6500 Mile mountain trip towing 3200lb camper

[Patriot68]

Just returned home after a 5 week trip to Yellowstone NP from Michigan. 2025 Maverick XLT Eco boost (with 4k package of course)towing a 2026 Rpod171 travel trailer that was 3200lb fully loaded. Pulled it on numerous slopes of 7%+ for extended periods both uphill and down. Crossed continental divide numerous times. Truck had zero issues handling any of it. Took it all over Yellowstone, Tetons, Mt. Rushmore, Badlands, and more. Averaged about 15-16 mpg in the mountains while towing while 18-19mpg between Michigan and Nebraska. Only nervous moments we had were dealing with some Wyoming crosswinds around the Cheyenne area that were gusting to 40-50mph and they closed the highway. Extremely happy.

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[Hot Runr Guy]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing.

HRG

 

[DinoLord]

6 and a half million miles is super impressive!

Kidding. Glad to hear the trip was enjoyable.

 

[Hunters Edge]

X2 thanks for sharing. Enjoyed the information but appreciated the pictures. Sounds like an enjoyable trip filled with a lot of pristine memories.

 

[MavUnicorn]

I see that you joined the Elks while traveling.

 

[00p225]

Just returned home after a 5 week trip to Yellowstone NP from Michigan. 2025 Maverick XLT Eco boost (with 4k package of course)towing a 2026 Rpod171 travel trailer that was 3200lb fully loaded. Pulled it on numerous slopes of 7%+ for extended periods both uphill and down. Crossed continental divide numerous times. Truck had zero issues handling any of it. Took it all over Yellowstone, Tetons, Mt. Rushmore, Badlands, and more. Averaged about 15-16 mpg in the mountains while towing while 18-19mpg between Michigan and Nebraska. Only nervous moments we had were dealing with some Wyoming crosswinds around the Cheyenne area that were gusting to 40-50mph and they closed the highway. Extremely happy.

Did you travel through ND? I94 is great across our state for the most part. I travel to Co one a year and +1 on the Wy winds. Have lost roof vents traveling between Cheyenne and Gillette.

 

[Nw_adventure]

Just returned home after a 5 week trip to Yellowstone NP from Michigan. 2025 Maverick XLT Eco boost (with 4k package of course)towing a 2026 Rpod171 travel trailer that was 3200lb fully loaded. Pulled it on numerous slopes of 7%+ for extended periods both uphill and down. Crossed continental divide numerous times. Truck had zero issues handling any of it. Took it all over Yellowstone, Tetons, Mt. Rushmore, Badlands, and more. Averaged about 15-16 mpg in the mountains while towing while 18-19mpg between Michigan and Nebraska. Only nervous moments we had were dealing with some Wyoming crosswinds around the Cheyenne area that were gusting to 40-50mph and they closed the highway. Extremely happy.

Sweet- That's a big boy trailer

 

[NoMavJoe]

Just returned home after a 5 week trip to Yellowstone NP from Michigan. 2025 Maverick XLT Eco boost (with 4k package of course)towing a 2026 Rpod171 travel trailer that was 3200lb fully loaded. Pulled it on numerous slopes of 7%+ for extended periods both uphill and down. Crossed continental divide numerous times. Truck had zero issues handling any of it. Took it all over Yellowstone, Tetons, Mt. Rushmore, Badlands, and more. Averaged about 15-16 mpg in the mountains while towing while 18-19mpg between Michigan and Nebraska. Only nervous moments we had were dealing with some Wyoming crosswinds around the Cheyenne area that were gusting to 40-50mph and they closed the highway. Extremely happy.

I call... Just picked this up and drove it home from the dealership. Short trip of 80 miles on I-10 in South Louisiana. Stopped at a Love's Travel Center to weigh the setup.

Total weight on scale receipt with nearly an empty truck w/topper and the new empty travel trailer = 7,260 lbs.

Travel Trailer unloaded weight showed 2,320 lbs from scale receipt. Receipt showed this weight as the "Trailer Axle". Forest River Web Site has 2,670 lbs listed as the Dry Weight. A sticker on the trailer had Dry Weight = 2,624 lbs. So the Love's Travel site scales are very close.

Travel Trailer is the 2026 Forest River Aurora Light 13RDX - 16' total length hitch to back of trailer.

Maverick dash trip fuel counter showed 17 mpg when I got home. I hand calculated after refuel and came up with 14 mpg. I stayed under 65 mph for the trip home, mostly highway. RPM was around 2,500 while at cruise speed.

This is my second Maverick - the 2024 Ecoboost, Lariat w/4K tow package.

Was worried the weight of the trailer would be too much for the truck, but it towed very easily.

Acceleration for on ramps was a breeze. It did have micro swaying with the Lane Centering turned on. I had read a post on the MTC forum that recommended turning off the Lane Centering. Turned off the feature and only applied adaptive cruise control and the small swaying all but disappeared.

Here's the pics at Love's.

 

[BLUEOVALRACER]

I see that you joined the Elks while traveling.

And a huge one with a nice rack!!

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