4k tow package Drive ratio, cooling and radiator fan percent difference recource/discussion

[m5040]

I will politely disagree. I have towed a travel trailer several times with my Maverick Tremor and it was slightly overweight. It didn't look or behave any differently, other than MPG. than one that was not overloaded. Heck the squat wasn't even all that bad. The rear of the truck sat about 3/4 of an inch lower loaded than unloaded.

Law enforcement is not looking for slightly overweight, unless you kill someone then all bets are off. I am sure they will appreciate your opinion that it didn't "behave any differently".

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[Maverick Country Club]

Debating, and all the squabbling…

 

[Maverick Country Club]

Deciding your trailer load is ok by judging the amount the rear end is "squatting" is fools gold. You could hook up to a 10 ton trailer and if the weight was loaded evenly it wouldn’t squat your rear tires, that doesn’t mean you can tow it. Correct hitch weight is also very important and often overlooked or misunderstood. The downward force the trailer tongue puts on the hitch ball. Should be 7-15% of the loaded trailer's weight.

 

[Darryl]

I think the interior temps while parked would definitely put a hurt on the hybrids battery. If I owned a hybrid, I would have ceramic window tinting installed and window vents for protection when parking in sunlight.

The Hybrid battery is underneath the truck. So interior temp has no effect. The AC compressor runs off the hybrid battery. But that's a light load compared to actually moving the truck. Also. Being an electric compressor allows it to operate at full speed even when the engine isn't running. No need to worry about the battery overheating because the battery is protected from overheating. Before it overheats. It will simply operate on engine power only. Until it cools down . And the hybrid cooling system is totally separate from the engine system. The only negative effect of high ambient temps is temporarily lower full economy

 

[Darryl]

No. It's mounted under the floor on the passenger side of the truck no access from the inside. All access and connections are underneath . The 12v battery is under the rear seat and takes up just a bit of the storage space.

 

[Iakona]

Law enforcement is not looking for slightly overweight, unless you kill someone then all bets are off. I am sure they will appreciate your opinion that it didn't "behave any differently".

Good thing I know what I am doing isn't it? i also made sure all appropriate safety measures were added, in place and fully functioning. I also have nearly 20 years of public safety experience under my belt. The handful of times I did it, didn't hurt a soul.

 

[Iakona]

Deciding your trailer load is ok by judging the amount the rear end is "squatting" is fools gold. You could hook up to a 10 ton trailer and if the weight was loaded evenly it wouldn’t squat your rear tires, that doesn’t mean you can tow it. Correct hitch weight is also very important and often overlooked or misunderstood. The downward force the trailer tongue puts on the hitch ball. Should be 7-15% of the loaded trailer's weight.

I didn't say I was judging the trailer being "ok" to tow solely based on rear end squat. It was just a fun fact. I am fully aware of how the math works.

 

[Darryl]

Good thing I know what I am doing isn't it? i also made sure all appropriate safety measures were added, in place and fully functioning. I also have nearly 20 years of public safety experience under my belt. The handful of times I did it, didn't hurt a soul.

I understand your response. And I generally agree. But even the best of us can slip up. And the wrong combination of events can cascade quickly. I'm not sure of how towing beyond the rated limitations will affect liability or legality. And I've towed beyond the rated limitations of my brother's 1986 4-CYLINDER Ranger he had at the time. Thankfully all went well. But I honestly don't know how things would have panned out if someone had pulled in front of me and the worst happened. Would they still be liable? Would liability shift to me because I had exceeded the rated capacity of the 1986 ranger? I don't know. Too many variables beyond my control. And I can't say I'd NEVER be caught lacking even if I normally do my due diligence. Humans sometimes skip up with sure consequences

 

[Maverick Country Club]

I didn't say I was judging the trailer being "ok" to tow solely based on rear end squat. It was just a fun fact. I am fully aware of how the math works.

Prove it!

 

[Maverick2022XL]

Requiring a trailer brake controller is a legal issue not a towing capacity issue. It will depend on the state but here the rule is if the trailer's (GVWR) is rated over 3000lbs it has to have brakes on it. Since it is rated for 4000lbs it is possible an owner will have a trailer that meets the criteria.

 

[Maverick2022XL]

I understand your response. And I generally agree. But even the best of us can slip up. And the wrong combination of events can cascade quickly. I'm not sure of how towing beyond the rated limitations will affect liability or legality. And I've towed beyond the rated limitations of my brother's 1986 4-CYLINDER Ranger he had at the time. Thankfully all went well. But I honestly don't know how things would have panned out if someone had pulled in front of me and the worst happened. Would they still be liable? Would liability shift to me because I had exceeded the rated capacity of the 1986 ranger? I don't know. Too many variables beyond my control. And I can't say I'd NEVER be caught lacking even if I normally do my due diligence. Humans sometimes skip up with sure consequences

That depends if you get caught by the authorities or not.

 

[Maverick2022XL]

Ok so the 4k tow offers 3.81:1 rather than the standard 3.61:1.
But the difference is less than 5 percent (4.96)

Sort of correct, on 2025 models and newer the final drive ratio is 3.81 for all ecoboosts and 3.37 for all hybrids. Earlier hybrids were 2.91.
https://www.vdm.ford.com/content/da...f/2025_Ford_Maverick_Towing_Info_fnl-Dec5.pdf

 

[Pointyears]

That depends if you get caught by the authorities or not.

Or if something happens and an insurance claim gets rejected for non-conformity to the law.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

Or if something happens and an insurance ac claim gets rejected for non-conformity to the law.

Can you cite even one example?

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

Oddly what I haven't seen anyone discuss here (maybe I missed it in all the squabbling) is that Ford's (and the other major manufacturers base their tow ratings on SAE standards and tests. They don't just pull them out of their collective asses.

Yes and no.

Why are the "ratings" 2000 lbs and 4000 lbs?

Because they made those numbers up.
At best they "highly rounded" those numbers. Likely in the downward direction.

If it were any sort of scientific measurement the tow ratings would be more specific. Say 2441 lbs or 4160 lbs.

There is no incentive to "boost, boast, or exaggerate" the towing ability of the smallest vehicle in the fleet. If anything, there is incentive to derate it.

Tow ratings are voluntary. Not mandated or verified by any agency.

What is the tow rating of a 1967 VW bug? Technically, it doesn't have one. Or need one. Legend says it's about 10 tons.

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