Hybrid Maverick towing observations [*Hybrid talk only*]

[acelee1895]

Photo of the day - 2022 XLT Hybrid with added equipment.

Do you feel like the frontal area had a signficant impact? would you feel like it would be easier with a v nose or slightly shorter trailer but similar weight?

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[GPSMan]

Do you feel like the frontal area had a signficant impact? would you feel like it would be easier with a v nose or slightly shorter trailer but similar weight?

Air drag is significant. So I just drive a bit slower.

The perfect "sweet spot" is 62 mph (100 km/h) on level ground. Here the truck does not struggle, stays about 2400 rpm and I get about 20 miles per gallon.

It will do 65-66 mph but the revs start to go up a lot and fuel economy goes down a lot above 62 mph / 100 km/h.

I was able to go up 11.5 miles of 11% grade at 40 mph.

The truck will do the 62 mph up 5% but revs will be high.

58 mph / 6%
55 mph / 7%
50 mph / 8%
45 mph / 9-10%
40 mph / 11%

It's a trade off. It's all about the same horsepower requirement.

I have learned nothing will overheat on a 98 degree day if you keep the power needle at 50% or less on sustained grades. Brief spikes to 60-70% are fine.

While towing, drive at whatever speed keeps that needle under 50%.

 

[GPSMan]

Photo of the day:

 

[Saltwater Cowboys]

Very informative thread, thanks OP.

For those who tow without air bags, how much rearend sag do you experience? I had a RAV4 Adventure (rated for 3500 lbs) and towing a 1500 lb boat it sagged enough for opposing traffic to constantly flash their high beams at me at night. I found this to be pretty annoying. Will this be an issue towing the same boat with the Maverick?

For the OP, what bags did you use and is there any noticeable difference in the ride when not towing or do you air them down?

 

[GPSMan]

A) I do not air them down. I put 20 psi in them (5 to 25 recommended) and leave it alone. Check on it every few months but it holds fine.

B) drives fine loaded and unloaded

C) helps keep the truck more level, but not perfectly level. Helps with headlamps but they still angle up a little. ( Why no auto-leveling headlamps in this modern age??? )

 

[GPSMan]

Photo of the day:

 

[GPSMan]

Can you tell which photo is with air bags at 20 psi and which is at zero psi?

For the record, I added air with nothing on the hitch, then added the trailer, then added luggage to the bed, then shot a photo, then let the air out of the bags.

350 pounds on the hitch.
200 pounds of stuff in the bed

The main difference is feel and handling. With 20 psi, the ride is smooth as silk over RR tracks, speed bumps, dips, driveways, etc. I can hardly feel the trailer is there. With a stiffer rear end, no bouncing, no see-saw, no porpoising or whatever you want to call it going over bumps.

 

[GPSMan]

Photo of the day:

 

[GPSMan]

Davis Dam: 11.4 miles, average 5% grade. 3000 foot gain.

I did a Davis Dam Test of my own with my Hybrid.

On South Klondike Highway
11.5 miles continuous uphill
3280 feet elevation gain
11% maximum grade
5.4% average grade

With 770 pounds passengers + cargo in truck and 3,000 lb. Trailer 7' x 12' x 9' tall

Passed the test. Could do above the speed limit the entire route with probably 25% headroom to spare.

(Photo not of Klondike Highway used days previously but I like it, and you get the idea.) The sign says "The Glacier was here in 1908"

 

[GPSMan]

Before anyone says "You need to do the Davis Dam Test on a 100 degree day." Let me say, you got me. I cheated.

I did do it on a 95 degree day. Twice.
On two separate but similar roads.

I didn't take photos of the roadway. Was busy driving.
Similar road to this:

 

[GPSMan]

If anyone says your Maverick isn't a truck, it sure can do "trucky" stuff. Like pull a trailer both directions of the Alaska Highway, one of roughest, toughest roads in North America. Which is what I did for summer vacation.

5,360 miles of some of the steepest roads in North America - used 298.60 gallons = 17.95 MPG overall.

Starting and Ending Point: San Francisco

 

[GPSMan]

Oil Life Start

Oil Life End - 3 weeks and 5,356.3 miles

So yeah, it compensates nicely for towing conditions.

 

[MaveRichard]

Oil Life Start

Oil Life End - 3 weeks and 5,356.3 miles

So yeah, it compensates nicely for towing conditions.

If this doesn’t prove what the hybrid powertrain is capable of, I’m not sure what would.

Wow. What a trip. I have a few comments and lots of questions. I’ll probably put those over in the towing thread though…

Edit: did not realize I was in the towing thread.

Did you experience any change in oil level?

 

[GPSMan]

A) If this doesn’t prove what the hybrid powertrain is capable of, I’m not sure what would.

Wow. What a trip.

B) Did you experience any change in oil level?

A) I agree.

B) No. And the oil looks like this at the end:

 

[MaveRichard]

A) I agree.

B) No. And the oil looks like this at the end:

Looks great. You have proven that it can basically do continuous duty up to 50% power. Overloaded with an un-aerodynamic brick of a trailer. In high temps and altitude, too. Makes me consider a set of bags if I ever load it down like that.

What max temps did you see? Coolant, traction motor, generator? I am assuming that battery temp was relatively stable.

Hard to tell in these pics - are you still on factory tires?

Towing, monitoring, etc - what was the most surprising part of what you learned about your truck

My curiosity is getting the best of me here… what’s in the trailer? And how was the trip other than the truck

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