The 2022 Ford Maverick has been highly anticipated by many, mostly due to its insanely low price point for a pickup truck. Ford’s new Maverick is not only a cheap pickup truck, but it is also made specifically for owners to customize however they see fit with DIY affordability and practicality. This brings a whole new side to the right-to-repair argument.  

Can 2022 Ford Maverick owners really DIY their own custom parts? 

According to ARStechnica, Ford is directly targeting the DIY crowd with the 2022 Ford Maverick. Interestingly, the cheap pickup truck that many “truck people” (including myself) were initially down on for being too small and underpowered is now more rugged and independent (and other truck-commercial adjectives) than many others. 

Truck and SUV accessories are a big marketplace. We love to lift our trucks, slap on some extra lights, change the wheels and tires, and so on. Although Ford isn’t offering a DIY lift kit, the 2022 Ford maverick does have instructions to 3D print your own accessories. 

There are eight mounting slots (one at the rear of the center console, the other seven in the under-seat bin) that Ford is calling the Ford Integrated Tether System. The FITS is already a super cool and handy idea that any truck owner would likely make regular use of. While Ford will happily sell you various accessories to amplify the uses of these tie-down spots, the Maverick also comes with a QR code that, when scanned, gives blueprints for 3D printing your own accessories. 

What kind of accessories will the cheap pickup truck let you make yourself? 

The QR code in the bed takes you to CAD files and videos that show you how to 3D-print your own mods like storage dividers, cup holders, and bins. But the bed isn’t just a 4.5ft trunk with a QR code. 

The 2022 Ford maverick’s short bed can still hold a 4×8 sheet of plywood thanks to the tailgate being turned into an intermediate position and using the provided tie-downs. There is also a storage cubby behind one of the rear wheels, and slots built into the sides allow you to make your own bed dividers. DIY solutions abound to make the small, cheap pickup truck a super user-friendly work mobile without spending $50,000. 

How much does the 2022 Ford Maverick cost? 

Not only does the 2022 Ford Maverick start at a very attractive price of $19,999, but it also comes with a hybrid powertrain yielding 40 mpg. The Maverick is a small, cheap pickup truck to buy and drive. 

The Maverick probably isn’t the right truck for everyone, of course. This cheap pickup truck is really small and is a touch light on power. If you needed something to haul a larger camper or horse trailer, the Maverick would probably fall short. 

As noted by ARStechnica, the Ford Maverick is compact for a pickup: at 199.7 inches (5,072 mm), it’s more than 10 inches shorter than a Ford Ranger and nearly 3 feet shorter than an F-150. However, that means the Maverick makes do with a 4.5-foot (1,372 mm) bed. Although, bed size hardly impedes this truck’s utility. But, the max towing package tops out at only 4,000 lbs. 

The 2022 Ford Maverick is the DIY, cheap pickup truck we need 

Ford’s newest little truck won’t ever beat out the F-150 for most versatile truck or even most popular truck, but considering its low starting price, incredible gas mileage, and clever useability, the 2022 Ford Maverick promises to be a very good idea for Ford. This little truck might end up being more popular than any of us thought.