Hybrid Maverick towing observations [*Hybrid talk only*]

[Montana]

I am not. The same platform can tow 4000.

It would be nice though if the hybrid had a 3000 Lb towing package to allow it more overhead for tongue weight.

Yes, the "same platform" with a trailer brake, different gearing, different engine and actual tow options...

Even then, going over the tow weight will have the same effect. Rear end sags more making the steer tires less useful in certain situations and braking distance is greatly increased. The point I'm making is putting too much stress on any of it is never a good idea. That's all.

I do agree without about the Hybrid being able to tow more with the right equipment, and manufacturers are making those moves.

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[AutobahnSHO]

Is there a pig tail for a brake controller on the hybrids like my Flex and Explorer?

The hybrid isn't supposed to tow over 2000 lbs so I super doubt it.

 

[Wire4money]

I am not. The same platform can tow 4000.

It would be nice though if the hybrid had a 3000 Lb towing package to allow it more overhead for tongue weight.

Not exactly. 4K is only available on AWD which has a completely different rear suspension.

 

[GPSMan]

FYI: If your maverick is overheating you should pull over and leave it running. Not shut it off. If the overheating doesn't go away within a few minutes turn it off and get towed. Something broke.

The hybrid mav actively cools itself. It can't do that if you turn the engine off. (This is from what I remember from reading the manual)

Exactly this. I was going to say the same thing.

SLOW DOWN or STOP but keep key to RUN.

If you heed early warnings, (I've never had any warning of any kind the once I came close, scan gauge gave me warning BEFORE the Maverick did) all those electric cooling pumps and/or fan will cool the truck in 3 to 5 minutes.

I slowed from ~ 55 mph to 45 mph on a steep multi-mile sustained grade and just that little adjustment prevented over-heat. It's just that easy.

A SCANGAUGEIII should be part of any towing package- along with brake controller. It's about the size of a brake controller, is portable between vehicles, and is oh so useful.

 

[GPSMan]

Is there a pig tail for a brake controller on the hybrids like my Flex and Explorer?

No. But super easy to add your own brake controller.

 

[GPSMan]

Tow / Haul

It's NOT going to constantly use the battery. It is going to hold the battery at about 50% most of the time. When doing highway driving.

In stop n go the truck will take slow speed opportunities and charge to 70%

The battery allowable range is 30% to 70% (brief exceptions to 28% and 72%).

In Tow / Haul typical condition; you have only ~20% empty space for regen and ~20% available for electric boost.

In reality this is 30 seconds of boost or 30 seconds of regen. But with such a small battery; you could only have 60 seconds of either in any case.

In Normal Mode:
The truck will battery boost down to 30% and hold it there. When towing, this will give you maximum regen space cresting a hill for example.

Therefore I will switch to Normal nearing the top of a hill that I know I will then have a downhill stretch.

Also, you can't "coast" in tow/haul.
I will use Normal or even Slippery on mild down grades. (4% to 6%)
I will use Tow/haul on strong grades (6% to 9%).
I will use Tow/haul plus Low on extreme grades, 9% and above.

I just had to do a long 11% down grade. It was tow + L + pulsing the brakes 5 seconds on, 5 seconds off at 40 MPH.

 

[Delzona]

FWIW, I don't have anywhere near the data provided but I can provide a real world towing example from my experience.

I took my hybrid from East TN to East Central FL (~11 hour drive) while towing my motorcycle. This was not max towing weight of course but still wanted to put this here as I feel its relevant to know how it preforms both at/above max weight and down within the suggested range.

Trailer: 5x8 Carry On, ~350 lbs (I think)
Bike: 2006 Vulcan Classic, ~650 lbs
Total weight: somewhere around ~1000 lbs
Average MPG: 24.5

Made 2 stops but probably could have made it one if I stretched things out a bit.

Coming out of TN on I-26 there's some fairly high grade hills but I felt the Maverick handled them with no trouble at all. Stayed ~55 mph range the whole trip through the mountains, 65-70 mph once out in the rolling hills and flats of I-26/95.

I'm glad to read about your trip and having no issues. I'm hoping to do a similar trip next summer only I'll be going from AZ to DE. I'm not sure if I'll take one or both of my Harleys with me. If I take both then I'll be getting close to the 2k limit, which I have no doubts the Maverick will handle like a boss!!!

 

[JJP]

Totally makes sense. It’s basically a 2.5l escape fuel economy in those conditions.

 

[MaveRichard]

It allows 27 presets, 9 per screen x 3 screens. You just swipe across to toggle between the 3 screens like a smart phone.

Shown here is a short duration "peak" burst of power going up a heavy grade for about 1 minute / 1 mile.

Today I went down an 11% grade into a river valley and went up a 9% grade on the other side. Piece of cake because the slopes were only about a mile each.

Below, power output about 80% for a really short period, 20-30 seconds. What I want to point out is: in Tow / Haul mode the battery does almost no work. It sat at 50% charged +/- 5% all day long. No matter how steep the grade.

The main reason the GENERATOR gets hot while towing is: It is generating power all day long and sending the high wattage to the traction motor all day long. It never gets a rest. It is like a diesel train locomotive in Tow/Haul mode. It is smaller than the traction motor and is working harder in proportion to the traction motor so it gets much warmer than the traction motor. The traction motor IS assisting the gas engine while towing, but it is getting 95-99% of it's juice from the generator, NOT the battery. The battery had an easy day while I'm in tow/haul mode.

Pictured:

Gen Torque: -51 lb/ft. Negative because it is being driven, not driving something.

Gen Speed: 11,461 RPM. Ya Really!

Gen Coil Temp: 217°F. The Escape allowed 265°F before a warning and 285°F before a shut down. The Maverick should be similar.

Traction Motor Torque: 94 lb/ft. And it's getting it's juice from the generator. I know this because the battery SOC was not changing at this moment.

HV State of Charge: 44.7% and static (or within a couple tenths per minute).

Traction Motor Coil Temp: 154°F and about the peak of the day. Usually in the 140's.

Engine Torque: 171.9 lb/ft.

Engine RPM: 5123 (governed to 5600)

Engine Coolant: 207°F and about the peak of the day. Usually 190 to 200.

The generator gets hot because as engine rpm rises the generator rpm rises. The generator also gets hot because it rarely gets a rest. It rests while coasting / gliding downhill and when in EV mode. It cools rapidly when engine RPM is under 2500. It maintains a warm, but even steady temperature if you keep the power output needle at 50% or less.

When you try it, you will see you can do a helluva lot with the needle at 50% and under.

It is because of this post that I now have one of these on the way from Linear Logic.

It was always going to happen, this just made it happen sooner.

Thank you?

 

[GPSMan]

It is because of this post that I now have one of these on the way from Linear Logic.

It was always going to happen, this just made it happen sooner.

Thank you?

Glad to hear it.

Should be part of every tow kit.
When it comes, be sure to follow directions for "X-Gauges".

While it comes out of the box with a multitude of features, it has to do a short "hand shake" with the Ford Maverick to set up Ford specific and hybrid specific functions.

 

[acelee1895]

Do you feel like the front end is any more likely to slip with the extra weight in the back? or do you think the airbags completely negate the since it wont sag. I towed a trailer just under the 2000 lbs and granted it had just rained but I had to be noticeably cautious on acceleration to not slip the front tires on inclines

 

[GPSMan]

Do you feel like the front end is any more likely to slip with the extra weight in the back? or do you think the airbags completely negate the since it wont sag. I towed a trailer just under the 2000 lbs and granted it had just rained but I had to be noticeably cautious on acceleration to not slip the front tires on inclines

Basically yes. It is more likely to slip.

There is less force on the front tires.
Also there is a "parachute" or "anchor" holding the truck back, the trailer.

Add to this the electric motor has high torque at low speeds and the wheels will slip leaving from a dead stop, especially on unpaved surfaces.

I've never had any slip while already in motion. Just when I came to a stop sign on a gravel road, and was turning AND accelerating at the same time.

I think the FWD is a weak link.
Not the engine.
Not the transmission.
Not the radiator.
Not the battery.
Not the frame or hitch.

You DO have to be gentle on the pedal while on unpaved surfaces. Even with air suspension added.

 

[acelee1895]

Basically yes. It is more likely to slip.

There is less force on the front tires.
Also there is a "parachute" or "anchor" holding the truck back, the trailer.

Add to this the electric motor has high torque at low speeds and the wheels will slip leaving from a dead stop, especially on unpaved surfaces.

I've never had any slip while already in motion. Just when I came to a stop sign on a gravel road, and was turning AND accelerating at the same time.

I think the FWD is a weak link.
Not the engine.
Not the transmission.
Not the radiator.
Not the battery.
Not the frame or hitch.

You DO have to be gentle on the pedal while on unpaved surfaces. Even with air suspension added.

I agree with you on the fwd being the weak point. I really wish they would get an E-AWD system like the escape and rav4 hybrids have. in towing mode, the rear motor always being engaged would do wonders for that. Have you considered balancing the truck a little bit? for example, putting sand bag in the engine compartment as far forward as possible to counter some of the weight in the back? or is it not nearly bad enough for that?
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[Automate]

I think the FWD is a weak link.
Not the engine.
Not the transmission.
Not the radiator.
Not the battery.
Not the frame or hitch.

While I agree that FWDs are not the best for towing, we can look at the specs for other vehicles and say FWD is not the week link.

Escape 1.5 EcoBoost AWD 2000 Lbs tow capacity (same C2 platform as Maverick)
Bronco Sport 2.0 EcoBoost AWD 2200 Lbs tow capacity (same C2 platform as Maverick)
Maverick 2.0 EcoBoost AWD 2000 Lbs tow capacity (without 4K package)

Santa Cruz FWD 3500 Lbs tow capacity (191 HP engine)

I contend it's the engine. Towing a heavy load up a long hill, the battery and electric motors do you no good. You are down to the 162 HP ICE engine.

 

[GPSMan]

Real world tests show it's maybe FWD and maybe horsepower. It's about a tie.

Also a quirk is, you can't really down shift. Well, the truck's computer can down shift in a sense for you at high wheel speeds but is severely limited at slow wheel speeds.

It's counterintuitive but the hybrid can tow uphill at 45 mph a helluva lot better than it can at 15 mph.

FWD traction only aside, Slow speed and steep, this hybrid will struggle.

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