Tested the 4K tow package by towing 25' pontoon boat

[Bret Grabber]

Got my first real test of my little truck and the 4K tow package. I had hauled a couple of U-Haul trailers from Indiana to Black Hawk Colorado with the heaviest being 3,250lbs. But today I hauled my 25’ pontoon boat that really made my Mav look pretty small. It dwarfed my 2024 XLT 4K F4 Ecoboost. But I was happily impressed in Tow mode it was almost like I didn’t have anything behind me until I looked in my mirrors. The Mav never ceases to amaze me. One of the best vehicle decisions I’ve ever made
JTBII

View attachment 247932

Pulled this load annually with 3 different trucks. A 2001 Dodge 1500/360, a 2013 F150/3.5 Ecoboost and most recently, Bret the Maverick, 2024 Ecoboost. Actually, Bret does the best job overall. Doesn't handle any worse than the two bigger trucks, probably because of the lower center of gravity, and gets twice the fuel economy of the Dodge and 150% over the F150!

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[Cancunbadlands]

Got my first real test of my little truck and the 4K tow package. I had hauled a couple of U-Haul trailers from Indiana to Black Hawk Colorado with the heaviest being 3,250lbs. But today I hauled my 25’ pontoon boat that really made my Mav look pretty small. It dwarfed my 2024 XLT 4K F4 Ecoboost. But I was happily impressed in Tow mode it was almost like I didn’t have anything behind me until I looked in my mirrors. The Mav never ceases to amaze me. One of the best vehicle decisions I’ve ever made
JTBII

I like the door accents, Air Design?
Wheel fender flares and mudflaps? Compatibility? Brand?

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

Very nice, I have a 2025 Tremor package. I need to tow about 3800 pounds boat and trailer. Adding a class III hitch 7 pin connection and air bags for rear springs. I am hopeful this will work!

The hitch is the same between the Tremor 2K and the available 4K package, other than the light connector bracket. And there's room to modify the existing bracket for a round 7-pin.

HRG

 

[Jmcc]

Good morning, what is the weight of your trailer and boat combined?

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

Thanks for posting, I totally agree. Just wished Ford could increase it to 5K and a huge disappointment is the tremor max 2k. I would have liked the option of lockers but couldn't deal with just 2k towing. Ford should work to get the tremor equal towing options available.

Besides the obvious offering extending or telescoping mirrors. I don't know if I would want to go larger if the reduction in fuel economy takes a tank when not towing. I don't see how extending or telescoping mirrors would be detriment to fuel economy when not extended. It would just make it safer and also increasing self confidence for the driver, when towing.

In my FWD 2022 Hybrid the FWD is the weakest link when towing. Not great for towing on gravel or wet grass I can say.

Second weakest link is the side mirrors don't work with a 8 foot wide trailer. You can get by with a 7 foot wide. (I have one of each.)

 

[jpj]

Very nice, I have a 2025 Tremor package. I need to tow about 3800 pounds boat and trailer. Adding a class III hitch 7 pin connection and air bags for rear springs. I am hopeful this will work!

Very nice, I have a 2025 Tremor package. I need to tow about 3800 pounds boat and trailer. Adding a class III hitch 7 pin connection and air bags for rear springs. I am hopeful this will work!

I have the 2025 Tremor. After a lot of research it was learned the towing capacity is limited by the smaller radiator that allowed the modifications for off road capability in the front end. Here's what I found:
"
The 2025 Maverick Tremor is limited to 2,000 lb towing because Ford does not allow the Tremor package to be paired with the 4K Tow Package, and without that package the truck lacks the upgraded cooling, hitch class, and hardware required for a 4,000‑lb rating.

What specifically limits the Tremor to 2,000 lb?

1. No 4K Tow Package compatibility
Ford’s official towing guides show that only Mavericks equipped with the 4K Tow Package (53Q) can tow 4,000 lb. The Tremor package cannot be ordered with 53Q, so it is automatically capped at 2,000 lb.
The 4K Tow Package includes:

• Upgraded cooling (aux transmission cooler, radiator upgrade)
• Higher‑capacity cooling fan
• Class II hitch
• 4‑/7‑pin wiring
• Tow/Haul mode
• Trailer brake controller

Without these, Ford cannot certify the truck for 4,000 lb.

2. Tremor hardware is off‑road‑oriented, not tow‑oriented
The Tremor adds:

• Off‑road suspension
• Revised AWD system
• Different rear differential
• All‑terrain tires

These changes reduce payload and cooling headroom, which are critical for towing certification. This is why the Tremor uses the same 2.0L EcoBoost engine as the 4K‑capable trims but still remains capped at 2,000 lb.

3. Hitch class limitation
The Tremor is equipped with a Class I hitch, which is rated for 2,000 lb / 200 lb tongue weight. Only the 4K Tow Package upgrades the Maverick to a Class II hitch (4,000 lb / 400 lb tongue).

4. Ford’s platform‑level engineering limits
Multiple sources note that the Maverick platform was engineered with strict towing ceilings, and only the trims with the full tow package meet the cooling and GCWR requirements for 4,000 lb.

Summary
The Tremor’s 2,000‑lb tow rating is not due to engine power, but because:

• It cannot be optioned with the 4K Tow Package
• It lacks the required cooling upgrades
• It uses a Class I hitch
• Its off‑road suspension and AWD tuning reduce towing certification margins

 

[Hunters Edge]

In my FWD 2022 Hybrid the FWD is the weakest link when towing. Not great for towing on gravel or wet grass I can say.

Second weakest link is the side mirrors don't work with a 8 foot wide trailer. You can get by with a 7 foot wide. (I have one of each.)

That's one reason they didn't offer the 4k tow package on the hybrid. It needed AWD but was not available tell 2025 in the hybrid also a beefed up ECTV.

Your truck 2022 FWD max towing is 2000lbs. Still a weak link especially on hills and especially on algae covered boat ramps. Yes the mirrors are not the best available for towing. Especially if the trailer blocks the view behind it.

 

[Hunters Edge]

I have the 2025 Tremor. After a lot of research it was learned the towing capacity is limited by the smaller radiator that allowed the modifications for off road capability in the front end. Here's what I found:
"
The 2025 Maverick Tremor is limited to 2,000 lb towing because Ford does not allow the Tremor package to be paired with the 4K Tow Package, and without that package the truck lacks the upgraded cooling, hitch class, and hardware required for a 4,000‑lb rating.

What specifically limits the Tremor to 2,000 lb?

1. No 4K Tow Package compatibility
Ford’s official towing guides show that only Mavericks equipped with the 4K Tow Package (53Q) can tow 4,000 lb. The Tremor package cannot be ordered with 53Q, so it is automatically capped at 2,000 lb.
The 4K Tow Package includes:

• Upgraded cooling (aux transmission cooler, radiator upgrade)
• Higher‑capacity cooling fan
• Class II hitch
• 4‑/7‑pin wiring
• Tow/Haul mode
• Trailer brake controller

Without these, Ford cannot certify the truck for 4,000 lb.

2. Tremor hardware is off‑road‑oriented, not tow‑oriented
The Tremor adds:

• Off‑road suspension
• Revised AWD system
• Different rear differential
• All‑terrain tires

These changes reduce payload and cooling headroom, which are critical for towing certification. This is why the Tremor uses the same 2.0L EcoBoost engine as the 4K‑capable trims but still remains capped at 2,000 lb.

3. Hitch class limitation
The Tremor is equipped with a Class I hitch, which is rated for 2,000 lb / 200 lb tongue weight. Only the 4K Tow Package upgrades the Maverick to a Class II hitch (4,000 lb / 400 lb tongue).

4. Ford’s platform‑level engineering limits
Multiple sources note that the Maverick platform was engineered with strict towing ceilings, and only the trims with the full tow package meet the cooling and GCWR requirements for 4,000 lb.

Summary
The Tremor’s 2,000‑lb tow rating is not due to engine power, but because:

• It cannot be optioned with the 4K Tow Package
• It lacks the required cooling upgrades
• It uses a Class I hitch
• Its off‑road suspension and AWD tuning reduce towing certification margins

I believe the RDU is also the reason. In this type of RDU in other Ford vehicles which offerring trans and extra cooling will not offer the extra towing capacity. Given this information it's not just the lack of extra cooling. Hopefully they can work or beef up the RDU to handle the extra weight needed for towing.

I for one also like the extra cooling even when not towing or having the extra strain of it. Just for longevity of the engine and transmission.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

That's one reason they didn't offer the 4k tow package on the hybrid. It needed AWD but was not available tell 2025 in the hybrid also a beefed up ECTV.

Your truck 2022 FWD max towing is 2000lbs. Still a weak link especially on hills and especially on algae covered boat ramps. Yes the mirrors are not the best available for towing. Especially if the trailer blocks the view behind it.

2022 Hybrid has towed this a few thousand miles. Power is there. No sweat on pavement.

This trip last 0.6 mile was uphill on desert sand. Had some wheel slip but made it to camp site.

 

[Ranko Kohime]

Your truck 2022 FWD max towing is 2000lbs. Still a weak link especially on hills and especially on algae covered boat ramps. Yes the mirrors are not the best available for towing. Especially if the trailer blocks the view behind it.

It takes towing 6300 pounds uphill on an ice slick road to overpower the FWD traction-wise. ask me how I know.

 

[Wahjahbvious]

Juuuuust sit right back and you'll hear a tale/a tale of a tiny truck...

 

[Ranko Kohime]

The Tremor is equipped with a Class I hitch, which is rated for 2,000 lb / 200 lb tongue weight. Only the 4K Tow Package upgrades the Maverick to a Class II hitch (4,000 lb / 400 lb tongue).

The Maverick is not made with either a class-I or class-II hitch, it is made with an underrated class-III hitch, and that is common to both the 2K and 4K tow packages. Class-I and class-II both are distinguished by being 1-1/4” receiver size.

I can’t speak as to the cooling, that may become a problem, but the hitch can definitely handle whatever you throw at it.

 

[JTBII]

I like the door accents, Air Design?
Wheel fender flares and mudflaps? Compatibility? Brand?

I got them from Amazon. The mud flaps and fender flares fit perfect together. The door handle pocket protectors have been great.
JTBII

 

[Dad]

Thanks for the photos and details on how the 4k package is working! That is very impressive and helpful to know, it gives me confidence. I have the 4k package but have been to chicken to try it out so far!

You've just described one of the benefits of MTC membership. Hearing about other's experiences in areas one would just as soon avoid is not only informative, but as you pointed out, gives confidence.

 

[HessMav]

I tow my camper with my '23 XLT. Pretty smooth, but I still suck at backing in to campsites!

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