2026 Maverick XLT Hybrid Flat Tow Confusion

[Mac1948]

I Just finished my first Flat Towing with my 2026 Maverick XLT Hybrid with a Passive key. I had no problem with the putting in the Flat Tow mode to towing for 10 hours. I have 2 questions.

1. On page 332 of the Ford Manual "NOTE: Start your vehicle at the beginning of each day, and every six hours or fewer. If your vehicle has a passive key, with your vehicle on and your brake pedal fully pressed, shift to drive (D) and then back to neutral (N). I your vehicle has an ignition key, with your vehicle on and your brake pedal fully depressed leave it running or drive it for at least 30 minutes to recharge the battery."

The last sentence in the paragraph states "Before continuing to tow, switch neutral tow on and keep the vehicle on for three minutes, then turn it off and you are ready to continue towing." It's unclear to me if I just shift it into drive (D) and back to neutral (N), or whether after shifting it to drive (D) and back to neutral (N), and placing it in neutral tow I have to wait for three minutes to turn the accessory off. What do you do?

2. Still on page 332 in Switching Neutral Tow Off, in direction No. 6 it states "Before starting the engine, wait 15 minutes with all doors closed and without interacting with the vehicle." So - after taking it out of neutral tow, I just leave it without even locking the truck up for 15 minutes before I start it? Is this what you do?

Thanks,

Arthur

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[Atomic Rooster]

I Just finished my first Flat Towing with my 2026 Maverick XLT Hybrid with a Passive key. I had no problem with the putting in the Flat Tow mode to towing for 10 hours. I have 2 questions.

1. On page 332 of the Ford Manual "NOTE: Start your vehicle at the beginning of each day, and every six hours or fewer. If your vehicle has a passive key, with your vehicle on and your brake pedal fully pressed, shift to drive (D) and then back to neutral (N). I your vehicle has an ignition key, with your vehicle on and your brake pedal fully depressed leave it running or drive it for at least 30 minutes to recharge the battery."

The last sentence in the paragraph states "Before continuing to tow, switch neutral tow on and keep the vehicle on for three minutes, then turn it off and you are ready to continue towing." It's unclear to me if I just shift it into drive (D) and back to neutral (N), or whether after shifting it to drive (D) and back to neutral (N), and placing it in neutral tow I have to wait for three minutes to turn the accessory off. What do you do?

2. Still on page 332 in Switching Neutral Tow Off, in direction No. 6 it states "Before starting the engine, wait 15 minutes with all doors closed and without interacting with the vehicle." So - after taking it out of neutral tow, I just leave it without even locking the truck up for 15 minutes before I start it? Is this what you do?

Thanks,

Arthur

I’m wondering the same question. That’s the time you park the rig and have to leave the toad in the way of everyone else trying to negotiate around it?

 

[grumpytoo]

I agree the instructions are poor. I've ask at the dealership they don't know and care even less. If all you are really doing is charging the battery then if you have a charge line from the RV to the truck starting the truck shouldn't be necessary. Plus what is the 15 minute wait all about?

 

[Dave O]

If I need to disconnect before moving my rig to the site I usually drive it to the site to get it out of the way and lock it up and let it sit for at least 15 minutes but note I do drive it immediately to get it out of the way without waiting the 15 minutes I’ve towed it multiple times and over 9K miles no issues to date

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Maybe we can ask @Darryl
If he can can find out, why engineering felt it necessary to put this step 6 in the manual?

 

[grumpytoo]

Ford does a poor job with their instructions, I would think a major corporation could do a better job. Especially since they are obviously they're trying to sell the Hybrid Maverick to the R.V community. Reminds me of the instructions that come with Chinese products.
I had no luck talking to the dealer or service people. So I called the Ford helpline and talked to a young woman. I asked "If I have a charge line connect to my Maverick battery do I need to stop every 6 hours to charge, what is a fully charged battery"? I asked her if the 6 hour stop was only to charge the battery or is it for other purposes, like lube the transmission? She said charge the battery only.
On my 1st tow I did stopped every 3 to 4 hours and used a multimeter to confirm the Maverick battery was topped off and that the charger line was actually charging. Probably need to have a lawyer read Fords instructions to confirm that's what they are really saying.
The 15 minute wait after after coming out of tow mode could use an explanation too.
I think the wait has something to do with all the computers syncing, but that's just my thought. I was concerned if I started before allowing the computers time to do whatever I may create a problem. I don't know and Ford ain't saying!
My procedure is open the drivers door, and put the window down, then close the door. I can then reach in and using the test button on my RVI Brake go thur ending the tow mode procedure. While waiting for the 15 minutes to end I disconnected the tow bar and wait for the wife to return from checking in. If she gets back before the time is up she waits and I continue to the lot. Rarely does she get back before the time is up.

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