for a neighborhood U-haul dealer a couple years back and from what I can recall, we needed to take a couple photos in the app that clearly show:

• Safety chains connected
• Breakaway chain connected (if applicable)
• Breakaway paddle in the down/unlocked position (if applicable)
• Electrical connected
• Coupler latched on the ball
• Ball mount pin and clip installed

I do not recall being required to check for tailgate/liftgate/rear door clearance. I don't see it out of the realm of possibility if corporate changed the process to include that, but I'd think they'd want the trailer to be level in tow with the chains not dragging than intentionally have to lower the ball to let a tailgate drop or a hatchback door lift up and thus risk the coupler slamming into the ground on a low driveway or the chains dragging and sparking a fire.

I will say that whenever I rent a trailer, I request the U-haul rep to loop the safety chains and the breakaway chain through the trailer hitch's safety chain loops. Both looping the safety chains and twisting the chains were permitted by corporate, but I prefer looping the chains when the trailer hitch's safety chain loops are large enough to allow the safety chains to pass through. That way, there's no chance the slack can untwist, and I can also run a padlock with an extended shackle through all six runs of chain to both lock the trailer to the truck and prevent the chains from becoming unhooked.

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