This thing rides like a buckboard...

[BlueMav43]

Wtf is a buckboard?

This is one in Lariat trim.

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[Dave O]

Wtf is a buckboard?

A buckboard is a four-wheeled wagon of simple construction meant to be drawn by a horse or other large animal. A distinctly American utility vehicle, the buckboard has no springs between the body and the axles.

 

[GaryTerry]

0K.... So my Maverick has the FX4 suspension package.

The ride, especially in this cold arctic blast , is way too harsh IMHO. And the seat cushions are hard.

My F350 crew cab dually rides better than the Maverick.

I'm a crabby old bastard but I have driven millions of miles in beat up, worn out OTR trucks that have a better ride.

So I'm going to start looking for replacement shocks and springs for the truck. The high pressure rear gas shocks have got to go. Then I will assess the ride and see if a spring change is needed.

I have a source in the dirt track racing world that may be able to make a cudtom rate spring if needed.

This isn't going to happen overnight. I don't have heat in my shop this winter and I just pulled a hamstring muscle last week so my mobility is a bit restricted.

Then theres my 60 hour per week part time driving job...

Stay tuned for more complaining

Try putting a few miles in a Freightliner Day cab.. My 2025 Mav XLT FX4 is absolutely plush in comparison.

 

[AVC]

Nah... overall I'm ok with the truck. But I'm not in love with it.

My dropped '97 Ram rode like every dropped vehicle I've owned... harsh. And the Mack I'm in at work shakes and shimmys too much despite being in good mechanical condition.

The first Maverick I test drove rode fine... didn't expect this one to be this rough.

The weather and rough roads don't help.

We have similar issues in dirt track racing. We used to run " twin tube oil shocks" with low pressure nitrogen gas when the tracks got rough but today it's all high pressure monotube shocks that are the hot setup.

A shock change should help.

I reduced the tire pressure all the way round to 31 to 32 PSI--no need, IMO, to have everything inflated to accommodate max cargo. Noticeably reduced road shock.

 

[Johnny maverick]

Try putting a few miles in a Freightliner Day cab.. My 2025 Mav XLT FX4 is absolutely plush in comparison.

I'm glad someone said it

 

[GaryTerry]

I'm glad someone said it

There is nothing nice about the ride in this thing.. Even perfect smooth asphalt will ruin your kidneys..

 

[Jalopy Technology]

This is one in Lariat trim.

No Lariat there... the wood siding makes it a Country Squire like in the movie National Lampoon's Vacation

 

[Jalopy Technology]

There is nothing nice about the ride in this thing.. Even perfect smooth asphalt will ruin your kidneys..

I've got 53 years and 5.5 million miles under my belt. You have never seen a rough ride until you wheel a White Jap Freightliner cabover with a 156" wheelbase and White's legendary "Velvet Ride" suspension which featured a rubber spring rear suspension that required a large chunk of foam rubber to be glued to the headliner so the drivers head would not slam against the interior's headliner on every bump. No air ride seat either... just a Bostrom torsion bar mechanical seat.

Or the the '73 Freightshaker cabover I drove with an 20K front suspension and a 46K Hendrickson rubber block rear suspension on a 156" wheelbase. The truck rode so rough the pillow would bounce out of the sleeper. My son Derek, who never saw a truck he didnt like, refused to ride in it when he rode with me on a regular basis each summer.

Try a Mack Camelback rear suspension sometime... that Freightliner's ride will suddenly become pillow soft. You'll need several hits on a meth pipe every day just to keep you awake. Those Camelback's were known as a Chiropractors Rolls Royce Fund back in the day as they kept every back doctor rolling in cash.

 

[Jah.]

Fx4 here . rides fine for me . I guess peoples posteriors have become to tender . to much sitting around in soft chairs playing computer games imo .

 

[GaryTerry]

I've got 53 years and 5.5 million miles under my belt. You have never seen a rough ride until you wheel a White Jap Freightliner cabover with a 156" wheelbase and White's legendary "Velvet Ride" suspension which featured a rubber spring rear suspension that required a large chunk of foam rubber to be glued to the headliner so the drivers head would not slam against the interior's headliner on every bump. No air ride seat either... just a Bostrom torsion bar mechanical seat.

Or the the '73 Freightshaker cabover I drove with an 20K front suspension and a 46K Hendrickson rubber block rear suspension on a 156" wheelbase. The truck rode so rough the pillow would bounce out of the sleeper. My son Derek, who never saw a truck he didnt like, refused to ride in it when he rode with me on a regular basis each summer.

Try a Mack Camelback rear suspension sometime... that Freightliner's ride will suddenly become pillow soft. You'll need several hits on a meth pipe every day just to keep you awake. Those Camelback's were known as a Chiropractors Rolls Royce Fund back in the day as they kept every back doctor rolling in cash.

My first truck was a 92 Freightliner cabover with a setback axle. Talk about bounce your damn brains out...

The last truck I had OTR was a 2025 Volvo VNL 860. That thing was smooth. I kinda miss it, but I really don't miss waking up in a different truck stop every day.

 

[dochawk]

No Lariat there... the wood siding makes it a Country Squire like in the movie National Lampoon's Vacation

Even so, it has the highly sought after Adobe Brown varnish . . .

 

[Suzukiridr14]

Now I understand. I was like, “what are they going on about?” I wear a size 13 and my foot barely fits between the brake pedal and the trans tunnel. There is no way to possibly miss the gas pedal or have my foot slip off.

Due to your shoe size, you need a bigger truck!

 

[cyberdog]

How many miles on the 24 Buckboard? Not an FX4, but I was worried with the every road imperfection resulted in small twitches or vibrations, however the suspension noticeable softened or smoothed after the first 1000 miles or so on my Lariat Hybrid.

The ride may change with mileage if it hasn't settled yet

 

[CBennett]

IMO I just picked up a 23 XLT Eco . I test drove it and yes it is a bit buzzy, the ride isnt as soft as some, and there isnt a lot of sound deadening.. BUT.. its for the most part a 30K or sub 30K BUDGET TRUCK. I knew what I was getting its one of those things where you ask.. am I willing to sacrifice some sound deadening, a buzzy little engine and a not cushion soft ride to get a AWD true SMALL(not mid size small) truck with AWD for under 30K?

Its a budget truck comparatively to the rest that most models are closer to 40K than 30K. At least I personally didnt expect it to be a nice soft airbag cushiony ride with a ton of sound deadening and a engine that you can barely hear run.. For less than 30K im getting about what I expect out of a "new" truck thats got that price tag.. I realize you need to cut costs somewhere.. What was I looking for and expecting on a 27-28K XLT AWD 2.0 Eco?

1. Something that would get me from point A to B reliably
2. Decent MPG from the engine for its size
3. a useable bed
4. a relatively basic interior with a few amenities(like the blind spot and cross traffic was a nice surprise) but nothing over the top.
5. AWD that worked decently

What did I figure at sub 30K in a small truck id have to be willing to "put up with" and EXPECT?

1. Some NVH harshness was to me EXPECTED its sub 30K for many and they HAVE TO cut somewhere so I expected a harsher ride(though I dont think its bad my 1995 Tacoma and 1999 Nissan Frontier with off road package was way worse)
2. Cheaper materials I didnt expect luxury soft touch materials and expensive stuff throughout its a budget truck!
3. Seats and such... I didnt expect some luxury seat, or something really nice like the ones in my 1991 Taurus SHO those were awesome seats!!.. yes the padding is a bit on the thin side but.. going back to cost and sub 30K its fine to be honest..

I like mine, ive not had it long but I knew what it was and what I was getting and was good with it for that. The ride, handling, awd, fit finish, NVH levels, handling.. are all within or exceed acceptable levels for a new(er) truck that comes in other than Lariat+ models at or were at when ned 30K or less give or take I think its what I expect and was fine with it at that price point for what it does and what it offers.




A caveat:
I think there is something about the newest models though the 25's(not sure on the 24's didnt look at them just 22/23 here) they are creeping up in price especially the Lariat/Tremor type models.. and when you're starting to get into that close to 40K range.. then the argument IMO starts to fall apart some for the budget small truck and IMO you start getting less bang for your buck.. at 40K I cant say as if id consider the Maverick I think id look used or different brand.. I think the Maverick a great deal for a 22-25 when falling into that $25-30K range(and possibly to 31 or 32 even if its got packages on it).. but the current bloat i get the complaints more and more as it inches its way up closer to 40K

 

[Kenv24]

IMO I just picked up a 23 XLT Eco . I test drove it and yes it is a bit buzzy, the ride isnt as soft as some, and there isnt a lot of sound deadening.. BUT.. its for the most part a 30K or sub 30K BUDGET TRUCK. I knew what I was getting its one of those things where you ask.. am I willing to sacrifice some sound deadening, a buzzy little engine and a not cushion soft ride to get a AWD true SMALL(not mid size small) truck with AWD for under 30K?

Its a budget truck comparatively to the rest that most models are closer to 40K than 30K. At least I personally didnt expect it to be a nice soft airbag cushiony ride with a ton of sound deadening and a engine that you can barely hear run.. For less than 30K im getting about what I expect out of a "new" truck thats got that price tag.. I realize you need to cut costs somewhere.. What was I looking for and expecting on a 27-28K XLT AWD 2.0 Eco?

1. Something that would get me from point A to B reliably
2. Decent MPG from the engine for its size
3. a useable bed
4. a relatively basic interior with a few amenities(like the blind spot and cross traffic was a nice surprise) but nothing over the top.
5. AWD that worked decently

What did I figure at sub 30K in a small truck id have to be willing to "put up with" and EXPECT?

1. Some NVH harshness was to me EXPECTED its sub 30K for many and they HAVE TO cut somewhere so I expected a harsher ride(though I dont think its bad my 1995 Tacoma and 1999 Nissan Frontier with off road package was way worse)
2. Cheaper materials I didnt expect luxury soft touch materials and expensive stuff throughout its a budget truck!
3. Seats and such... I didnt expect some luxury seat, or something really nice like the ones in my 1991 Taurus SHO those were awesome seats!!.. yes the padding is a bit on the thin side but.. going back to cost and sub 30K its fine to be honest..

I like mine, ive not had it long but I knew what it was and what I was getting and was good with it for that. The ride, handling, awd, fit finish, NVH levels, handling.. are all within or exceed acceptable levels for a new(er) truck that comes in other than Lariat+ models at or were at when ned 30K or less give or take I think its what I expect and was fine with it at that price point for what it does and what it offers.




A caveat:
I think there is something about the newest models though the 25's(not sure on the 24's didnt look at them just 22/23 here) they are creeping up in price especially the Lariat/Tremor type models.. and when you're starting to get into that close to 40K range.. then the argument IMO starts to fall apart some for the budget small truck and IMO you start getting less bang for your buck.. at 40K I cant say as if id consider the Maverick I think id look used or different brand.. I think the Maverick a great deal for a 22-25 when falling into that $25-30K range(and possibly to 31 or 32 even if its got packages on it).. but the current bloat i get the complaints more and more as it inches its way up closer to 40K

From what I remember since 2022 this truck was already creeping towards 45k…..No? The right trim, factory options, extended warranty, service plans get the thing home and throw in all the user accessories (lifts, tires, rims, etc.). The Mav is “sometimes “….and I do say sometimes….pushing 50,000.

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