I am planning to get a hybrid Maverick soon and want to pair it with a Tune M1 camper along with some more off-road capable tires. I am not looking to do extreme off-roading, but I’d like to comfortably take it down service roads and go a bit off pavement. It seems like something the hybrid should handle, but I would appreciate any thoughts before I commit.
Also, does anyone have any real-world MPG experience with a Go Fast Camper installed? Or when carrying around 1,000 lbs in the bed daily?
I haven’t seen an M1 installed on a Maverick yet, but it’s listed as an option.
There are a couple of significant issues in my opinion.
Ford does not endorse using campers with the Maverick.
Unlike a traditional truck, adding that much weight would reduce the load on the front drive wheels, which isn’t ideal.
So far, the hybrid model lacks skid plates for the engine bay, evap canister, or hybrid battery. Damaging any of these components could lead to major problems.
Additionally, when you decide to sell it, its value will drop significantly compared to the initial cost. The market for Mavericks combined with $15-20k campers is relatively limited.
I had not considered the effect on front tire load either. From what I found, handling with a full payload seems to be reported as quite good. My main concern was the MPG, whether the hybrid system would primarily use the electric motor or rely mostly on the gas engine. If it leans towards the latter, I would go with the EcoBoost and AWD.
I hadn’t thought about the skid plates, but you’re right, it is something to keep in mind. I doubt it will be a major issue for me, though.
As for the resale value, I am not too concerned. I plan to keep my next vehicle for a while, so I am okay with taking a hit on depreciation.