Nearly Max Towing Weight Results on Maverick With 4K Tow Package

[Pickles]

there's lots of articles about this out there. Here's 1, but you'll have to research & decide for yourself...

https://www.irv2.com/forums/f45/veh...le-with-weight-distribution-hitch-458165.html

Snipped:
"Vehicles with a unibody instead of a body-on-frame should never use a WD hitch. They can't handle the torque. They will break apart under the stresses. Vehicles that have tow ratings of 5,000 pounds and under don't really have a need for weight distribution. There just isn't enough front end lift to matter in most cases. Sure, there are some WD hitches for such light loads, but you probably don't need one.

Weight distribution exists because of the physics of heavy tongue weights behind the rear axle. That axle acts like a fulcrum and lifts up on the front end as more weight is put on the rear. Eventually, you lift up so much that the front tires can't control the vehicle. Obviously that's bad, so the weight distribution torques the hitch to counter some of that front end lift. "

Ah i understand. Thanks!

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[Clarkdonbran]

I hope you grabbed a pizza on the way out!

 

[bdaniel230]

Well boys, I did a thing. Just a statement of fact, I also own a 2021 Nissan Titan 4x4.

I decided, after towing my Drift Willy’s Jeep from my house 2.5 hours to the track in Tucson, Az, with the Titan getting about 8 mpg, to go drifting for the day with my buddy, I didn’t want to then turn right around the very next morning hook up to my “lighter “ trailer and tow my 2020 RZR XP Turbo 4 seat to the sand dunes in Glamis, Ca. So I calculated up roughly, the total combined weight of the trailer, the RZR, and the extra fuel and other things I was going to carry in the bed of the Maverick, and I came up with about 3600lbs. My Maverick has the FX4 package and the 4K tow package. So I knew I would be under the 4k, but I will admit, I have been critical to others on this and other Maverick sites, about how some of these people legitimately think they bought a “real truck” when they purchased their Mavericks. I on the other hand know exactly what I was buying and exactly what it is truly safely/comfortably capable of. I figured since this drive to the dunes is pretty much flat, with only about maybe 600-800 ft of elevation change, I decided I would give it a try with the Maverick.

Now I know I wasn’t in a hurry, but typically I tend to drive on the quicker side, so I had to restrain myself to keep it at a reasonable pace. Well I’m happy to report that I made the trip without issues, averaged 9.5 mpg at an average speed of about 75-80 mph. I am very honest with my opinions in regards to my experiences I have, so ask any questions you may have about this trip.

Excellent news! I am planning on a week-long trip to Wisconsin from Idaho and I have been curious about towing an Airstream basecamp which has a GVWR of 3650. Adding my normal gear of about 300 lbs should max out the truck. And getting in the neighborhood of 10 mpg should actually be a load better than I was expecting.
I am planning on doing a 2" lift to help in the overall towing stance. I have the 2L EB with fx4 and 4k with AWD, the tongue height of the basecamp is in the 22" range and I want to use a straight back hitch so that I can take it off the beaten track a bit, mostly gravel roads in the desert.

 

[bdaniel230]

Ah i understand. Thanks!

I have a welding rig with a generator, small and portable, but between the two pieces, I have 200 lbs just ahead of the rear axle. Add the 2 or more propane tanks I carry for various uses and a few pounds of tools, say under 100, and I have the max payload ahead of the rear axle. This makes balancing a 450 lb tongue weight a bit easier on the porpoising (the action of the springs and shocks on the front wheels trying to adjust for fulcrum lifting them off the ground then pressing them down like a dolphin alongside a boat)

 

[Pickles]

I have a welding rig with a generator, small and portable, but between the two pieces, I have 200 lbs just ahead of the rear axle. Add the 2 or more propane tanks I carry for various uses and a few pounds of tools, say under 100, and I have the max payload ahead of the rear axle. This makes balancing a 450 lb tongue weight a bit easier on the porpoising (the action of the springs and shocks on the front wheels trying to adjust for fulcrum lifting them off the ground then pressing them down like a dolphin alongside a boat)

Nice. Im a welder too. We have a ranger i have to tow in a trailer with the job box every now and then. Other than camping… this will be the only other thing ill really be using the 4k towing for. Nice to know someone else is welding with their mav

 

[Packer Bill]

Excellent news! I am planning on a week-long trip to Wisconsin from Idaho and I have been curious about towing an Airstream basecamp which has a GVWR of 3650. Adding my normal gear of about 300 lbs should max out the truck. And getting in the neighborhood of 10 mpg should actually be a load better than I was expecting.
I am planning on doing a 2" lift to help in the overall towing stance. I have the 2L EB with fx4 and 4k with AWD, the tongue height of the basecamp is in the 22" range and I want to use a straight back hitch so that I can take it off the beaten track a bit, mostly gravel roads in the desert.

I have been reading a lot from travel trailer forums lately. I have the 4k package too. It is recommended by most seasoned RVers that when traveling in Eastern US, tow 90% of your tow rating and for Western US, tow 80% of your tow rating. There are several reasons for this but the main reasons are wind and change in elevation. I am not a seasoned expert but I would recommend some research before your tow your trailer. Let us know about your experience after your trip. Happy camping!!

 

[AzChrisW]

Just a couple of questions? What octane gas did you use towing & did you feel any straining of motor, tranny or overheating?

91 octane. The motor ran at the same coolant temps as without the load. At no point did I feel it was at all underpowered. I also forgot to mention I was running the A/C at a couple points.

 

[AzChrisW]

No

I was wondering if you had any sway and if you added a sway control hitch setup.

No sway at all. No didn’t had sway control hitch. On the way home there was some serious winds from the rear with slightly cross. It was moving the whole setup, but not causing sway between the trailer and truck.

 

[AzChrisW]

This is interesting, thanks for the post. What can you tell us about the engine performance? What sort of revs was it running at and was it shifting constantly or did it prefer one gear at those speeds? Did you encounter any hills or significant wind resistance and if so, how did the engine respond?

Thanks!

Never felt underpowered at all. I could floor it at any point and it would accelerate fairly well. Had to at a couple points to get around a few semi’s. The trans was shifting up and down when I tried to keep the speed lower at like 72-74, that’s why I hels 78-80, it seemed to like it better. If I would have held like 68-70 it probably would have really loved it, but yeah, on the I 10 out here, you’ll get ran off the road at that speed. The seed limit is 75mph.

 

[AzChrisW]

Strangely aggressive review post haha appreciate the post though. How long was the trip and how did you find the feel of the brakes throughout the trip?

Brakes, combined with the trailers brakes, were more then adequate.

 

[Paulyz]

91 octane. The motor ran at the same coolant temps as without the load. At no point did I feel it was at all underpowered. I also forgot to mention I was running the A/C at a couple points.

Great to hear, thanks!!

 

[jmav]

Excellent news! I am planning on a week-long trip to Wisconsin from Idaho and I have been curious about towing an Airstream basecamp which has a GVWR of 3650. Adding my normal gear of about 300 lbs should max out the truck. And getting in the neighborhood of 10 mpg should actually be a load better than I was expecting.
I am planning on doing a 2" lift to help in the overall towing stance. I have the 2L EB with fx4 and 4k with AWD, the tongue height of the basecamp is in the 22" range and I want to use a straight back hitch so that I can take it off the beaten track a bit, mostly gravel roads in the desert.

2" lift to help with towing?

 

[bdaniel230]

2" lift to help with towing?

If your trailer is level from the hitch to the end it reduces sway and the chance of jack-knifing in emergency braking. With electric brakes on the trailer and a level angle of attack, the chance of jack-knifing is greatly reduced. After close to 500K miles dragging a trailer around the country, yes, a lift kit on the truck will put the trailer and truck on a level plain. Thanks for asking
Guess I should state that my trailer is an off-road camping trailer and has 9" wheel travel so it stands pretty high. The tongue height is ~23" and without the lift the hitch stands at ~20" so this gets the height of the hitch to basically the same as the trailer, when you look from the front bumper of the truck to the tail of the trailer it is pretty level which makes it much easier at highway speeds and on steep descents in the back roads.

 

[Lucky B]

Excellent news! I am planning on a week-long trip to Wisconsin from Idaho and I have been curious about towing an Airstream basecamp which has a GVWR of 3650. Adding my normal gear of about 300 lbs should max out the truck. And getting in the neighborhood of 10 mpg should actually be a load better than I was expecting.
I am planning on doing a 2" lift to help in the overall towing stance. I have the 2L EB with fx4 and 4k with AWD, the tongue height of the basecamp is in the 22" range and I want to use a straight back hitch so that I can take it off the beaten track a bit, mostly gravel roads in the desert.

I'm planning a trip from Virginia to New Mexico in my Maverick, AWD, with 4K tow package. I'll be towing a 2025 R-Pod 180 which has a UVW listed at 2974 lbs. and a hitch weight of 320 lbs. I plan to use an adjustable trailer hitch ball mount with a 5" rise/drop hitch. I had difficulty finding a trailer that would provide the amenities I wanted while maintaining the lower weight needed for the Maverick 4k tow package. This one met my needs and I am looking forward to the trip. Previously I have RVed with Class B, C, and A vehicles. The RV trailer will be a first although I have towed various other trailers.

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