Maverick as a work truck (towing)?

[Stevebirss]

I’m very interested in getting a Maverick Hybrid as my everyday work truck.
I’m a finishing carpenter in Canada and I currently drive a 2002 Chev Avalanche and I often pull a small (5x8) trailer with all my tools in it. The amount I’m paying in gas every month is ridiculous. I’m averaging between $500-750 a month just in gas. The maverick hybrid has three times the fuel efficiency that my Avalanche has, so I could potentially save $400+/month driving a Maverick. The amount of gas money I’d save would almost entirely pay the truck payment.

The only worry I have is the towing/payload capacity. I weighed myself today, and minus the weight of the avalanche I was around 2800 lbs. probably around 500 lbs of that was myself, fuel and a few tools, which means the trailer full of my tools is around 2300 lbs.

If I actually move a few items from the trailer into the bed of the truck, and I pare down a few things that aren’t essential, I could get the trailer to right around that 2000 lb mark that the Maverick is rated for. The payload would then probably be around 7-800 lbs.

I don’t always pull the trailer around. It usually sits at the jobsite. But it’s probably once every 1-2 weeks that I need to move it.

Does anyone have any experience with using the Maverick in this way? Is it meant to be used as a work truck or is it meant to be more of a lighter duty truck than what I’m describing?

Does anyone see any problem with pushing the towing limit on a regular basis? Will this cause damage? Will the Maverick be able to pull the load up hills?

the longest distance I drive for work is two hours, and that’s not typical. But it occasionally happens. Typically I’m hauling my trailer for an hour at most. So it’s not a super long distance of anything.
Any thoughts, ideas, tips would be appreciated.

I’ve been looking for a vehicle that is both good on gas and can haul a small trailer, and is also affordable, and there is basically nothing available except for the Maverick.

Thanks again,
Steve

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[tom_tucker]

I’m very interested in getting a Maverick Hybrid as my everyday work truck.
I’m a finishing carpenter in Canada and I currently drive a 2002 Chev Avalanche and I often pull a small (5x8) trailer with all my tools in it. The amount I’m paying in gas every month is ridiculous. I’m averaging between $500-750 a month just in gas. The maverick hybrid has three times the fuel efficiency that my Avalanche has, so I could potentially save $400+/month driving a Maverick. The amount of gas money I’d save would almost entirely pay the truck payment.

The only worry I have is the towing/payload capacity. I weighed myself today, and minus the weight of the avalanche I was around 2800 lbs. probably around 500 lbs of that was myself, fuel and a few tools, which means the trailer full of my tools is around 2300 lbs.

If I actually move a few items from the trailer into the bed of the truck, and I pare down a few things that aren’t essential, I could get the trailer to right around that 2000 lb mark that the Maverick is rated for. The payload would then probably be around 7-800 lbs.

I don’t always pull the trailer around. It usually sits at the jobsite. But it’s probably once every 1-2 weeks that I need to move it.

Does anyone have any experience with using the Maverick in this way? Is it meant to be used as a work truck or is it meant to be more of a lighter duty truck than what I’m describing?

Does anyone see any problem with pushing the towing limit on a regular basis? Will this cause damage? Will the Maverick be able to pull the load up hills?

the longest distance I drive for work is two hours, and that’s not typical. But it occasionally happens. Typically I’m hauling my trailer for an hour at most. So it’s not a super long distance of anything.
Any thoughts, ideas, tips would be appreciated.

I’ve been looking for a vehicle that is both good on gas and can haul a small trailer, and is also affordable, and there is basically nothing available except for the Maverick.

Thanks again,
Steve

Eco boost + 4K for the win, IMO. The right tool for the job vs. the Hybrid. Granted, I'm a computer guy, so I don't know squat, but I wouldn't use the hybrid as a work truck to tow trailers. Think it's consumer grade, not commercial.

 

[Stevebirss]

Eco boost + 4K for the win, IMO. The right tool for the job vs. the Hybrid. Granted, I'm a computer guy, so I don't know squat, but I wouldn't use the hybrid as a work truck to tow trailers. Think it's consumer grade, not commercial.

Yeah, I’ve looked at that as an option, and it is a good one. But I really want that crazy good gas mileage if I can get it.
My trailer is quite small. 5’ tall, 8’ long. And like I said, I can probably get it to where it’s sitting at that 2000 lb spot. But I’m just not sure if running it at max towing capacity once a week will be bad for it, or if that’s just totally fine.

 

[Johnkn]

Yeah, I’ve looked at that as an option, and it is a good one. But I really want that crazy good gas mileage if I can get it.
My trailer is quite small. 5’ tall, 8’ long. And like I said, I can probably get it to where it’s sitting at that 2000 lb spot. But I’m just not sure if running it at max towing capacity once a week will be bad for it, or if that’s just totally fine.

You won’t have any problem. Also, remember that a trailer that is 2000lbs when hooked to the trailer ball at 10% tongue weight of 200 is then considered a 1800 towed trailer. The Trailer’s weight when towing is reduced by the weight on the ball.

Good luck


.

 

[IwannaMav]

I towed a small trailer (5x10) over the last few days behind my Ecoboost and my mileage dropped from 30 mpg down to 20 mpg. Towing really kills the mileage.

 

[Johnkn]

I towed a small trailer (5x10) over the last few days behind my Ecoboost and my mileage dropped from 30 mpg down to 20 mpg. Towing really kills the mileage.

It does. But if he only tows once a week he enjoys Hybrid fuel economy the other 6 days...


.

 

[Stevebirss]

It does. But if he only tows once a week he enjoys Hybrid fuel economy the other 6 days...


.

Precisely. I’m looking for something that can tow, because I need my tools on site. But I don’t tow every day, it’s some times only once in two weeks. So I don’t care that it kills the mileage for one hour of driving once a week. The rest of the time I’m getting hybrid economy.

 

[GPSMan]

I’m very interested in getting a Maverick Hybrid as my everyday work truck.
I’m a finishing carpenter in Canada and I currently drive a 2002 Chev Avalanche and I often pull a small (5x8) trailer with all my tools in it. The amount I’m paying in gas every month is ridiculous. I’m averaging between $500-750 a month just in gas. The maverick hybrid has three times the fuel efficiency that my Avalanche has, so I could potentially save $400+/month driving a Maverick. The amount of gas money I’d save would almost entirely pay the truck payment.

The only worry I have is the towing/payload capacity. I weighed myself today, and minus the weight of the avalanche I was around 2800 lbs. probably around 500 lbs of that was myself, fuel and a few tools, which means the trailer full of my tools is around 2300 lbs.

If I actually move a few items from the trailer into the bed of the truck, and I pare down a few things that aren’t essential, I could get the trailer to right around that 2000 lb mark that the Maverick is rated for. The payload would then probably be around 7-800 lbs.

I don’t always pull the trailer around. It usually sits at the jobsite. But it’s probably once every 1-2 weeks that I need to move it.

Does anyone have any experience with using the Maverick in this way? Is it meant to be used as a work truck or is it meant to be more of a lighter duty truck than what I’m describing?

Does anyone see any problem with pushing the towing limit on a regular basis? Will this cause damage? Will the Maverick be able to pull the load up hills?

the longest distance I drive for work is two hours, and that’s not typical. But it occasionally happens. Typically I’m hauling my trailer for an hour at most. So it’s not a super long distance of anything.
Any thoughts, ideas, tips would be appreciated.

I’ve been looking for a vehicle that is both good on gas and can haul a small trailer, and is also affordable, and there is basically nothing available except for the Maverick.

Thanks again,
Steve

Weight is weight.

Save yourself time and effort. No need to transfer weight to the truck bed only transfer it back to the trailer at the job site: unless you think you'll break the trailer, or you have something delicate you don't want to transport in the bouncy trailer, that could benefit from the better suspension of the truck.

For occasional use, your setup sounds fine. I've probably towed more. But I do it twice a year. You want to do it twice a month or more. A real grey area.

There are risks and rewards.
Only you can decide.

 

[tom_tucker]

Yeah, I’ve looked at that as an option, and it is a good one. But I really want that crazy good gas mileage if I can get it.
My trailer is quite small. 5’ tall, 8’ long. And like I said, I can probably get it to where it’s sitting at that 2000 lb spot. But I’m just not sure if running it at max towing capacity once a week will be bad for it, or if that’s just totally fine.

Sounds like you could get away with Hybrid Towing if you stay on the Prairies, rather than the Rockies? Sounds windy, dry and cold in the winter. So maybe you don't have the ice?

https://www.ford.com/cmslibs/conten...ides/2022_Ford_Maverick_Towing_Info_Oct20.pdf

Just random thoughts if I was towing with the Hybrid Mav. The GCWR limit is 6,010 so you will be over that most likely. EB 4k goes out to 8,145 lbs. Knowing you're over the max is half the battle though.

* Use premium fuel
* More frequent oil changes
* Grippier tires
* Rear coil suspension enhancement system (see Etrailer)
* Brake controller
* lighter trailer
* keep the truck empty when you tow

 

[adamgrattan]

Just remember that milk expires the day it is marked on the container at 12:01. 2001 pounds will definitely break the hybrid. Don't cut the tag off mattresses.

 

[S. fisher]

Sounds like you’re looking for a van, lets not kid ourselves, the maverick is just a station wagon with a open air cargo area.
Sure it can tow, but you’re looking for a specific tool to accommodate your business.
Even the avalanche is just a large station wagon with a open air cargo area.
Can you write off the purchase price of gas, or the vehicle? Because you can here in the states, so a full size van may be your answer. You can also tow with one of those, and the diesel powered ones are generally getting 23 mpg.

 

[Tiger Dude]

Can you? Sure. But it comes under the category of tearing up the truck. Will you ever notice? Who knows. But if your transmission fails one day you'll be wondering if you caused it. You'll probably be over both by weight and frontal area (20 sq ft).

 

[Tiger Dude]

You won’t have any problem. Also, remember that a trailer that is 2000lbs when hooked to the trailer ball at 10% tongue weight of 200 is then considered a 1800 towed trailer. The Trailer’s weight when towing is reduced by the weight on the ball.

This might work for a trailer axle rating but not for a tow rating.

 

[AutobahnSHO]

It might not break the first year, but you're definitely going to be pushing the limits of the truck every time you tow. Especially a tall trailer, if you're going over 45mph or long distance I would say go EcoBoost for a personal vehicle.

The hybrid only gets great gas mileage if you drive it gentle- and we've been driving ours almost empty most of the time. I'm sure loaded down you'd be on the gas a lot more, and it's just not designed for a lot of weight.

 

[GPSMan]

....and it's just not designed for a lot of weight.

How long have you worked for the Ford Design Team?

I spoke directly face to face to the designers and engineers behind the First North American Hybrid: The 2005 Hybrid Escape... way back in 2006.

They told me they threw everything and the kitchen sink at it and "couldn't break the darn thing."

It's "rated" what it is for a multitude of reasons, not all related to ability. You know, EPA, lawyers, marketers, etc.
Maybe if they stated it could outpull a base model F-150 they'd lose F-150 sales? Maybe pollution exceeds X limit if you tow more than 2,000 pounds. Maybe the catalytic converter is undersized (due to cost of rare earth metals) but the powertrain isn't!

A lot is about managing expectation.
People expect to be able to tow uphill in the left lane. The "ratings" help manage this too.

Just a lot of loose ends that no one, me either knows.

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