Ford Maverick and the small overlanding pickup truck

[Downs]

We just renewed our mortgage so that obstacle is completed. next up is to get behind the wheel of a mav and see how it drives. I can't do the F150, it's just too big. So I got my money back and my father will sell or trade it in later for a new rig for him and my mom.

The maverick is the front runner for our next rig. Just got to drive one first. there are a couple of used ones about an hour away from me. I may take a drive and see what I can drive.

I can't remember from earlier in the thread, but have you considered the Ranger? I agree modern "full size" trucks are too dang full size. We took my Dad's ranger with him, myself and both my kids for a nearly week long trip on the Arizona BDR. It truly impressed me. 18-21 MPG, FX4 package comes with a rear locker, the low range is useful. I told him if he ever wants to get rid of it I want first dibs at it ha.

 

[PCO6]

I can't remember from earlier in the thread, but have you considered the Ranger? I agree modern "full size" trucks are too dang full size. We took my Dad's ranger with him, myself and both my kids for a nearly week long trip on the Arizona BDR. It truly impressed me. 18-21 MPG, FX4 package comes with a rear locker, the low range is useful. I told him if he ever wants to get rid of it I want first dibs at it ha.

I agree with this. I've considered buying a relatively new pickup but I'm so used to using my old and smaller one that I don't think I could handle a "big" one. I camp with several guys with F150s, Silverados, etc. and they always seem to be getting up and into the beds to get their stuff out. At my height (short) and age (old) I like being able to reach over the side to grab what I need.

 

[Downs]

I agree with this. I've considered buying a relatively new pickup but I'm so used to using my old and smaller one that I don't think I could handle a "big" one. I camp with several guys with F150s, Silverados, etc. and they always seem to be getting up and into the beds to get their stuff out. At my height (short) and age (old) I like being able to reach over the side to grab what I need.

View attachment 277839

That's a beautiful MJ. Really wish I had one in my garage here to go with my XJ and YJ.

 

[Autism Family Travels]

I can't remember from earlier in the thread, but have you considered the Ranger? I agree modern "full size" trucks are too dang full size. We took my Dad's ranger with him, myself and both my kids for a nearly week long trip on the Arizona BDR. It truly impressed me. 18-21 MPG, FX4 package comes with a rear locker, the low range is useful. I told him if he ever wants to get rid of it I want first dibs at it ha.

I have actually. I had a used FX4 out not long ago and I didn't like it at all. Not sure if it was just that one. But it felt cheap and the drivetrain was terrible. I may look at the new one once they get a couple on the lot here. See if the update made it feel nicer.

 

[MidOH]

The thing is, when Ford makes a nice Halo vehicle, Superduty, Bronco, Raptor, GT, RS, etc., they try damn hard to make a good vehicle.......

And generally, they screw it up in some freak way, in a couple spots. IE: Track bar and steering damper on Ford Superduty.

So when they make a regular, economy vehicle, I run away from it. And the only point of the Mav is: Cheap lil truck.

Tempo, Topaz, Ranger, Explorer, Escort, Cougar, all mid 90's cars that were a mess compared to Honda and Toyota alternatives.



Which is too bad. With the massive amount of money that Ford lost trying E vehicles, and whatever the Mach E POS was supposed to be, they could have afforded to give Rangers away for free. And been money ahead.

 

[Downs]

I have actually. I had a used FX4 out not long ago and I didn't like it at all. Not sure if it was just that one. But it felt cheap and the drivetrain was terrible. I may look at the new one once they get a couple on the lot here. See if the update made it feel nicer.

My dad's is a 22 or 23 model. I was really impressed with the drivetrain/engine.

 

[Autism Family Travels]

My dad's is a 22 or 23 model. I was really impressed with the drivetrain/engine.

Could have been the one I drove too. It wasn't a new one. But only had 70k kms on it. It was not a great experience.

 

[Autism Family Travels]

The thing is, when Ford makes a nice Halo vehicle, Superduty, Bronco, Raptor, GT, RS, etc., they try damn hard to make a good vehicle.......

And generally, they screw it up in some freak way, in a couple spots. IE: Track bar and steering damper on Ford Superduty.

So when they make a regular, economy vehicle, I run away from it. And the only point of the Mav is: Cheap lil truck.

Tempo, Topaz, Ranger, Explorer, Escort, Cougar, all mid 90's cars that were a mess compared to Honda and Toyota alternatives.



Which is too bad. With the massive amount of money that Ford lost trying E vehicles, and whatever the Mach E POS was supposed to be, they could have afforded to give Rangers away for free. And been money ahead.

Fords "crappy" regular vehicles are still 1000000 times more reliable than the "best" dodge/jeep vehicle so there is that! My Jeep got 150k on it and has had everything under neath it replaced 2 times some of it three times....Our F150 that's a year newer has 178k on it and it had one ball joint and a set of brakes. That's it. Nothing else ever went wrong with it.

Back to the jeep, lets not forget the leak in the cargo area, stereo that shit the bed, eats spark plugs every 40k, on our third throttle body, 4th battery rust starting to form around the fenders, and door lowers. I am sure there is more. OH, when we bought it from the dealer brand new, it had a coolant hose leak which would dump scalding hot fluids on your foot in the drivers compartment. Screw through the hose from the factory. Come on.

I have never had any of the ford vehicles I have owned have the laundry list of parts that I have put through the 6 dodge / Jeep vehicles I have owned. The only thing I have replaced on any F150 ever was a ball joint and a fuel sending unit. That was after 190,000km. To be fair, My 2011 Wrangler Unlimited had 300k on it when I got rid of it. It did have a main seal leak, and everything underneath was replaced with proper parts. Plastic in a Jeep wrangler ball joint? REALLY?

As for the Mach E, if you never driven one you wouldn't understand. Sounds like uneducated e-car hate. The Mach E is a great car. It's comfortable, sporty, really quick, practical with it hatchback design and gets good range. It doen't look like a goofball tesla and it's build quality is much better than said teslas too.

 

[MidOH]

And sold so poorly that it would have cost Ford less to give a Ranger to every online overlander in the nation, for free.

Wish ya the best.

But fairly certain that an economy Mav, will be as bad as a jeep product.

I can confirm that the Lightning was a turd.

 

[Autism Family Travels]

And sold so poorly that it would have cost Ford less to give a Ranger to every online overlander in the nation, for free.

Wish ya the best.

But fairly certain that an economy Mav, will be as bad as a jeep product.

I can confirm that the Lightning was a turd.

it's far from a "turd". and no, the mav has been proven reliable for hundreds of thousands of miles already. it's not a jeep/dodge/Chrysler product remember. You can drive it, change oil and keep going. Poorly built? did you just not read my previous post? course' not.