4K tow package pulling an RV

[SamFranco]

What’s the largest (length and weight) any of you have towed With the 4K towing package with brake controller on a Maverick. I’m thinking of buying a 19ft trailer with a 3300 dry weight. I’ll keep the total at about 3800 and tongue weight under 400. I know I’m pushing the specs.

I have a fair amount of experience towing. During the COVID years I towed a 7500lb 30ft Imagine RV from Memphis to Key West, to the Grand Canyon. Sante Fe, Roswell NM, the National Parks of Utah, across the Great Divide into Colorado, to Dodge City, through out the Smokey Mountains, Charleston, Richmond Va, Destin Fl, through Atlanta traffic and many more places. I did this with a F150. No problems.

Just trying to figure if this is doable. Thanks!

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[Packer Bill]

In flat land, you might be okay. In the mountains, I would not recommend it.

 

[The Real Maverick]

Doable.

Keep it 65 mph and under.

 

[Mox4615]

I’d have no issue with doing it if it were me. 4K package and sounds like you got plenty of towing experience. I’d maybe purchase a monitoring device to keep a check on transmission temps but other than that I’d roll with it.

 

[Tiger Dude]

Are you questioning if towing within the specs is okay? Ford thinks it is.

 

[jmcarter]

Check out TFL on YouTube, they’ve been testing the Hybrid with 4K tow and it’s doing well.

 

[ZABSMAV]

What’s the largest (length and weight) any of you have towed With the 4K towing package with brake controller on a Maverick. I’m thinking of buying a 19ft trailer with a 3300 dry weight. I’ll keep the total at about 3800 and tongue weight under 400. I know I’m pushing the specs.

I have a fair amount of experience towing. During the COVID years I towed a 7500lb 30ft Imagine RV from Memphis to Key West, to the Grand Canyon. Sante Fe, Roswell NM, the National Parks of Utah, across the Great Divide into Colorado, to Dodge City, through out the Smokey Mountains, Charleston, Richmond Va, Destin Fl, through Atlanta traffic and many more places. I did this with a F150. No problems.

Just trying to figure if this is doable. Thanks!

A point to remember is for each 1,000 feet above the first 1,000 feet in elevation that you gain pulling a travel trailer, you have to deduct 2% from the weight that you can safely pull. Since you say you have pulled a trailer out west, many of our road passes are routinely 6, 7 or 8,000 feet in elevation. So if you were going over an 8,000 foot pass you would only be able to tow 4K minus 7 x 2% (which is 14%). That means that you could only safely tow 86% of the trailer weight you could at 1,000 feet elevation or 3,440 lbs. total loaded weight. The Maverick is a great little unibody car, but people are kidding themselves to call it a travel trailer towing truck.

 

[Hunters Edge]

What’s the largest (length and weight) any of you have towed With the 4K towing package with brake controller on a Maverick. I’m thinking of buying a 19ft trailer with a 3300 dry weight. I’ll keep the total at about 3800 and tongue weight under 400. I know I’m pushing the specs.

I have a fair amount of experience towing. During the COVID years I towed a 7500lb 30ft Imagine RV from Memphis to Key West, to the Grand Canyon. Sante Fe, Roswell NM, the National Parks of Utah, across the Great Divide into Colorado, to Dodge City, through out the Smokey Mountains, Charleston, Richmond Va, Destin Fl, through Atlanta traffic and many more places. I did this with a F150. No problems.

Just trying to figure if this is doable. Thanks!

You also have to consider the frontal area of the trailer. Which is also mentioned in the spec's requirements. I'm surprised the Hi-Lo trailer, I believe was the name went under. It seems with smaller engines and smaller vehicles that would be a big demand. As a child parents started out with an apache then upgraded to a hi-lo trailer even though having a v/8 station wagon and then a large suburban. The apache was a precursor to popup trailers. Basically a box that a canvas tent went above it and made a tent or room to the side. Thought I would post what an apache was for those not acquainted with it.

Also besides trailer weight or tongue weight the total weight including passengers and cargo has to be inline with spec's in the vehicle as well as the trailer.

Another issue is with no extending mirrors on the Maverick you should look into aftermarket rearview mirrors which strap on but extending out.

Basically no one can say it can or can not without all the information needed. There are several u-tube videos that go over matching trailer vs manufacturers requirements or limitations

I believe the specs is 40 sq ft frontal area. Seeing trailers are 7 to 8 ft wide it limits what meets Ford's Maverick's requirements. Case in point a 8ft wide is only 5ft tall a 7 ft wide is only is only 5.7 ft high so I think that would be a factor

 

[ZABSMAV]

You also have to consider the frontal area of the trailer. Which is also mentioned in the spec's requirements. I'm surprised the Hi-Lo trailer, I believe was the name went under. It seems with smaller engines and smaller vehicles that would be a big demand. As a child parents started out with an apache then upgraded to a hi-lo trailer even though having a v/8 station wagon and then a large suburban. The apache was a precursor to popup trailers. Basically a box that a canvas tent went above it and made a tent or room to the side. Thought I would post what an apache was for those not acquainted with it.

Also besides trailer weight or tongue weight the total weight including passengers and cargo has to be inline with spec's in the vehicle as well as the trailer.

Another issue is with no extending mirrors on the Maverick you should look into aftermarket rearview mirrors which strap on but extending out.

Basically no one can say it can or can not without all the information needed. There are several u-tube videos that go over matching trailer vs manufacturers requirements or limitations

I believe the specs is 40 sq ft frontal area. Seeing trailers are 7 to 8 ft wide it limits what meets Ford's Maverick's requirements. Case in point a 8ft wide is only 5ft tall a 7 ft wide is only is only 5.7 ft high so I think that would be a factor

Good point. My previous comment only took into consideration the weight limit derating for elevation gain. You are correct that there is also the frontal area limitations. All of these act in concert with one another. Bottom line is that the Maverick is a poor choice for towing a travel trailer unless it is one of the tiny "micro-trailers".

 

[Hunters Edge]

Good point. My previous comment only took into consideration the weight limit derating for elevation gain. You are correct that there is also the frontal area limitations. All of these act in concert with one another. Bottom line is that the Maverick is a poor choice for towing a travel trailer unless it is one of the tiny "micro-trailers".

Or get one like a hi-lo there are some out there with a smaller frontal area that crank up similar to the Hi-Lo trailers of the past. In those circumstances it would meet the manufacturers requirements.

Also 3300lb dry weight after dishes, a few kitchen appliances, pots, pans, cleaners, linen, blankets, clothes etc and filling the water tank or holding grey and black water most likely you would be over the 4000lb limit as well. Many don't realize how quickly weight seems to add up when hauling loads into the trailer, when those loads are not weighed. There are plenty of lots travel trailers out there but a lot less than 19ft.

I got rid of my toy hauler and car hauler years ago. The 4k Max's me out though for hauling seed, fertilizer, lime, compact trailer etc. Now if I'm buying lime I make separate loads because one load is 4000lbs with the trailer. I still think it is a capable truck and for towing. I just keep it within the manufacturers spec's.

 

[tlhmav]

What’s the largest (length and weight) any of you have towed With the 4K towing package with brake controller on a Maverick. I’m thinking of buying a 19ft trailer with a 3300 dry weight. I’ll keep the total at about 3800 and tongue weight under 400. I know I’m pushing the specs.

I have a fair amount of experience towing. During the COVID years I towed a 7500lb 30ft Imagine RV from Memphis to Key West, to the Grand Canyon. Sante Fe, Roswell NM, the National Parks of Utah, across the Great Divide into Colorado, to Dodge City, through out the Smokey Mountains, Charleston, Richmond Va, Destin Fl, through Atlanta traffic and many more places. I did this with a F150. No problems.

Just trying to figure if this is doable. Thanks!

No Issues with about the same specs trailer.no power or climbing issues.Only downside after going from Florida through the Tenn.Mountains gas mileage went from 39.7 without trailer to 13.7

What’s the largest (length and weight) any of you have towed With the 4K towing package with brake controller on a Maverick. I’m thinking of buying a 19ft trailer with a 3300 dry weight. I’ll keep the total at about 3800 and tongue weight under 400. I know I’m pushing the specs.

I have a fair amount of experience towing. During the COVID years I towed a 7500lb 30ft Imagine RV from Memphis to Key West, to the Grand Canyon. Sante Fe, Roswell NM, the National Parks of Utah, across the Great Divide into Colorado, to Dodge City, through out the Smokey Mountains, Charleston, Richmond Va, Destin Fl, through Atlanta traffic and many more places. I did this with a F150. No problems.

Just trying to figure if this is doable. Thanks!

 

[ZABSMAV]

No Issues with about the same specs trailer.no power or climbing issues.Only downside after going from Florida through the Tenn.Mountains gas mileage went from 39.7 without trailer to 13.7

A "mountain" in Tennessee (yes I have travelled through there) is considered to be just a "hill" out here in the west. There's no way you could get the rig shown in this picture up to the Eisenhower tunnel in Colorado, or up and over the summits in Utah along I-70 or I-80.

 

[tlhmav]

A "mountain" in Tennessee (yes I have travelled through there) is considered to be just a "hill" out here in the west. There's no way you could get the rig shown in this picture up to the Eisenhower tunnel in Colorado, or up and over the summits in Utah along I-70 or I-80.

Gonna be out there Nov-Dec. not worried in the least.Hexk these trucks have as much HP as a 77 Trans Am and could accelerate as much as I wanted up those "Tennessee Hills" as you quoted.You do you,I do me and good luck in your ventures!

 

[ZABSMAV]

Gonna be out there Nov-Dec. not worried in the least.Hexk these trucks have as much HP as a 77 Trans Am and could accelerate as much as I wanted up those "Tennessee Hills" as you quoted.You do you,I do me and good luck in your ventures!

Sounds like a good plan. Just know that the western states do put in runaway truck exits should the unfortunate need arise from the tail wagging the dog. A number of the unsuspecting that are unfamiliar with the steep declines out west have that happen to them.

 

[lm126027]

I tow a 13' long, 90" Wide and 90" high trailer with 2 snowmobiles, No mountains but do have some good hills in northern ME. Frontage calc's out to 43 sq ft, however the front of the trailer tips back quite severely. My calc on total weight is 3200 to 3400 lbs depending on how much addl stuff we are carrying with us. Sorry, best picture I could find of the 2 of them together. Truck and trailer were buried in 24+" of new snow when we got back to our hotel. lol

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