2023 Mav XLT FX4/AWD/Towing/Luxury/EB/Area 51

[Juanderosa]

Finally got my truck last week. Ordered during the window in September. Pretty much got what I wanted want to document upgrades, add-ones, etc.

Only a few options that jumped out. Full size spare, rear window, remote start, and "weather tech" floor mats.

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[Juanderosa]

So a running list of what's on order so far, will likely take pictures of each item as it shows up and gets put on:

Black lug nuts. Want to get a non-marring socket before I make the switch (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07V252JMN)
Kia Self Dimming/HomeLink rear view mirror (A7062-ADUP1 - Ec Mirror W Compass - Kia Auto Parts)
Center console 2 level tray (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B7QNBNRR)
Glovebox organizer (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BJZ3232B)
Muslogy center console dash tray https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BQ6KRX9B)
Vgate Vlinker Forscan adapter (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B094Z7PBLS)
Lock for the rear bed storage compartment (https://www.homedepot.com/p/Prime-L...less-Steel-5-16-in-Max-Panel-U-9941/100173693)
Rough Country Tailgate Assist (Tailgate Assist | Ford Maverick (2022-2023) | Rough Country)
Lincoln Nautilus engine cover
Mytee L-Track for bed (4 Foot L-Track Black Powder Coated (myteeproducts.com)
Anchors for L-Track ( L-Track Stud with Black Powder coated (myteeproducts.com)
Carabc Wireless CarPlay USB adaptor. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BD6V7M57
Racing Relation Wheels 17' X 8" Bronze RR5-S 17" Hub centric Offroad Wheel for Ford Bronco Sport | RRW - Relations Race Wheels
Builtright Industries Bedside Molle Panel Bedside Rack System - Bed MOLLE Panel | Ford Maverick (2022+) - BuiltRight Industries
Builtright Industries Molle Hardware kit MOLLE Nuts | Threaded MOLLE/PALS Fastener - BuiltRight Industries
Toyota Tundra OEM Bed Rail (cut down to size, similar to this) 2007-2021 Toyota Tundra Truck Bed Rail PT278-34071 | AutoNationParts.com
Toyota Tundra OEM Bed Cleat x8 PT278-35160 - Genuine Toyota Bed Cleats (toyotapartsdeal.com)
Diode Dynamics Rear Brake/Reverse Light kit. https://www.diodedynamics.com/stage-series-reverse-light-kit-for-2022-2024-ford-maverick.html
JJC Rear Bumper Light Mounting kit (for the above) https://www.diodedynamics.com/stage-series-reverse-light-kit-for-2022-2024-ford-maverick.html
JJC Grille Light Mounting Brackets (for the Heise lights). https://jjc-llc.com/collections/2022-ford-maverick-fx4
JJC Fog Light Mounting Kit https://jjc-llc.com/products/2022-ford-maverick-fx4-fog-light-brackets?variant=40453895487534
Diode Dynamics SS3 Angles Amber Pro Fog Lights (to mount using the above JJC brackets) https://www.diodedynamics.com/stage-series-3-sae-yellow-pro-angled-led-pod-pair.html
JJC Ditch light brackets (for 2nd set of Heise fog lights below). https://jjc-llc.com/products/2022-ford-maverick-a-pillar-ditch-light-brackets
Steeda Front Strut Tower Brace Steeda 555 5736 Escape/Bronco Sport/Maverick Strut Tower Brace (20-22)
Steeda Adjustable Rear Anti-Sway Bar. Steeda 555-1031 Bronco Sport/Escape/Maverick AWD Rear Sway Bar (20-23)
Heise HE-CL22PK. 3” 4 LED Cube Light X 2 (ditch lights and grille lights) https://heiseled.com/product/HE-CL22PK
Mabett rear hitch area cover https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0D9L8TC9V
Mabett Seat Covers (front and rear) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BYN2NMZ3


Car Stereo

Gonna separate the Car Stereo from the rest of the stuff since it's pretty extensive.

Stereo is a work in progress that has been back and forth (I bought a bunch of other stuff for a VERY complicated system (2 4 channel amps and 1 2 channel amp as well as a separate DSP)). This is about as simple as I wanted to go. Going for drop in so I get it done versus something over the top that will sit in boxes in my garage. Car Audio is something I've been involved with for 35+ years so had some over the top plans.

For the amp, went with a Audison Forza AF M8.14 14 Channel DSP with 8 channels built in. Rated at 90 watts x 8. Audison has a several models with built in DSP with a number of different options for power, channels of amplifiers and channels of DSP. They had 2 models of 8 channel with 14 channels, I went with the higher powered model of the two. I also wanted to go with something that I could easily tune myself, this one has software that will get you vast majority of the way by just setting a target curve and it'll do the rest.

Audison Forza AF M8.14 bit - DSP AMPLIFIER

You don't need this to use the amplifier, but it makes it easier to switch from one EQ/DSP preset to another, adjust sub levels. They have a fancy one with a display, but in the interest of keeping it simple stupid (KISS) I went with the easier one to install.

DRC AC - Audison - Car Audio Amplifiers, Speakers, Processors

Subwoofers


Speakers

Still a work in progress. I bought these because I got a deal from a friend. They are designed to go in shallow spaces, so I figured worse case I could put the midrange in the dash (either under the grille or create a new one) with the tweeter either on the grille or on the A-pillar). The midbass I'm going to have to order some door adapters to see how it will fit. I want something that will drop into a door adaptor, don't want to have to fabricate one myself. Each driver will get driven actively from the Audison amp (so no passive crossovers).

VIRTUS NANO CARBON 63 3-WAY VIRTUS NANO CARBON Systems - Morel Hifi


Sound deadener

There are a number of different materials you can use to "sound deaden" a car/truck. There is stuff that makes stuff heavier (so it takes more energy to make something vibrate, great for a spot you put a door speaker), absorbs sound (so absorbs road noise, think like carpet padding), and insulates (so keeps your car cooler). There are also minor things you can use to keep stuff from rubbing against each other (like a wire harness in a door might be covered with the loop side of the Velcro to keep a Molex plug from vibrating against the door panel lets say). Lots of little tricks beyond the "Dynamat" stuff you put behind a speaker. You need to be using multiple products to get the best results.

Went with some Second Skin Audio. Lots of different products available to cover both car and home.
Second Skin Audio: Soundproofing & Noise Control Solutions

Going to put this behind the seats and the headliner. Not really designed for the doors as it could
Heat Wave Pro: Automotive Heat Insulation - Second Skin Audio

This will go on the floor to absorb sound from road noise and what have you. Also used in the door between the door panel and the metal door panel.
Luxury Liner Pro - MLV + Foam Auto Sound Barrier Sheet - Second Skin

This will go under the headliner as well as in cavities and in the doors. It won't hold water so it will work in areas that could see moisture. It will absorb sound as well as insulate.
Mega Zorbe: Hydrophobic Melamine Foam Sheets - Second Skin Audio

 

[Juanderosa]

Center console tray showed up. Drops right in. I like the orange flair but available in black as well. Not bad for under $25.

Cost: $22.55
Install Time: Under 5 minutes
Tools needed: None
Difficulty: (1 to 5, 5 being hardest) 1

Center console 2 level tray (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B7QNBNRR)

 

[JBryant]

Got the same center console tray for both our Mavericks. They are great. Wish you were closer and I would give you the glove box organizer. I worked for thirty minutes trying to make it work and it was a problem even getting the owner manual to fit right, so just took it out and threw it on the shelf. Guess that $17 was donated. Enjoy your Maverick and sounds like you are going to be busy with mods.

 

[Juanderosa]

Got mine from Amazon.. No $17 donations for me if it doesn't fit right.

Got the same center console tray for both our Mavericks. They are great. Wish you were closer and I would give you the glove box organizer. I worked for thirty minutes trying to make it work and it was a problem even getting the owner manual to fit right, so just took it out and threw it on the shelf. Guess that $17 was donated. Enjoy your Maverick and sounds like you are going to be busy with mods.

 

[Juanderosa]

Update March 2024.
The lug nuts didn’t work with the new wheels. So out they went. plus two of them failed (the ends came off). Plus the wheels are painted everywhere, with where the factory lugs not painted. And these weren’t shaped like the factory lugs. So probably wouldn’t buy again.

Black lug nuts. Have black wheels so didn’t like the chrome lug nuts. From experience, needed to get a non-marring socket to make sure I don’t scratch the black wheels. Bought a metric one (first American car). Had to cancel and get an SAE one.

Packaging left something to be desired. Nothing holding them in so half weren’t in place when I opened the box. (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07V252JMN)

The lug nut was pretty easy to find, paid about $7 with prime free shipping:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H8A56NG

Cost: $7 for the non-marring lug nut tool (probably most people won't have it) $22.92 for lug nuts.
Install Time: TBD
Tools needed: Lug Nut wrench and battery powered impact wrench (to speed things up, hand tighten at the end)
Difficulty: (1 to 5, 5 being hardest) 1 (hard to mess up if you pull one off and immediately replace it)

 

[Juanderosa]

Kia Self Dimming/HomeLink rear view mirror. (A7062-ADUP1 - Ec Mirror W Compass - Kia Auto Parts)

Showed up today. Just thrown in the box. No padding or nothing else. So if you buy this and throw it in a closet waiting for install, I would check to make sure it isn’t busted.

Comes with programming instructions for HomeLink but no wiring instructions in the packaging.

Cost: $12.59 (plus about $10 in shipping)
Install Time: About 30 minutes. Could be less if I had all the tools, connectors, etc.
Tools needed: T20 Torx bit screwdriver, interior panel tool set, Crimper, voltmeter.
Difficulty: (1 to 5, 5 being hardest) 2 or possibly 3 (depends on how comfortable you are pulling stuff apart, especially on a new car that the parts might be hard to get if you break something)

First I used a t20 torx but to remove the old mirror. I would be very gingerly pulling it off as you need to wiggle it. You don’t want to pull off that shoe it slides into or crack your windshield.

You need to pull the black thing above the mirror and the overhead map light/glasses holder.

I used some non-marring interior tools you can get at harbor freight to get the mirror thing. The other thing comes down bepulling on it. Don’t pull on the door and pull on both sides.

Similar to these (they have a few different versions I think, some with more, some with less)

Trim And Molding Tool Set, 5 Piece (harborfreight.com)

The electrical plug for the map lights is short. Very hard to get back on in hindsight. I was lazy and kept the full length of wire from the kit. Probably a mistake. I had to struggle to get the harness back into a position where I could plug it in. I didn’t have any of the insulated terminals.

Still need to calibrated .

 

[Juanderosa]

Muslogy center console dash tray

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BQ6KRX9B)

Cost: $12.59 (plus about $3 in shipping)
Install Time: About 1 minute
Tools needed: none
Difficulty: (1 to 5, 5 being hardest) 1

Impressions? Honestly it’s got a a few rough/sharp edges. Also the trauma underneath is sort of out of site. With this on top it reminds you the dash sort of titles down.

Also the little nub that helps you pull the rubber up is placed on the front so you can see it from the drivers position.

 

[Juanderosa]

Placeholder for Vgate Vlinker Forscan adapter (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B094Z7PBLS)

 

[Juanderosa]

Lock for the rear bed storage compartment. About $8. About 15 minutes ID you have the tools. Maybe less.
(https://www.homedepot.com/p/Prime-L...less-Steel-5-16-in-Max-Panel-U-9941/100173693)

Cost: $7
Install Time: Can probably do in 5 if you have all the tools and the door in front of you.
Tools needed: Drill, UniBit, philips screwdriver.
Difficulty: (1 to 5, 5 being hardest) 1

Not sure why they didn’t but a way to lock these. Probably a $2 part.

Basically, you need to remove the old lock. You’ll need a torx wrench to do so. Remove one screw and it comes apart.

Then you’ll need to drill a 3/4” hole for the new lock to fit. I used a Unibit. Pretty common at Harbor Freight for a cheap one.

Then the lock slides right in.

The kit comes with a bunch of parts you don’t need. I X’ed the parts I kept in the diagram.

Then you put the pieces together. From nearest to plastic panel to furthest.

spur washer > nut > 90 degree rotation washer > offset cam > star washer > screw.

You will need a big wrench to get the spur washer on. You will like need to push down on it to get the teeth to bite into the plastic.

Be careful where you put the 90 degree rotation washer.

I put it in the position below then put the offset cam facing 12 o clock and on the front the key in a vertical position. That will ensure the key opens and closes like the diagram molded into the door.

 

[Juanderosa]

Placeholder for Rough Country Tailgate Assist (Tailgate Assist | Ford Maverick (2022-2023) | Rough Country)

 

[Juanderosa]

Was told that a few (minor in my book) options might delay my order so I skipped. I consider mine pretty loaded, and after hearing what they've said about the factory bedliner I'm ok with an aftermarket one.

Honestly, I would have considered a Hybrid AWD if that was an option, but I'm happy with what I got.

 

[Puckitup27]

Looks great!
Pretty much my exact order except I didn't need the tow package. Can't wait to get mine!

 

[Juanderosa]

Placeholder for Bed anchor system

Mytee L-Track for bed (4 Foot L-Track Black Powder Coated (myteeproducts.com)
Anchors for L-Track ( L-Track Stud with Black Powder coated (myteeproducts.com)

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