Camping and 12V health

[topher10]

The kids and I will be doing our annual thanksgiving camping trip, but the first time with the Lightning. We are tent camping out on private property, with no electrical source.

What is considered best practice, so that we can avoid any issues with the 12V. We go in and out of the truck all the time to get stuff. Should I:
1. Leave the keys in the truck?
2. Move the keys away from the truck but unlock it, so it can stay open when a kid needs something.
3. Once or twice a day turn the truck on for a bit, so that it will top up the 12V. I will likely do this anyway to run power (see below).

On a different note, I am curious how the Lightning has changed how people camp. For instance, I am thinking about bringing an air fryer and griddle for cooking, and perhaps a simple lamp for light. We have always just cooked on the campfire or with a simple gas single burner, and also used a gas latern we hang from a tree limb. I almost bought a fridge, but I don’t think we camp enough to justify at the moment.

To be honest, having to function without typical electrical stuff, and cooking on an open fire is part of the fun. But an easy, hot breakfast is also nice.

thanks for any advice.

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[The Weatherman]

As to how it has changed camping, especially tent camping, it is awesome.

Here is pic of my last trip earlier this spring. And yes definitely bring the air fryer, electric griddle, coffee pot anything else that keeps you comfortable.

I lied, here’s two pics.

 

[Enginerd Josh]

We do 1-3 day camping trips with our 2024 Flash all the time. I just leave my keys in the bed. We have a canopy, so no worry about rain.
Side note: I had a 4-day remote (online) training for work. I camped off grid and used pro-power to power my starlink and two computers the whole time. It used up about 6% on the ER battery.
Happy Trails!

 

[Yellow Buddy]

The kids and I will be doing our annual thanksgiving camping trip, but the first time with the Lightning. We are tent camping out on private property, with no electrical source.

What is considered best practice, so that we can avoid any issues with the 12V. We go in and out of the truck all the time to get stuff. Should I:
1. Leave the keys in the truck?
2. Move the keys away from the truck but unlock it, so it can stay open when a kid needs something.
3. Once or twice a day turn the truck on for a bit, so that it will top up the 12V. I will likely do this anyway to run power (see below).

On a different note, I am curious how the Lightning has changed how people camp. For instance, I am thinking about bringing an air fryer and griddle for cooking, and perhaps a simple lamp for light. We have always just cooked on the campfire or with a simple gas single burner, and also used a gas latern we hang from a tree limb. I almost bought a fridge, but I don’t think we camp enough to justify at the moment.

To be honest, having to function without typical electrical stuff, and cooking on an open fire is part of the fun. But an easy, hot breakfast is also nice.

thanks for any advice.

- I don't bring the key, if I do I put it in a signal blocking pouch.
- I use the app, and feel comfortable with using passcode as backup and door keypad. I turn off bluetooth and manually close out the app to prevent background refresh.
- I don't draw from 12V, I pull from 120V but I have Pro Power Onboard. I'll usually pull from the bed outlets.

As for changing how we camp - significantly. I'm not sure it's camping at some points anymore. We can bring an induction cooktop, a coffee maker, and we usually bring a travel cooler that has a compressor (ie, fridge). Depending on the weather we can run an extension cord into the tent for an electric heater. Laugh all you want, but we were camping in a treehouse last February at about 14F. I got really tired of waking up to keep coals hot in the stove and just plugged in the heater to be able to sleep the rest of the night.

We still make it a point to start a fire, but it is a bit nice knowing that as I struggle to get the fire started (happens often) that my wife can very patiently set up the induction stove and start a meal and we can hopefully at least do smores for dessert by the time it gets going.

 

[jobofly79]

Yes I leave the truck on over night and turn off the lights and cover the screens with a towel. This way the outlets stay on all night for running a heated blanket, fan and charging my devices. There is no harm leaving it on all night.

 

[NW Ontario Ford Lightning]

Fresh hot coffee
ice cold beer
electric tent heater
getting soft in my old age...

For the 12v I think I will get a small solar panel battery maintainer...just in case.

 

[telrod11]

The kids and I will be doing our annual thanksgiving camping trip, but the first time with the Lightning. We are tent camping out on private property, with no electrical source.

What is considered best practice, so that we can avoid any issues with the 12V. We go in and out of the truck all the time to get stuff. Should I:
1. Leave the keys in the truck?
2. Move the keys away from the truck but unlock it, so it can stay open when a kid needs something.
3. Once or twice a day turn the truck on for a bit, so that it will top up the 12V. I will likely do this anyway to run power (see below).

On a different note, I am curious how the Lightning has changed how people camp. For instance, I am thinking about bringing an air fryer and griddle for cooking, and perhaps a simple lamp for light. We have always just cooked on the campfire or with a simple gas single burner, and also used a gas latern we hang from a tree limb. I almost bought a fridge, but I don’t think we camp enough to justify at the moment.

To be honest, having to function without typical electrical stuff, and cooking on an open fire is part of the fun. But an easy, hot breakfast is also nice.

thanks for any advice.

I think I'd just carry a small 12V jump starter (as I do), for any time that I might struggle with that tiny 12V battery....

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