Maverick use in off road conditions

[r0tax]

For basic off pavement use, most models should be fine. Clearance will be the factor.
For some forest roads, you'll still probably mostly be ok, clearance will be the factor.

For "Off Road", like no roads, and running Jeep/4x4 trails - like Moab. Tremor may do you OK, until you reach the extreme limits of traction/angle/flex/clearance. The unibody chassis is not a flexi boy, it will tend to tri-pod, leaving 2 wheels 'loose', and often one dangling.

The Tremor diff will help on the rear.
You may have to rely a bit more on the Brake vectoring mechanics to get a wheel to engage in limited grip scenarios.

No Low gear could become a detriment, esp if you run larger tires, esp at high[er] elevation.
If your Jeeping through rocks with legit 'offroad jeeps/vehicles', Good luck, and let us know!

(My pov is from a Lobo, which is a bit stiffer and lower than the others, esp Tremor. So it tends to tripod sooner. This, imo is a sign of a good stiff chassis, which is beneficial for street performance.)

From my 'off pavement' use, my Lobo does fine traction wise (I even use Lobo mode when off pavement for additional Diff-tricks), clearance is always my limiting factor.
I had a Focus ST prior, so I'm familiar with how to 'tip-toe' and place wheels through the rough stuff.
The closest I've come to scraping the front 'splitter' on my Lobo is in a parking lob with a tall curb. Go figure.

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[Cancunbadlands]

Get the #Tremor

 

[bgn]

It depends on what your definition of off-road is.

The all-wheel drive system is very capable, especially with real all terrain tires.

But it has just about zero articulation and the ground clearance/approach and departure angles aren't great.

 

[Tbone289]

MTC members always seem to view off-road ability as black and white when they discuss it. All vehicles have their own limitations.

There isn't a Ranger or F-150 made today that can compete with my stock '67 Bronco on technical trails. That doesn't mean I wouldn't take a 4x4 Ranger or 4x4 F-150 on those trails and test their more limited performance. Once I know their limitations, I know what I can trust them to do. If my '67 Bronco is on a trail beyond its abilities, I'll take my modified Jeep. That Jeep has open differentials F&R, but in most cases it doesn't matter because the crazy amount of articulation keeps the tires planted.

Will a Maverick Tremor perform better off-road than a standard AWD Maverick? Of course it will, but it can't compete with any of the vehicles I mentioned in the previous paragraph. That doesn't mean I wouldn't take a standard AWD or Tremor Maverick off-road and test its more limited performance. Likewise, Once I know their limitations, I know what I can trust them to do. But, I would take them off-road. All of them.

Will a stock F-150 Raptor compete with a stock SWB Bronco on tight, switch-backed trails? Nope. Will any stock solid-axle Bronco or Jeep perform with a stock Raptor on high-speed desert trails? Nope. Are they all great off-road? Yes, with some consideration of how they'll be used.

I think people need to understand the expectations and limitations of the vehicle and terrain before answering these questions.

 

[notfast]

I think people need to understand the expectations and limitations of the vehicle and terrain before answering these questions.

I agree. This thread is a great read for me since I still don't have a Maverick yet. I think a large part of "off roading" comes down to:

• How often you go out
• How much you're willing to be inconvenienced
• If you're willing to take on (or at least risk) any body damage

Like, a Honda Civic could do 80% of the trails out in Johnson Valley near Barstow, CA with just a shovel and a reasonably skilled driver, as long as you're willing to be inconvenienced by having to go slow and dig yourself out every once in a while. Another 10% could probably be done with light body damage.

But like, if you actually need to get somewhere with minimal drama, that's when I think a 4x4 with low range would be helpful.

As a real-life anecdote, a friend of mine has a Toyota RAV4 XA50 with the basic (non-torque-vectoring) AWD and wanted to try it out off-road, so we went to the local OHV park.

There's a practice hill that's about a 20% grade and otherwise hardpacked dirt with a couple small bumps. He asked if I could give it a go in his RAV4, since I have more off-road experience.

It took me three tries to barely make it to the top. On that third try, I had it in "trail" mode, with my foot in the carpet, and the car was barely inching up the hill. Keep in mind that all four tires had contact with the ground the entire time. It felt like the car had 3HP. After I made it to the top, I looped back around for a fourth try. About 1/3 the way up, I got a message that said, "AWD over temperature. FWD only." So I backed down the hill.

For comparison, I took my Nissan Frontier up afterward. I just put it into 4Low, 1st gear lock out, and it literally crawled right up the hill at idle speed. I'm sure the truck could do that all day long until it runs out of gas since the front and rear driveshafts are mechanically locked together in 4WD; no PTU to overheat.

I'd be impressed if the Tremor's "4WD lock" actually locks the PTU mechanically. I suspect that it instead just commands 100% clutch engagement, which I suppose is still better than engaging the clutch "as needed" and causing an over-temperature situation.

As for actual trail running, after we gave the PTU a bit to cool down, we took the RAV4 on what is basically a fire/power line access road, as well as into the riverbed at the OHV park and it didn't have a single issue. I actually tried getting it stuck in the riverbed by coming to a dead stop facing uphill in the sand with the tires at street pressure, and then flooring it with the traction control off. The vehicle spun the wheels a little before the throttle would get chopped and it would paw its way out and get moving again.

I'm guessing that the Maverick with the regular AWD would have similar off-road capability, which to be honest is all I'm really after.

 

[Timothyd]

Unfortunately the off-road mode doesn't fix the open diffs on the standard awd system. The system does not transfer power from wheel to wheel it just applies brake pressure to the wheel with less traction.

But, in my experience, that works quite well. The important thing is that you don't have the tire with the least traction spinning. And the Maverick, with the FWD is great.

 

[Timothyd]

I agree. This thread is a great read for me since I still don't have a Maverick yet. I think a large part of "off roading" comes down to:

• How often you go out
• How much you're willing to be inconvenienced
• If you're willing to take on (or at least risk) any body damage

Like, a Honda Civic could do 80% of the trails out in Johnson Valley near Barstow, CA with just a shovel and a reasonably skilled driver, as long as you're willing to be inconvenienced by having to go slow and dig yourself out every once in a while. Another 10% could probably be done with light body damage.

But like, if you actually need to get somewhere with minimal drama, that's when I think a 4x4 with low range would be helpful.

As a real-life anecdote, a friend of mine has a Toyota RAV4 XA50 with the basic (non-torque-vectoring) AWD and wanted to try it out off-road, so we went to the local OHV park.

There's a practice hill that's about a 20% grade and otherwise hardpacked dirt with a couple small bumps. He asked if I could give it a go in his RAV4, since I have more off-road experience.

It took me three tries to barely make it to the top. On that third try, I had it in "trail" mode, with my foot in the carpet, and the car was barely inching up the hill. Keep in mind that all four tires had contact with the ground the entire time. It felt like the car had 3HP. After I made it to the top, I looped back around for a fourth try. About 1/3 the way up, I got a message that said, "AWD over temperature. FWD only." So I backed down the hill.

For comparison, I took my Nissan Frontier up afterward. I just put it into 4Low, 1st gear lock out, and it literally crawled right up the hill at idle speed. I'm sure the truck could do that all day long until it runs out of gas since the front and rear driveshafts are mechanically locked together in 4WD; no PTU to overheat.

I'd be impressed if the Tremor's "4WD lock" actually locks the PTU mechanically. I suspect that it instead just commands 100% clutch engagement, which I suppose is still better than engaging the clutch "as needed" and causing an over-temperature situation.

As for actual trail running, after we gave the PTU a bit to cool down, we took the RAV4 on what is basically a fire/power line access road, as well as into the riverbed at the OHV park and it didn't have a single issue. I actually tried getting it stuck in the riverbed by coming to a dead stop facing uphill in the sand with the tires at street pressure, and then flooring it with the traction control off. The vehicle spun the wheels a little before the throttle would get chopped and it would paw its way out and get moving again.

I'm guessing that the Maverick with the regular AWD would have similar off-road capability, which to be honest is all I'm really after.

I bought a set of chains for my Mav along with spare wheels with Blizzaks 'cause I visit friends on back roads in Wisconsin. I've never had to use the chains.

 

[Bguy]

I use mine off road a decent amount.
I added sand mode to mine and mud mode. Different tires and a skid plate.
it’s been a very capable and even and overachiever imo.

Do you have the advanced awd option?

 

[Bguy]

Tremor package specifically designed for off road applications.

FX4 options as well plus endless accessories, upgrades, tire choices, small lifts, etc...

There are 2 dedicated off road sections on the forum main page with tons of posts, photos, stories, reviews, accessories, etc...

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...coolers-recovery-tents-safety-campers-etc.38/

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...landing-camping-technique-planning-trails.39/

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...ve-going-offroad-thanks-to-my-maverick.49944/

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/forum/threads/wanting-to-hit-the-trails.54910/

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/forum/threads/whos-off-roading-their-maverick.28548/

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...its-found-again-broke-rear-drive-shaft.61080/

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...-road-experience-near-tortilla-flat-az.65933/

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/forum/threads/how-does-the-tremor-fare-off-road.63566/

thanks for the input

 

[Bguy]

Open diffs. Tremor or bust.

why open?

 

[Bguy]

The standard AWD system is the same for hybrid or ecoboost. Here is an objective slip test and it's not great.

That maverick was acting like it did not have any clutches but had a simple differential with no limited slip at all.

 

[Bguy]

Unfortunately the off-road mode doesn't fix the open diffs on the standard awd system. The system does not transfer power from wheel to wheel it just applies brake pressure to the wheel with less traction.

with an open diff the power is transferred to the wheel that is slipping so the idea of the brakes is to inhibit the spinning wheel so the engine power will be transferred to the other wheel. For the brake thing to work it would have to put enough presure on the spinning wheel to stop the spin forcing the power to try and transfer to the other wheel which hopefully will start turning and the vehicle will move.. The brake thing is a poor mans limited slip...smile... My jeep rene trailhawk had a similiar system and it worked very well that little car would climb anything i asked it to climb till it was killed.

 

[Bguy]

I bought a set of chains for my Mav along with spare wheels with Blizzaks 'cause I visit friends on back roads in Wisconsin. I've never had to use the chains.

They will do the job. When i was a kid I had a 1950 chev pickup and used to chase jack rabbits with it and it would get stuck untill i learned to put chains on it then it never got stuck again. .you would be wise to get two sets one for the front and back wheels for insurance..

 

[Snox801]

Do you have the advanced awd option?

No I have an xl with standard awd

 

[710-oil-614]

why open?

That’s ford’s choice for the standard awd system

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