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If you ordered your 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤 without a 𝐭𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡, this is a video you need to watch! The trailer hitch is one of the few options I would have wanted from the factory; however, after getting warned that such an option may delay delivery due to supply chain issues. I order my Maverick as what many people call a "work truck" or fleet vehicle. Yea, white and all!
For some time, the 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐎𝐄𝐌 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 #NZ6Z-17D826-C was the only option for the NEW Maverick to make things worse. It has been on backorder since before I ordered my truck. Things have changed, and several aftermarket options are now available as of June 2022. With that said, these are broken down into two cateries, cheaply built and overpriced. For example, a Curt Receiver Hitch for a 2001 Ford Ranger is $87. However, the average price for an aftermarket tow hitch for a 2022 Ford Maverick is around $260.00. That is not the end of it. Some of these 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤 looks cheaply made. In the past, I have had many issues with some of these budget units craking and rusting after just a few months of use.
While shopping at 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 over Memorial Day weekend and with a 25% coupon on hand, I saw a universal fit Class III hitch receiver that caught my attention because it looks much like the one from the Bronco Sport. Some mechanics who have worked on the Bronco Sport and the Maverick have suggested that the one from the Bronco may fit with a little massaging. Since Ford's unit has been on backorder since before, I order my ruck. That is something I consider for a little bit. Anyhow, I ended up purchasing the Harbor Freight HAUL-MASTER 3500 Lb. Step Bumper Receiver item #69673, at $16 after applying the coupon, you just can't go wrong.
Now, it looks like this 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 is designed for U-bolts, which would have been the best choice. But my original idea was to weld it to the crash bar, much like the factory unit is! But then I started to think about trolls on KZbin crying like babies and saying I don't have a welder! Well, no problem, we'll use bolts instead. So, after sourcing 2X ½ inch by 4.5" GRADE 8 bolts, nuts, and washers, I took the Maverick apart.
𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:
More than likely, and regardless of what tow hitch you choose for your Maverick, you will have to take the bumper cover off! That may sound like a monumental task, but please know it is a simple procedure. Info fact, I found that removing the dummy hitch cover was more troublesome than removing the bumper cover itself. Although you could remove the dummy hitch cover after removing the bumper cover, I think it is better while on the truck since you have more support.
Start by drilling out the two rivets at the bottom. Then with a flat screwdriver, pry the taps away from the dummy hitch cover while hitting it towards the front of the truck. With that out of the way, we need to remove 18X - 7 MM sheet metal style screws from the bottom of the bumper cover. Please start with the cover on the passenger side, which also has a plastic removable rivet nest to the alignment stud in the frame rail. Then the four screws in the fender well area, two on each side. With can then proceed to remove the tail lights. These are held in place with two 8 MM screws each. After removing the taillights, you can access the two hidden screws in the tail light cavities. These are 8MM as well. And there is one on each side. We then need to remove two more 8 MM screws on each side of the tailgate hiding between the tailgate and the bumper. I forgot to mention a plug for the tag light on the truck's right side in the video! It's no big deal and a simple, quick-release connector.
Before removing the crash bumper, disconnecting the exhaust hanger on the driver's side. For this, you need a 10 MM socket. To remove the crash bumper, you'll need a 19 MM socket. There are eight bolts, four per side, two on the horizontal axis, and two on the vertical axis on the outer side of the frame rails.
𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐨𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭𝐬
#1 - If you don't have access to a welder and will be replicating my installation, consider purchasing the HAUL-MASTER, 5000 Lb. Step Bumper Receiver item #69670. This unit already has the holes in place, and I think it will be a much better fit even if you never tow 5000 lbs!
#2 - If you are ok with the Harbor Freight HAUL-MASTER 3500 Lb. Step Bumper Receiver item #69673 consider using galvanized or stainless U-Bolts. That will save you a ton of extra work, and it will probably be compatible to my installation from strength and 𝐭𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲point of view.
Thank you for watching, and stay tuned. A lot more 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 is on its way!
#FordMaverick #TrailerHitchReceiver #TowHitch #Installation #OEM #Aftermarket #NZ6Z-17D826-C