The 2022 Ford Maverick has won many awards from the automotive press (including our own Best New Model honor) for several reasons.
After more than a decade of steady growth in the size of trucks, it’s almost unique in being a genuinely compact pickup. (almost, because the Hyundai Santa Cruz appeared nearly simultaneously and in a similar size). Its standard hybrid drivetrain makes it the most fuel-efficient truck on the market by a considerable distance. It’s good for 42 mpg in city driving. Its starting price hovers just below $20,000 – less than half the cost of the average new car in this market.
And the truck’s plucky, do-it-yourself ethos has impressed reviewers. Its little 4.5-foot bed has built-in notches for 2x4s and comes wired for electrical accessories, so owners can build in whatever custom contraption they want.
The FITS System
And its cabin is filled with mounting points for accessories. The Ford Integrated Tether System (FITS) uses mounting points throughout the cabin. Customers can buy cup holders, phone holders, and other internal knickknacks from Ford to mount wherever they want them. Or they can download specs for the FITS mount, design their own, accessories and 3D print them.
Ford has now given owners a head start on that process. This morning, the automaker released free design files for a series of Maverick accessories. Owners can now visit the Ford website to download CAD files for the designs.
Print Your Own, Or Buy Them From Etsy Sellers
Ford hopes to create a community around the FITS system. Already, enthusiasts have begun posting designs to Thingiverse, a free resource for 3D printer owners. It’s filled with downloadable files for grocery bag hooks, holders for various phones, cord organizers, holders for particular brands of water bottles or coffee mugs, and organizer cubbies.
If you don’t own a 3D printer yourself, Etsy shops sell many of the accessories, or you could send your files to a service like Shapeways that will print them for you.
Ford hasn’t announced plans to use the FITS system for other models. But it’s safe to bet that the company is watching closely to see if a community of DIYers develops around the Maverick.
