Skid plates, etc.

[iam2sam]

I just bought a new 2025 XL AWD 2.0 with 18" wheels and the 4k tow package. I previously drove a 2004 F250 CC 4x4 with V10 & stick, and a 2007 Toyota 4Runner 4x4. We have some off grid property in the west-central part of Virginia not far from the WV line that we visit a couple of times each year. The unpaved access road is quite steep. It can actually be driven w/o 4WD when it is dry and the grass is mowed (to allow seeing obstacles) but it can get a bit dicey even with 4WD if circumstances are less than ideal. The property abounds in limestone ledges that are layered and frequently crumble and send rocks tumbling down the hillside, some of which land on the road, and can be obscured by tall grass. The road can also flood if the ditches fill with branches and leaves, and that can create some fairly large potholes, which can also hide in the grass. The soil itself is predominantly yellow clay, which can be very slick when wet if nothing is growing on it.

I'm wondering how much of a handicap the reduced ground clearance of the Maverick might be under those circumstances, and I'm thinking that skid plates might be a good investment. Anyone here who uses a Maverick in a similar situation have an opinion on the need, and/or recommendation on what to get? I'm also confused by what I saw in the Ford manual when I skimmed it yesterday. It went from advising that the Maverick really wasn't designed for any off-road use, to detailled descriptions of how best to use its various features in just those circumstances. Seemed a bit schizophrenic to me, unless the first part of that was written by Ford's lawyers, and the rest by its engineers...

Sponsored

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

I'm also confused by what I saw in the Ford manual when I skimmed it yesterday. It went from advising that the Maverick really wasn't designed for any off-road use, to detailled descriptions of how best to use its various features in just those circumstances. Seemed a bit schizophrenic to me, unless the first part of that was written by Ford's lawyers, and the rest by its engineers...

What part of the manual that clearly indicates the off-road features are specific to the FX4/Tremor packages don't you understand? You bought an XL.

HRG

 

[Mox4615]

Skid plates are only available on the FX4/Tremor models. I actually skimmed through the Ford build website and didn’t even see the option for the FX4 package on the 26 models.

 

[Joe Strummer]

There may be after market skid plates available. Your main challenge is the non-Tremor models have a very low airdam/front bumper. Virtually no clearance.

 

[iam2sam]

There may be after market skid plates available. Your main challenge is the non-Tremor models have a very low airdam/front bumper. Virtually no clearance.

It appears that the official Maverick XL running ground clearance is 8.3" with 22565SR/17 ( https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...-ford-maverick-tech-specs-july-31-pdf.171550/ ), which is less, but not tremendously so, than 9.1" for the 2007 4Runner (identical to the Tremor number) I have successfully used on the property in the past. Doesn't the XLT FX4 have the same 8.3" clearance? I'm sure there are spots on the property where 0.8" clearance could potentially make the difference between clearing an obstacle or a hard impact, but I think the access road can be navigated to avoid those. Otherwise, the potential of a hard grounding with a Tremor (or my old 4Runner) due to an unseen (and unforeseen) obstacle would seem to be similar. Is the non-Tremor Maverick front air-dam clearance less than 8.3" (I thought that the measurement standard for ground clearance was to use the lowest point of a vehicle)? Is there an arrival/departure angle issue involving that structure that makes the comparison to a 2007 4Runner invalid? Thanks for your input.

 

[Joe Strummer]

Just measure the height of your air dam. My vauge memory is it's quite low.

Your 18" wheels will gain you 1/2" or so

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

Just measure the height of your air dam. My vauge memory is it's quite low.

Your 18" wheels will gain you 1/2" or so

No they won't, since 18"s use a lower-profile (60-series) tire, so the OD remains the same.

HRG

 

[710-oil-614]

.8” of ground clearance - if that’s the difference between clearing it and a hard impact then it’s probably not something the Mav should be on.

That said - Rival makes aluminum skid plates that can cover the entire underside of the vehicle. Their included hardware is garbage but the skid plates are quality. However getting the engine skid plate, catalytic converter skid, and both driver and passenger side skids will run you around $1,900 all in.

 

[Rivers90]

It appears that the official Maverick XL running ground clearance is 8.3" with 22565SR/17 ( https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...-ford-maverick-tech-specs-july-31-pdf.171550/ ), which is less, but not tremendously so, than 9.1" for the 2007 4Runner (identical to the Tremor number) I have successfully used on the property in the past. Doesn't the XLT FX4 have the same 8.3" clearance? I'm sure there are spots on the property where 0.8" clearance could potentially make the difference between clearing an obstacle or a hard impact, but I think the access road can be navigated to avoid those. Otherwise, the potential of a hard grounding with a Tremor (or my old 4Runner) due to an unseen (and unforeseen) obstacle would seem to be similar. Is the non-Tremor Maverick front air-dam clearance less than 8.3" (I thought that the measurement standard for ground clearance was to use the lowest point of a vehicle)? Is there an arrival/departure angle issue involving that structure that makes the comparison to a 2007 4Runner invalid? Thanks for your input.

It is the approach angle that makes the biggest difference with the Tremor.

 

[kevinmccune]

I just bought a new 2025 XL AWD 2.0 with 18" wheels and the 4k tow package. I previously drove a 2004 F250 CC 4x4 with V10 & stick, and a 2007 Toyota 4Runner 4x4. We have some off grid property in the west-central part of Virginia not far from the WV line that we visit a couple of times each year. The unpaved access road is quite steep. It can actually be driven w/o 4WD when it is dry and the grass is mowed (to allow seeing obstacles) but it can get a bit dicey even with 4WD if circumstances are less than ideal. The property abounds in limestone ledges that are layered and frequently crumble and send rocks tumbling down the hillside, some of which land on the road, and can be obscured by tall grass. The road can also flood if the ditches fill with branches and leaves, and that can create some fairly large potholes, which can also hide in the grass. The soil itself is predominantly yellow clay, which can be very slick when wet if nothing is growing on it.

I'm wondering how much of a handicap the reduced ground clearance of the Maverick might be under those circumstances, and I'm thinking that skid plates might be a good investment. Anyone here who uses a Maverick in a similar situation have an opinion on the need, and/or recommendation on what to get? I'm also confused by what I saw in the Ford manual when I skimmed it yesterday. It went from advising that the Maverick really wasn't designed for any off-road use, to detailled descriptions of how best to use its various features in just those circumstances. Seemed a bit schizophrenic to me, unless the first part of that was written by Ford's lawyers, and the rest by its engineers...

sounds like we are practically neighbors,my XL doesn't do much off roading,what I would recommend is the front aluminum skid plate if it provides access to the drain plug and oil filter,your airdam is going to suffer if you nose down in any situation with a little dip

 

[iam2sam]

sounds like we are practically neighbors,my XL doesn't do much off roading,what I would recommend is the front aluminum skid plate if it provides access to the drain plug and oil filter,your airdam is going to suffer if you nose down in any situation with a little dip

We're in Craig off Rt 42, almost to Newport in GIles, so we're fairly close, but not really neighbors I like it there because Craig is only ~5k population, so the property is very rural, but Blacksburg and Christiansburg are a fairly short drive away. After reviewing this thread, I think the biggest risk might be the airdam scraping the waterbars we have diagonally across the access road to help drain it. I'll just need to be extra careful.

 

[kevinmccune]

I live in bath county,noted the steel skid plate offered for the engine might be a good deal because you don't have to take splash guard during oil changes that's the part i dislike most about changing the oil in my XL( ps the govt roads in Bath are pretty much neglected,the one I used to ride an ebike( called Eastern trail) was practically destroyed by trail bikes) it was a nice 17 mile roundtrip from my residence,last time I took Maverick through there it was almost too rough dragging pretty good on wolfrun crossing.

 

[iam2sam]

I live in bath county,noted the steel skid plate offered for the engine might be a good deal because you don't have to take splash guard during oil changes that's the part i dislike most about changing the oil in my XL( ps the govt roads in Bath are pretty much neglected,the one I used to ride an ebike( called Eastern trail) was practically destroyed by trail bikes) it was a nice 17 mile roundtrip from my residence,last time I took Maverick through there it was almost too rough dragging pretty good on wolfrun crossing.

Raptor currently lists different p/n skid plates for Hybrid and Ecoboost, so I assume they have refined the drain location to suit the latter since it was first mentioned here. They are currently out of stock for the Ecoboost variant , but building a waiting list for later in 2026, which I plan to get on.

 

[Maverick2022XL]

What part of the manual that clearly indicates the off-road features are specific to the FX4/Tremor packages don't you understand? You bought an XL.

HRG

Not entirely true. They work identically the difference is in the drive modes offered for the builds sans the Tremor. If you take an XL or XLT w/ FX4 for example and enable all the drive modes for each the AWD will perform identically for each in the same drive mode under the same conditions.

 

[Maverick2022XL]

It is the approach angle that makes the biggest difference with the Tremor.

If you can adapt that bumper setup to an XL or XLT that would be your best bet.

Sponsored