[tcw8848]

Have 2.0 FWD with 4k tow package ordered. Within the next couple of years, planning on 19ft yamaha boat purchase. Trailered boat weight will be somewhere in the 3000-3500lb range.

Will only need a few miles of towing, so I'm not really worried about that, it is more the boat ramps. They are generally pretty decent in terms of being maintained, but I'm wondering what people think, specifically about the FWD model retrieving/launching a 19ft boat from the boat ramp. Any experience shared would be helpful.

 

[flipfloptan]

My experience is only from saltwater boat docks. I had a 17ft center console flat boat that was towed by FWD. Even on well maintained boat docks the traction was always the issue especially during the first tow while boat was still in water at its heaviest and with most unfriendly force, the traction was always the concern. I promised myself I would only have 4wd or Awd if I continued boating.

If I was going to use the Maverick for your boat AWD would be a no brainer for my order.

 

[TerryE]

I concur with flipfloptan, any semi-aggressive degree ramps are going to be too slick for a front-wheel drive. You have to assume your boat will probably have hundreds of additional lbs of water till drained as well. You will be the one that will hold up all the other trailers trying to utilize the ramp. lol. Go with AWD

 

[tcw8848]

My experience is only from saltwater boat docks. I had a 17ft center console flat boat that was towed by FWD. Even on well maintained boat docks the traction was always the issue especially during the first tow while boat was still in water at its heaviest and with most unfriendly force, the traction was always the concern. I promised myself I would only have 4wd or Awd if I continued boating.

If I was going to use the Maverick for your boat AWD would be a no brainer for my order.

I concur with flipfloptan, any semi-aggressive degree ramps are going to be too slick for a front-wheel drive. You have to assume your boat will probably have hundreds of additional lbs of water till drained as well. You will be the one that will hold up all the other trailers trying to utilize the ramp. lol. Go with AWD

Appreciate the input. I would hate to be that guy. I was thinking with the generally lighter jet boat, it may work. Maybe I’ll ask the dealer to add AWD to my order.
I think I’ll also drive down to my local ramps to check them out again for steepness etc.

 

[Platinum2]

I have contemplated a similar situation. Started pricing out a Maverick and AWD is a sticking point. There are a few times here and there when I trailer a couple snowmobiles in the winter. Thought I might be able get by with FWD, but with no LSD up front I'm thinking I'd be asking for trouble.

It would be nice if Ford put the LSD from the Focus St in the FWD Maverick.

 

[Probity]

Appreciate the input. I would hate to be that guy. I was thinking with the generally lighter jet boat, it may work. Maybe I’ll ask the dealer to add AWD to my order.
I think I’ll also drive down to my local ramps to check them out again for steepness etc.

Good strategy checking out the ramps you'd plan to use. It gets into the old question "what is real FWD/2wd or 4wd or AWD?". FWR/2wd on pavement is real 2wd, in slick situations it can be 1wd (remember My Cousin Vinny?), 4wd on pavement is 4wd but maybe only 2wd (1 front, 1 rear) in slick spots depending on if you have open or lockable differentials, etc. I've managed to get both rear axle 2wd trucks with electric locking rear axles and 4wd trucks (with locking rear and open front differential) stuck on muddy grass (mainly because they had all-season tires). That slimy area around the boat ramp water line - where will your drive wheels be at launch/recovery? Most regular boat users seem to opt for 4wd or AWD, others think depending on the type of boat ramp you might get away with 2wd. Good luck.

 

[Wire4money]

Good strategy checking out the ramps you'd plan to use. It gets into the old question "what is real FWD/2wd or 4wd or AWD?". FWR/2wd on pavement is real 2wd, in slick situations it can be 1wd (remember My Cousin Vinny?), 4wd on pavement is 4wd but maybe only 2wd (1 front, 1 rear) in slick spots depending on if you have open or lockable differentials, etc. I've managed to get both rear axle 2wd trucks with electric locking rear axles and 4wd trucks (with locking rear and open front differential) stuck on muddy grass (mainly because they had all-season tires). That slimy area around the boat ramp water line - where will your drive wheels be at launch/recovery? Most regular boat users seem to opt for 4wd or AWD, others think depending on the type of boat ramp you might get away with 2wd. Good luck.

This is not the case with today’s vehicles. They are smart enough to lock individual wheels that are slipping to provide a “simulated limited slip”. I just saw a rav4 retrieve jet skis on a steep beach with no problems. When a wheel began to slip, the computer prevented it from spinning.

 

[Probity]

This is not the case with today’s vehicles. They are smart enough to lock individual wheels that are slipping to provide a “simulated limited slip”. I just saw a rav4 retrieve jet skis on a steep beach with no problems. When a wheel began to slip, the computer prevented it from spinning.

True - but - even a locked axle won't prevent slip if the tires don't bite.

 

[Probity]

My experience is only from saltwater boat docks. I had a 17ft center console flat boat that was towed by FWD. Even on well maintained boat docks the traction was always the issue especially during the first tow while boat was still in water at its heaviest and with most unfriendly force, the traction was always the concern. I promised myself I would only have 4wd or Awd if I continued boating.

If I was going to use the Maverick for your boat AWD would be a no brainer for my order.

Don't know if this GMC was 4wd or not (looked like a Denali though), or how slimy the launch ramp was, or if it was a pure case of "operator error".
Watch this GMC Sierra pickup slide down a boat launch into a lake (autoblog.com)

 

[flipfloptan]

Don't know if this GMC was 4wd or not (looked like a Denali though), or how slimy the launch ramp was, or if it was a pure case of "operator error".
Watch this GMC Sierra pickup slide down a boat launch into a lake (autoblog.com)

Why do I have the feeling this will be a Farmer's Insurance commercial in a few months. "Yep we covered that"

The sad part is he had two extra people with him that could have pulled the truck up after he got it off the trailer and it would never would have happened.

 

[Platinum2]

These people should not be allowed to own a boat. When I had my boat I would see all sorts of crazy stuff.

If you ever want to have a good time, go get yourself an ice cream then hang out at a boat launch on a busy Saturday afternoon. Best laughs ever... 🤣

 

[Colonel Mustard]

Appreciate the input. I would hate to be that guy. I was thinking with the generally lighter jet boat, it may work. Maybe I’ll ask the dealer to add AWD to my order.
I think I’ll also drive down to my local ramps to check them out again for steepness etc.

My step father never let be drive the boat In open water. But thought it was a good idea to have me drive it up on the trailer when he backed it into the water! No matter how good it went it was never good enough!

 

[Mr Home Guy]

Have 2.0 FWD with 4k tow package ordered. Within the next couple of years, planning on 19ft yamaha boat purchase. Trailered boat weight will be somewhere in the 3000-3500lb range.

Will only need a few miles of towing, so I'm not really worried about that, it is more the boat ramps. They are generally pretty decent in terms of being maintained, but I'm wondering what people think, specifically about the FWD model retrieving/launching a 19ft boat from the boat ramp. Any experience shared would be helpful.

Ford dropped the option to add 4K to a FWD Maverick and never built any FWD 4k. I needed to change my order to AWD for the 4K tow package. Since I aded the AWD, I also added the FX4 package.

 

[CoopersPC]

keep in mind FRONTAL AREA while towing
LINK to Ford Towing Guide PG 18

Frontal Area is the total area in square feet that a moving vehicle and trailer exposes to air resistance. The chart shows the maximum trailer frontal area that must be considered for a vehicle/trailer combination. Exceeding these limitations may significantly reduce the performance of your towing vehicle

Maverick Trailer Frontal Area Limitations/Considerations
20 sq. ft. Without Trailer Tow Package (53Q)
40 sq. ft. With Trailer Tow Package (53Q)