Steep Inclines: Sport Mode or Tow/Haul?

[Johnno]

Hey all, first post here. Before anyone gets snarky, I've spent the past 25 minutes or so reading through threads and couldn't find the specific answer to my question - so here it goes: On a slippery, wet, STEEP hill which requires extra torque, which mode is the best option? I drive a '24 FWD Lariat Hybrid. Which gives me the most bang for my buck getting uphill without risking sliding backwards? (would Slippery mode give me enough juice in Low gear?) Appreciate your thoughts!

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[Master Blaster]

Put it in slippery mode. You just put your foot into it more if you need to get occasional extra torque after a slight delay. The most crucial part of climbing is keeping traction, not throwing debris everywhere and making potholes to impress the locals with your he-man stunts. However, the more important factor (especially on FWD) is to have suitable tires - offroad tires in mud and ice-rated tires on snow and ice.

 

[710-oil-614]

Hey all, first post here. Before anyone gets snarky, I've spent the past 25 minutes or so reading through threads and couldn't find the specific answer to my question - so here it goes: On a slippery, wet, STEEP hill which requires extra torque, which mode is the best option? I drive a '24 FWD Lariat Hybrid. Which gives me the most bang for my buck getting uphill without risking sliding backwards? (would Slippery mode give me enough juice in Low gear?) Appreciate your thoughts!

Neither mode is going to provide you additional torque. Slippery mode will feather your initial throttle input and engage tractional control quickly - effectively killing engine speed and power output.

The hybrid does not have a low gear and final drive ratio is 2.91 which is not going to provide low end grunt and torque at low speeds.

 

[dalola]

You're going to have to experiment, because there are additional factors that are not mentioned or known. For example, if it is so slippery that even TC is not effective, you will need to turn it off, and rely more on momentum. In such a case, drive mode is much less a factor, and tires & driving skill become much more significant. If it's extreme, also consider going up in reverse, to maximize your FWD weight transfer.

 

[AutobahnSHO]

The electric motor provides max torque at any speed, but it's low output. Good tires will help more than anything, then I agree a bit of speed to start helps get up a lot of slippery situations.

 

[Ozarkbeard]

OP: It's amazing how steep of an incline the truck will go up with only the Electric motor propelling it, if you let it. Like the steep gravel road on my land to/from my house.

IIRC from reading on MTC, on the Hybrid; Sport and Tow/Haul are the about same, minus the fake shift points added by the computer in Sport mode. I just use Slippery mode. Hopefully, you have proper tires for the task.

 

[Tiger Dude]

Slippery mode just lightens throttle response and engages traction control quickly (maybe), as said before.

Hybrid transmissions are effectively CVT's, engine revs will be based on load and throttle position according to what the computer wants, not terribly different form gear selection in EB's.

If wheels slip before you can go up a hill, you'll just go backwards no matter what more you have on. Certainly there are iced conditions that zero vehicles can ascend even with studs or chains. We can't fix physics with shift points and throttle response, we can just help.

 

[The Real Maverick]

Hey all, first post here. Before anyone gets snarky, I've spent the past 25 minutes or so reading through threads and couldn't find the specific answer to my question - so here it goes: On a slippery, wet, STEEP hill which requires extra torque, which mode is the best option? I drive a '24 FWD Lariat Hybrid. Which gives me the most bang for my buck getting uphill without risking sliding backwards? (would Slippery mode give me enough juice in Low gear?) Appreciate your thoughts!

Two things:

1) it does not matter which mode you are in for the most part. Tow / haul will raise the rpm of the gas engine by a few hundred. That's it.

2) you don't want (or need) more torque in wet or slippery conditions. You want AND NEED less. Which is what you'll get in slippery mode. So use slippery mode in slippery conditions, and use tow mode while towing. If towing in slippery conditions, I'd use slippery.

In all other cases, just drive carefully.

Bonus: L does nothing for going. "L" only helps for slowing you down.

Hope this helps.

 

[tom_tucker]

Neither mode is going to provide you additional torque. Slippery mode will feather your initial throttle input and engage tractional control quickly - effectively killing engine speed and power output.

The hybrid does not have a low gear and final drive ratio is 2.91 which is not going to provide low end grunt and torque at low speeds.

In other words, the Maverick Hybrid requires a human push out of deep snow when parked, even with snow tires, IME. God help us all in January...

 

[The Real Maverick]

Bonus: L does nothing for going. "L" only helps for slowing you down.

Extra super secret bonus:

The Prius cars have a similar transmission. Instead of a "L" button the earlier cars at least, have a "B" button. For "brake". As in, selecting this mode provides extra braking effect.

Much more CORRECTLY descriptive.
But dumb humans were so used to "low gear" nomenclature, Ford went with a pretend "simulated" low gear setting, and I think Toyota switched to "L" as well to appease the humans behind the wheel.

 

[710-oil-614]

In other words, the Maverick Hybrid requires a human push out of deep snow when parked, even with snow tires, IME. God help us all in January...

Haha no I think it will do just fine especially with AWD. OP asked in reference to torque and although the torque is immediate from electric motor - the eCVT gearing doesn't provide for low gearing so that immediate torque is somewhat "reduced" in practical application....that's all.

Definitely won't be rock crawling a hybrid anytime soon!!

 

[Johnno]

Neither mode is going to provide you additional torque. Slippery mode will feather your initial throttle input and engage tractional control quickly - effectively killing engine speed and power output.

The hybrid does not have a low gear and final drive ratio is 2.91 which is not going to provide low end grunt and torque at low speeds.

Thanks for the reply, that's helpful. However I do have a L smack dab in the middle of my shifter so I believe that's what that is unless I'm mistaken and that's something else...but I'm pretty sure thats for low gear.

 

[Johnno]

Two things:

1) it does not matter which mode you are in for the most part. Tow / haul will raise the rpm of the gas engine by a few hundred. That's it.

2) you don't want (or need) more torque in wet or slippery conditions. You want AND NEED less. Which is what you'll get in slippery mode. So use slippery mode in slippery conditions, and use tow mode while towing. If towing in slippery conditions, I'd use slippery.

In all other cases, just drive carefully.

Bonus: L does nothing for going. "L" only helps for slowing you down.

Hope this helps.

Def helpful, good to know about L!

 

[Johnno]

Hey all, first post here. Before anyone gets snarky, I've spent the past 25 minutes or so reading through threads and couldn't find the specific answer to my question - so here it goes: On a slippery, wet, STEEP hill which requires extra torque, which mode is the best option? I drive a '24 FWD Lariat Hybrid. Which gives me the most bang for my buck getting uphill without risking sliding backwards? (would Slippery mode give me enough juice in Low gear?) Appreciate your thoughts!

Thanks, all - these answers were super helpful!

 

[Cherokee]

I have extremely steep gravel roads to get to my mountain cabin.
On 12/31/2024 I traded my base model Bronco Sport with the tiny engine for the 2024 Maverick 2.0L AWD Lariat.
All those fancy modes are just throttle remapping except for eco.
I left my Bronco sport in normal as I do my Maverick
BUT
I climb at 10 to 12 mph and I always put it in ‘LOW’ to keep the Rpm’s up.
IMHO it’s far easier on the drive train and engine.
I have no traction issues but will still upgrade the tires to the
Yokohama Geolandar
I’ll also go to 235 wide up from the stock 225 but no more.
I like my accurate speedometer and my gas mileage.

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