How Does It Work? Trying Out the New Ford Maverick FLEXBED

Ford Maverick offers a big list of work-friendly features in a small package with a small price.

Most of the vehicles on display at the Ford media clubhouse for the Woodward Dream Cruise at the restaurant Kruse and Muer were either performance vehicles, electric vehicles or a Bronco, but the Motor Company also used the legendary event to show off the new Maverick. This new compact pickup will be one of the lowest priced vehicles in the market when it goes on sale while also being one of the lowest priced hybrid vehicles. However, the Maverick is not just about cheap hybrid driving, as the Ford engineers made sure that it was similarly functional to the larger Ranger and F-Series pickups.

To showcase the versatility and functionality of the new Maverick, Vehicle Engineering Manager Klaus Palo de Mello walked us around the key features of the company pickup, focusing heavily on the many aspects of the FLEXBED.

Common Maverick Bed Features

Our look at the Maverick FLEXBED begins with some features which are common across most trucks, but in most cases, Ford has elaborated on traditional functionality.

For example, many modern trucks have grooves in the inner sides of the cargo box in which a 2×4 or 2×6 can be inserted to serve as a bed divider or hardware mounting surface. The Maverick has eight locations where owners can insert a 2×4 and two spots for a 2×6, leading to lots of options in terms of division of space and possible custom mounting bracket locations. At the Dream Cruise, Ford had a 2×4 with a basic bicycle mount at the front of the bed, showing how easily a mountain bike fits in the 4.5-foot cargo area.

Next, like most trucks, the new Maverick has integrated tie-down spots, but rather than just a couple along the side of the box, Ford has integrated a total of 10 tie-down points. This includes two at the front of the bed floor, two mounted high on the front of the inner bed and four mounted on either side of the tailgate with two high and two low positions. There are also two more tie-downs on the tailgate itself, which Ford calls tailgate cleats, but they can also serve as bottle openers. These tailgate cleats serve as a great tie-down option for anyone hauling oversized cargo that prevents the tailgate from closing.

Finally, like some other trucks on the market, the Maverick has a multi-position tailgate, but in the case of this compact Ford pickup, it is instrumental in getting the most in terms of hauling capabilities. The bed is narrower than the beds of larger trucks, so a standard sheet of plywood at 4-feet wide will not sit flat on the bed floor, but it will sit flat across the top of the wheel wells. The issue with doing that is a lack of support with the tailgate open, but that is where the multi-function tailgate comes into play. By moving the tailgate to its angled position, that sheet of plywood that is resting on top of the wheel wells is also supported by the tailgate. From there, you just use the tailgate cleats to secure the sheets of wood and you are good to go.

Flexbed Innovations

Next, there are several ways in which the new Maverick is unique from other pickups when it comes to the functionality of the cargo box.

The first of which are the small cubbies located at the rear corner of the bed on both sides. These small storage spots are accessed via a simple panel with a twist-to-open level. Inside, there is a removable floor for those who need more depth, but these small spots are great for things like tools or other small objects that you don’t want sliding around the bed. For those Maverick owners who want a 110-volt outlet in the bed, the driver’s side cubby can be replaced with a small power panel.

Next, Ford has noticed that many truck owners add their own lighting or other electrical accessories to the bed. When they do so, they tap into the factory wiring system, usually relying on the harness for the taillights. To prevent these questionable wiring jobs, the Maverick comes with a pair of 12-volt harnesses tucked behind grommets in the inner bedsides.  Rather than drilling a hole and tapping into factory wiring, Maverick owners can pop off the rubber cover and connect all sorts of 12-volt electrical accessories.

Lastly, the Maverick has pre-drilled holes that are designed to allow owners to install their own rail-based storage systems, along with the proper size bolts to fit those holes. For the display at the Woodward Dream Cruise, the Maverick was equipped with a basic piece of C-channel with a homemade eyelet system, adding extra tie-downs with complete adjustability without much expense. Ford also sells a nice, aluminum rail system, but for Maverick owners who like to build their own modifications, the pre-drilled bedside holes open up a world of options.

Of course, in addition to these features, Ford offers an array of bed covers, ranging from simply roll-up covers to hard, folding-and-locking covers.

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

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