Towing capacity

[The Real Maverick]

I am close to purchasing a 2025 Maverick with the tow package. We have a 16 ft Airstream Basecamp and we
currently tow from a 2021 Honda Ridgeline. Just wondering what others tow experiences have been with a Maverick
with the tow package and similar payload? Also, how much does it compromise fuel economy?

I've towed 3200 lbs, 9 foot tall trailer, 7 feet wide up and down the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada Mountains multiple times.... with a FWD hybrid. No issues. Gets 18 MPG in the mountains and 20 MPG over flat areas.

I always keep it 65 MPH and under.
Sometimes drops to 50 MPH on steep uphill sections.

But totally worth it not to have a bigger truck and totally worth it to get 45 to 54 MPG during my city commutes.

I would not push the 4k limit of the new 2025 hybrid. It's basically the same as my 2022 just with AWD. (I added a brake controller to my hybrid.)

You'll be fine. But take it easy. Do not exceed 65 MPH. Go even slower on steep grades and nothing will overheat.

Absolutely 100% use trailer brakes at 2000 lbs and above. Some states require it. But even if they don't you want properly adjusted trailer brakes with a small tow vehicle.

Sponsored

 

[Johnny maverick]

I love my 4k eco maverick. It tows well and has great torque below 3k. But if the hybrid is like the powerboost 150s the electric motor kicks in right away when you tip into the throttle. So you have instant torque. I've never towed with a hybrid but I'm very interested in some real world input with the awd 4k hybrid when they arrive. I'm love the idea that why I'm leaning towards buying a powerboost lariat next week.

 

[710-oil-614]

I love my 4k eco maverick. It tows well and has great torque below 3k. But if the hybrid is like the powerboost 150s the electric motor kicks in right away when you tip into the throttle. So you have instant torque. I've never towed with a hybrid but I'm very interested in some real world input with the awd 4k hybrid when they arrive. I'm love the idea that why I'm leaning towards buying a powerboost lariat next week.

It’s not going to be the same as the powerboost f150s as they are putting an electric motor on top of an eco boost 3.5L twin turbo mated to a 10spd auto.

However - you are correct that tow/haul mode is going to pair the 2.5 Atkinson and electric motor from initial throttle input and it will create instant torque.

The hybrid drivetrain is the better drivetrain in the Maverick and why I sold my Tremor and got in line for a 2025.

 

[Snox801]

Is your opinion based on your experience? I do know the Honda Ridgeline is rated for 5000 lbs. towing and the Maverick is 4000 lbs. rating.

Yes have two friends that have ridgelines
I m ow all truck are switching to the sae tow standard but not sure that Honda or ford used it on these. I wouldn’t say either truck handles a heavy trailer any better. But the mavericks defense have the advantage in the power department when it comes to pulling. You really need to run the Honda hard

 

[Snox801]

Did you know the RAV4 is only rated for 3500 lbs towing capacity? Did you know, if you were in an accident towing 5000lbs, your insurance would deny your claim?

That’s wrong. Insurance has to cover stupid for it everyday. And up until recently they had no standard for tow rating so would be a tough sell.

 

[710-oil-614]

Yes have two friends that have ridgelines
I m ow all truck are switching to the sae tow standard but not sure that Honda or ford used it on these. I wouldn’t say either truck handles a heavy trailer any better. But the mavericks defense have the advantage in the power department when it comes to pulling. You really need to run the Honda hard

Honda's 3.5L is not a workhorse by any means.

 

[dalola]

OP, I can give you some real world insight, as I have towed the same trailer & route with both a '21 Honda Pilot (same drivetrain as a Ridgeline) and my current Maverick. My trailer is a tandem flatbed for my Kubota tractor, and loaded weighs in pretty close to 4k lbs, but I have very little wind drag to consider, compared to a travel trailer like yours. At any rate, the Maverick is an overall better tow vehicle than the Pilot (Ridgeline) IMO. Better trailer control system (brakes, trailer check, etc..), the Pilot had nothing OEM, had to add everything. Better efficiency while towing, with a trip average (180 miles) of 16 vs. 14 on the Pilot. This included a good amount of hill/elevation towing. Better acceleration, anything with a turbo is sweet for towing, especially at elevation. The 3.5 Honda is a solid smooth engine, but needs lots of rpm's to do any real work. And just a better overall relaxed towing vehicle, at the rated load. Again, just my opinion from actual experience. Now, if I'm being honest, I towed the same rig with my '18 tuned 2.7 F150, and it flat out smoked either, and got the same trip average as my Maverick! That truck was a rock star, and I regret selling it, but I just didn't need a "big" truck any more. Anyway, that's another story.... Bottom line, I think you would enjoy the towing experience with a properly spec'd Maverick, and a properly spec'd trailer. Good luck!

 

[CajunMick]

I tow a T@B at around 2,500 pounds and my 23 XLT Ecoboost 2.0 w/4K has no problem. I get around 16-18 mpg depending on the terrain here in the Northeast. Transmission stays nice and cool. I wouldn't tow it with a new 4K hybrid with the 2.5 as that gas engine won't get the mileage. I towed it previously with a bronco Sport with the lesser horsepower and that convinced my to move to the 250 HP ecoboost engine. The 2.0 ecoboost doesn't even know it's back there.

Curious, how do you know the granny stays cool when towing? Specifically, how are you monitoring the fluid temperature?

 

[FischAutoTechGarten]

That’s your opinion.

They are all opinions Cal.

No one has a done a comprehensive comparison of the Hybrid AWD 4K vs EB AWD 4K at elevation vs flat at near max GVWR vs lightly loaded.

We don't know how 29hp battery + 161hp naturally aspired is going to compare to 238hp/250hp forced induction in heavier towing situations yet. We don't know how economically each fulfills the roles with varying loads and terrain. Ford knows, but the general public doesn't.

However, I think we will find out soon. I imagine they will perform similary with the exception of a few edge cases (Kenab UT to the North Rim, Back of the Dragon, etc..) where battery is long depleted in Hybrid and forced induction helps EB maintain power. Not sure how much those edge cases will inform a purchasing decision.

The ultimate would be EB + Hybrid, but now I'm just getting greedy.

LOL. Cal, I'm looking forward to you breaking in the Hybrid AWD 4K and reporting it back to us here on MTC. Curious too what your impression will be of ride quality having previously enjoyed a Tremor.... never been a Hybrid maverick with independent rear suspension before.

 

[SLJ]

Curious, how do you know the granny stays cool when towing? Specifically, how are you monitoring the fluid temperature?

A Scangauge II or newer is programable so you can select what you want to monitor through the port. I monitor Transmission Temp, Engine Temp, Charging Voltage, and % of horsepower being used.

 

[710-oil-614]

We don't know how 29hp battery + 161hp naturally aspired is going to compare to 238 forced induction in heavier towing situations yet.

We do know that horsepower is not what matters for towing.

Torque - (lb ft) is the engine's capacity to do work. The more torque the more work (towing) it can do.

Horsepower - is how rapidly the work can be performed.

Ford doesn't publish combined torque numbers for the hybrid and I don't believe we've seen a dyno run with a torque curve for the drivetrain but the 155 lb ft of torque is the gas engine only and it is known that tow/haul mode combines both gas and electric from the start.

I am not arguing that the hybrid is going to be better for towing from a power standpoint as there is no way to get to 277 lb ft or torque combined from the Atkinson and MG1 but it is close and it is instantaneous where the EB builds until hitting a max torque at 3k RPM.

I will 100% do a 4K torture test on my AWD Hybrid once it is broken in and ready to tow.

EDIT: I also look forward to the HF55s ability to regen and engine brake while towing.

 

[Tim d]

I am close to purchasing a 2025 Maverick with the tow package. We have a 16 ft Airstream Basecamp and we
currently tow from a 2021 Honda Ridgeline. Just wondering what others tow experiences have been with a Maverick
with the tow package and similar payload? Also, how much does it compromise fuel economy?

We tow our 3100 lb boat,don't know the hitch weight off hand. Tows as well as our hemi ram. Gets about 17- 18 mpg towing.

 

[lauramccaskill]

We tow our 3100 lb boat,don't know the hitch weight off hand. Tows as well as our hemi ram. Gets about 17- 18 mpg towing.

Thank you Tim. Again, this is not my area where I claim any knowledge. From what I am gathering, the pull weight isn't the issue but the hitch. What I am puzzled about is can the bed be loaded for a camping trip (mostly extra water, a cooler, etc.) and the hitch is still fine? It says 400 lbs max....

 

[slashsnake]

Sure it will tow but it will suck gas while in the mountains. Hopefully towing that weight at highway speeds it will get okay mileage. The electric motor will only help so much as it's designed for commuting and not long the battery would last in the mountains. It will be fine for towing on flats but I wouldn't use any hybrid for towing in the mountains.

True but having lived in Colorado, having a turbo to pull with makes a big difference up there too when you hit elevation. I had an F150 with the 3.5 twin turbo and that was a dream. I loved my Silverado when I had that but it became a gutless wonder once up high lol.

 

[slashsnake]

Thank you Tim. Again, this is not my area where I claim any knowledge. From what I am gathering, the pull weight isn't the issue but the hitch. What I am puzzled about is can the bed be loaded for a camping trip (mostly extra water, a cooler, etc.) and the hitch is still fine? It says 400 lbs max....

That's your payload. The maximum payload for your vehicle appears on the Tire and Loading label. The label is either on the B-pillar or the edge of the driver door.

So 400lb hitch weight. Lets say you move your propane bottle and are 390 there with a 20lb bottle in the back. Your vehicle payload is 1500lbs. Now you have 410 lbs (tongue plus bottle) out of your payload, so 1090 more pounds for your occupants and gear (I believe payload takes into account a full tank of gas already in the vehicle).

This is where when you get close on your max rating, it's the game of tongue weight and what you can put in the trailer and keep under tow weight vs. what you can put in the truck and keep under payload (or gvwr) weight.

Now, I BELIEVE (please help if wrong) that tongue weight is a fully loaded trailer. So if you have a 2000lb trailer with a max weight of 4000lbs loaded, your tongue weight is based on that full weight. empty it is likely much less (you can get it checked on a platform scale).

Then there is also weight distributing hitches which act as a lifting force on the hitch itself. But they add weight onto the body (tires, aka payload) of your vehicle instead.

Sponsored