Traded Maverick for Ranger

[bsenecal]

2025 and 2026 model XLT 4x4 Rangers 2.3 L Turbo Ecoboost. There are several at my local Ford dealer under 44,000.00
Tows close to 7,000,
19/25 mpg, Not bad.

They actually are rated to tow 7500 pounds or at least the 2019 I had and sold to get my 2025 hybrid Maverick was.
It was a great truck but getting anything over 24-25 mpg is tuff.
Brian

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[Robot-Wrangler]

I had a fender bender. It was waiting on an $135 sensor wiring harness for the front bumper. Ford wouldn't release the truck to me claiming it was a safety item. Parking sensors would not calibrate after they repaired the harness. Oddly there were hundreds available in Mexico where they build the trucks yet none in America from 2/10 until 6/23. Ford did us Maverick Lariat owners dirty putting new unit sales above customer service needs. If I didn't have the F-350 and other spare vehicles, I would have bought my third Ranger that day. To add insult to injury the body shop manager refused to release my Maverick after "repairs" unless I paid an additional $400 fee for the failed wiring repair that they sublet to a contractor. Further insult when the truck overheated on the way home in 83°. Ford took nearly three hours to get a tow truck available, but after hour number two, I drove it back to Ford, left it and canceled the tow. Fee refunded after a month of negotiation with the management.

 

[h1k3rb]

I had a fender bender. It was waiting on an $135 sensor wiring harness for the front bumper. Ford wouldn't release the truck to me claiming it was a safety item. Parking sensors would not calibrate after they repaired the harness. Oddly there were hundreds available in Mexico where they build the trucks yet none in America from 2/10 until 6/23. Ford did us Maverick Lariat owners dirty putting new unit sales above customer service needs. If I didn't have the F-350 and other spare vehicles, I would have bought my third Ranger that day. To add insult to injury the body shop manager refused to release my Maverick after "repairs" unless I paid an additional $400 fee for the failed wiring repair that they sublet to a contractor. Further insult when the truck overheated on the way home in 83°. Ford took nearly three hours to get a tow truck available, but after hour number two, I drove it back to Ford, left it and canceled the tow. Fee refunded after a month of negotiation with the management.

That's pretty bad, you have to wonder how some of these shops stay in business. Is it finally fixed or are you still waiting?

 

[OGMix376]

What about the Raptor?
That's the trim I like

Ranger Raptor 3.0L TT
I believe has max tow at about 5500#
Roughly cost around 58K (at least here in Cali.)
Significant height difference and width.
Also a fairly heavy price tag on most modifications (some say they wouldn’t mod it, but we know how that goes.)
It’s more for running than pulling.. great truck though.. I’d like to get one, but well buying two trucks within 3 years and wifey’s car about to be replaced with a bronco likely within the next 10 months..(unless her little Nissan dies sooner.)…..

Anyway to the OP.. the Ranger is a solid choice, highly recommend a good trailer brake controller if you don’t have one (my 2023 xlt didn’t come with one.)..
Although I have pulled 5k before I got the brake controller.. it was fine, however when pulling over 4500 it’s so much more comfortable doing so with a brake controller (less getting bumped, more confident braking distances, and way easier on your trucks brakes… let alone it’s just safer towing practice.) I think it might be required in some areas to have a brake controller over like 5500#’s

 

[Cancunbadlands]

Ranger Raptor 3.0L TT
I believe has max tow at about 5500#
Roughly cost around 58K (at least here in Cali.)
Significant height difference and width.
Also a fairly heavy price tag on most modifications (some say they wouldn’t mod it, but we know how that goes.)
It’s more for running than pulling.. great truck though.. I’d like to get one, but well buying two trucks within 3 years and wifey’s car about to be replaced with a bronco likely within the next 10 months..(unless her little Nissan dies sooner.)…..

Anyway to the OP.. the Ranger is a solid choice, highly recommend a good trailer brake controller if you don’t have one (my 2023 xlt didn’t come with one.)..
Although I have pulled 5k before I got the brake controller.. it was fine, however when pulling over 4500 it’s so much more comfortable doing so with a brake controller (less getting bumped, more confident braking distances, and way easier on your trucks brakes… let alone it’s just safer towing practice.) I think it might be required in some areas to have a brake controller over like 5500#’s

Bronco for the wife? Or bronco sport

 

[h1k3rb]

Anyway to the OP.. the Ranger is a solid choice, highly recommend a good trailer brake controller if you don’t have one (my 2023 xlt didn’t come with one.)..
Although I have pulled 5k before I got the brake controller.. it was fine, however when pulling over 4500 it’s so much more comfortable doing so with a brake controller (less getting bumped, more confident braking distances, and way easier on your trucks brakes… let alone it’s just safer towing practice.) I think it might be required in some areas to have a brake controller over like 5500#’s

Years ago I installed a brake controller in a 1984 Chevy 3/4 ton to haul my 18-ft travel trailer. In those days you had to tie them into the hydraulic brake lines as well as the electrical connection. It made a huge difference and I felt much safer having it. As part of the purchase agreement the Ford dealer is putting an OEM brake controller in the Ranger this week. Even though the trailer is under 1,400 lb it has electric brakes. The RV dealer won't release it off the lot without the towing capability and connections matched to the trailer due to liability concerns. If I decide to get a bigger trailer down the road I'll be all set.

 

[OGMix376]

Bronco for the wife? Or bronco sport

Bronco, 2.3L with Sasquatch package..
wife doesn’t like the Bronco sport.. it looks funny to her.

 

[Cancunbadlands]

Bronco, 2.3L with Sasquatch package..
wife doesn’t like the Bronco sport.. it looks funny to her.

Great choice! The Sasquatch package is a top trim! Have you considered the Bronco Raptor?! #sweet

 

[BLUEOVALRACER]

Oddly enough I'm in the same situation. Have a 2015 19' Ascent travel trailer GVW is 4,700, well over the Maverick 4,000 Lb capability. But, I have a 2024 XLT hybrid 2wdr which only has the 2,000 pound rating. Thinking about a 2026 factory order Ranger XLT 2.7 with the 7,500 rating and retiring my 2008 GMC denali and it's 13 mpg. The truck tester folks on you tube did a towing test of the 2.7 Ranger and really liked it. Love the Maverick and it's 40 mpg will certainly miss it. A bit of advice for new to Maverick prospective buyers; if you live in a colder climate do not skip the heated seats with the hybrid! On shorter in town trips the IC engine does not run enough to heat the cabin.

If I got a Ranger I would want the 2.7 EB in it.I feel the 2.3 EB in the Ranger isn't much of an upgrade compared to the 2.0 EB in the Mavericks. I had the 2.7 EB in the 2015 F-150 I had and i was very impressed with it. It ran a 14.53@92 mph in the 1/4 mile and it was bone stock with no modifications.

 

[Cidecar2]

Thats an impressive track performance! Yes I do feel the 2.7 is the way to go. We are moving and once we get our house sold/new one bought will do the swap for the Ranger.

 

[ychuck46]

Saw a good looking Ranger the other day. We have had an F-150 for 14 years and are on to our second Mav hybrid. If Ford put a good hybrid into the Ranger I would trade in the 150, but until then I can’t go with the Ranger. Good luck with yours since it sounds good for your situation.

 

[h1k3rb]

Saw a good looking Ranger the other day. We have had an F-150 for 14 years and are on to our second Mav hybrid. If Ford put a good hybrid into the Ranger I would trade in the 150, but until then I can’t go with the Ranger. Good luck with yours since it sounds good for your situation.

Thanks. After having a couple hybrid vehicles I would have bought a hybrid Ranger if one was available. Getting mid 40's mpg around town and mid 30's on the highway with the Maverick will be missed. Don't drive hybrids for max economy and the low end torque the electric motor provides off the line is surprisingly fun. Yes, the 2.3L EB should be efficient and get decent enough mpg for what it will be asked to do.

 

[OGMix376]

Great choice! The Sasquatch package is a top trim! Have you considered the Bronco Raptor?! #sweet

Bronco Raptor is awesome, but no..
A: it’s ridiculously expensive.
B: if I had Bronco Raptor money.. I’d be able to get my Ranger Raptor and her squatch Bronco ... for the price of a 2026 BR.

 

[Cancunbadlands]

Bronco Raptor is awesome, but no..
A: it’s ridiculously expensive.
B: if I had Bronco Raptor money.. I’d be able to get my Ranger Raptor and her squatch Bronco ... for the price of a 2026 BR.

I haven't considered that! So true!

 

[GmanGM]

Loved my FWD hybrid Maverick but I'm buying a small travel trailer. The trailer I'm picking up next week is within the limits of the 2K towing capacity but while driving from a trailhead up a twisty gravel road in the Mav recently I hit some steep turns and the front wheels started slipping badly. A couple times I almost came to a complete stop and barely made it out of there, simply due to loss of traction on the loose gravel. At one point I thought I was going to have to back down to a place I could turn around, then back up the hill so the weight would be on the drive wheels. Luckily the hill started to level off and I made it up the rest of the way but if I'd been towing a trailer there's no way I'd have made it so I realized then that I needed to go back to a 4WD.

Checking with the well-respected local Ford dealer where I bought the Mav there were a couple 4K, AWD, Ecoboost XLT Mavericks on the lot and a handful of Rangers. One of the Mavs was a leftover 2025 marked down $3K in the same Space White Metallic I had, one of the Rangers was a leftover 2025 LX SXT 4x4 marked down $3K in Carbonized Grey Metallic. Both ended up being slightly above $36K. Already knowing the Maverick would have been a good choice and having never been in a Ranger, I took the Ranger for a drive first.

Off the bat - sits up higher, stiffer ride, nicer interior, more comfortable seats, 2.3L EB rocks, 10-spd works well, noticeably quieter. Outside - looks great, bigger bed, over 9" ground clearance. Loved it! After the drive the dealer worked a slightly better deal, gave me a good trade and now it's mine. Driving around late yesterday the computer showed 25mpg city/highway combined so not too bad just off the lot.

Will definitely miss the Mavericks compact size and averaging over 36mpg but I've got a '24 Corolla Cross hybrid AWD for when I want better mpg. The trailer I'm getting has extra high ground clearance with a heavy-duty axle + off-road tires and the Ranger will be great for towing it back into rough country.

It's snowing hard here in SC this morning and the Ranger is in the garage - so I can go over everything today, put my crap in it, etc so no pictures but here's a stock photo that looks just like it. It's been nice interacting with you here on the forum. You've been helpful, informative and downright enjoyable. Thanks to all and maybe I'll see you somewhere down the road.

If you were choosing between Maverick Ecoboost and Ranger then Rangers a good choice, if you wanted to maintain better mpg when not trailering then Maverick hybrid AWD might be better. To me, that choice is whether you need more than 4k tow and/or how often you tow.

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