Can low trailer wind resistance increase towing weight?

[Johnkn]

My what an ignorant statement.
Perhaps in a warranty dispute.
But then, it's up them to prove your trailer was the cause of the warranty claim.
Drag racing without a trailer has more potential to harm your truck though.
Enjoy your truck. Tow what you are comfortable with.

New / inexperienced drivers should

REALLY? you want to make this personal and call me ignorant with all the complete BS you continue to post like a 'pullstart lawnmower moving a trailer"? That has nothing to do with the OPs question. And the other stuff you posted above about 'living horse' (LOL), warranty dispute, warranty claim, drag racing, etc. is not germane to the OP's question, you should not post here when you are drinking, it's not a good look....

Here is the original poster's question:

"I've got a interesting question about trailer wind resistance. According to the 2022 Maverick hybrid towing guide PDF, Ford recommends up to 20 ft² frontal area for a trailer. Above this will negatively affect the tow rating. My question is would less frontal area positively affect the tow rating IE allow more tow weight?"

The answer to that queston is NO, The Maverick's published tow rating whether 2000lbs or 4000 lbs does not have a (*) next to it stating to increase that rating in the event of very low frontal area. The (published and legal) tow rating is unaffected and prevails....


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[GPSMan]

Do you mostly go by Jimmy or Saul?

Ok, copyright enforcement lawyer, Ford did not put an asterisk in their "booklets" because they didn't need to, nor would it be possible for them to describe every possible scenario.

But sceince talks and bull$hit walks.
So take a hike man.

For COMPARISON PURPOSES the RATING is 2000 lbs. Correct. I'll give ya that. That's so you can compare apples to apples when comparing vehicles.

That is NOT a "law" (certainly not of physics) or of mankind.

I can NOT be issued a "ticket" or be put in jail for towing more than 2000 pounds. Neither can you.
Now, go enjoy your truck in the way that makes you happy.

Addendum:

Commercial drivers can be cited for overweight conditions. In the state of California at least, private citizens cannot. Source: California Highway Patrol. When I asked my old College roommate who was a Colorado State Trooper back in 1996-1998 he said that's pretty universal. A citizen can be cited for "unsafe" driving for almost any observed unsafe condition. Weight by itself is not one of these conditions. If you were so heavy you had to drive so slow you were a hazard to others, you could be cited for impeding traffic. (Weight still not part of the ticket.). If you ran out of brakes and had to use the runaway truck ramp, you could be cited for speeding or reckless driving. (Weight still not part of the ticket.). If you KILLED someone while pulling a heavy load, you could be jailed just like killing someone drunk, or with lack of sleep, or while texting on your phone if you showed reckless endangerment. Or GROSS negligence.

Pulling 3300 pounds in a Hybrid Maverick, with proper equipment is not reckless. All the things FORD adds to the 4K package are to protect the engine, not the public at large.

 

[Johnkn]

Do you mostly go by Jimmy or Saul?

Ok, copyright enforcement lawyer, Ford did not put an asterisk in their "booklets" because they didn't need to, nor would it be possible for them to describe every possible scenario.

But sceince talks and bull$hit walks.
So take a hike man.

For COMPARISON PURPOSES the RATING is 2000 lbs. Correct. I'll give ya that. That's so you can compare apples to apples when comparing vehicles.

That is NOT a "law" (certainly not of physics) or of mankind.

I can NOT be issued a "ticket" or be put in jail for towing more than 2000 pounds. Neither can you.
Now, go enjoy your truck in the way that makes you happy.

You're not having a good night are you? More personal attacks and rambling..... Why can't we have a discussion without you making it personal and getting angry?

Just to be clear relative to your statement: "I can NOT be issued a "ticket" or be put in jail for towing more than 2000 pounds". In the U.S you 1000% can be issued a citation, detained, prevented to proceed with the trailer, etc. etc. if caught exceeding GVWR or GCRW when towing, it happens every single day and is enforced at both the State and Federal level...... Not my law, I don't enforce them, but I certainly am aware and strive to be legal and safe when pulling my 3500 lb trailer, my 10k trailer, and my 14k trailer......

Can't we just get along?
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[GPSMan]

Just to be clear relative to your statement: "I can NOT be issued a "ticket" or be put in jail for towing more than 2000 pounds". In the U.S you 1000% can be issued a citation, detained, prevented to proceed with the trailer, etc. etc. if caught exceeding GVWR or GCRW when towing, it happens every single day and is enforced at both the State and Federal level...... Not my law, I don't enforce them, but I certainly am aware and strive to be legal and safe when pulling my 3500 lb trailer, my 10k trailer, and my 14k trailer......

Can't we just get along?
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Just to be clear, you are confusing COMMERCIAL operations with
Non-commercial.

Please. Look up the differences then come back to the table. Please.

 

[Johnkn]

Just to be clear, you are confusing COMMERCIAL operations with
Non-commercial.

Please. Look up the differences then come back to the table. Please.

That would be a negative.... applies to private and commercial thought FMCSA primarily regulates commercial....

..

 

[GPSMan]

That would be a negative.... applies to private and commercial....

..

Proof would be nice.
Maybe your state (or state of mind?) is incredibly OCD.

 

[Tiger Dude]

"Driver Experience" does not change physics. It will not change how an overloaded vehicle handles. It will not makes btakes work better. If all this did was trash your truck I wouldn't care, but if you crash thru a minivan with 6 kids in it you should expect to go to jail. These things aren't just to protect you it's to protect everyone else on the road.

 

[CTYankee]

Lost in all these posts about what a Maverick can pull is a discussion of what a Maverick can control. That's what establishes the tow rating, not pulling power.

More weight can stress the driveline, which is why the 4K option comes with enhanced cooling, but it also changes the vehicle dynamics. You can't order the 4K option on FWD; that is about control more so than pulling power.

Here's an article and video that explains it all from the manufacturer's point of view.

How Tow Rating Is Determined on the Most Popular Trucks (roadandtrack.com)

 

[GPSMan]

Still- this has become about "preaching" more than facts and figures.

People keep returning to what you should do. This is different than what you can do. And what you can do safely.

I don't have a problem with either camp.
I disagree when someone says the hybrid can't tow more than 2,000 pounds. It 100% certainly can and will and does. That fact is irrefutable.

 

[commadorebob]

As a friend of mine who owns a 2002 Dodge Dakota once said when asked if he could pull our 8,000 pound scout trailer, "can I pull it? Sure. Can I stop it, however...?"

 

[GPSMan]

As a friend of mine who owns a 2002 Dodge Dakota once said when asked if he could pull our 8,000 pound scout trailer, "can I pull it? Sure. Can I stop it, however...?"

All part of the equation.
One I have done the math for.

 

[Johnkn]

If we are looking for actual facts, here are the factual Maverick Tow Ratings from Ford. Not what the truck might be able to do, not what someone's brother-in-law or friend told them 20 years ago, but the actual published Maverick Tow Ratings from Ford.

Page 38 of the Ford towing guide: https://www.fleet.ford.com/content/...-guides/2022_Ford_RVandTrailerTowingGuide.pdf

The advertised base curb weight for a Hybrid (with zero accessories, fuel, occupants, etc.) is 3674 lbs.

Plugging in a few weights:

3674 base curb weight
180 (1 driver, zero passengers)
100 (14 gallons of fuel)
2000 loaded trailer on its tires (trailer weight)
200 (10% tongue weight of 2200 trailer on ball becomes truck payload)
6154 total on a zero option XL (54 lbs over stated GCWR)

Ford notes below:
* Combined weight of vehicle and trailer cannot exceed the listed GCWR (6,100 lbs)
* Do not exceed the Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight listed (2,000 lbs)

Not my numbers, wishes, thoughts or hopes, these are directly from Ford.....


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[commadorebob]

180 (1 driver, zero passengers)

You don't have as many fried foods where you live, do you? I haven't weighed 180 since before I joined the Army 20 years ago.

(Yes, I get the point of the math. I just found that number funny.)

 

[Johnkn]

You don't have as many fried foods where you live, do you? I haven't weighed 180 since before I joined the Army 20 years ago.

(Yes, I get the point of the math. I just found that number funny.)

LOL, I WISH I weighed 180, LOL .

I just chose a random low number. I don't really care how anyone tows provided they don't hurt me or my family, but it's important for those new to towing to know the OEMs actual ratings.....

take care

 

[GPSMan]

SAE J2807, the vehicle tow testing.
I've done most of this test with my setup.

The acceleration test while towing requires single-wheel trucks to do 0-30 mph in 12 seconds, 0-60 mph in 30 seconds, and 40-60 mph in 18 seconds.

My Rig: Yes, Yes, Yes.

The truck must be able to brake from 20 mph to zero in 45 feet with trailer brakes, or 80 feet without.

My Rig: Yes, and Yes.

In terms of handling, the truck needs to be able to maintain understeer as it accelerates on a circular skid pad from 0.1 g to 0.3 g of lateral acceleration.

Not tested. But handles as good or better than anything I've towed with in 30 years. Anecdotal, but reassuring to me.

The final test is called the Highway Grade / Davis Dam Test. It requires that the truck be able to tow its maximum trailer weight up a specific 11.4-mile uphill stretch of road in Arizona. For this test to be run correctly, it must be at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit outside, and the air conditioning must be on its maximum setting using outside air. The truck must maintain a minimum speed of 40 mph (35 mph for a dually), and it can't throw any error codes or burn any fluids during the test.

My Rig: Passed the test on a 96 degree day. On a similar road in the Sierra Nevada range. Water temp never got above 215°F. I actually had sections of 6% with a peak of 7%. (Davis Dam Test is 5% average). Good enough for me. YMMV

I HAVE outfitted my rig with additional equipment. I HAVE added additional gauges to monitor everything. I HAVE a perfectly balanced trailer and tongue weight verified on a commercial truck scale. I did start smaller and work my way up to the 3300 lb. trailer. I've done the homework. I have the experience. I've researched all the laws (in my state and ones close by). I've spoken directly with three separate offices of highway patrol to make sure one wasn't feeding me bullshit to placate me and get me out of their hair. All said no laws are being broken. One said "it's your right to break your truck if you want, I'm only stopping you if you are driving too slow or it's apparent you are driving recklessly."

No one on this site has provided any data that the tow ratings are more than ratings.
They are a great guideline. They are for sure to give us a way to compare and contrast vehicle A to B. Is the 2.0 EB with 4k tow package better for towing? No doubt. Just like an F-350 would be better than the 2.0 EB.

For NON-Commercial use, those ratings are not legally binding.

Should you tow more is a matter of opinion.
Could you tow more while following the rules of the road? Yes. No one can credibly say otherwise. Show proof if you think you have it. I've only seen 100's of posts about recommendations and opinions about what you "should" do.

By the way, why 2000? Does anyone think the math on paper comes to EXACTLY 2000 lbs? Why not 2055 lbs? Why not 2345 pounds? So there is rounding. Rounding up or down?
Anyone think they rounded up? No?
So rounded down then. To what, nearest 10? Naw. Nearest 1000. At best nearest 500. Just sayin' 2000 is no "magic" number. It is a reasonable estimate. But clearly on the lower side.

I'm not an advocate of doing crazy stuff.
I am a very conservative driver, get 57 MPG on daily commutes and took it easy while towing also. Just illustrating 3300 lbs is not a crazy number. It's very reasonable with a proper setup and experience. Please only do what you are comfortable with. Some are comfortable driving their Mavericks 112 MPH. I'm not.

If you've read this far, I applaud you. You are clearly interested in knowing how things work.


Off topic: I always thought it was reckless to detonate fireworks or pyrotechnics indoors at shows and concerts with 10,000 people inside. Yet the laws and Fire Marshalls generally allow this all over the place. What "looks" dangerous at first glance can be very safe in reality. Just sayin you're probably better off not being quick to judge.

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