Towing with Maverick Hybrid

[Pknopp]

I haven't yet but I will be towing this.

Just to note, Scamp's likely start around 2000lb but the 5th wheel is closer to 3000 lb. Mine is a 16 foot Casita (similar to a Scamp). Likely around 2400 lbs as it sits there. I never haul with the tanks full..

Mine with the tow package leaves me with no concerns.

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[Mavster Mechanic]

I haven't yet but I will be towing this.

Just to note, Scamp's likely start around 2000lb but the 5th wheel is closer to 3000 lb. Mine is a 16 foot Casita (similar to a Scamp). Likely around 2400 lbs as it sits there. I never haul with the tanks full..

Mine with the tow package leaves me with no concerns.

Sometimes towing with water is necessary. Sometimes it is desirable too such as in windy conditions.

My tows with more
Stability at 3200 lbs than 2750.

 

[grandpopa'sMPGs]

Attach it to a custom made tonnel cover and you can store heavy stuff in the bed in front of the rear wells to keep some weight out of the trailer. the stationary piece of the tonnel cover would probably be the center piece.

 

[grandpopa'sMPGs]

My brother bought a 24 foot box camper with the mercedis 3.0 liter turbo diesel engine and tows his chevy spark . he get 14 MPG at 65 MPH level interstate

 

[ulyssesvt]

For an additional data point (and unrelated to campers and such) I just finished a 1000 mile trip towing a loaded U-Haul 5x8 trailer with no issues. My route took me from Athens, GA to Vermont via I-85, I-77, I-81, I-78, I-287 and I-87. Those roads have some pretty steep hills (especially I-77 and I-81), well steep for the east coast, and I had no problem maintaining my target speed of 63 (plus or minus a couple) throughout. Mileage was just aroung 27 MPG on my AWD Hybrid. It's not a drive I wish to make again, but I would have no hesitation if I had to. One note: put a cloth or sponge over the handle on the trailer tongue when you lower the tailgate or it will dent the tailgate (ask me how I know.) I have no idea what the tongue weight or the total trailer weight was, but I do not have the 4K tow option. Handling was just fine (better with the trailer loaded) and no sign of engine temp increasing on hills. I used normal driving mode throughout as the tow mode ran the engine RPMs too high for my liking. Also, this was my first trip staying mostly out of the left lane rather than trying to maintain 70+, and I have to say that it was a much more relaxing trip than usual, even with the trailer.

 

[notfast]

4,000 pounds is not low and more than most people with "big" trucks will ever tow.
The Maverick will be replacing my 150 and be used for most of the animal feed runs while my 250 remains to haul the tractor, camper, car trailer, etc.

I agree. The most I ever tow nowadays is the 6x12 enclosed U-haul, which is 1,900lbs empty, so 4K tow is perfectly fine for that.

Even when I had my F-250, most I ever towed was 7K, with another 1K in the bed. Definitely within F-250 or F-150 HDPP territory due to the 3,000lbs or so of payload.

In hindsight, the thing cost me more in maintenance and depreciation than if I just went to Enterprise Truck Rental and rented an F-250 for the 5-6 times a year I needed to tow that trailer.

Mileage was just aroung 27 MPG on my AWD Hybrid.

Good to know. What ball mount did you use for the U-Haul 5x8? By my guesstimates, it looks like a standard 2" drop would be almost spot on level.

I have no idea what the tongue weight or the total trailer weight was, but I do not have the 4K tow option.

Those 5x8 enclosed weigh like 900lbs empty. I'd be surprised if you managed to fit in more than 1,000lbs of regular boxed household goods unless you had an upright grand piano or a literal ton of books.

I used normal driving mode throughout as the tow mode ran the engine RPMs too high for my liking.

Eh, as long as the coolant temp stays in check, I'd let it sing. If I recall, the hybrid also runs the engine at high RPM when you're coasting downhill with the HVB fully charged. My F-250 with the 6.8L V10 would scream at 3,500 RPM all day long in 2nd gear while towing 7K uphill. Coolant and trans temps stayed below 200F.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

Attach it to a custom made tonnel cover and you can store heavy stuff in the bed in front of the rear wells to keep some weight out of the trailer.

Have you looked into the bed of a Maverick?

If it's been a while, I suggest you look again.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

For an additional data point (and unrelated to campers and such) I just finished a 1000 mile trip towing a loaded U-Haul 5x8 trailer with no issues. My route took me from Athens, GA to Vermont via I-85, I-77, I-81, I-78, I-287 and I-87. Those roads have some pretty steep hills (especially I-77 and I-81), well steep for the east coast, and I had no problem maintaining my target speed of 63 (plus or minus a couple) throughout. Mileage was just aroung 27 MPG on my AWD Hybrid. It's not a drive I wish to make again, but I would have no hesitation if I had to. One note: put a cloth or sponge over the handle on the trailer tongue when you lower the tailgate or it will dent the tailgate (ask me how I know.) I have no idea what the tongue weight or the total trailer weight was, but I do not have the 4K tow option. Handling was just fine (better with the trailer loaded) and no sign of engine temp increasing on hills. I used normal driving mode throughout as the tow mode ran the engine RPMs too high for my liking. Also, this was my first trip staying mostly out of the left lane rather than trying to maintain 70+, and I have to say that it was a much more relaxing trip than usual, even with the trailer.

I guarantee your engine and electric generator-motor temperature was increasing on hills, and for the whole trip. It just never got hot enough to warn you to slow down.

Example: driving "unloaded" water will be 185°F to 190°F. Towing uphill water might be 215°F to 225°F. But if the warning comes at 235°F you'll never know unless you added an aftermarket gauge.

Same for the electric motors.

Truth be told, I'm always fine towing too. I never hit the warning points. But with attached gauges you will see more work = more fuel burned = more elevated temperatures.

Your stock gauge is programmed not to move until a problem exists so drivers like yourself have a more relaxing trip and dealers get fewer false alarm complaint's from drivers.

Glad you had a good trip.
I tow often with mine.
The eCVT is ideal for towing.

 

[grandpopa'sMPGs]

Have you looked into the bed of a Maverick?

If it's been a while, I suggest you look again.

Yes Place your water containers in front of the rear whells, about 300 Poundsand have the 5th hitch over the wheels. There is room.

 

[ulyssesvt]

Good to know. What ball mount did you use for the U-Haul 5x8? By my guesstimates, it looks like a standard 2" drop would be almost spot on level.

Those 5x8 enclosed weigh like 900lbs empty. I'd be surprised if you managed to fit in more than 1,000lbs of regular boxed household goods unless you had an upright grand piano or a literal ton of books.

I used a straight mount, but if I ever do it again, I'll get a drop. The front of the trailer was a little
higher than I would have liked.

You are probably right about the weight. There were some heavy bins in the trailer (books and fabrics, which were surprisingly heavy) but it wasn't completely full, so I may have been well under 2K.

 

[ng1021]

I pull a 16ft Scamp ((1600 lbs) with my hybrid and the 4K tow package. I have no issues, so much smoother than my GMC 2500 I had before. The Maverick maintains my speed going down the mountains. Love my 25 mpg on the interstate.

 

[Montykeel]

Just curious what are y’all towing with your Hybrid Mavericks since the towing limit is so low?

Last Fall, we pulled our 800 poundish Outbound "square drop" trailer about 2300 miles without a glitch. I'm in no way affiliated with Outbound. https://www.outboundtrailer.com/. Camper is just wide enough for a queen mattress and just under 8 ft long inside. Room to sit up and even kneel but not stand. Works well for us. Not sure what our total load was with two adult humans, misc camping gear and the trailer. We added a Kelty Backroads shelter that we can mount to either side of the camper for a front porch.

Daily, the truck gets around 40 mph. Got about 22 mpg averaged across the trip including some 75 mph driving. Was delighted with that mpg.

 

[gypsy]

Do you mean camp trailer, or cargo trailer?

I looked at getting a small lightweight camp trailer so I could fully retire (sell) my Transit250(not Connect). There are several that fit inside the Hybrid FWD weight limits, but I decided that I don't like towing for roadtrips, with the accompanying search for places to camp with a trailer (We won't stay in campgrounds with all the closely parked, loud, annoying other campers). Add to that the huge drop in MPG, I might as well be driving the 15-17mpg Transit(not Connect) and have all the conveniences it contains.

I wouldn't tow anything regularly. Not only the mileage issue but the smaller gas engine has to work harder than it was designed to work.

 

[Surly Old Bill]

I wouldn't tow anything regularly. Not only the mileage issue but the smaller gas engine has to work harder than it was designed to work.

exactly. The Maverick is best used as something to haul a tent in for camping.

 

[FoxenTEC]

Last Fall, we pulled our 800 poundish Outbound "square drop" trailer about 2300 miles without a glitch. I'm in no way affiliated with Outbound. https://www.outboundtrailer.com/. Camper is just wide enough for a queen mattress and just under 8 ft long inside. Room to sit up and even kneel but not stand. Works well for us. Not sure what our total load was with two adult humans, misc camping gear and the trailer. We added a Kelty Backroads shelter that we can mount to either side of the camper for a front porch.

Daily, the truck gets around 40 mph. Got about 22 mpg averaged across the trip including some 75 mph driving. Was delighted with that mpg.

With a 2K or 4k tow setup?

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