Ford Maverick Towing Capacity by Year, Engine & Package

The Ford Maverick carved out a new segment when it launched in 2022 — a compact unibody pickup priced under $25,000 that gets 42 MPG city on the hybrid. But towing is where buyers get confused, because the gap between the hybrid and EcoBoost ratings is significant. Before you hitch up, it's worth understanding exactly where your configuration lands. For a broader look at how tow ratings work across all vehicles, our complete towing capacity guide covers the fundamentals.

Use our towing capacity lookup tool to pull your exact Maverick configuration in seconds.

The maximum Ford Maverick towing capacity is 4,000 lbs, available on 2022–2025 models equipped with the 2.0L EcoBoost turbocharged engine and the factory 4K Tow Package. This is the only configuration that reaches the full rating — every other combination tops at 2,000 lbs.

The 4K Tow Package is what separates "light utility trailer" from "actual towing truck." Without it, even the turbocharged EcoBoost shares the same 2,000 lb rating as the hybrid. Ford engineered the package specifically to handle the thermal and mechanical demands of pulling 4,000 lbs consistently:

• A Class III trailer hitch receiver (2-inch)
• A 4-pin and 7-pin wiring harness
• An upgraded radiator with higher coolant flow
• A transmission oil cooler
• A heavy-duty engine cooling fan
• Trailer sway control calibration

⚠️ Warning: The 4K Tow Package is only available with the 2.0L EcoBoost engine. Ford does not offer it for the hybrid powertrain. If your window sticker doesn't list the package, your truck is rated at 2,000 lbs regardless of engine.

Check your truck's door-jamb sticker on the driver's B-pillar for GVWR and payload. Then cross-reference the Trailer Towing Supplement (separate from the owner's manual) for your exact tow rating. If you're unsure how to locate this information, our guide on how to find towing capacity walks through every method.

Ford Maverick towing capacity has remained consistent across all model years since the truck's 2022 debut. Unlike the F-150 or Ranger, which have seen significant rating changes across generations, the Maverick's unibody platform has held steady at the same two tiers: 2,000 lbs base and 4,000 lbs with the EcoBoost tow package.

Use the tool below to look up your exact year and engine configuration.

Source: Ford Motor Company Trailer Towing Supplements (ford.com); Edmunds vehicle specifications (edmunds.com)

The consistency across model years is actually a benefit for used buyers. A 2022 Maverick with the 4K Tow Package has the same 4,000 lb rating as a brand new 2025 — you're not giving up towing capability by buying a few years older.

💡 Pro Tip: When shopping used Mavericks for towing, look for the 4K Tow Package on the window sticker or build sheet. A used EcoBoost Maverick without the package costs nearly the same but tows half as much.

Yes — the Maverick hybrid is permanently limited to 2,000 lbs, while the EcoBoost with the 4K Tow Package reaches 4,000 lbs. That's a 100% difference in capability between the two powertrains, and it's the single most important decision for any Maverick buyer who plans to tow.

The reason is mechanical. The hybrid uses a 2.5L Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder paired with an electric motor and an electronically controlled CVT (eCVT). This transmission isn't designed for sustained high-torque loads — it prioritizes fuel efficiency and smooth low-speed operation. Ford chose not to develop a tow package for the hybrid because the eCVT's thermal limits would require a fundamentally different transmission cooler and calibration.

The EcoBoost, by contrast, uses a conventional 8-speed automatic transmission that handles towing heat much better. The 250 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque from the 2.0L turbo also provide meaningfully more pulling power than the hybrid's 191 combined system horsepower.

⚠️ Warning: If towing is your primary reason for buying a Maverick, the hybrid is the wrong choice. The 42 MPG fuel savings disappear fast when you're limited to half the tow rating and can't pull most camping trailers or mid-size boats.

Understanding the relationship between towing capacity and payload matters here too. Even at 2,000 lbs of towing capacity, tongue weight from the trailer consumes your payload ceiling.

A properly equipped Ford Maverick handles a surprising range of loads — but it has firm limits. The 4,000 lb EcoBoost ceiling puts it in small-to-midsize trailer territory. The 2,000 lb hybrid ceiling restricts you to lighter utility work.

What the EcoBoost Maverick (4K Package) Tows Well

• Pop-up campers: 1,500–2,800 lbs — the Maverick's sweet spot for camping
• Teardrop trailers: 1,000–2,500 lbs — most fit easily within the 4,000 lb limit
• Small A-frame campers: 2,000–3,500 lbs loaded
• Aluminum bass boats (16–18 ft): 2,000–3,200 lbs on trailer
• Jet skis (single or double): 1,000–2,200 lbs on trailer
• Utility trailers with equipment: Up to 3,500 lbs loaded
• Small enclosed cargo trailers (5×8): 1,800–2,800 lbs loaded

What the Maverick Cannot Tow

• Most travel trailers over 19 feet: These typically exceed 4,200 lbs loaded
• Fiberglass bass or ski boats over 20 feet: Often 4,500–6,000 lbs on trailer
• Car hauler trailers with a vehicle: Even a small car on an open trailer exceeds 5,000 lbs
• Medium or large pontoon boats: 20+ foot pontoons commonly weigh 4,500–5,500 lbs with trailer

💡 Key Insight: The Maverick's 4,000 lb tow rating is competitive with midsize SUVs like the Toyota RAV4 (3,500 lbs) and Honda CR-V (1,500 lbs), but falls well short of midsize trucks like the Ford Ranger (7,500 lbs) and Chevy Colorado (7,700 lbs).

For details on matching your camper to your truck's rating, our camper towing capacity guide breaks down weight ranges by camper type. If you're eyeing watercraft, the boat towing guide covers trailer weights by boat class.

The Maverick sits below midsize trucks and above compact SUVs in the towing hierarchy. Its 4,000 lb maximum with the EcoBoost is respectable for a unibody compact pickup, but it's not in the same league as body-on-frame midsize or full-size trucks.

Source: Manufacturer specifications via Edmunds (edmunds.com) and KBB (kbb.com)

The Hyundai Santa Cruz is the Maverick's closest competitor. With 5,000 lbs of towing capacity, it beats the Maverick by 1,000 lbs on paper. But the Santa Cruz doesn't offer a hybrid option and gets worse fuel economy across the board.

If 4,000 lbs isn't enough, the next step up is a midsize truck. The Ford Ranger towing capacity nearly doubles the Maverick at 7,500 lbs with the Tow Package. The F-150 towing capacity more than triples it. The price jump from Maverick to Ranger is roughly $6,000–8,000, so the question is whether your towing needs justify that gap.

⚠️ Warning: Don't buy a Maverick expecting it to do midsize truck work. The 4,000 lb ceiling is firm. If your typical load is 3,500+ lbs, you're running at 87% of maximum capacity with zero safety margin. A Ranger or Colorado gives you headroom.

Use the can my truck tow this calculator to check whether your specific Maverick configuration handles your load.

Three specific variables determine your Maverick's actual tow rating: engine choice, tow package, and how you manage payload. Unlike full-size trucks where axle ratio and cab configuration change the number, the Maverick's unibody design simplifies things.

Engine Is the Biggest Factor

The hybrid caps at 2,000 lbs with no upgrade path. The EcoBoost caps at 2,000 lbs base but jumps to 4,000 lbs with the 4K Tow Package. There is no in-between — you either have the package or you don't.

Payload Eats Into Your Margin

With a maximum payload of approximately 1,500 lbs on the EcoBoost, you need to budget carefully. A trailer with 400 lbs of tongue weight (10% of a 4,000 lb trailer), plus two adults (360 lbs), plus 200 lbs of gear in the bed, puts you at 960 lbs — 64% of your payload capacity before counting the weight of fuel.

Understanding tongue weight and how it interacts with payload is critical for safe Maverick towing. Tongue weight should stay between 10–15% of total trailer weight. Too little causes trailer sway. Too much overloads your rear axle.

GCWR Is the Hard Ceiling

The Maverick's Gross Combined Weight Rating is 7,500 lbs for EcoBoost models and 5,800 lbs for hybrids. That's the truck's curb weight plus everything in and on it, plus the trailer and everything on the trailer. For a deeper explanation of this concept, our GCWR guide breaks it down.

⚠️ Warning: Even if your trailer weighs 3,800 lbs (under the 4,000 lb limit), you could still exceed GCWR if the truck is loaded with passengers and cargo. Always calculate total combined weight, not just trailer weight.

Altitude and Heat Matter

At elevations above 5,000 feet, the EcoBoost's turbocharger compensates for thinner air better than a naturally aspirated engine would, but cooling system efficiency still drops. Towing at sustained highway speeds in 100°F+ heat with the AC running puts maximum stress on the transmission cooler — this is where the 4K Tow Package's upgraded cooling components earn their keep.

The Maverick is an excellent choice if your towing needs stay under 3,500 lbs. At that weight, you're running at 87% of the EcoBoost's maximum capacity with the 4K Package, leaving reasonable safety margin for variations in load, wind, and grade.

Buy the Maverick for towing if:

• Your heaviest planned load is a pop-up camper, teardrop, or small boat under 3,500 lbs
• You want a daily driver that doubles as an occasional tow vehicle
• Fuel efficiency matters — the EcoBoost still delivers 25–29 MPG highway when not towing
• Budget is a factor — the Maverick is $8,000–12,000 cheaper than a comparably equipped Ranger

Don't buy the Maverick for towing if:

• You plan to pull anything over 4,000 lbs regularly
• You want a travel trailer longer than 18 feet (most exceed the limit when loaded)
• You need a truck that can handle a full-size boat or car hauler

💡 Pro Tip: If you're buying specifically for towing, order the EcoBoost with the 4K Tow Package from the factory. Adding an aftermarket hitch later doesn't include the transmission cooler, upgraded radiator, or sway control calibration — and Ford's published 4,000 lb rating won't apply to your truck.

For a broader comparison of which truck fits your towing needs, the tow vehicle matchmaker tool runs your requirements against the full vehicle database.