How much can the Ford Maverick tow (2022)?

The Ford Maverick is a compact truck new in 2022. A common configuration is the FWD hybrid drivetrain, but there is a standard gasoline option available, which can also come as AWD with a “4K” tow package.

But can it tow?

Yes, it sure can!

It can tow up to 4,000 lbs, however the devil is in the detail, so read on to understand what your model of Maverick can tow and any special conditions you need to note.

Main factors that impact towing with a Maverick

When we dive into the main table below you will see that there are a few different factors that impact how much the modern Maverick can tow. The main factors are:

Engine
Axle Ratio
FWD / AWD

To find out the details of your own truck you may need to consult the window sticker, the driver’s door jamb sticker, the owner’s manual or Ford’s website.

What total trailer weight can a Ford Maverick (2022) tow?

Perhaps the main issue to consider is the engine, and the Ford Maverick comes in two standard engines. Note this is for model year 2022.

2.5L Hyrid
2.0L Ecoboost pure gasoline option

However, it’s not just the engine that’s important, you will want to consider the other factors we highlighted above.

One way to figure out the towing capacity of your Maverick is to check on Ford’s PDF of towing capability. But it can be pretty complex with many footnotes.

If only there was a simpler format?

We got you bud! We’ve converted this into a much more straightforward table.

Table of tow ratings

The table below gives all the different Maverick configurations, with one vehicle per row. The last two columns give the max GCWR and Tow Rating of the applicable vehicle.

Engine	Axle Ratio	FWD / AWD	GCWR	Towing Capacity
2.5L Hybrid	2.91	FWD	6010	2000
2.0L Ecoboost	3.63	FWD	5900	2000
2.0L Ecoboost	3.63	AWD	6145	2000
2.0L Ecoboost	3.81	AWD	8145	4000

Example
Suppose you want to isolate the FWD models. In the top-right of the table there is a search bar. Simply type “FWD” and you can see both the FWD models have a tow capacity of 2,000 lbs, and the GCWR is slightly different between the two

4K Tow Package for the Ford Maverick

The maximum tow capacity of 4,000 lbs for the Ecoboost AWD model requires the Tow Package (53Q). You may hear reference to “4K Tow Package” – it’s the same thing as the 53Q package.

For the Maverick the 4K Tow Package includes; 7-wire harness, hitch receiver, oil cooler and radiator upgrade.

Gross vehicle weight rating of the Ford Maverick

We will come back to the trailer shortly. However one key check you need to make is that the weight of the Maverick’s cargo does not exceed the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR).

When you’re towing you don’t have an empty truck. You need to consider the weights of the;

Driver,
A tank of gas and other vehicle fluids,
Other passengers,
Specific vehicle options,
Passengers,
Any stuff that you might have in the vehicle.

None of this is in the trailer but it’s important to note that it does count towards the GVWR.

The GVWR of a Ford Maverick depends on the exact model and what options are installed. The only real way to find this out is to look at your vehicle’s safety compliance sticker on the driver’s door jamb. If you are shopping for a Maverick then it’s recommended that you ask the dealer to send you a photo of this sticker so you can see the precise GVWR.

How to check your Maverick is not overloaded

You need to either weigh your fully laden Truck on a CAT scale or estimate the total weight.

To estimate the laden weight you need the weight of the empty vehicle from the manufacturer (curb weight) plus an estimate the weight of the people and cargo. In addition your will have some weight from your trailer through the tongue weight (more on this below). You can assume that the tongue weight is between 10% -15% of the gross trailer weight.

What is the curb weight of a Ford Maverick?

An empty Maverick is measured by the manufacturer as the curb weight.

The US EPA defines the curb weight as the weight of the vehicle with standard equipment and fluids, but not including options, driver, passengers or cargo. Your vehicle will have different options and will have a driver, passengers and cargo. So what do you do?

The curb weight of a Maverick depends on the engine, the model and the other factors we describe above. The curb weights vary between 3,563lbs and 3,731lbs. The curb weight is specified in Ford’s technical specification, it may also be on the sticker on the driver’s door jamb.

You can then use our calculator with the curb weight and add the weight of passengers and cargo plus the weight of your trailer to ensure it is within the GVWR shown above.

Are we done?

Not quite! We now need to check the combined weight of the truck and the trailer.

Gross combined vehicle weight

There are a few constraints to consider when towing a trailer. First you need to establish whether your trailer and its contents are within limits.

What is the gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of the Ford Maverick?

The GCWR is the total allowable weight of the empty Maverick, its cargo and the weight of the trailer. It’s the weight of the whole kit and caboodle.

The following table details the GCWR of the Maverick in the second to final column.

Table of gross combined weight ratings for the Ford Maverick (2022)

Engine	Axle Ratio	FWD / AWD	GCWR	Towing Capacity
2.5L Hybrid	2.91	FWD	6010	2000
2.0L Ecoboost	3.63	FWD	5900	2000
2.0L Ecoboost	3.63	AWD	6145	2000
2.0L Ecoboost	3.81	AWD	8145	4000

Example
Suppose you have the hybrid version. You can put “Hybrid” in the search box in the top-right of the table and see that the GCWR of this model is 6,010 lbs

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What is the maximum tongue weight of a Ford Maverick?

When you are towing a trailer the weight of that trailer gets transmitted down through two places – the axle and wheels of the trailer and the hitch between the trailer and your Maverick.

You need to ensure that there is not too much weight being transmitted through the hitch. Ford recommends a maximum tongue weight of 400lbs with the factory installed hitch receiver with the 4K tow package.

How should I measure trailer tongue weight on the Tongue Weight?

You have three options to measure the tongue weight from your trailer.

Use a specialized tongue weight scale such as a Sherline Trailer Tongue Weight Scale
Weigh your vehicle and trailer on a CAT scale
Estimate the tongue weight

Option 1 is best, followed by 2. However let’s look at option 3.

Your trailer’s manufacturer will usually provide an indication of the tongue weight. For a travel trailer with batteries and propane you may need to add that weight if the manufacturer has not included it. In addition you need to add the weight of the hitch. Note that this is an estimate since not all the weight of these objects will be transmitted through the hitch, so adding 100% of the weight to your tongue weight will over-estimate it. Also some of the weight of the trailer cargo will get transmitted through the hitch.

Tongue weight rule of thumb

It’s recommended that the tongue weight is between 10%-15% of the gross trailer weight (dry weight plus the weight of the cargo). If the tongue weight is below 10% then that will cause towing instability and the trailer may porpoise, and if the tongue weight is too high then the trailer will be pitched forward and put too much load on the hitch. You want a level trailer and ideally the tongue load will be 12% of the gross trailer weight.

So one check you need to do is to take the gross trailer weight you calculated above and check that 10%-15% is within the maximum tongue weight given in the table above. Also check that in the case of the Ecoboost AWD with the 4K tow package the tongue weight does not exceed 400 lbs.

Example
Suppose you have calculated your gross trailer weight as 3,000lb. The ideal tongue load is between 10% and 15% of this amount. That would be between 300lb – 450lb. Ford recommends a Maverick tongue weight of not more than 400lbs (for the Ecoboost AWD with 4K Tow Package) so in this case you could not go as high as 15% of the trailer weight on the tongue.

Adjusting tongue weight

You have two main methods to adjust tongue weight;

Either add or remove load from the trailer. Adding weight to the trailer will increase the tongue weight, and removing weight will reduce the tongue weight.
Moving weight around the trailer. You can increase tongue weight by moving existing load to the front of the trailer. Similarly, you can reduce tongue weight by moving existing load to the rear of the trailer.

However, you do not want your trailer very unbalanced, and you want a level trailer while towing.

Does the Ford Maverick require a weight distributing hitch

No, Ford does not require the use of a weight distributing hitch. A weight distributing hitch uses bars to spread the load from the rear of the truck to the front, thus re-allocating the tongue weight along the full weight of the towing vehicle. For a Class III hitch a weight distributing hitch is usually not needed.

Check the rear axle weight rating

The rear axle weight rating is similar to the tongue weight. All vehicles have a weight limit that they can take on the rear and front axles. Usually the best place to find this information is on the driver’s door jamb sticker. The best way to check you are not exceeding this amount is to weigh your trailer and towing vehicle at a CAT scale.

Or you can just weigh your fully-laden truck and make an allowance for trailer weight that is transmitted to the rear axle – namely the tongue weight.

However, if you’re within the tongue weight guidance, then in all likelihood your rear axle will be within limit but it’s very dependent on the load you are carrying in your truck.

What is the maximum trailer frontal area?

If your trailer and Maverick have passed all the previous tests then you are probably good-to-go. However the manufacturer does give a restriction on the trailer frontal area. This is area of the front of the trailer that creates drag. You can have a very light trailer that is within the weight restrictions described above, but if it’s a huge sail that blocks airflow then it’s a no-no.

Trailers with a more aerodynamic profile, such as a teardrop, are clearly better in this respect. So for completeness let’s summarize the maximum frontal area measured in square feet.

For the Maverick the maximum fontal area is 20 sq ft without towing package 53Q, and 40 sq ft with towing package 53Q.

Putting it all together!

Have you been following everything upto now?

There are a number of checks you need to make to ensure that you have a safe towing experience with your truck.

Check that the gross trailer weight is within the tow rating of the truck
Check that the truck is not overloaded and the gross weight of the truck plus the tongue weight does not exceed the GVWR
Check that the combined weight of the towing vehicle and the trailer does not exceed the GCWR
Check that the tongue weight is between 10% -15% of the gross trailer weight and within 400lbs (with two package)

In theory you also need to check the rear-axle load, front-axle load and trailer frontal area. However if you have passed all the above tests and are within 10% on all of them then you are probably fine.

I’m confused and I have questions!

There is a lot to keep straight here.

However we have now provided you with all the information on the Ford Maverick to enable you to input all the key data into our towing calculator. This is the easiest way to check that you have completed all the steps.

Our tool is simple but comprehensive. You won’t miss anything is you follow all the steps, but drop us a note if you are struggling! Stay safe!

What can a Ford Maverick tow?

Given the above numbers, you might be asking – What kind of trailers can a Maverick tow? Let’s dig into it now!

As we saw above the maximum tow rating a Maverick was 4,000 lb (2,000 lb without the tow package). A Class II Hitch can handle upto 3,500 lb, so this would be possible for the low tow rating Maverick models. However it would be insufficient for the higher tow rating model. The Ecoboost AWD with tow package would require a Class III hitch for the heaviest loads, and this should be included as part of the tow package.

A Class II hitch can typically tow small boats, snowmobiles, motorcycle trailers and small popup campers. A Class III hitch can handle larger stuff (obviously!), but might include midsize campers, bikes, snowmobiles, lawn maintenance equipment and utility trailers.

Class	Maximum Trailer Weight
Class I - Light Duty	2,000 lb
Class II - Medium Duty	3,500 lb
Class III - Heavy Duty	6,000 lb
Class IV - Extra Heavy Duty	10,000 lb

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Frequently asked questions

Can the Ford Maverick tow a camper? Yes, the model with the highest tow rating is 4,000 lbs. This is adequate to tow a mid-sized camper. You should check the gross trailer weight of your camper, and check the tongue weight and all the other issues we describe above.

Can a Ford Maverick tow a horse trailer? As per the above answer, yes. But check your weights. This includes the weight of the trailer plus don’t forget the weight of the horse(s)!

How much can the Ford F-150 tow? Wrong article! Check out our other article on how much the Ford F-150 can tow.

Summary
Most of the Ford Maverick models can tow 2,000 lbs, however the Ecoboost AWD with tow package can tow 4,000 lbs. Us the above article to find the towing rating, GVWR, curb weight and GCWR of your vehicle. Write this data down then visit our towing calculator main page to put it all together!