Flat towing issues with hybrid???

[GApeach]

Sorry for the long story here….

Just got off the phone with a tech at my RV repair shop (they don‘t sell RVs, just work on them) about getting a Blue Ox tow bar setup for my Mav hybrid and was given some info thats gotten me concerned about flat towing.

The mechanic said they do Blue Ox setups frequently and are a dealer for that company…so far, so good. However, when I told him it was a Mav hybrid he said he had concerns because they had a customer with a 22 Escape hybrid try to flat tow (last April) but the lithium battery kept dying on him. Shop checked everything on their end with no issues and customer was doing the tow setup on the Escape as Ford told them to but still the car was dying when towed. Customer called Ford but got no help so shop (they do Ford RV chassis warranty work) called Ford on their end but shop also got nowhere with Ford.

Tech told me they think it is the regen braking draining the battery. The tech said when the car was put into tow mode there was an error popping up on the screen that was along the lines that there was a severe battery drain. The Escape was using the Patriot braking system. FYI, he said they don’t see this happening on other manufacturer‘s hybrids like Toyota.

For those that are already flat towing the Mav behind your RV are y’all seeing any issues? I know there are general battery issues apparently from the cable connection and perhaps that’s the real issue for the Escape customer or maybe it’s a software issue, but I want to get “real life” feedback on the towing aspect from Mav owners.
thx Peach

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[19mustang65]

D

 

[miandy]

Sorry for the long story here….

Just got off the phone with a tech at my RV repair shop (they don‘t sell RVs, just work on them) about getting a Blue Ox tow bar setup for my Mav hybrid and was given some info thats gotten me concerned about flat towing.

The mechanic said they do Blue Ox setups frequently and are a dealer for that company…so far, so good. However, when I told him it was a Mav hybrid he said he had concerns because they had a customer with a 22 Escape hybrid try to flat tow (last April) but the lithium battery kept dying on him. Shop checked everything on their end with no issues and customer was doing the tow setup on the Escape as Ford told them to but still the car was dying when towed. Customer called Ford but got no help so shop (they do Ford RV chassis warranty work) called Ford on their end but shop also got nowhere with Ford.

Tech told me they think it is the regen braking draining the battery. The tech said when the car was put into tow mode there was an error popping up on the screen that was along the lines that there was a severe battery drain. The Escape was using the Patriot braking system. FYI, he said they don’t see this happening on other manufacturer‘s hybrids like Toyota.

For those that are already flat towing the Mav behind your RV are y’all seeing any issues? I know there are general battery issues apparently from the cable connection and perhaps that’s the real issue for the Escape customer or maybe it’s a software issue, but I want to get “real life” feedback on the towing aspect from Mav owners.
thx Peach

Bought mine in CA and towed in back to IL, no problems. Forgot and left in acc towing to MO and had a dead battery at campground.

 

[GApeach]

Bought mine in CA and towed in back to IL, no problems. Forgot and left in acc towing to MO and had a dead battery at campground.

Thanks. Forgive my ignorance but what is acc towing?

 

[pndwind]

Thanks. Forgive my ignorance but what is acc towing?

Probably adaptive cruise control… Maybe?

 

[MakinDoForNow]

Thanks. Forgive my ignorance but what is acc towing?

I'm gonna guess he left automatic cruise control on while towing and it ran battery down. That and maybe didn't stop to run hybrid the 15 minutes every six hours to keep it charged. Probably would need to run 15 mins every two hours or ?? How often.

 

[Dad]

Sorry for the long story here….

Just got off the phone with a tech at my RV repair shop (they don‘t sell RVs, just work on them) about getting a Blue Ox tow bar setup for my Mav hybrid and was given some info thats gotten me concerned about flat towing.

The mechanic said they do Blue Ox setups frequently and are a dealer for that company…so far, so good. However, when I told him it was a Mav hybrid he said he had concerns because they had a customer with a 22 Escape hybrid try to flat tow (last April) but the lithium battery kept dying on him. Shop checked everything on their end with no issues and customer was doing the tow setup on the Escape as Ford told them to but still the car was dying when towed. Customer called Ford but got no help so shop (they do Ford RV chassis warranty work) called Ford on their end but shop also got nowhere with Ford.

Tech told me they think it is the regen braking draining the battery. The tech said when the car was put into tow mode there was an error popping up on the screen that was along the lines that there was a severe battery drain. The Escape was using the Patriot braking system. FYI, he said they don’t see this happening on other manufacturer‘s hybrids like Toyota.

For those that are already flat towing the Mav behind your RV are y’all seeing any issues? I know there are general battery issues apparently from the cable connection and perhaps that’s the real issue for the Escape customer or maybe it’s a software issue, but I want to get “real life” feedback on the towing aspect from Mav owners.
thx Peach

Thank you for posting this. One of the reasons I opted for the Maverick over say the Honda Ridgeline was its flat tow capabilities. I have yet to install a baseplate (Roadmaster) on the Maverick and frankly due to the Maverick's exceptional mpg it just seems less of a hassle to just drive the Maverick wherever we take the motorhome. We don't go much more than a couple hundred miles. Baseplates are $400 not counting install (although I can and have done baseplate install on my own) Add the price of the tow bar, chains, braking system, and you're looking at a couple grand. Also worth noting, towing a vehicle makes for a long rig and you cannot back up. If you travel extensively, then, yes, the cost would probably be justified.
Long story short . . . I've had no experience towing the Maverick, but definitely interested in hearing more on your thread.

 

[Palms]

Can I use any of the three grounding lugs on the frame in front of vthe positive stud for the fused wiring harness for my front license plate holder mounted led bar, with 2 separate 5/16 x 18 nuts, one for the charge line and one for the bar?

 

[JimParker256]

Can I use any of the three grounding lugs on the frame in front of vthe positive stud for the fused wiring harness for my front license plate holder mounted led bar, with 2 separate 5/16 x 18 nuts, one for the charge line and one for the bar?

This makes the fourth place in the MTC forums you've asked this question. The reason people aren't answering is that you got the correct answer the first place you posted it... (TLDR - you can use any "point" on the frame that you'd like to use, as long as it's not painted - or you scrape the paint off first.)

 

[Palms]

But no answer regarding the positive connection? Also, since there are so many different forums, regarding the same thing, I felt I had to ask in each one as there seemingly are also different participants.

 

[Donald]

But no answer regarding the positive connection? Also, since there are so many different forums, regarding the same thing, I felt I had to ask in each one as there seemingly are also different participants.

Use the jumper post under the hood. Just make sure to install an inline fuse.

 

[Palms]

Thank you. Also found Advanced Auto has nuts.

 

[Mills Maverick]

Bought mine in CA and towed in back to IL, no problems. Forgot and left in acc towing to MO and had a dead battery at campground.

We just got out maverick this month. We use the blue ox to tow, had it installed at truck accessories place in Carson city that does installs for tow bars that the Ford dealer down the street sends them. We had a charge line and all installed and use the patriot 2 brake system. (That's what we already used towing our ford edge)After about 90 minutes the brake losses power and at about 2 hours of towing the maverick is completely dead. We have had to jump it. We follow the directions exactly to put it in tow mode. Nothing helps. Even tried not using the brake system and the maverick still was chunkier dead within 2 hours behind the motorhome. Any help out there?

 

[Palms]

After putting into tow mode, are you sure you turned the Mav off?

 

[Mills Maverick]

Absolutely sure.

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