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RealRides Volume 2: Todd Henderson

Updated on May 28, 2025

Blue pickup truck parked by a lake with trees in the background during sunset.

Since I’m “the guy in the videos” I often get asked what kind of truck I drive, and what things I’ve done to it. Hey, it’s a fair question, but the answer might surprise you. Since I've already had the opportunity to introduce myself on RealSource, I wanted another chance to share my background in trucks and off-road.

Most of what I’ve built and driven over the years has been full-size, half-ton pickups, but I’ve spent some time with bigger trucks, as well as midsize pickups, and quite a few Jeeps. But in 2021, Ford announced that they were going to produce a new, compact pickup at a very attractive price point. I realized that many car and crossover drivers who didn’t have the budget for a new truck before could now enter the pickup game. Since I figured this would be a first-time pickup for a lot of people, I decided I wanted to show what could be done to customize this new platform and have some fun while I was at it.

The Backstory on Todd's Ford Maverick

When I ordered my Ford Maverick, I didn't know exactly what to expect. I love to drive off-road, and I figured it probably wasn’t going to be as capable in that arena, but I wanted something to build from, so I ordered the XLT trim with the 4K towing package for the enhanced gearing and cooling, and the FX4 package for the off-road drive modes.

Before I did any suspension or changed tires, I took the stock Maverick to the trails to see how well it would perform, and I was actually very surprised. The FX4 has a couple of off-road driving modes for sand and mud with its “intelligent all-wheel drive” system. It monitors wheel spin and sends torque to the tires that need it. I have to give it to the engineers because there was a significant improvement in control in those environments while in their perspective modes.

Off-Road Capability

Blue pickup truck parked on grass field with equipment on top and on roof rack.

The biggest weakness in off-road capability for the Maverick is ground clearance, because the computer-assisted traction control doesn’t care if you’re bottomed out. When Superlift was done designing their 2.5” lift kit, I made sure to have the first production unit to install on my truck. I also increased the tire size by two inches and went with all-terrains from Toyo because of the aggressive tread and lower weight, compared to other A/T tires of the same size. This combo gained me about 3 ½ inches of clearance on approach, not to mention the larger and more aggressive contact patch from the new tires.

I’m still not going to conquer the Rubicon in this thing, but it’s a much more commanding ride, and the last time I led a trail ride, the lifted F-150 on 35s called ahead and asked me to slow down a bit. What can I say? I had more control on that slick, muddy trail.

Todd's Truck Bed Setup

Rear view of a blue Maverick truck on a golf course with trees and a flag in the background.

I absolutely love my bed setup! The truck came with the factory spray in liner, which is great, but I often find myself loading some sort of gear in and out of the bed, and that abrasive liner material is pretty rough on my knees. Also, I like a flat surface to haul my cargo on, versus the uneven surface of the bed floor, and my Husky Liners Premium Plus bed mat solves both of those issues.

My Revolver X4ts cover keeps my cargo dry and secure and allows me to run the Elevate CS rack, which gives me the increased utility of hauling gear and equipment above my bed space while the cargo in my bed remains covered. I’ve had so much stuff on that rack, I know I won’t remember it all, but I’ve had a rooftop tent, road shower, and awning for a camping trip. I’ve had kayaks and fishing poles up there, and I’ve strapped ladders on top, that hang over the cab. Now that I’ve had this bed combo, I don’t think I could ever go back.

Performance Mods

Blue pickup truck parked on a grassy area with palm trees in the background.

Ever since I saw Smokey and the Bandit as a kid, I’ve had a place in my heart for performance. Unlike the Bandit, I don’t plan on jumping any bridges to run from the law, but I do like my ride to have a little extra kick, and I prefer a more responsive feel. So, since I had one of the first Mavericks out there, I reached out to my friends at Holley to see if they needed to develop anything for the platform. They had me take my truck to their Sanford, FL location, and put it on their all-wheel-drive dyno to dial in their tune for the Maverick’s EcoBoost engine.

With their DiabloSport Trinity tuner, I have gains of +36 HP and +42 TQ on 93 octane, which is roughly 15% more power than stock, and definitely something you can feel. I also installed their Amp’d 2.0 Throttle Booster, which does absolutely nothing to add power, but it does allow me to adjust the sensitivity in the pedal so that I can make the truck more responsive. I think it’s funny when I let my 20-year-old son drive my truck and he asks me to take it out of “dad mode” -at which point, I crack a smile and say, “Okay, Boomer.”

Here’s the complete list of what I’ve done to customize it to my taste and harness all the potential fun and utility of this pickup.

Todd's Mods

Tonneau: Revolver X4ts
Bed Rack: Elevate CS
Awning: RealTruck Overland Awning
Bed Liner: Husky Liner Premium Plus Bed Mat (formerly BedRug XLT mat)
Hood Protection: Husky Liner Smoke Aeroskin (formerly AVS)
Rain Guards: Husky Liner Low Profile Ventvisor (formerly AVS)
Floor Liners: Husky Liner X-Act Contour
Suspension: Superlift 2.5 inch lift
Step/Slider: Go Rhino DSS
Ditch Lights: Go Rhino Xplor Blackout Sideline
A-Pillar Lights: Go Rhino Xplor Blackout 2x2 Spot Cubes
A-Pillar Light Bracket: Go Rhino XE Light Mount with XE Dogbone Extension Bracket
Power Distribution: Xplor 8-Channel Switch Controller
Fog Lights: KC HiLiTES Flex Era 3 DOT SAE Amber
Wheels: Bronze Reika R30 Drifter 17x8 +20 offset
Tires: Toyo Open Country AT3 245/70R17 SL
Flares: Husky Liner Pocket Style (formerly Bushwacker)
Intake: S&B Cold Air
Tuner: DiabloSport Trinity 2
Throttle Booster: Amp’d 2.0
Air Bags: Air Lift 1000 with WirelessAir Control System

Final Thoughts from Todd

Man welding metal with sparks flying around in a garage workshop.

Last month was 3 years since I started driving this Maverick, which is longer than I had originally planned. I guess I’m just not bored yet. I have a few ideas around some of the products we’re planning to release in the future, but I can’t talk about that stuff yet, so if you want to see what I do next, you’ll have to stay tuned.