Lariat Hybrid tow test: Airstream Bambi (3500 GVW)

[Mavster Mechanic]

Lessons learned over these 3,800 miles of towing:

• Anti-sway is useful but not a panacea
• 55-60 mph is a sweet spot for fuel consumption (20mpg) and range (285 mi/tank)
• The ProTrailer hitch up assistance works as claimed but isn't as fast as a practiced driver using the backup camera
• The trailer brakes were slowing the Mav at times (leading to puzzlingly low Braking Coach scores)
• BLIS is well worth the minute it takes to configure it to your trailer
• Ford should offer a tow mirror option

My anti-sway kicked in one time in ~10,000 miles. Recently actually.

It was the one time I had lane keep assist on and used two hands for 5 seconds to open a can of soda.

TURN LANE KEEP OFF WHEN TRAILERING.

(Also can keep one hand on the wheel at all times. )

But it is refreshing to know a feature I had for 3 years actually works. Like air bags, really hard to test though.

Sponsored

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

I agree 20 mpg is very impressive considering the dismal 15 mpg or so at (just slightly higher) speeds. 55-60 is a sweet spot!

Same / similar here.

 

[bsenecal]

I agree 20 mpg is very impressive considering the dismal 15 mpg or so at (just slightly higher) speeds. 55-60 is a sweet spot!

Interesting and good to know for when I start towing my enclosed snowmobile trailer.

I agree 20 mpg is very impressive considering the dismal 15 mpg or so at (just slightly higher) speeds. 55-60 is a sweet spot!

Good to know for when I start towing my snowmobile trailer.
Brian

 

[bsenecal]

FYI

The temperature gauge is not linear.
And once "warm" it does not move/change at all until overheating.

It's misleading.

You can only trust it as being "ok".
It won't move until it's not ok.

180°F and 230°F display as the same since both are "ok".

Get a data reader for towing!
So worth it!

Looks like there are about 8 positions on the temp gauge where the marker will move to.
You can see them in the correct light.
Looks like one for cold about 6 in the “normal” area and two in the hot.
Brian

 

[SafetyGuy]

Lessons learned over these 3,800 miles of towing:

• Anti-sway is useful but not a panacea
• 55-60 mph is a sweet spot for fuel consumption (20mpg) and range (285 mi/tank)
• The ProTrailer hitch up assistance works as claimed but isn't as fast as a practiced driver using the backup camera
• The trailer brakes were slowing the Mav at times (leading to puzzlingly low Braking Coach scores)
• BLIS is well worth the minute it takes to configure it to your trailer
• Ford should offer a tow mirror option

Good evening @Bic

I was on another thread and found the contact info for K-SOURCE who makes Snap & Zap tow mirrors. I put the contact info into the thread.

Lots of us contacted them to have mirrors made for our Mavs.

Long story short, I just checked online and it looks like they have something for our Mavs available now.

They aren't cheap, but to me safety is worth it. I think I saw a price around 277.00

This may be what you are looking for.

Thanks for the continuing updates and great photos!

Have a good one, and I hope this helps you out.

Andy

 

[inline_five]

Good evening @Bic

I was on another thread and found the contact info for K-SOURCE who makes Snap & Zap tow mirrors. I put the contact info into the thread.

Lots of us contacted them to have mirrors made for our Mavs.

Long story short, I just checked online and it looks like they have something for our Mavs available now.

They aren't cheap, but to me safety is worth it. I think I saw a price around 277.00

This may be what you are looking for.

Thanks for the continuing updates and great photos!

Have a good one, and I hope this helps you out.

Andy

A wireless, battery powered wide view camera setup may be a good option as well.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

Good evening @Bic

I was on another thread and found the contact info for K-SOURCE who makes Snap & Zap tow mirrors. I put the contact info into the thread.

Lots of us contacted them to have mirrors made for our Mavs.

Long story short, I just checked online and it looks like they have something for our Mavs available now.

They aren't cheap, but to me safety is worth it. I think I saw a price around 277.00

This may be what you are looking for.

Thanks for the continuing updates and great photos!

Have a good one, and I hope this helps you out.

Andy

A) taking pre-orders now. Not available yet

B) too expensive by 5x. I have $50 ones.

C) not wide enough for an 8 foot wide trailer and stock I find is OK for a 7 foot wide trailer

They look better than the "universal" ones but if the photo accurately portrays the production ones I think they missed the mark. May "help" you with a 7 foot wide.

 

[surfstar]

Comparison for the OP: we tow a 17' Safari Condo Alto F1743 with a Sienna hybrid - also a 2.5L AWD hybrid, but with a 3500 lb tow capacity and none of the nice pro tow assist features (I also had to add a 7pin b/c the factory tow "package" was 4 flat only).

At speeds of 55-62, we've been averaging 20 mpg. Big difference is the Alto is ~2500 lbs wet weight (it is somewhat aero also, but with flat sides).
Great MPG with the Mav and a heavier trailer!

If an AWD 4k hybrid Mav was available 2 years ago, we'd own one.

 

[Bic]

A wireless, battery powered wide view camera setup may be a good option as well.

Standard equipment on the Bambi. Camera (and mic!) on the back of Bambi, powered by the tail light circuit. Dash (or suction cup) mounted 12v (cig lighter plug) color monitor in the cab of the Mav

It helps but once you have used proper towing mirrors nothing else compares :-(

 

[Escapologist]

Comparison for the OP: we tow a 17' Safari Condo Alto F1743 with a Sienna hybrid - also a 2.5L AWD hybrid, but with a 3500 lb tow capacity and none of the nice pro tow assist features (I also had to add a 7pin b/c the factory tow "package" was 4 flat only).

At speeds of 55-62, we've been averaging 20 mpg. Big difference is the Alto is ~2500 lbs wet weight (it is somewhat aero also, but with flat sides).
Great MPG with the Mav and a heavier trailer!

If an AWD 4k hybrid Mav was available 2 years ago, we'd own one.

Nice rearward positioning of the cargo box there so it's in line with the airflow off the top of the screen. i.e. making one shape aerodynamically so it doesn't just come up the screen and slam into the bottom of it or something.

I might have been looking at those if the hybrid Mav didn't exist. Never liked how low their hitch bars mounted though, but yours looks set up okay.

 

[Cherokee]

[QUOTE="Phimosis, post: 1246696, member:
Ford literature basically says, “tow a normal size camp trailer under 4k lbs and your engine might blow up.”
[/QUOTE]

Hahaha It does not say that, still I get your point.

 

[Manollo3]

Interesting and good to know for when I start towing my enclosed snowmobile trailer.

Good to know for when I start towing my snowmobile trailer.
Brian

That is a great looking trailer.

 

[bsenecal]

That is a great looking trailer.

Thank you they are a great company, it’s my second one from Proline Trailers of New Hampshire.
Brian

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

A) taking pre-orders now. Not available yet

B) too expensive by 5x. I have $50 ones.

C) not wide enough for an 8 foot wide trailer and stock I find is OK for a 7 foot wide trailer

They look better than the "universal" ones but if the photo accurately portrays the production ones I think they missed the mark. May "help" you with a 7 foot wide.

Etrailer is taking pre-orders for April '26 delivery.

HRG

 

[SafetyGuy]

A) taking pre-orders now. Not available yet

B) too expensive by 5x. I have $50 ones.

C) not wide enough for an 8 foot wide trailer and stock I find is OK for a 7 foot wide trailer

They look better than the "universal" ones but if the photo accurately portrays the production ones I think they missed the mark. May "help" you with a 7 foot wide.

I hope they are as good as previous models we have bought, when they finally ship them out.

Always have been good to us-clear vision, good fitment and easy on and off.

Only time will tell and I missed that is was pre-order. DOH!

Cheers,

Andy

Sponsored