Maverick Reservation Tracker: Add Yours Here!

Why no roof rack standard or optional?

25517 Views 49 Replies 29 Participants Last post by ebieric, 5 mo ago

Rowerwet

Discussion Starter · Jun 26, 2021

When Ford talks about the "target audience" for this " lifestyle vehicle" meant for "young people who mountain bike and kayak" I really have to wonder if they actually know anyone who really is into kayaking.
I've yet to see a roof rack in any pictures, and there's no way a 4.5 foot bed will hold a 12 foot kayak safely.
The idiotic roof mounted antenna says to me that they're trying to discourage anyone from putting anything on the roof. I suffered with one on my '12 Focus and am still amazed that I didn't break it off while loading and unloading my kayaks over the years.
The Maverick has handyman, parts delivery, and company service vehicle written all over it, especially the base XL model. However if it doesn't have roof rails from the factory that interface with common cross bars, they're missing a big chunk of sales.
The noticable step up to the top of their factory cap, combined with the stupid spoiler bump at the back, once again says, "don't mount anything here, you'll scratch the spoiler putting ladders or canoes up here".

I know one guy said his 500 had a 50lbs roof weight limit because of the sunroof, which is fine for a car, but pathetically stupid for any truck.
A roof rack would obviously lower MPG slightly, but if they want to actually sell this to kayakers, they absolutely need a good solid factory roof rail as an option.

The baby bronco and escape have roof racks last I knew, why not the Maverick?
It seems they're ignoring a great market segment, and ruining it with that stupid antenna that they claimed was a "design element" targeted at city dwellers...

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Philpug

· #2 · Jun 26, 2021

A "Sasquatch" type package could include some sort of rail system.

JASmith

· #3 · Jun 26, 2021

Skip the roof rack, install a bed rack.

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Reactions: 5

Philpug

· #4 · Jun 26, 2021

JASmith said:
Skip the roof rack, install a bed rack.

Bed racks are really cool and I think we are going to see so many options like this at SEMA. The Maverick is going to be the prince of the show.

Reactions: 1

JAvendan

· #5 · Jun 26, 2021

We have two paddle boards, 11‘ and 12‘ that we are wanting to transport and the Maverick is looking good to us!

I saw that Ford has the bed cross bar option but we need a roof rack or at least the roof rails.

I am hoping to see options from either Yakima, Tule or the other brands.

Crossing fingers!

Reactions: 3

Rowerwet

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jun 27, 2021

JASmith said:
Skip the roof rack, install a bed rack.

A bed rack on the ranger makes sense, that very unfortunate antenna location will make this less of an option though.
One bed rack, one roof rack, and a kit to replace or delete the antenna would be best.
I was also thinking the Maverick might be a hit with the camping crowd, especially if there is a way to make the hybrid into a massive power bank, but that antenna will make a roof top tent much harder to install

Reactions: 1

ttthhasdf

· #7 · Jul 3, 2021

My wife has a chrysler pacifica hybrid minivan and I really like how they did the roof rack. It is called "stow and go," basically you unscrew the side rails by hand and pop them up to be cross rails. When you don't need them you put them back and don't have the drag. I've had a 16' canoe on hers and it was fine. I really wish the Mav had these-

www.autoblog.com

The Chrysler Pacifica has clever integrated roof rack crossbars

Shared with the Dodge Durango, the Chrysler Pacifica has roof rack crossbars that fit flush within side rails when not in use.

www.autoblog.com

Reactions: 1

MaverickMax

· #8 · Jul 5, 2021

Philpug said:
A "Sasquatch" type package could include some sort of rail system.

Now we are talking! sasquatch for the Maverick!!!!!!

Reactions: 2

Sandra

· #9 · Jul 5, 2021

Rowerwet said:
When Ford talks about the "target audience" for this " lifestyle vehicle" meant for "young people who mountain bike and kayak" I really have to wonder if they actually know anyone who really is into kayaking.
I've yet to see a roof rack in any pictures, and there's no way a 4.5 foot bed will hold a 12 foot kayak safely.
The idiotic roof mounted antenna says to me that they're trying to discourage anyone from putting anything on the roof. I suffered with one on my '12 Focus and am still amazed that I didn't break it off while loading and unloading my kayaks over the years.
The Maverick has handyman, parts delivery, and company service vehicle written all over it, especially the base XL model. However if it doesn't have roof rails from the factory that interface with common cross bars, they're missing a big chunk of sales.
The noticable step up to the top of their factory cap, combined with the stupid spoiler bump at the back, once again says, "don't mount anything here, you'll scratch the spoiler putting ladders or canoes up here".

I know one guy said his 500 had a 50lbs roof weight limit because of the sunroof, which is fine for a car, but pathetically stupid for any truck.
A roof rack would obviously lower MPG slightly, but if they want to actually sell this to kayakers, they absolutely need a good solid factory roof rail as an option.

The baby bronco and escape have roof racks last I knew, why not the Maverick?
It seems they're ignoring a great market segment, and ruining it with that stupid antenna that they claimed was a "design element" targeted at city dwellers...

My Mini Cooper has roof antennae. I just unscrew it when I put my kayak up there. Will the Maverick antennae not unscrew?
I guess a bed rack will be in my future for carrying kayak on Maverick, if Maverick seat will go back far enough for my long legs to be comfortable, which is not the case in my mini, thus the reason for anticipated switch to Maverick.

Darnon

· #10 · Jul 5, 2021

That Ranger has the same shark fin+antenna setup as the Maverick.

MaverickMax

· #11 · Jul 6, 2021

Darnon said:
That Ranger has the same shark fin+antenna setup as the Maverick.

Darnon said:
That Ranger has the same shark fin+antenna setup as the Maverick.

The pics i have seen of the ranger show it with the OLD black antennae set-up??? Will that be gone at time of production?

balucipher

· #12 · Jul 6, 2021

bare roofs are the norm for pickup trucks. Thule/Yakima/Rhino Rack will give you rack options very soon after launch that cling onto the sides and under your doors if you want stuff on the roof, and I'm sure their existing lineup of bed racks can work with the Maverick bed. I prefer a centered antenna because you can mount stuff on either side as long as you clear the antenna height. For people who don't want a roof rack, which is most truck owners from what I see on the road, the antenna on the roof (at the highest point of the vehicle) gives the best signal for all the services it provides signal for.

Reactions: 1

MaverickMax

· #13 · Jul 7, 2021

I'm sure the after market will get roof racks ready. I don't like them but that is me. The ones on the Frontier ProX are weird looking, again at least to me. But those individuals who buy them don't care about how they look. I would just get a bed rack, myself.

DavidS

· #14 · Jul 7, 2021

JAvendan said:
I am hoping to see options from either Yakima, Tule or the other brands.

I know Yakima and Tule and others make good products, but I hate the idea of drilling holes into the roof of a brand new $25,000 truck. It should be a factory option to be included with the warranty. If they had bothered to do that, they would've figured out really quickly that no one wants a shark fin antenna. I'd rather have a metal whip antenna like my 1993 Explorer had.

Reactions: 1

balucipher

· #15 · Jul 7, 2021

DavidS said:
I know Yakima and Tule and others make good products, but I hate the idea of drilling holes into the roof of a brand new $25,000 truck. It should be a factory option to be included with the warranty. If they had bothered to do that, they would've figured out really quickly that no one wants a shark fin antenna. I'd rather have a metal whip antenna like my 1993 Explorer had.

Those will be no drill installs. I considered them briefly for my Cummins

DavidS

· #16 · Jul 7, 2021

balucipher said:
Those will be no drill installs. I considered them briefly for my Cummins

Can you please explain? How are roof rails mounted, if not drilled into the metal? Superglue?

balucipher

· #17 · Jul 7, 2021

DavidS said:
Can you please explain? How are roof rails mounted, if not drilled into the metal? Superglue?

yakima.com

BaseLine System

Roof rack system for vehicles with naked roofs. Features pitch and tow adjustments for the perfect fit on your vehicle roof and attaches to the vehicle with vehicle-specific BaseClips. Works with all Yakima Crossbars. (RoundBar Requires RoundBar SL Adapter and HD Bar requires HD SL Adapter)

yakima.com

Here's the Yakima baseline roof system for naked roofs that they claim works with the Maverick. Install manual is there, its pressure fit under the door jambs. No drilling, 165lb capacity.

Hope that helps.

Reactions: 5

Rowerwet

Discussion Starter · #18 · Jul 11, 2021

balucipher said:
bare roofs are the norm for pickup trucks. Thule/Yakima/Rhino Rack will give you rack options very soon after launch that cling onto the sides and under your doors if you want stuff on the roof, and I'm sure their existing lineup of bed racks can work with the Maverick bed. I prefer a centered antenna because you can mount stuff on either side as long as you clear the antenna height. For people who don't want a roof rack, which is most truck owners from what I see on the road, the antenna on the roof (at the highest point of the vehicle) gives the best signal for all the services it provides signal for.

My '12 Focus had the same roof mounted antenna and it could barely pick up anything. I live just north of Boston and there's a million radio stations on FM or AM with a good radio, the focus got very few and lost them easily. My '02 Focus had much better radio reception. Personally I've never seen a stub fin antenna that worked the way a regular old whip did.

Reactions: 1

balucipher

· #19 · Jul 12, 2021

Rowerwet said:
My '12 Focus had the same roof mounted antenna and it could barely pick up anything. I live just north of Boston and there's a million radio stations on FM or AM with a good radio, the focus got very few and lost them easily. My '02 Focus had much better radio reception. Personally I've never seen a stub fin antenna that worked the way a regular old whip did.

Weird, the Sharkfin on my LX gives me no issues

Hopefully Ford has improved the internal workings of the antenna since 2012

Reactions: 1

Celicaguy99

· #20 · Jul 30, 2021

I was looking into this, I think ford doesn't want this truck to cannibalize ford transit sales for the trades or something. However, I saw an actual production model in a YouTube video and that weird lip on the rear isn't as pronounced as I thought. I found this on a dealership page.

Obviously it's a dealership and it's not a confirmation.
But probably, roof racks.

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