I bought a Maverick when they first came out. It’s technically my first “truck,” but I’m starting to question whether it really is one.
I don’t know much about vehicles, but I saw it had a 1500 lb payload and figured it could handle some heavy stuff. A friend asked me to help haul 300 gallons of sanitation fluid (about 2500 lbs) after his friend passed away in a cottage and wanted to clean it up for the family. I agreed, but the Maverick hasn’t been the same since.
Someone suggested adding another leaf spring, but then I found out it doesn’t even have leaf springs. Apparently, it’s built on a Ford Escape frame. That’s when I realized trucks have payload limits for a reason, and I might not actually own a real truck.
What do you all think? Is the Maverick a truck, or just a small SUV with a bed?
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The Maverick is unibody construction, which means those weight limits are stricter compared to something like the Ford Ranger. It’s more of a light-duty utility vehicle than a traditional truck.
The Maverick is part of a new category Ford created, blending small SUVs and pickup trucks. It’s basically a Ford Focus with an open bed. It’s great for people in the city who want better gas mileage and some utility but don’t need a full-size truck.
It’s not designed for heavy towing or hauling. There’s no rear-wheel-drive-only option, and it doesn’t even have a leaf spring. If you’re looking for something to haul serious weight, you’ll need a more traditional truck. But for light-duty use, it works well.
@Zhi
Wow, I had dreams of buying a big towable trailer someday. It sounds like I’ll be limited to smaller trailers if I stick with the Maverick. I can’t believe it’s essentially got the same power as a Honda Accord.
I asked about the Maverick when I had my old Ranger in for a recall. The service advisor kind of scoffed and said, “If you want to call it a truck, sure.” That put me off. I ended up ordering a new Ranger instead.
The Maverick is fine for light-duty stuff like hauling kids and sports gear, but if you’re moving heavy loads regularly, you’ll need something beefier.
The Maverick is more like a Ute—a mini truck, similar to what’s common in Australia. It’s essentially a unibody SUV with an open bed. It’s great for light-duty tasks but has limits.
A traditional truck has a ladder frame, a live rear axle, and can tow at least 5000 lbs. Without those, you’re basically driving an SUV with some extra utility. For serious towing or hauling, you’d be better off with a base-model full-size truck.