Maverick 4k - Long Term Towing

[Tony Pandy]

We have a 25 HEV w/ the 4K towing Pkg and have towed enclosed 2 axle U-Haul Trailer maxed weight capacity and while it did OK on Florida Turnpike / I-75 running approx 65 MPH, I wouldn't want to do long term traveling pushing the Max allowed GCWR. Mountains would not be a fun experience. You need to look at the 80% rule of towing. I have had other vehicles in past pulling Travel trailers and had to upsize from a Jeep Grand Cherokee to a GMC Yukon for stability and better power in the mountains.

Personally, If I was going to go full time even for 1 - 2 years and want to be able to travel more than sitting in a RV campground etc., The Ranger (or GM products midsize Truck) would be my minimum. Full Frame rail vs Unibody, Better rear Drive axle just a few areas to look at.

Long term in a RV one consideration is that over time you usually add more "Stuff" you add to your supply's that you want or need. What might start out at 3,700 lbs loaded trailer can get over weight quickly.

Regardless of the truck and trailer you end up with, One of the first things you should do is go to a CAT scale (or similar) to get everything weighted both unloaded and then again fully loaded.

Brief info about GCWR:
Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating (GCVWR), or GCWR, is the maximum safe total weight of a tow vehicle, its passengers, and its cargo, combined with the weight of the trailer and its cargo. It is a manufacturer-set limit that should never be exceeded for safety reasons, as doing so can make the vehicle difficult to maneuver and stop. The GCVWR is determined by factors like the vehicle's engine, transmission, axles, and chassis, and is found on a sticker on the driver's side doorjamb or in the owner's manual.

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[710-oil-614]

We have a 25 HEV w/ the 4K towing Pkg and have towed enclosed 2 axle U-Haul Trailer maxed weight capacity and while it did OK on Florida Turnpike / I-75 running approx 65 MPH, I wouldn't want to do long term traveling pushing the Max allowed GCWR. Mountains would not be a fun experience. You need to look at the 80% rule of towing. I have had other vehicles in past pulling Travel trailers and had to upsize from a Jeep Grand Cherokee to a GMC Yukon for stability and better power in the mountains.

Personally, If I was going to go full time even for 1 - 2 years and want to be able to travel more than sitting in a RV campground etc., The Ranger (or GM products midsize Truck) would be my minimum. Full Frame rail vs Unibody, Better rear Drive axle just a few areas to look at.

Long term in a RV one consideration is that over time you usually add more "Stuff" you add to your supply's that you want or need. What might start out at 3,700 lbs loaded trailer can get over weight quickly.

Regardless of the truck and trailer you end up with, One of the first things you should do is go to a CAT scale (or similar) to get everything weighted both unloaded and then again fully loaded.

Brief info about GCWR:
Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating (GCVWR), or GCWR, is the maximum safe total weight of a tow vehicle, its passengers, and its cargo, combined with the weight of the trailer and its cargo. It is a manufacturer-set limit that should never be exceeded for safety reasons, as doing so can make the vehicle difficult to maneuver and stop. The GCVWR is determined by factors like the vehicle's engine, transmission, axles, and chassis, and is found on a sticker on the driver's side doorjamb or in the owner's manual.

For long term towing I'd say its more like a 50% rule.

 

[Tim d]

Hey everyone! My girlfriend and I are looking to tow a camper long term and live in it for an extended period of time (1-1.5 years). I’ve done a ton of research but I wanted to see if anyone here has any experience doing anything similar.

I understand the Maverick isn’t exactly the best vehicle to tow.. but we want to keep costs low that way we have more spending money on the road. I still have a mortgage I need to keep paying but will rent out some rooms to help supplement my cash. I looked into F-250’s but they’re just unreasonably priced even for a base model XL crew cab (900/m with a substantial down payment). I’ve seen plenty of videos of the Maverick doing very well towing. It seems to not have a huge issue towing things even up sharp grades and maxed out on payload/ towing capacity.

My biggest concern is long-term reliability. An F-150 just doesn’t make sense in my opinion. F-150 crew cabs are so close to an F-250 it just doesn’t make any sense to go with one given how massive of an upgrade in capability the F-250 has over an F-150. Arguably an even bigger jump from F-150 to F-250 than even a Maverick to an F-150.. A Ranger has similar towing capability as an F-150 but I’ve sat in one and somehow the interior is smaller.. no idea how they managed that. Plus, we like the smaller footprint of the Maverick, so we can tow our trailer into camp, park it, and go explore nearby cities. The Ranger is still in the equation so input there is appreciated. But I’m leaning Maverick currently.

We live in the West Coast, and plan to spend a good chunk of our time traveling on the East Coast to see all of the continental US. The other flexibility would be us paying off the maverick in the year we have it, then when we come back home, we would use it as a daily and invest in a full size Bronco, or Ineos Grenadier as a long-term local overlander here out West. I have no doubts about the EB 2.0L reliability as it’s a SOLID platform. I currently own a 2023 Bronco Sport Badlands with the same drivetrain plus the additional off road goodies and that vehicle has been ABUSED HARD with zero issues 33k miles later. I’m more concerned about the transmission than the engine’s capability.

I was thinking a Maverick XL w/ 4K tow package, with bags in the rear for squat/ stability and a trailer not exceeding 3,700~lbs - 3,800~lbs fully loaded. Cheap vehicle, cheap-ish trailer and lightweight. If we went larger on a Ranger, with additional capacity we’d go larger on the trailer too but at a significant cost. Same goes for an F-250. I know it’s less than ideal but we really want to keep costs low if we intend on starting a family too shortly after the trip. Having a 5/6 year loan that’s 1,000/m JUST for a vehicle is insane to me and even though we both make good money, is just a ridiculous expense if we can afford to do it at a significantly lower cost.

New to the forum but I’ve been browsing anonymously for some time while I make a decision on the vehicle (I was put in charge of the truck, she’s in charge of picking the camper). Any and all input is valuable to us! Thank you in advance!!

Why dont you just use your Bronco to tow?

 

[Derwood]

Hey everyone! My girlfriend and I are looking to tow a camper long term and live in it for an extended period of time (1-1.5 years). I’ve done a ton of research but I wanted to see if anyone here has any experience doing anything similar.

I understand the Maverick isn’t exactly the best vehicle to tow.. but we want to keep costs low that way we have more spending money on the road. I still have a mortgage I need to keep paying but will rent out some rooms to help supplement my cash. I looked into F-250’s but they’re just unreasonably priced even for a base model XL crew cab (900/m with a substantial down payment). I’ve seen plenty of videos of the Maverick doing very well towing. It seems to not have a huge issue towing things even up sharp grades and maxed out on payload/ towing capacity.

My biggest concern is long-term reliability. An F-150 just doesn’t make sense in my opinion. F-150 crew cabs are so close to an F-250 it just doesn’t make any sense to go with one given how massive of an upgrade in capability the F-250 has over an F-150. Arguably an even bigger jump from F-150 to F-250 than even a Maverick to an F-150.. A Ranger has similar towing capability as an F-150 but I’ve sat in one and somehow the interior is smaller.. no idea how they managed that. Plus, we like the smaller footprint of the Maverick, so we can tow our trailer into camp, park it, and go explore nearby cities. The Ranger is still in the equation so input there is appreciated. But I’m leaning Maverick currently.

We live in the West Coast, and plan to spend a good chunk of our time traveling on the East Coast to see all of the continental US. The other flexibility would be us paying off the maverick in the year we have it, then when we come back home, we would use it as a daily and invest in a full size Bronco, or Ineos Grenadier as a long-term local overlander here out West. I have no doubts about the EB 2.0L reliability as it’s a SOLID platform. I currently own a 2023 Bronco Sport Badlands with the same drivetrain plus the additional off road goodies and that vehicle has been ABUSED HARD with zero issues 33k miles later. I’m more concerned about the transmission than the engine’s capability.

I was thinking a Maverick XL w/ 4K tow package, with bags in the rear for squat/ stability and a trailer not exceeding 3,700~lbs - 3,800~lbs fully loaded. Cheap vehicle, cheap-ish trailer and lightweight. If we went larger on a Ranger, with additional capacity we’d go larger on the trailer too but at a significant cost. Same goes for an F-250. I know it’s less than ideal but we really want to keep costs low if we intend on starting a family too shortly after the trip. Having a 5/6 year loan that’s 1,000/m JUST for a vehicle is insane to me and even though we both make good money, is just a ridiculous expense if we can afford to do it at a significantly lower cost.

New to the forum but I’ve been browsing anonymously for some time while I make a decision on the vehicle (I was put in charge of the truck, she’s in charge of picking the camper). Any and all input is valuable to us! Thank you in advance!!

I would go for the 4K hybrid with tow package and aim for a trailer absolutely MAX 2,800lbs empty (if towing that much with potential for a lot of hilly terrain). I tow close to my max of 2,000lbs with my 23 hybrid FWD but only short distances and no issues at all so far.

 

[surfstar]

Another thought:
Used F150 hybrid with Pro Power

Gives you a 7200W 240V 30A outlet in the bed - enough to power any small trailer's AC. That's a pretty awesome built-in generator and you can get a 36g fuel tank too.

Towing MPG won't be that much less than a hybrid Mav. Biggest MPG loss will be when not towing, but this opens up tons of cheap trailer options for ya.

 

[Robot-Wrangler]

Hey everyone! My girlfriend and I are looking to tow a camper long term and live in it for an extended period of time (1-1.5 years). I’ve done a ton of research but I wanted to see if anyone here has any experience doing anything similar.

I understand the Maverick isn’t exactly the best vehicle to tow.. but we want to keep costs low that way we have more spending money on the road. I still have a mortgage I need to keep paying but will rent out some rooms to help supplement my cash. I looked into F-250’s but they’re just unreasonably priced even for a base model XL crew cab (900/m with a substantial down payment). I’ve seen plenty of videos of the Maverick doing very well towing. It seems to not have a huge issue towing things even up sharp grades and maxed out on payload/ towing capacity.

My biggest concern is long-term reliability. An F-150 just doesn’t make sense in my opinion. F-150 crew cabs are so close to an F-250 it just doesn’t make any sense to go with one given how massive of an upgrade in capability the F-250 has over an F-150. Arguably an even bigger jump from F-150 to F-250 than even a Maverick to an F-150.. A Ranger has similar towing capability as an F-150 but I’ve sat in one and somehow the interior is smaller.. no idea how they managed that. Plus, we like the smaller footprint of the Maverick, so we can tow our trailer into camp, park it, and go explore nearby cities. The Ranger is still in the equation so input there is appreciated. But I’m leaning Maverick currently.

We live in the West Coast, and plan to spend a good chunk of our time traveling on the East Coast to see all of the continental US. The other flexibility would be us paying off the maverick in the year we have it, then when we come back home, we would use it as a daily and invest in a full size Bronco, or Ineos Grenadier as a long-term local overlander here out West. I have no doubts about the EB 2.0L reliability as it’s a SOLID platform. I currently own a 2023 Bronco Sport Badlands with the same drivetrain plus the additional off road goodies and that vehicle has been ABUSED HARD with zero issues 33k miles later. I’m more concerned about the transmission than the engine’s capability.

I was thinking a Maverick XL w/ 4K tow package, with bags in the rear for squat/ stability and a trailer not exceeding 3,700~lbs - 3,800~lbs fully loaded. Cheap vehicle, cheap-ish trailer and lightweight. If we went larger on a Ranger, with additional capacity we’d go larger on the trailer too but at a significant cost. Same goes for an F-250. I know it’s less than ideal but we really want to keep costs low if we intend on starting a family too shortly after the trip. Having a 5/6 year loan that’s 1,000/m JUST for a vehicle is insane to me and even though we both make good money, is just a ridiculous expense if we can afford to do it at a significantly lower cost.

New to the forum but I’ve been browsing anonymously for some time while I make a decision on the vehicle (I was put in charge of the truck, she’s in charge of picking the camper). Any and all input is valuable to us! Thank you in advance!!

Welcome to MTC! Having lived in my RV for 6 years, I'll enlighten you on a few things. If you purchase an RV that weighs close to your truck's towing capacity, you will overload it substantially without realizing it. There are "essentials" for long term living that you will require. Clothes, food, dishes, pots and pans, tools for repairs (Oh yes), a generator. Then you add a woman and they have their "essentials" for example, a toaster oven, waffle maker, blender, microwave, TV, makeup, hair dryer, etc. You get the picture I hope. All this stuff adds up weight.

If you plan to do any traveling in this RV, upgrade your truck. Also, a tiny RV gets crowded fast, consider an upgrade to a lightweight twin axle for stability and at the very minimum a Ranger or an F-150 with the V8 and tow package. If you are 6' or taller the Maverick isn't as comfortable and you cannot stretch your legs out. Weather is not your friend in an RV and constant sun exposure eats away at it quickly. Traveling with an RV in anything but clear and sunny weather simply sucks. Being at you trucks limits will test your limits and you have to plan ahead for any maneuver.

My best advise is to buy a clean used RV, no more than two years old and make sure the truck can handle the max GVWR plus 2,000 lbs. Go with two axles for stability and capacity. The F-150 would be better, but a base model Ranger would suffice. With a Maverick, you are stuck with a tiny RV and little room for gear. I've owned two Rangers and they do well up to 6k. The F-150 does well at up to 10k properly equipped. Remember, to live in your RV you will be hauling 2,000 lbs more. Do not bring pets and don't have kids. Good luck!

 

[James K]

I have one big concern. Will you and your girlfriend still have a good relationship after 1 to 1.5 years in a small trailer. It will test things out, IMHO.......

Good luck and happy camping!!! Oh, yes, a Maverick could work but not sure about the weight of the camper you are talking about. See GVWR.

Good to see that you are taking all the financial aspects into consideration. Pays off long term!!!

My thoughts exactly. I have 40 years with the wife and she is a sweetheart but close quarters can be trying. Also, the weight of the camper works but your mileage will be way down and performance will likely make you regret it.

 

[DadofTim]

Save your marriage and ditch the trailer; get a couple of hotel credit cards instead. Use them to pay for your expenses, then use the points for discounted hotel stays. You won't have to find a campground and disconnect the trailer for city sightseeing. Most hotels have breakfast, so lunch and dinner are in town, or we bought a 12-volt refrigerator, then picnic in the park. You can save your leftovers from that great Italian restaurant. Reheat them in a lunch box heater, and look in the truck-stop store for more ideas.
The money you save from the higher fuel mileage, campground fees, and higher maintenance costs. Plus the cost of the trailer and setting up your second home with all the accoutrements for it. The flexibility, comfort of a real bed, and room to get away from each other will save your marriage.

 

[OleFordGuy]

Welcome to MTC! Having lived in my RV for 6 years, I'll enlighten you on a few things. If you purchase an RV that weighs close to your truck's towing capacity, you will overload it substantially without realizing it. There are "essentials" for long term living that you will require. Clothes, food, dishes, pots and pans, tools for repairs (Oh yes), a generator. Then you add a woman and they have their "essentials" for example, a toaster oven, waffle maker, blender, microwave, TV, makeup, hair dryer, etc. You get the picture I hope. All this stuff adds up weight.

If you plan to do any traveling in this RV, upgrade your truck. Also, a tiny RV gets crowded fast, consider an upgrade to a lightweight twin axle for stability and at the very minimum a Ranger or an F-150 with the V8 and tow package. If you are 6' or taller the Maverick isn't as comfortable and you cannot stretch your legs out. Weather is not your friend in an RV and constant sun exposure eats away at it quickly. Traveling with an RV in anything but clear and sunny weather simply sucks. Being at you trucks limits will test your limits and you have to plan ahead for any maneuver.

My best advise is to buy a clean used RV, no more than two years old and make sure the truck can handle the max GVWR plus 2,000 lbs. Go with two axles for stability and capacity. The F-150 would be better, but a base model Ranger would suffice. With a Maverick, you are stuck with a tiny RV and little room for gear. I've owned two Rangers and they do well up to 6k. The F-150 does well at up to 10k properly equipped. Remember, to live in your RV you will be hauling 2,000 lbs more. Do not bring pets and don't have kids. Good luck!

You’re right, the Maverick is Not the truck for this level daily/extended towing that many years. The weight is going to add up quick, this won’t be a pack your suitcase for a weekend adventure. OP has not thought this through fully. Like some others mentioned, a ranger at minimum or a reliable used f150

 

[yank283]

I would absolutely nail down what your mission is before you decide.

You're all over the place - from an F250 that can tow up to 22k to an F150 that can tow 13k to a Ranger that can tow 7.5k to a Maverick that can tow 4k.

I would not purchase the ecoboost Maverick to tow with - the transmissions have been known to grenade.

I would not purchase a hybrid Maverick to tow 4k across the US for an extensive period of time, through the mountains etc.

If you want to live in a trailer full time I would be looking at those that weigh in the 6k range at minimum personally.

Yeah, I love having the ability to tow my, right at 4k pound, loaded camper to some fairly close state parks occasionally. And it does fine (I do usually stay in the 55-60mph range though). That being said, if I was going across the country and in higher elevations for extended periods, I would definite consider the Ranger, Tacoma or something else similar/or larger with a higher tow rating. But who knows, it might do fine. The 4k tow hybrid Maverick is so new, not a lot of info out there yet.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

2750 lbs dry.

3000 lbs outfitted for travel, without water

4000 lbs GVWR

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

.

2750 lbs dry.

3000 lbs outfitted for travel, without water

4000 lbs GVWR

Is that the 17 RX?

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

Brief info about GCWR:
Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating (GCVWR), or GCWR, is the maximum safe total weight of a tow vehicle, its passengers, and its cargo, combined with the weight of the trailer and its cargo. It is a manufacturer-set limit that should never be exceeded for safety reasons, as doing so can make the vehicle difficult to maneuver and stop. The GCVWR is determined by factors like the vehicle's engine, transmission, axles, and chassis, and is found on a sticker on the driver's side doorjamb or in the owner's manual.

What's the difference between a 2K Hybrid Maverick and a 4k Hybrid Maverick?

A: Part time AWD and a brake controller

Towing more than 2,000 lbs in a FWD with brake controller is going to be the same experience ON DRY PAVEMENT where added traction of RWD is not needed.

The "sticker" is not a limit.
The "sticker" is a recommendation as factory equipped.

I take exception to the term "never".

 

[OleFordGuy]

whatever you end up going with I would suggest getting a articulating trailer hitch
one good example is :
https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hi...MI1Jvc0Z-JkAMVPHV_AB1HEA_tEAQYBSABEgIxSvD_BwE

• Fits 2" hitch receivers: Suitable for trucks and SUVs, offering versatile towing.
• 5-position channel: Adjustable for up to 8-1/4" rise or drop, ensuring a level trailer.
• Fully articulating design: Allows for 360-degree rotation, excellent for off-road adventures.
• Secure connection: Interlocking system that prevents accidental decoupling and reduces theft risk.
• Quiet and smooth ride: Minimizes rattling noise and jerking, offering a comfortable towing experience

 

[Robot-Wrangler]

whatever you end up going with I would suggest getting a articulating trailer hitch
one good example is :
https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hi...MI1Jvc0Z-JkAMVPHV_AB1HEA_tEAQYBSABEgIxSvD_BwE

• Fits 2" hitch receivers: Suitable for trucks and SUVs, offering versatile towing.
• 5-position channel: Adjustable for up to 8-1/4" rise or drop, ensuring a level trailer.
• Fully articulating design: Allows for 360-degree rotation, excellent for off-road adventures.
• Secure connection: Interlocking system that prevents accidental decoupling and reduces theft risk.
• Quiet and smooth ride: Minimizes rattling noise and jerking, offering a comfortable towing experience

Well written and live links. Humm, sounds like an advertisement to me.

I seriously doubt that a Maverick is going to be an off the road tow rig needing 360 degree hitch articulation. Folks can spend their money as they like though and it certainly can't hurt.

Personally, I like weight distribution hitches for on the road use. They help reduce rear end sag and improve control.

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