Is 4k Towing Package Worth It

[tiktokbrainrot]

I guess the bigger question is how much does the extra cooling on the 4k matter? I live in PHX AZ area so it's obviously very hot. Also considering heat in the equation of whether to get a hybrid or EB.

More cooling is always better. If you're going to tow anything, may as well get it. It wont hurt to have it, but it can hurt to not have it.

Really? I think there's a LOT more discourse regarding the Hybrid electrical concerns, such as deep sleep, than there are about the EB 8-speed trans. With your low yearly usage, the Hybrid mpg doesn't really come into play.

HRG

Difference there is the Hybrid deep sleep issue is an annoyance that has workarounds to fix it, the 8f35 failure is a $7000 smack in the face that can only be delayed.

1. Do you need AWD? I would say yes. There is a chance I may move back to the Midwest and be in very cold and snowy conditions.
2. Does fuel economy matter a lot?
   1. And by extension, does cruising range matter a lot? I would say fuel economy always matters but I'm not someone who will put a ton of miles on per year. Maybe 7-8k a year tops?

I pretty much decided the lux package isn't needed for me. The heated seats would be nice if I moved to a cold area, but I'm not concerned about not having it.

Co-op 360 seems ok but it seems like the truck comes standard with some nice tech already.

4k towing - is my big hangup between the hybrid and EB 2.0. The online discourse around the Ecoboost transmission not being great has made me pause a bit. But the EBs can be found for much cheaper than hybrids in general.

EB transmissions are a problematic design, specifically the non serviceable filter that is a ticking time bomb.

That being said, it can be mitigated. Changing the fluid at 10k, then 30k, then every 30k thereafter ensures that much of the break in material comes out with the fluid instead of being embedded in the filter. So far, the vast majority of failures are those that never change the fluid because the default interval is 150k for some bizzare reason.

There is an advantage too: the fluids for the MavBoost are a lot cheaper then the MavBrid, and the process on the Mavbrid is such a royal PITA that you're going to want a dealer to do it (and pay the price). But the Mavbrid is a long haul design with plenty of evidence that the drivetrain will likely outlast the body.

IMO either one is fine. It also depends on mileage. At your 7-8k a year, with proper fluid changing, your Mavboost would likely be pushing well into the 150k+ range before you have any issues, which would take you close to 20 years. At that age things just kinda break no matter who makes it.

Whichever one you like the drive of more, get that one. Boosts can be found with better deals.

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[Maverick Hopeful]

Ok. Thank you all for the responses! I'm definitely leaning into getting a 2026 XLT AWD Ecoboost. I'm going to go in to it with the mindset that 4k towing and Copilot 360 are nice to haves but not needed (I really will never tow. I have 0 interest/need to). I only would of bought it for cooling peace of mind but the extra 1600$ seems steep if I can just change the transmission fluids.

 

[Blue_Max]

Honestly, I wish more people that have ScanGauge's or similar data acquisition equipment would jump in here.

As my profile indicates, I have a 2024 Tremor, which by most accounts, has a smaller radiator than the 4K-equipped models. Before my recent trip to CO to drive up/down Pikes Peak, I installed a ScanGauge3 in order to monitor cooling & trans temps. Neither going up the mountian, or coming down using "L" (which pretty much locked the trans in 3rd gear) , did the temps ever rise above the readings I saw in the 1000 mile trip out there, neither one ever exceeding 196(F). The temp in Denver that day was in the mid-80's.

IMO, the need for "extra" cooling in a non-towing application may be unwarranted. Again, hopefully others with monitoring equipment will chime in with what they see on a daily basis.

HRG

A proper comparison requires two Mavericks, one with 4K Towing and one without, to be driven under identical conditions for a statistically worthwhile amount of time and mileage.

 

[Koolflyer]

I only tow about 5 or 6 times a year but, For me, it's completely worth it for the added transmission protection

 

[OleFordGuy]

Ok. Thank you all for the responses! I'm definitely leaning into getting a 2026 XLT AWD Ecoboost. I'm going to go in to it with the mindset that 4k towing and Copilot 360 are nice to haves but not needed (I really will never tow. I have 0 interest/need to). I only would of bought it for cooling peace of mind but the extra 1600$ seems steep if I can just change the transmission fluids.

Glad you came to a conclusion that gives you what you feel is best for YOU, that's all that matters. With that settled, get your order in place when your comfortable and enjoy your truck. Get out there and have fun and enjoy life.

 

[El Kabong]

Ohh I'm.sorry. I meant cooling in regards to the transmission.

Heat is the enemy of your transmissions fluid. Having better cooling for the oil in the transmission is a must for towing because towing puts more stress on the gears in the transmission and the oil gets hotter. Yes, the hybrid does have gears in it - the differential (output gearing) and the planetary (eCVT "magic") gearing. The conventional 8-speed transmission on the EcoBoost models has of course many more gears (and clutches that the eCVT does not) that benefit from additional cooling as well.

Keeping the transmission cooler is a plus in any scenario including non-towing.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Towing or not, if you live in the desert Southwest at 100°+ for days or weeks on end. That extra cooling always helps.

 

[Maverick Hopeful]

Hmm it seems like the lobos are comparable priced to the fully loaded standard XLTs depending on color. Is the extra cooling in the lobo and adequate alternative to the 4k cooling if that's all I care about?

 

[Buck the Truck]

Capability is the true measure of a truck. If you're not capable, what kind of a truck are you?

 

[El Kabong]

Hmm it seems like the lobos are comparable priced to the fully loaded standard XLTs depending on color. Is the extra cooling in the lobo and adequate alternative to the 4k cooling if that's all I care about?

Lobos get uprated engine cooling with a bigger radiator and radiator fan but no extra transmission cooling.

The Lobo is a street truck so it's setup like a sport truck - in addition to the uprated engine cooling it gets a modified transmission (7 speeds vs. 8) and a torque-vectoring rear diff. It also gets a lower payload rating (so, carries less stuff in the bed) and cannot be optioned for 4k towing. It is meant for folks who want to race (autocross) their Maverick and is a tick faster than a standard AWD EcoBoost (which is faster than a hybrid) plus the trick rear diff makes it corner better when driving hard (not useful for commuting). Plus they get fog lights and neat looking wheels.

It's a nice truck if you don't plan to tow (can still tow up to 2k) or haul bedfuls of gardening stuff and whatnot.

 

[Mox4615]

If I could go back I wouldve added it. Especially for the price but I added the Fx4 package instead that has some similarities to the 4K minus the tranny cooler and the trailer parts. I could’ve added it and got a tri fold cover elsewhere especially since it was almost 500 dollars more of an add on compared to the 4K. You live and learn.

 

[Maverick Hopeful]

Lobos get uprated engine cooling with a bigger radiator and radiator fan but no extra transmission cooling.

The Lobo is a street truck so it's setup like a sport truck - in addition to the uprated engine cooling it gets a modified transmission (7 speeds vs. 8) and a torque-vectoring rear diff. It also gets a lower payload rating (so, carries less stuff in the bed) and cannot be optioned for 4k towing. It is meant for folks who want to race (autocross) their Maverick and is a tick faster than a standard AWD EcoBoost (which is faster than a hybrid) plus the trick rear diff makes it corner better when driving hard (not useful for commuting). Plus they get fog lights and neat looking wheels.

It's a nice truck if you don't plan to tow (can still tow up to 2k) or haul bedfuls of gardening stuff and whatnot.

Ahh that sounds like a fun truck! But doesn't solve the transmission cooling ;( You'd think with a performance truck, better transmission cooling would be considered.

 

[Hunters Edge]

The questions I'd ask yourself are:

1. Do you need AWD?
2. Does fuel economy matter a lot?
   1. And by extension, does cruising range matter a lot?

That'll narrow the field a lot. To me, it sounds like you should get an XL or XLT hybrid, decide on AWD, and skip everything else because it adds no value to you.

Dunno if you'd be willing to travel out of state, but Corwin Ford in Reno, NV has some deals going on. Here's an XLT hybrid AWD with CP360 and conventional spare for $31,400
https://www.corwinfordreno.com/inve...averick-xlt-awd-supercrew®-3fttw8j38tra61541/

And an XL hybrid AWD with 2k hitch and conventional spare for $28,303
https://www.corwinfordreno.com/inve...averick-xl-awd-4d-crew-cab-3fttw8b38tra98149/

As for inflator kit vs. mini spare vs. conventional spare. Inflator kit is standard on EcoBoosts and Hybrid AWD, mini spare is standard on hybrid FWD, and conventional spare is standard on 4K tow (all trims), FX4, and Tremor, and is otherwise a freestanding option on all trims.

If you find the perfect truck except it doesn't have a spare, it can be added aftermarket. The spare tire carrier is $300 or so from the parts department and the spare itself is $150 or so on eBay. I'm sure you could negotiate that into the deal too (either get another $450 off the price, or get a rider saying they'll order and install the carrier and spare).



This goes back to what I mentioned earlier about drawing a line in the sand at some point. If @Maverick Hopeful could afford to change vehicles if life circumstances change, then why pay now for capability that may never be used?

I was helping a neighbor buy a car and was really trying to convince him to get the AWD variant, partly for safety, partly for resale, partly for "better to have it and not need it". He got FWD because he said he's never going to the snow, never going off road, and doesn't want the maintenance and repairs. He has like 100k miles on the car and never once said that he wished it was AWD.

What I really want is not a Maverick but a Toyota Sienna LE hybrid AWD. That'll future-proof me for any realistic life change I can think of. But for the same price, I could either get a new Maverick XL hybrid AWD 4K tow, or a Sienna LE hybrid AWD with 70,000 miles on it.

Or if I wanted new, that Sienna is $10k more than a Maverick. Yes the Sienna has a lot more standard equipment, but it's usually just me and my lunch driving to work. Don't need 7 extra seats and 3 climate zones for that.

I suppose if I really wanted to future-proof myself, I should get an F-250 with the XL Off Road package in case the Central Valley floods and I need to drive on roads under two feet of standing water again.

Just curious but it reads like you don't even own a Maverick? You are also unrealistic when using comparisons. It appears you are just stirring the pot.

 

[El Kabong]

Ahh that sounds like a fun truck! But doesn't solve the transmission cooling ;( You'd think with a performance truck, better transmission cooling would be considered.

If I was tracking any vehicle - automatic or manual - I'd be changing the trans fluid quite often. It's the breakdown of the fluid that accelerates wear for normal driving. Many folks who have an auto transmission break are the ones who assume that the fluid never needs service. One Achilles heel of the Ford 8F35 is that the transmission filter is not serviceable but it remains to be seen if this is a long-term problem.

If you aren't going to tow, commute/day trip, and keep to the "severe" schedule for fluid changes the conventional automatic should last a long time but the hybrid eCVT will probably last longer.

OFC I am biased because my use case led me to the hybrid - buy what you like the most and enjoy!

 

[ejouie]

I only tow about 5 or 6 times a year but, For me, it's completely worth it for the added transmission protection

The final drive ratios are completely made up. Here is what they actually are.

3.37 (Hybrid)
3.63 (EB)
3.81 (4K Tow only)

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