1st Trip Completed

[Bert Rooster]

We've completed our 1st trip towing the Maverick. It was great, no issues and no problems. 1100 miles round trip from Albuquerque to Phoenix by way of Sedona and Deming, NM. 4 legs of around 300 miles each less than 6 hrs. I now have a couple of questions: the manual states not to exceed 70 MPH, my driving speed is 65MPH (sweet spot for MH) but sometimes going down hill I do exceed 70 MPH. I'm thinking the manual is referring to sustained speed not to exceed 70 so a couple of miles over 70 shouldn't be a concern - thoughts. I wired a dedicated 12 V outlet to plug my RVI Brake into, but it's not ideal. I believe I have seen the steps to use ForScan to remove the timeout for the console 12 V outlet but I can't find it now. Does anyone have that procedure?

My setup:
Roadmaster baseplate - self install
Roadmaster Falcon All Terrain tow bar
BlueOx bulb & wire kit
Charge wire kit with fuse & diode
RVI Brake supplemental braking device - I have 2 toads so the portable is best for me

I'm attaching some pics

Safe travels,

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[realshelby]

Why is your dedicated 12v outlet not "ideal"? On my cmax I had one mounted in the left side of the driver footwell. Plugged into that, then reached for the breakaway cable that stayed under the driver floormat and plugged that into the Patriot braking system. If you are having to plug in externally to the coach for the dedicated 12v source, that is not needed. Just go directly to the Maverick positive battery jump post under the hood. Be SURE you put a 5 amp fuse in that as close to the post as you can.

Anyway, I don't have an answer about the 70 mph speed limit. I doubt anyone at Ford would explain it either. Seems like CYA for whatever reason. On high traffic interstates I usually run 68-69 mph. 62-65 mph other places. My Ford Cmax was also "limited" to 70 mph towing like the Maverick.
As you know, should you exceed 70 mph, the Maverick does not explode. I have been over 70 when passing or going down hills several times already. Not really meaning to as much as conditions just made it happen. Many, many times over 70 with the Cmax. I suspect there is a safety cushion built into the 70 mph rating. For instance, worn out tires can change the "speed" the drivetrain sees enough to be a couple mph. So, would installing taller tires let you run over 70? I don't know. I don't drive miles on end at 70+. I don't know of anyone having a problem either doing that or occasionally going over 70 mph for a bit.

 

[GPSMan]

The 70 MPH is the safe RPM limit for the electric motor(s) you are dragging behind the motorhome.

There is no physical disconnect in simulated neutral mode. There is only "free-wheel without power" mode.

Your electric motors (there's two) spin at 250 RPM per MPH with stock tires. While being pulled in "neutral".

250 rpm x 70 mph = 17,500 RPM.
Capable because of the compact nature of these small motors. Still, there are tremendous forces involved.

When the gas engine is running, you can well exceed 70 mph because the gas engine counterrotates having a net slowing of the electric motors.

I'd heed the 70 mph warning. And personally, I'd not do it all day either.

The start every 6 hours is to lubricate these parts. The gas engine is needed to pump oil.

 

[Bert Rooster]

It's just a personal thing with the 12 V outlet location. I didn't permanently mount it, just used extra strength double sided tape in case I didn't like the location. I did run a hot wire to the battery jump post and a ground to one of the grounding points on the fender. My RVI Brake draws a max of 8 amps so I put in a 10 amp fuse. After only towing the Maverick 1 time this is the extent of my issues, all in all it went very well. A few more trips will help me get it all optimized.
When driving a "Rolls Hardly" MH - rolls down hill and hardly makes it up hill With the cruise set to 65 MPH on downhill grades using the exhaust brake the speed sometimes exceeds 70 MPH. Though from a fuel economy stand point the 70+ down hills are off set by the <55 MPH uphill pulls. I will continue driving as always and keep an eye on the speed to keep closer to <70 MPH.

 

[pat carden]

It's just a personal thing with the 12 V outlet location. I didn't permanently mount it, just used extra strength double sided tape in case I didn't like the location. I did run a hot wire to the battery jump post and a ground to one of the grounding points on the fender. My RVI Brake draws a max of 8 amps so I put in a 10 amp fuse. After only towing the Maverick 1 time this is the extent of my issues, all in all it went very well. A few more trips will help me get it all optimized.
When driving a "Rolls Hardly" MH - rolls down hill and hardly makes it up hill With the cruise set to 65 MPH on downhill grades using the exhaust brake the speed sometimes exceeds 70 MPH. Though from a fuel economy stand point the 70+ down hills are off set by the <55 MPH uphill pulls. I will continue driving as always and keep an eye on the speed to keep closer to <70 MPH.

thanks for update, I'm just now setting up my truck with the Demco, and I do use the RVI system too, I'm planning on hooking up the 12v power plug straight to the battery under the seat with 12 ga. cable and plug and inline fuse. I will just unhook it when done towing. So what do you think? thanks

 

[realshelby]

thanks for update, I'm just now setting up my truck with the Demco, and I do use the RVI system too, I'm planning on hooking up the 12v power plug straight to the battery under the seat with 12 ga. cable and plug and inline fuse. I will just unhook it when done towing. So what do you think? thanks

No reason to add to the work you have to do to tow the Maverick. Flat towing is all about convenience!
Not always that easy to get to the battery under the rear seat. Mine has a dog cover over it for instance. If you install the wire to the jump post and ground under the hood ( fused at the jump post) and mount the 12v plug where you can get to it, you are done. Just plug in the brake and go.
If worried about having that wired directly to the battery post, just install a small switch near the post to turn it off when not being used between trips.

 

[Ozarkbeard]

If you install the wire to the jump post and ground under the hood ( fused at the jump post) and mount the 12v plug where you can get to it, you are done. Just plug in the brake and go.

This is the way.

 

[Bert Rooster]

thanks for update, I'm just now setting up my truck with the Demco, and I do use the RVI system too, I'm planning on hooking up the 12v power plug straight to the battery under the seat with 12 ga. cable and plug and inline fuse. I will just unhook it when done towing. So what do you think? thanks

Let us know how the Demco install goes. I see that Roadmaster may have a newly designed baseplate that is similar to Demco and does not require removal of the lower Air Shutter assembly. I ran the charge wire from the MH and the 12 V accessory wire to the jump post under the hood. Below the jump post there are a couple of ground connections attached the the fender that I used for lighting ground and accessory plug ground. The break away switch cable and 12 V hot & ground were run into the footwell area by way of openings in the hood & door pillar area. I bought the charge wire kit from eTrailer, it has a fuse holder and diode installed. In my case the diode is probably not needed because there is 12 V present on the 12 V pin from the MH only when the MH is running so reverse connection of the Maverick battery to the MH battery is not possible.

 

[realshelby]

I see that Roadmaster may have a newly designed baseplate that is similar to Demco and does not require removal of the lower Air Shutter assembly.

I think you will find that the Roadmaster is exactly the same as it was initially. There was a Thread here about a Roadmaster base plate......that was not actually a Roadmaster but in fact a Demco. Many thought it might be a new Roadmaster design.

 

[Backdoctor]

I installed the Demco baseplate on my 2023 Maverick this week. It took a fair bit of time as the holes didn’t match up to the frame (same as BradandChristine) so I had to extend the holes 1/8” toward the centre on all 4 main holes. I used a “burr” bit and just reamed them laterally. It worked just fine. I spoke to to Mike Heninger at Demco and he (through engineering) indicated this was safe. I started at 9 am and finished in tI’ve for supper at 5.30. The following day I installed the wiring for my brake buddy and the tailgate light strip for my signals. I really didn’t want to tap into the wiring do the running/brake/turn signals and torun a relay for the brake wiring ( so the brake signal from the Maverick doesn’t over ride the turn signal from the motorhome). I haven’t connected it all up to the rv yet. We’ll see how well it all works soon.

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