1st time tow question

[Tom 71 Maverick 24]

Its got the factory 4 pin and trailer is 5×8 and about 900lbs.

I have the 4K tow - I've towed that size uhaul twice over distance. Both times, loaded up pretty well. Estimated trailer weight of 2500-3000 pounds with load. My Maverick towed it well, though I kept the speed down to 65 on the interstate. It was stable and pulled strong.

Furniture might be a little lighter than what I towed so you should be in good shape.

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[breal]

Its got the factory 4 pin and trailer is 5×8 and about 900lbs.

I towed a UHaul 5x8 trailer last month with my ‘23 FX4 4K.

All I needed was a 2” ball hitch for factory receiver and padlock to secure trailer.
The trailer wiring plugged into the 4-pin port of the truck without any problem.

Our trailer was marked inside to load 60% cargo ahead of axle.

Just remember to put your truck in Tow/Haul mode everytime you start it up.

We also used cruise control on highway capped at 65mph.
Cheers!

 

[Cherokee]

Ok OP ! Let them Hook you up. YOU check that all the lights work. Check the trailer tire pressure, your Mav better be set.

Take your turns not wide God Forbid !
or tight but late.
The trailer axle/wheel is ten feet behind your mavericks back wheel. Turn about six feet late on right turns and 4 feet late on lefts.

Go find a parking lot, stop straight.
Drop it in reverse,
ONE HAND on the bottom of your steering wheel, Sit on your other hand, I'm kidding jeez...

IF you move your hand to the left one Inch that short trailer will do It's dead level best to swing around and wipe out your bumper. I shit you not !

Go Slow, G-O-S-L-O-W.
In an hour at various angles and speeds ,,,, ALL SLOW ,,,, You will get bored. Yer done,
Haul ass.

 

[Cherokee]

Put the heavy shit right over the axle but favor forward a box row. Pack it light treasures on top.
Fill It Up and go.

Forum Vets, These newbs need Direct answers to direct questions they don't always know how to ask.

 

[The Real Maverick]

Best advice for first timers is:

Go 10 mph slower than you usually would.

 

[Tom 71 Maverick 24]

Ok OP ! Let them Hook you up. YOU check that all the lights work. Check the trailer tire pressure, your Mav better be set.

Take your turn not wide God Forbid ! or tight but late. The trailer axle/wheel is ten feet behind your mavericks back wheel. Turn about six feet late on right turns and 4 feet late on lefts.

Go find a parking lot, stop straight.
Drop it in reverse,
ONE HAND on the bottom of your steering wheel, Sit on your other hand, I'm kidding jeez...

IF you move your hand to the left one Inch that short trailer will do It's dead level best to swing around and wipe out your bumper. I shit you not !

Go Slow, G-O-S-L-O-W.
In an hour at various angles and speeds ,,,, ALL SLOW ,,,, You will get bored. Yer done,
Haul ass.

Good stuff. Having backed a number of trailers, one thing I learned that worked for me is to keep moving the wheel. Just a little. You get a feel for which way everything goes. And go SLOW!

Also, the right mirror on the Mav and most vehicles sucks for backing a trailer. The "objects in the mirror are closer than they appear' is great for checking traffic next to you, but not so good for giving a good view of your trailer. Much prefer a good, old fashioned flat mirror like my 79 Dodge D-20 had.

 

[Tim d]

Never towed before and Ill have to rent a U haul trailer to move some furniture from Florida. I have a 22 FX4 that has the factory hitch. Before I go to U haul and they try to sell me whatever they say I "need", what do I need?

Just the ball attachment to slide into the factory reciever. Inexpensive purchase at Walmart.

 

[TopDawg]

Then the max towing is 200lbs including the trailer. Also the 4 pin is just trailer light hook up and you won't be able to use trailer brakes which is required by most if not all states if towing 3000lbs or more including the trailer.

Also the same limitation of max tongue weight still applies and if you are hauling extra weight in your Maverick people and stuff in bed you may not be able to tow the 2000lbs because you can't go over GVCW rating. Lost of u-tube videos to explain this.

Backing up is opposite on the steering to get the trailer to turn. Also when going around a corner a trailer will cut the corner shorter. This can cause trailer to go over curbs or side swipe posts etc. Not trying to make it sound to difficult just wanted to give you heads up.

Best of luck on your trip and towing experience. Keep in mind with extra weight it is going to take longer to stop and can be seriously affected by wet pavement.

2,000 lbs, not 200.

 

[Hunters Edge]

2,000 lbs, not 200.

Thanks thought I put 2000. Will edit it

 

[SaHa]

My current trailer and favourite Hitch and lock.

Adjustable means flexibility

as to trailers Hitch height, as mentioned above...a good idea.

Andy

Similar to one I have on my Polaris Ranger.

My current trailer and favourite Hitch and lock.

Adjustable means flexibility

as to trailers Hitch height, as mentioned above...a good idea.

Andy

What's the brand of that hitch? I see some that are reasonably priced but I wonder if they are junk. Then I see some that look amazing but they are rated for way higher than the truck can tow, and are stupidly expensive because of it.

 

[Hunters Edge]

What's the brand of that hitch? I see some that are reasonably priced but I wonder if they are junk. Then I see some that look amazing but they are rated for way higher than the truck can tow, and are stupidly expensive because of it.

I don't know but I use it the opposite to raise the hitch height for towing trailers. I was in Menards years ago and thought that will work in my situation, so I picked it up. The Rangers hitch height is to low for many of my trailers, utility, snowmobile and more importantly my log splitter. The log splitter needs to be relatively level to use it. Just makes sense to leave it hooked up until done using it and moving as I go less steps. It also works on the garden variety trailers with a lower height. Anyway for what I use it for it's been a good fit.

On my Maverick I use a 6 inch drop for landscape, dump, utility trailer, and a straight receiver for the boat trailer. I almost picked up a aluminum adjustable hitch at Family Farm and Home when the had it for $159. I didn't though I already have several height receivers that I have acquired over the years. It looked nice, it was hard to say no, but I decided I had 159 other uses for the money. I have not used the one like you have except on the Polaris Ranger. Then again I don't know what the weight rating for it either.

 

[SafetyGuy]

What's the brand of that hitch? I see some that are reasonably priced but I wonder if they are junk. Then I see some that look amazing but they are rated for way higher than the truck can tow, and are stupidly expensive because of it.

Usually a Reese or Curt hitch will do.

It seems there are many different types available, depending on how much you want to spend. Go for quality!

The spec's for my hitch are in the first photo.

Make sure you have a big enough wrench or adjustable wrench to attach the appropriate sized hitch ball onto the hitch itself...use your truck to insert the hitch so you can really make sure that nut holding the ball in place (with a split spring washer) doesn't come off...ever.

I hope this helps!

Andy

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