Hybrid towing 1860 lb vintage camper

[JP4AZ]

My, setup. Towed over 1000 miles, I wouldn't recommend any larger of a trailer for the frontal and cross winds. I weighed in at a CAT scale to check the weight of the trailer and combined. The trailer weighed 3580, the total combine weight was 75??. I pulled the entire trip at 65 getting 15mpg+/-. Also, for a good 60 mile stretch had a 25-35 mph cross wind. I wouldn't hesitate to pull far more weight if need, but you definitely could feel the wind and trucks passing. Not getting push around they just let me know they were there. Since towing that I have put more than 3500 additional miles on mine with no hiccups. I would like to add a roof top wind deflector to get the aero a little better. To each their own, follow the manufacturers recommendations, or not. The important thing is if you go out of those recommendations you as the driver hold all of the responsibilities if anything happens. Also, for them to deny the warranty you would have to give them the information, for me they would simply have to ask the right questions to get the answers the would need, but I have less than 12000 miles left on my warranty so not really a big deal for me.

Would one of those Cab air spoiler help with the wind resistance when you pull that trailer?

Sponsored

 

[ManlyCar]

I think you have to consider more factors than just weight and tow rating. Speed, distance, elevation, temp and wind are big factors too. Towing your setup 100 miles at 60 mph without elevation changes is way different than towing at 80 mph for hundreds of miles over mountain passes in 100 degree heat. But, I am sure the people that say not to worry about it will each chip in a thousand bucks or so to buy you a new transmission if yours gets smoked...

 

[ManlyCar]

Mavericks are after all just manly cars

 

[MavDave]

Would one of those air scoops/dam that sitcks on top of the cab, above the brake lite help with the wind resistance when you pull that trailer?

That is the air deflector I was talking about. I would want it on a topper closer to the trailer to give it every opportunity to do its job properly. I will link my towing thread below. In short these trucks are grossly underrated. The EB at the very least. I would assume the underrating is because the transmission is fairly new and not real word tested towing. With all of the torque limiting programed into the factory tunes as long as you keep it cool I don't think the trans will be an issue.

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...ent-trailers-in-9-days-over-3500-miles.25931/

 

[Timothyd]

My, setup. Towed over 1000 miles, I wouldn't recommend any larger of a trailer for the frontal and cross winds. I weighed in at a CAT scale to check the weight of the trailer and combined. The trailer weighed 3580, the total combine weight was 75??. I pulled the entire trip at 65 getting 15mpg+/-. Also, for a good 60 mile stretch had a 25-35 mph cross wind. I wouldn't hesitate to pull far more weight if need, but you definitely could feel the wind and trucks passing. Not getting push around they just let me know they were there. Since towing that I have put more than 3500 additional miles on mine with no hiccups. I would like to add a roof top wind deflector to get the aero a little better. To each their own, follow the manufacturers recommendations, or not. The important thing is if you go out of those recommendations you as the driver hold all of the responsibilities if anything happens. Also, for them to deny the warranty you would have to give them the information, for me they would simply have to ask the right questions to get the answers the would need, but I have less than 12000 miles left on my warranty so not really a big deal for me.

Warranty or not, tell them or not, I don't want to toast the trans or drive train or put excess wear on the truck. I think it's best to keep it within 75% of max. Unless you're spending a long time in the trailer it's not so bad to rough it a little bit.

 

[MavDave]

Warranty or not, tell them or not, I don't want to toast the trans or drive train or put excess wear on the truck. I think it's best to keep it within 75% of max. Unless you're spending a long time in the trailer it's not so bad to rough it a little bit.

If I burn the auto after the warranty is out, I'll put in the MT it should have come with to start with. Like I posted before on the back half of my warranty they can put a new one in and if that happens I'll start gathering parts for the MT swap. This is one reason I wish the 4k had a way to monitor trans temp. One of the first things I'm going to do post warranty is a good tuner so I can monitor important things Ford deemed not necessary. Trans temp, axle temp (if possible), boost, throttle position. I also realize I am probably one in about 2.33(repeating)% of people who feel this way. As stated many times to each their own. Also, vehicles are always rated 75-80% of their actual max. No engineer would ever publish their hypothetical max as fact even though most of the time they are very close.

 

[TonyS]

Someone else already mentioned this - but

I'm not sure why anyone thinks this is an issue. The truck is rated to tow 2,000 lbs. The trailer weighs less than that. 1860 the original post said. A later post says scales showed lighter still.

It is a fine, within spec set up. Enjoy your trip and camping.

Great looking truck too! Amazing how much a set of after market wheels spiffs up the base XL truck.

 

[GPSMan]

I wish the 4k had a way to monitor trans temp. One of the first things I'm going to do post warranty is a good tuner so I can monitor important things Ford deemed not necessary. Trans temp, axle temp (if possible), boost, throttle position. I also realize I am probably one in about 2.33(repeating)% of people who feel this way. As stated many times to each their own. Also, vehicles are always rated 75-80% of their actual max. No engineer would ever publish their hypothetical max as fact even though most of the time they are very close.

What does reading the built in temperature data have to do with warranty status? I read my transmission and battery temperature and a host of other sensor data daily.

And you are wrong about the 75-80%.
Try 50%.

 

[MavDave]

What does reading the built in temperature data have to do with warranty status? I read my transmission and battery temperature and a host of other sensor data daily.

And you are wrong about the 75-80%.
Try 50%.

I don't want it for any warranty status. I just like to know what it is. As long as the fluid stays within a reasonable range the likelihood of trans or diff failure is close to 0%

 

[Old Ranchero]

Like the post above said make sure you arent over GCVWR on the door when loaded up, you can find a cat scale near you online to make sure if you are concerned. Also, a WDH might be a good idea to get some weight on the front tires, good luck. Sway control wouldnt hurt either... Its been my experience with bumper pull travel trailers that its not so much the weight but the sway from side wind and uneven roads that can get you in trouble, especially at high speeds. I usually cut the tow rating in half when towing things that catch alot of wind, low profile trailers are no prob.

Sway Control is standard- but not advertised - on all Mavericks.

 

[JimParker256]

Would one of those Cab air spoiler help with the wind resistance when you pull that trailer?

I suspect those "cab air spoilers" are strictly for looks. I doubt any of the designers put theirs on a Maverick, then took it to a wind tunnel for testing - much less doing the same thing with a trailer attached... I can't remember where I saw it, but I vaguely remember reading an article (or possibly seeing a video) about cab spoilers where they determined it actually decreased their fuel mileage at fast highway speeds. I don't recall them testing at lower speeds - mostly in the 65-75 mph range. Wish I could find that again to post a link...

The big spoilers you see on 18-wheelers work because the trailer is fairly close to the tractor's spoiler, so most of the airflow becomes more streamlined over the top and sides of the trailer. With a pickup truck, you've got the entire length of the bed (one time where the short bed actually might help!), plus the length of the hitch and trailer A-frame. All that distance between the spoiler and the "massive wall of wind resistance" probably allows most of the potential benefit to be lost.

 

[GPSMan]

I suspect those "cab air spoilers" are strictly for looks. I doubt any of the designers put theirs on a Maverick, then took it to a wind tunnel for testing - much less doing the same thing with a trailer attached... I can't remember where I saw it, but I vaguely remember reading an article (or possibly seeing a video) about cab spoilers where they determined it actually decreased their fuel mileage at fast highway speeds. I don't recall them testing at lower speeds - mostly in the 65-75 mph range. Wish I could find that again to post a link...

The big spoilers you see on 18-wheelers work because the trailer is fairly close to the tractor's spoiler, so most of the airflow becomes more streamlined over the top and sides of the trailer. With a pickup truck, you've got the entire length of the bed (one time where the short bed actually might help!), plus the length of the hitch and trailer A-frame. All that distance between the spoiler and the "massive wall of wind resistance" probably allows most of the potential benefit to be lost.

That being said.......
You're more describing streamlining than spoiling

Not all Spoilers are meant to "block" the air.... not meant to make a wind "shadow". They are meant to literally "spoil"' the air. Turbulent air has less resistance than "calm"'air, believe it or not. There's drafting gains to be had 100 feet behind a semi. Tested and true.

See also golf ball dimples. See also competitive swim suits- they used to be smooth and now they are rough and textured. And before that swimmers shaved and oiled their bare skin. Texture is less draggy than smooth.

 

[JimParker256]

Yep - my use of the word "spoiler" was to keep consistency in the threat - it's what the previous posters called it.

 

[OrangeBlue]

I'd stay away from the Rockies.

 

[GPSMan]

I'd stay away from the Rockies.

How about the Padres?

Sponsored