What's ON when flat towing?

[PapaRed]

Since I began to flat tow my Lariat Hybrid, I have experienced several occasions where the vehicle was in "Deep Sleep" when disconnecting from my motorhome. My question is, when the Maverick is in "Tow" mode, are the brakes and steering energized? I know that normally the brakes are hydraulic / electric and are controlled by the computer, and the steering is also electric. But when in tow mode, what systems are energized / active?
What would cause the battery to be low after 4 / 5 hours towing? I'm trying to understand what is causing my issue.
I am using an M&G auxiliary brake system powered by air from my motorhome. The brake system actuator uses a cable attached to the Maverick brake pedal, so when the motorhome brakes are applied, the cable applies pressure to the Maverick brake pedal.
Hopefully the experts here can enlighten me.

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[realshelby]

Based on thousands of miles towing my hybrid Cmax....
And what I have read about the Maverick ( mine should be here next week) it is left in "neutral" so I assume there has to be circuits using power to maintain the flat tow mode. Not much draw...but I suspect Ford stating you must start and run the vehicle for a few minutes every 5 hours or so is not just to lubricate parts but to charge the 12 volt system battery.
So, part of my installation of the tow bar setup, rear lights, etc. will be to add a charge cable from the motorhome to the Maverick. That will be attached to the positive 12v post ( or near it) in the engine compartment to charge/maintain the battery in the Maverick while towing. There is a wire in the 7 pin round/ 6 pin round to use for charging so there is nothing you do when setting up for towing beyond plugging in the electrical connection as normal.

 

[PapaRed]

Based on thousands of miles towing my hybrid Cmax....
And what I have read about the Maverick ( mine should be here next week) it is left in "neutral" so I assume there has to be circuits using power to maintain the flat tow mode. Not much draw...but I suspect Ford stating you must start and run the vehicle for a few minutes every 5 hours or so is not just to lubricate parts but to charge the 12 volt system battery.
So, part of my installation of the tow bar setup, rear lights, etc. will be to add a charge cable from the motorhome to the Maverick. That will be attached to the positive 12v post ( or near it) in the engine compartment to charge/maintain the battery in the Maverick while towing. There is a wire in the 7 pin round/ 6 pin round to use for charging so there is nothing you do when setting up for towing beyond plugging in the electrical connection as normal.

Thanks REALSHELBY, but adding a charge cable means that the AGM auto battery in my Maverick is weak, and needs a trickle charge to keep it viable. When I "start" my Maverick after 4-5 hours towing, the ICE engine does NOT start - just electric is energized. No engine, no charging. No thanks. I towed my Jeep Liberty for 95K miles and never needed a charge. I would like to know just what IS energized when towing, but haven't found a Ford expert that can tell me.

 

[a***h]

I believe it's safe to say that all of these new Ford vehicles need a charge cable from the motorhome to the toad. I have needed one for my 2020 Ranger, my 2022 F-150, and I will also need one for the new Maverick Hybrid. If I ever get it.

 

[realshelby]

Thanks REALSHELBY, but adding a charge cable means that the AGM auto battery in my Maverick is weak, and needs a trickle charge to keep it viable. When I "start" my Maverick after 4-5 hours towing, the ICE engine does NOT start - just electric is energized. No engine, no charging. No thanks. I towed my Jeep Liberty for 95K miles and never needed a charge. I would like to know just what IS energized when towing, but haven't found a Ford expert that can tell me.

The battery in the Maverick is like any other. If you drain power from it without replacing it gets weaker. The charge cable simply replaces the slight drain from the battery with the same input from the coach.
Actually the engine running does not charge the 12v battery. That is done with a DC to DC convertor from the High Voltage battery to the 12v battery. So as long as the big battery has charge, "starting" the Maverick at rest stops would pull power from that HV battery to replenish the 12v battery. Engine running or not.
If you want to run the gas engine at a rest stop, put it back into normal START mode then just mash the gas pedal to the floor and let off. That will start the gas engine...which will top off to some degree the HV battery and maybe lubricate the eCVT to some degree. It won't run very long till it shuts back off. I used to do that 3-4 times with the Cmax.
My Jeep Wrangler is the standard flat tow vehicles are to be judged by. I will miss some of that.
The 12v battery does not start the vehicle, that is done by the HV battery through one of the two motors in the eCVT. BUT...everything is CONTROLLED by the 12v battery. No charge...and things don't act right.
So, my solution is an easy to install charging circuit from the coach. Maverick battery stays topped off ( hardest thing on a battery is to let it get low on charge) and once installed there is NO maintenance to the charge circuit. You DO want a fuse in it where it attaches to the coach power source!

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