Fx4 offroad

[HiltD]

Try to find a local offroading club or forum to get some leads on trails and recommendations. Some jeep people will probably make snide comments about "wannabe 4x4s" or whatnot but in my experience most folks are more interested in helping new people join the fun safely.

Thanks, I'll do that. I may be a 4x4 wanna be, but I paid $35k for my new truck and get 30mpg LOL

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[HiltD]

My FX4 has done great on off-road trails in the summer, then unplowed seasonal roads in the winter. I did however also ditch the stock Pirelli ATRs and went with Firestone Destination AT2s, along with a level kit.

OP, I see your location says SW Michigan. It'd be a little north of you, but there's plenty of ORV trails and forest roads in the Baldwin area thanks to the Manistee National Forest. I used to dirt bike those roads and trails, still ride them in the winter on snowmobiles too as many of them are part of the snowmobile trail system in the wintertime. Other than some rogue muddy spots, there's nothing on those roads and trails that a Maverick couldn't get through!

Thanks! Yeah, we're in trail-less SW MI. I do go up north several times a year and might try and hit a light trail when I do. I think I heard Grayling has some good spots.

 

[Howard]

Being in SW Michigan, you need to hit Silver Lake Dunes. Not exactly trails, but it safely gets you off-road and should give you a chance to exercise the sand mode in your Mav. I've done it in an older 4WD and am anxious to try my Mav.

 

[HiltD]

Being in SW Michigan, you need to hit Silver Lake Dunes. Not exatly trails, but it safely gets you off-road and should give you a chance to exercise the sand mode in your Mav. I've done it in an older 4WD and am anxious to try my Mav.

Great, I'll take a look at that!

 

[dalola]

As others have mentioned, in your current configuration, stick to gravel forest roads, and dry dirt roads. Your tires are the weak link for sure, but the Mav is simply not a great "off-road" vehicle, other than for the conditions mentioned. With better AT tires, it will go a few more places, a Tremor helps a little more, but it's not built or intended for serious off roading. You don't want to do any damage to your truck, or get stuck in BFE, for being naive.

 

[Gray Goose]

Resource to find the closest gravel or dirt roads: https://gravelmap.com/browse/michigan
For other states: https://gravelmap.com/browse/
The resource was created for cyclists, but the routes look like typical gravel/dirt roads.

 

[Blinky]

Thanks, I'll do that. I may be a 4x4 wanna be, but I paid $35k for my new truck and get 30mpg LOL

And you don't have to endure a Jeep or Jeepers.

 

[Cherokee]

These Mavericks will not do well trying to follow a Jeep or Taco into the woods. I don’t think a couple of inches extra lift or stuffing chunky tires on will close the gap.

Make sure you stop and pick up your underbody cardboard covers. We don’t want to get a bad rep for littering do we. :’P

You still got 121 inch wheel base and your shy about 10 inches of necessary ground clearance with a wheel base that long.
The Maverick is pretty good in snow and likely beach sand.

I stick to dirt and gravel roads.

 

[Fishingjts]

Thanks! Yeah, we're in trail-less SW MI. I do go up north several times a year and might try and hit a light trail when I do. I think I heard Grayling has some good spots.

I was just in Grayling Sunday! Lots of great trails!!!

personally I recommend OnX Offroad app. It great especially if you have CarPlay or whatever the android equivalent is.

I’m going to be running the trails by West Branch this Saturday morning. Along with a couple of Bronco friends. Won’t be anything crazy. Only thing is the possibility of some pin stripping.

 

[Fishingjts]

These Mavericks will not do well trying to follow a Jeep or Taco into the woods. I don’t think a couple of inches extra lift or stuffing chunky tires on will close the gap.

Make sure you stop and pick up your underbody cardboard covers. We don’t want to get a bad rep for littering do we. :’P

You still got 121 inch wheel base and your shy about 10 inches of necessary ground clearance with a wheel base that long.
The Maverick is pretty good in snow and likely beach sand.

I stick to dirt and gravel roads.

I’ve been on some trails in northern Michigan (lower peninsula) and my Tremor handled it pretty darn well. Had an absolute blast. Way more exciting than just dirt roads.

no idea if this video is public but I lead a group of Bronco friends on a ride on July 4th.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1F6DW6uuFb/?mibextid=wwXIfr

We are going out this Saturday. I’ll make sure I get some video!

 

[HiltD]

I actually just got back from the Marquette area. Did a few trails up there. I was very pleased with how it handled.

 

[Tom 71 Maverick 24]

Are the FX4s still coming with the Pirelli Scorpion AS? If so, those things didn't last long at all. I lost wet traction at around 10-12k miles in.

I have those on my 24 FX4. I'm happy with them so far, but I've really only used them on the road. No snow to speak of last winter, except for 1 big snowfall (SE Tennessee) but I've moved back up to Ohio so they'll get a good winter workout this year. I suspect that they're not extremely good in the snow, since their tread isn't all that aggressive. But I'm not going to buy new tires until these are worn down a good bit more. I'm around 18500 miles now.

 

[HiltD]

I have those on my 24 FX4. I'm happy with them so far, but I've really only used them on the road. No snow to speak of last winter, except for 1 big snowfall (SE Tennessee) but I've moved back up to Ohio so they'll get a good winter workout this year. I suspect that they're not extremely good in the snow, since their tread isn't all that aggressive. But I'm not going to buy new tires until these are worn down a good bit more. I'm around 18500 miles now.

Im with you...i know tgey arent great but Ill wait until I upgrade.

 

[Fishingjts]

I actually just got back from the Marquette area. Did a few trails up there. I was very pleased with how it handled.

Planning a trip to the UP in September or October!!!

 

[Tom 71 Maverick 24]

These Mavericks will not do well trying to follow a Jeep or Taco into the woods. I don’t think a couple of inches extra lift or stuffing chunky tires on will close the gap.

Make sure you stop and pick up your underbody cardboard covers. We don’t want to get a bad rep for littering do we. :’P

You still got 121 inch wheel base and your shy about 10 inches of necessary ground clearance with a wheel base that long.
The Maverick is pretty good in snow and likely beach sand.

I stick to dirt and gravel roads.

On the one hand, it is a long wheelbase with less than ideal clearance for anything past moderate off-road driving. On the other hand, the skid plates on the FX4 are metal so they have a little bit of usefulness there.

I think that if you're more serious, the Tremor package is the way to go. I'd have gone that route if I could have gotten the 4K tow with it. I have towed pretty much the limit on mine a couple of times.

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