Mysterious problem flat towing 2024 Maverick Lariat.

[rambler05]

We have been motor homing and flat towing for 47 years. We purchased 2024 maverick lariat hybrid last march. we have always used blue ox tow bar, base plate. So purchased blue ox base plate from e-trailer. Used existing one year old blue ox tow bar. Used existing Air Force One brake. Installation was done by reputable Orange Hitch and Trailer in Orange California. We have followed the 2024 tow set up instructions and the maverick is in neutral tow. The maverick towed beautifully and we were very happy. Then this happened. The maverick took left hand turns from left lane to left lane. The maverick took right hand turns from right lane to right lane. When we made right turn from middle of right turn freeway offramp to left lane of four lane street the maverick locked up and shook the motorhome. We thought it was the brake. Then it happened another time in the same spot and the brake was not connected. We are driving a 35 foot diesel pusher. Has anyone out there experienced this problem?? and if so what was the solution.

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[Sir Tyne]

A similar thing happened to me when I upgraded my toad to the Maverick. I used the same tow bar and safety cables as before but changed my drop hitch from a 4" drop to a 2" drop. The new drop hitch with the shorter drop also was longer in length. What was happening was my safety cables were stopping one side of the tow bar from locking in. I didn't notice it until I got off a straight road. To solve it I added a 6" extension to the safety cables.

 

[rambler05]

A similar thing happened to me when I upgraded my toad to the Maverick. I used the same tow bar and safety cables as before but changed my drop hitch from a 4" drop to a 2" drop. The new drop hitch with the shorter drop also was longer in length. What was happening was my safety cables were stopping one side of the tow bar from locking in. I didn't notice it until I got off a straight road. To solve it I added a 6" extension to the safety cables.

 

[rambler05]

Thank you. Will check that out.

 

[Dave O]

I agree that the safety cable length could be the issue I just install the RoadMaster base plate and RoadMaster Nighthawk TowBar and notice the safety cables seemed a little short so I add 8” extensions and just got back from a 400 mile trip with my 2025 Lariat AWD Hybrid and had no issues - so far I’d say this is the best toad ever and I’ve had a few different ones…

 

[Iddgit]

One note about older versions of the blue ox baseplate (older were 2-piece, new are one piece which doesn’t have the problem) that you may want to check given your issues and the lockups you have encountered. Now i have used blue ox everything with success on other toads so I’m not anti Blue Ox in any way, but the older version of the base plate for the Mav was really 2 pieces And they have no connection between them which is a problem. They just fit on the end of the frame rails of the Mav.
The problem I’ve seen is that the very front ends of the Mav’s frame rails are just thin metal and not the strong box beam you expect to see as is on a heavy duty truck or even a Wrangler. So when lateral force (as in turning or braking) is applied to the baseplate parts, the two pieces of the blue ox base plate can move independently from each other because the frame ends are not designed for lateral force (in fact they are probably designed as part of the crumple zone when stressed) and there is no cross bar. Slowly, (or sometimes dramatically when under a lot of stress) the two mounting points begin to spread apart and tear into the facia. I suggest you examine yours to be sure they are not moving and causing damage…and you may want to measure the distance between them and record it as a baseline to check once in a while.
I have seen two 24 Mavs that were being flat towed where you could see that the hitch points were beginning to spread apart and push into the facia at each side…and someday if nothing is done, they may bend dramatically or fail outright. Just noting it since locking up the Mav when towing may have put extreme pressure on these failure points on yours. I thought Blue Ox had discontinued the baseplate due to these issues…but maybe I was misinformed about that. Other baseplates such as Demco and Roadmaster have a bar between the two mounting points so they don’t have the same issue. Would love to be wrong…but last i looked at the BO Mav baseplates this was a real issue.

 

[rambler05]

One note about the blue ox baseplate that you may want to check given your issues and the lockups you have encountered. Now i have used blue ox everything with success on other toads so I’m not anti Blue Ox in any way, but the base plate for the 24 Mav is really 2 pieces And they have no connection between them which is a problem. They just fit on the end of the frame rails of the Mav.
The problem I’ve seen is that the very front ends of the Mav’s frame rails are just thin metal and not the strong box beam you expect to see as is on a heavy duty truck or even a Wrangler. So when lateral force (as in turning or braking) is applied to the baseplate parts, the two pieces of the blue ox base plate can move independently from each other because the frame ends are not designed for lateral force (in fact they are probably designed as part of the crumple zone when stressed) and there is no cross bar. Slowly, (or sometimes dramatically when under a lot of stress) the two mounting points begin to spread apart and tear into the facia. I suggest you examine yours to be sure they are not moving and causing damage…and you may want to measure the distance between them and record it as a baseline to check once in a while.
I have seen two 24 Mavs that were being flat towed where you could see that the hitch points were beginning to spread apart and push into the facia at each side…and someday if nothing is done, they may bend dramatically or fail outright. Just noting it since locking up the Mav when towing may have put extreme pressure on these failure points on yours. I thought Blue Ox had discontinued the baseplate due to these issues…but maybe I was misinformed about that. Other baseplates such as Demco and Roadmaster have a bar between the two mounting points so they don’t have the same issue. Would love to be wrong…but last i looked at the BO Mav baseplates this was a real issue.

Thank you for your info. I have looked at our BO base plate and it is one solid hefty piece from mounting point to mounting point as much as I can see. Perhaps BO redesigned their plate???

 

[KenE]

Thank you for your info. I have looked at our BO base plate and it is one solid hefty piece from mounting point to mounting point as much as I can see. Perhaps BO redesigned their plate???

We have the 2025 Lariet which we tow behind our Motorhome. We've been RVing since 1981, and Blue ox is the only baseplate/tow bar We've ever used. Like you, our BO baseplate is one piece, tows just fine. We've only towed our Maverick about 700 miles since late April, and never experienced your problem. Our coiled safety chains are a bit tight though, food for thought on my part. I use the RVIbrake 3 supplemental braking system which I've had for years. Immediately before placing Mav in tow mode, I observe the 13" screen to ensure A/c, blower motor, radio are Off. Motorhome 7-pin plug provides 12V power to 6-pin plug on Mav end, where it charges the mav 12V battery thru an isolation diode. Everything works well.

 

[KenE]

One time I did experience a towing problem immediately after stopping. I needed to unhook Mav in a hurry, a diode didn't exit tow mode correctly, i.e. keyfob on you press 'On' button, depress brake & shift into park. I can't remember what I did wrong but warning lights illuminated on dash, saying I can't drive. It wouldn't start. Turned off, waited outside scratching my head what to do. After a few minutes it started. Each time since I've exited Tow mode properly, no problem!

 

[rambler05]

Thank you everyone for your comments and suggestions. I checked the tow bar closely and when manually (not connected to tow vehicle) tightened and released the left arm sometimes locked and other times did not. Contacted Blue Ox and the nice service agent felt it was a safety issue and sent a new tow bar replacement under warranty. I hooked up and drove to the right hand turn that caused the problem and the Maverick tracked just fine, no lock up. I believe the tow bar has solved the problem.

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