Towing a 1500lb camper trailer with hybrid?

[19mustang65]

They say the max towing is 2k lbs. You are describing towing 2200 lbs. Dont put your family at risk. Find something lighter. Period.

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[Ferroplasm]

They say the max towing is 2k lbs. You are describing towing 2200 lbs. Dont put your family at risk. Find something lighter. Period.

Where'd you get that number? Dry weight of the trailer is 1500lbs. We won't put anywhere close to 700 lbs in it. The other weight I referenced would go in the bed or cab.

 

[vabchusa]

I recently tried to rent a small motorcycle trailer from U-haul and was told the Maverick was not rated for any TOWED eqip from U-haul. After showing them the manual they allowed it to go.

 

[JimParker256]

I would bet that the main driving factor in fords 2,000 lb limit for the 4prong no brake trailer is the max trailer weight in the state which allows the least weight trailer without brakes.

Could well be, but surge brakes can resolve that problem, as U-Haul has been doing for decades...

 

[MiMav]

Ultimately it will be what you are comfortable with doing. I personally looked hard at getting a hybrid and towing a ~1500 lbs dry weight camper. But when I started adding up people and gear, what I really started running up against was the GCWR max of 6010 lbs. With the 3674 lbs vehicle weight plus the 1500 lbs camper, that only left 836 lbs for people and gear. Since I want to be able to drive long distances and in mountains, I decided I needed to go with the EB tow package.

 

[GPSMan]

Lots of confusion out there.

Basically, the USA has faster speed limits than most countries.

Therefore the same truck is rated lower in the USA than other countries.

Ford's published values are the "any road, any speed" what I call "no compromise" numbers.

In fact, the Ford marketing campaign for the original Escape Hybrid was "A No Compromise SUV".

If you make a compromise and slow down the truck can pull more safely.

I'd use trailer brakes at 2000 lbs and above. A few states require trailer brakes at 1500 lbs and above so the pins on your connector are NOT strictly based on DOT regulations, but more for the "average" user.

You can add the 7 pin connector for under $50. You can add a trailer brake controller for under $200.

 

[JimParker256]

Where'd you get that number? Dry weight of the trailer is 1500lbs. We won't put anywhere close to 700 lbs in it. The other weight I referenced would go in the bed or cab.

Yeah, I suspect he misread your original post, where you said you would have 600-700 lbs of people + cargo when you traveled. Some of that load (at least two people), and probably some other "stuff" would be in the cab or bed of your Maverick. With that said, you'd likely be well below the trailer towing capacity of your Maverick (even if your trailer has 500+ lbs Cargo Carrying Capacity).

Our previous 5th wheel camper had plenty of CCC to handle the ginormous cooler we took with us, but when all the slides were pulled in, there wasn't a lot of floor space remaining, so we carried that cooler (along with the portable generator and gas tanks) in the bed of the truck. Made it quick and easy to get drinks when we stopped to use the rest rooms, as well.

 

[19mustang65]

Where'd you get that number? Dry weight of the trailer is 1500lbs. We won't put anywhere close to 700 lbs in it. The other weight I referenced would go in the bed or cab.

Do as you please sir, I'll take my 2 cents back

 

[OneAlienBoi]

I'm a little torn here, don't get me wrong, I'm sure the maverick is beefed up to handle to repeated abuse that towing puts on a vehicles powertrain. But I've heard that towing can massively reduce the lifespan of a powertrain, especially if you're exceeding official ratings.

The maverick is great if you occasionally need to tow/haul things. But for your use case, if you're going to be towing something that weighs several thousand pounds somewhat regularly, I would almost recommend getting into something like the new ranger instead.

 

[OneAlienBoi]

If I read OP correctly, at most he should be at 2,200 pounds. I feel confident that 200 pounds would be within limitations. If other poster is having no problems for two months, i would feel safe doing it. Obviously, speed would need to be adjusted accordingly and steep grades would present a problem. I am sure Mav would enjoy camping.

I'd be pretty willing to bet that the "actual" limits of the maverick when it comes to towing/hauling are hundreds, maybe even thousands of
lbs more than what Ford has stated. But I'd be a little sketched out personally trying to push my hybrid beyond that 2,000 lb tow rating.

My approach to vehicle ownership is to always baby our vehicles, even
if it's advertised how much abuse they can take. I've never been one for the "let's push this thing to the limits" approach to vehicle ownership. Ok

 

[djarms12]

I have a question for people who tow a small trailer with their hybrid. The Hybrid has a 4-pin connector but what if the trailer is a 7-pin? Do you use a "quick connect" plug to connect the 4-pin to the 7-pin or have you been able to convert the Hybrid to a true 7 pin?

 

[GPSMan]

I have a question for people who tow a small trailer with their hybrid. The Hybrid has a 4-pin connector but what if the trailer is a 7-pin? Do you use a "quick connect" plug to connect the 4-pin to the 7-pin or have you been able to convert the Hybrid to a true 7 pin?

I have both the original 4 pin and I added my own 7 pin.

(4 pin moved, and yes I'm missing a screw, lost one during install, no biggie and has been low priority to find a replacement)

4 of the 7 in the 7 are identical and are interconnected. You'll need to add 3 additional wires only.

1 continuous 12 volt power (or switches on with ignition)
1 for trailer brakes led to brake controller in cab
1 for reverse lamp on trailer (optional and if so equipped).

 

[djarms12]

So, it is possible to add a 7-pin connector to the Hybrid. My teardrop does not have electric brakes but a 7-pin connector. I wanted the wire from the 7-pin to the 12-volt battery so I could charge the teardrop battery while driving. Did you do the install or have someone do it?

 

[GPSMan]

This:

This connects to the stock plug. No cutting or splicing.

You run your own 12v positive and brake control wire to cab. There are pre-made holes in the battery box under the seat.

Very convenient to DIY.

HTH

 

[GPSMan]

The nice thing about the above part is you get two ground wires. Two SEPARATE ground wires. Being outdoors, wet, in motion, etc. this will double the reliability. Many times lamps fail due to poor grounding.

The white wire (stock) supplied by Ford is one ground path. The Curt white wire with ring terminal (to go under a small bolt) is a second redundant ground path. I kinda like that.

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