Will it Tow?! (or kill me/the Mav!)

[Tscottok]

Hey MTC!

I've had my EB AWD 4k Lariat for about 18 months and love it! I'm looking to buy a travel trailer and want to make sure I'm not going to kill the truck (it's my first trailer. I'm within spec, but fairly close to the limits. Obviously, there are some things that can help (driving dry, airbags, weight distribution equipment, etc.), but there's nothing you can do to change the ratings. I just want to make sure that I'm not going to regret the purchase, and that I'm not pushing the limits too much for me or the truck. My specific truck's payload is ~1,350

I'm looking at a usd 18' trailer with the below specs (weight rating sticker attached).
- GVWR: 3,880
- Dry Weight: ~3,080
- Carry Capacity: ~800
- Tongue weight: 360

Since it's used, here could be some slight discrepancy on the numbers.

Please let me know your thoughts and if I'm too close to the limits, even if I run dry and/or add upgrades...

Thanks!

Tailer Specs

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[Hot Runr Guy]

Welcome to MTC!

Another consideration should be frontal area, a 4K Maverick is rated up to 40 sq/ft, if this is your typical 8' wide x 10' tall trailer, your could be twice that.

https://www.ford.com/cmslibs/conten...023_Ford_RVandTrailerTowingGuide_r3_Feb21.pdf

HRG

 

[Ron Neal]

Any pictures of the trailer? I tow a small sports car on a 2 axle open car trailer and at the 4k limit with no problems. Frontal area nor wind buffeting are not issues for me. I think you will be fine but always a little nerve racking with your first railer.

 

[peeturd]

I tow a #5000 boat - no problem but watch the tongue weight!

 

[AutobahnSHO]

What kind of trailer weighs more than 3x what it can carry???...

 

[AlsMaverick]

What kind of trailer weighs more than 3x what it can carry???...

It's a travel trailer. Not meant to carry loads of something. More like camping. The 800lbs is additional cargo.

 

[AlsMaverick]

Hey MTC!

I've had my EB AWD 4k Lariat for about 18 months and love it! I'm looking to buy a travel trailer and want to make sure I'm not going to kill the truck (it's my first trailer. I'm within spec, but fairly close to the limits. Obviously, there are some things that can help (driving dry, airbags, weight distribution equipment, etc.), but there's nothing you can do to change the ratings. I just want to make sure that I'm not going to regret the purchase, and that I'm not pushing the limits too much for me or the truck. My specific truck's payload is ~1,350

I'm looking at a usd 18' trailer with the below specs (weight rating sticker attached).
- GVWR: 3,880
- Dry Weight: ~3,080
- Carry Capacity: ~800
- Tongue weight: 360

Since it's used, here could be some slight discrepancy on the numbers.

Please let me know your thoughts and if I'm too close to the limits, even if I run dry and/or add upgrades...

Thanks!

Tailer Specs

The 40001b tow limit of the Maverick is just that. Don't worry about hitting it. Margin of safety is already built in. You don't need to add to it. Your vehicle will have no problem managing the 3880 lbs.

 

[RobertD]

Things to think about....

All the stuff you take camping can end up weighing a lot. Clothes, food, bikes, toys, cooking stuff, generator, lawn chairs etc. All this ends up growing over time.

What distance you plan to travel, are you making short trips vs long trips?

Look at the terrain you are diving - flat land vs mountains.

Does the trailer have brakes that work good?

How aerodynamic is the trailer?

How long do you want your truck to last?

What will be the weather when you drive the trailer? Sunny, rainy, snow and ice? Winds?

Also what is your personal risk factor and experience with a trailer? Can you drive a heavy load and not worry about it or would you be a white knuckler?

 

[realshelby]

What is NOT mentioned here is the Mavericks 4K tow package 8,000 Gross Combined Weight Rating.
This is the TOTAL weight of Maverick, trailer, occupants, all gear in both vehicles.
Your Maverick weighs about 3900-4000 lbs. That leaves about 4000 lbs for all cargo, trailer weight, and passengers.
Some will argue that isn't a hard limit. But it IS Fords posted limit.

 

[Deleted member 22985]

I agree with the previous comment - you need to watch the tongue weight as well. Also that close to the limit you are going to give the transmission a workout if you hit hills. If no one has told you, you need to have sway control bars for safety.

I recommend you stop at a truck stop after getting your trailer and put the trailer and truck on the scales. Then do it again after you have loaded everything up to go camping that way you get a feel for your numbers.

check the tires on the trailer too, the manufacturers are notorious for putting cheap tires on those things which blow out. Invest in a good set of tires.

happy camping!

 

[AlsMaverick]

I agree with the previous comment - you need to watch the tongue weight as well. Also that close to the limit you are going to give the transmission a workout if you hit hills. If no one has told you, you need to have sway control bars for safety.

I recommend you stop at a truck stop after getting your trailer and put the trailer and truck on the scales. Then do it again after you have loaded everything up to go camping that way you get a feel for your numbers.

check the tires on the trailer too, the manufacturers are notorious for putting cheap tires on those things which blow out. Invest in a good set of tires.

happy camping!

I think I'd look carefully at the sway control bars considering the Maverick is a unibody.
Consider the following article: Can a Unibody Vehicle Use Weight Distribution or Sway Control? | etrailer.com

 

[Deleted member 22985]

I think I'd look carefully at the sway control bars considering the Maverick is a unibody.
Consider the following article: Can a Unibody Vehicle Use Weight Distribution or Sway Control? | etrailer.com

Good info, I didn’t know that about unibody

 

[Tiger Dude]

Sway control bars can be fine but are not required. The truck has sway control built in. You would want the devices that attach to the hitch, not the frame.

 

[Packer Bill]

My advice is this: Don't speed...65 mph should be your max. Also watch your transmission temperature, especially in the mountains. I bought ScanGauge so I could monitor the the tranny temperature.

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