Issues with flat towing?

[GApeach]

Sorry for the long story here….tried to post on the towing sub-forum but no eyes so posting again on general.

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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[Cward]

Page 287, not sure if this fixes that issue. Couldn't hurt to do it.

RECREATIONALLY TOWING YOUR VEHICLE - HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE (HEV)
Follow these guidelines if you have a need for recreational towing. An example of recreational towing is towing your vehicle behind a motorhome. These guidelines ensure that you do not damage the transmission.
Note: Put your climate control system in recirculated air mode to prevent exhaust fumes from entering your vehicle. See Climate Control (page 126).
You can tow your vehicle with all four wheels on the ground under the following conditions:
• You switch Neutral Tow on.
• Your vehicle is facing forward for towing in a forward direction.
• You release the parking brake.
• You do not exceed 70 mph (113 km/h).
Switching Neutral Tow On
1. Switch your vehicle on in accessory mode.
2. Press the menu button on the steering wheel to enter the information display main menu.
3. Select Settings.
4. Select Neutral Tow.
5. Follow the instructions on the information display.
6. Fully press the brake pedal.
7. Shift into neutral (N).
8. Switch the ignition off.
Note: Switching neutral tow on requires battery power.
Note: If the parking brake is applied, a message appears in the information display

 

[GApeach]

Thanks for the reply.
According to the rv tech, the customer was following Ford’s process with their Escape hybrid. still had the battery die. So I’m just wondering how people who have flat towed their Mavs are doing. Maybe it’s an Escape issue but my tech was concerned about Ford’s hybrids, not concerned about Toyota’s hybrids

 

[Linda B]

Possibly the Toyota doesn't need a battery charge wire but the Fords do? Was the Escape equipped with a battery charger on the umbilical?

 

[Cward]

Thanks for the reply.
According to the rv tech, the customer was following Ford’s process with their Escape hybrid. still had the battery die. So I’m just wondering how people who have flat towed their Mavs are doing. Maybe it’s an Escape issue but my tech was concerned about Ford’s hybrids, not concerned about Toyota’s hybrids

Further instructions do say to start the vehicle for one minute every 6 hours.

 

[GApeach]

Possibly the Toyota doesn't need a battery charge wire but the Fords do? Was the Escape equipped with a battery charger on the umbilical?

I don’t know. The tech said they checked everything from their side and the car’s process and didn’t find what was causing the drainage

 

[GApeach]

Further instructions do say to start the vehicle for one minute every 6 hours.

I see that for my Mav. Don’t know if there are differences between my Mav and the other persons Escape set up

 

[pndwind]

I didn’t know Toyota okayed flat towing any of their vehicles? I’m not saying it doesn’t get done though.

 

[jsus]

Makes no sense. There shouldn’t be any regenerative braking in neutral tow mode with the vehicle off as described above.

 

[Thekoniors]

Thanks for the reply.
According to the rv tech, the customer was following Ford’s process with their Escape hybrid. still had the battery die. So I’m just wondering how people who have flat towed their Mavs are doing. Maybe it’s an Escape issue but my tech was concerned about Ford’s hybrids, not concerned about Toyota’s hybrids

I see that for my Mav. Don’t know if there are differences between my Mav and the other persons Escape set up

I have flat towed my mav about 400 miles spread out over 4 trips I have a winnebago adventurer which has a constant voltage source to operate the rvi braking system and rvi towed battery charger I have not had any issues my blue ox was installed at becklys rv in thurmont maryland

 

[GApeach]

I have flat towed my mav about 400 miles spread out over 4 trips I have a winnebago adventurer which has a constant voltage source to operate the rvi braking system and rvi towed battery charger I have not had any issues my blue ox was installed at becklys rv in thurmont maryland

Thanks for the reply. My tech says they put in the Patriot system. Is that similar to what you use?

 

[GPSMan]

Disclaimer: I don'f own one yet, but owned a Ford Escape Hybrid, and two Toyota hybrids.

Regen braking means ADDING battery charge, not draining it. Still, you don't want this because it is "drag" on the Hybrid as well as the vehicle doing the towing. More wear & tear on the hybrid and lower mpg for the tow vehicle. That said, the hybrid battery will be "full" in a couple of miles. Then the drag will reduce. Pretty sure this is NOT happening.

Pretty sure what IS happening:
The car's computers are staying "awake" not going to sleep. Opening any door wakes up the computers. Pressing the key fob wakes up the computers. Pressing the brake pedal wakes up the computers. Computers draw from the 12 volt battery, BUT the 12 volt battery is recharged from the High Voltage Traction Battery.

If the computers stay on for a long time, say MORE than 6 hours, and the HV battery stays awake, both little battery and large battery could be drained, given enough time.

 

[GApeach]

Disclaimer: I don'f own one yet, but owned a Ford Escape Hybrid, and two Toyota hybrids.

Regen braking means ADDING battery charge, not draining it. Still, you don't want this because it is "drag" on the Hybrid as well as the vehicle doing the towing. More wear & tear on the hybrid and lower mpg for the tow vehicle. That said, the hybrid battery will be "full" in a couple of miles. Then the drag will reduce. Pretty sure this is NOT happening.

Pretty sure what IS happening:
The car's computers are staying "awake" not going to sleep. Opening any door wakes up the computers. Pressing the key fob wakes up the computers. Pressing the brake pedal wakes up the computers. Computers draw from the 12 volt battery, BUT the 12 volt battery is recharged from the High Voltage Traction Battery.

If the computers stay on for a long time, say MORE than 6 hours, and the HV battery stays awake, both little battery and large battery could be drained, given enough time.

thank you for the info. With the Mav so new none of the installers have much, or any, experience putting these things in. Would a brake buddy type braking system be safer from inexperienced installers?

 

[GPSMan]

I can't comment on which product(s) to install. It won't matter though if you check on the Maverick every stop, or every 6 hours whichever comes first and run the gas engine to let it recharge. Circulating the lubricants while running can only help too. JUST MAKE SURE THE MODE/SETTINGS don't get changes during those stops. I'd write out the directions or xerox the manual and tape that page to the dash. But that's me.

 

[Bentley]

I have flat towed my mav about 400 miles spread out over 4 trips I have a winnebago adventurer which has a constant voltage source to operate the rvi braking system and rvi towed battery charger I have not had any issues my blue ox was installed at becklys rv in thurmont maryland

Are you happy with the RVI products? Trying to decide what brake system to use. Is the 12 volt on while the Mav is in tow mode so the you can power the RVI unit? Thanks!

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