Flat towing and running engine every 6 hours

[R&R]

Good day fellow Maverick owners,
We just got our 2023 hybrid Maverick a few months ago and have recently had it set up with a Blue Ox tow system for hooking it up behind our motorhome. We did a test run that lasted about an hour and all seemed to go well we thought. We just set out on our big trip only to find that after approximately 5 hours of driving, the Mav battery went dead. We jump started it and drove the vehicle separately to our destination at that point. We tried hooking it up again yesterday following the Mav book guidelines and drove approx 160 miles and all went well. Here are a few things we noticed that could have been a possible battery drain:
1. We were not sure of the exact process with the hybrid in letting it run for a few minutes and going thru the gears while foot is on the brake pedal. When it does this, does it just run on the electric side or do I need to give it gas somehow too?
2. We did not know how to shut the radio off, new owner learning curve, and thought it just went off automatically when you set up the neutral tow function. So was the raisin still on?? Could that have been our cause of battery drain?
3. The dealer who set up our tow package put in a 12v plug as we told them after they installed everything that when we hooked up the supplemental brake system, we had no power when I plugged into the cigarette lighter in Mav.
4. Lastly,
Should I have a charge line installed and how would that help if so?
I am the wife of this Mav owner and I am trying to get info to help hubby out as he is old school and doesn’t do technology well.
Thank you for any feedback you can provide. It is much appreciated.

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[realshelby]

If the Dealer installed the 12 volt plug to the Maverick 12 volt battery, that won't work. You must install a charge line to the motorhome. Easy to do. Most 7 pin round plugs on an RV will have a battery charge line connection already there. May even have power to it from the motorhome. You will need to run a wire from your 6 pin round connection at front of the Maverick to the positive post on the 12 volt battery or the 12 volt jump post under the hood.
This will fix the battery going dead after several hours of travel.

When first hooking up the Maverick you should be sure the gas engine at least starts for a bit. All you have to do is flick the throttle to the floor and let off. It may not run long....I do this after several hours or whenever I stop at a rest stop. Get in, start engine and put it in park to get out of neutral tow. Then put it in reverse, forward a couple times. Takes about a minute or two and then I put it back into neutral tow. Done till next time.

I started out with the Blue Ox towing setup. It failed on me. Had to replace it. It also will not allow a very sharp turn till towbar hits on the swivel section causing a severe bind. Unless your dealer can show you they have installed a Blue Ox towbar that does NOT do that I would be very cautious!

 

[Mrk]

How did you attach the hot wire to the under hood positive jump post? Size of nut?

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