Cross-Country teardrop camper road trip 2025!! (PA-WA) (VIDEO COMING SOON!)

[ctuan13]

TL;DR: I still took my Lightning. New vehicle wasn't ready yet due to paperwork issues. Despite the limitations, due to several factors, made way better time this time. YouTube video will be coming soon. Some pictures posted below!

Those who have interacted with me in other threads may have been told that due to the limitations of a Lightning in terms of towing range, I was getting an additional different vehicle to make my annual cross-country road trip with, but due to the dealership royally screwing up the paper work, getting that vehicle ready in time became an impossibility and so my Lightning became my tow vehicle a second year in a row

I will be releasing a YouTube video soon! (Been busy spending time with friends and editing is taking longer than I planned on) I also took a much more direct route this time, with greater charger density (I-70) and my chronic health issues cooperated with me more this time. Both factors allowed me to make it to my friends near Seattle in just 10 days while towing! Last summer it took me over a month! Along to way, I kept it to 65 or below, usually average 58mph and so my efficiency in the flat areas of the country was as good as 1.3mi/kWh, but in western Colorado, parts of Utah and while climbing to the summit of Snoqualmie pass, it was as low as 0.6mi/kWh.


If you have any questions, feel free to ask! But I'll leave a few pictures from my travels below.

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[Charge_Rob]

Awesome! Love to see epic road trips like this with the Lightning! I just did a Michigan to Seattle to LA to Michigan trip in mine and it was an incredible experience - but no trailer on mine. Love to see Lightnings as tow rigs on road trips!

 

[cambren]

Awesome! I just finished a 2300 mile trip towing my Airstream 21. I got an amazing 1.6 for the trip, 1.4 @60 and 1.2@65. I have done some mods to help aerodynamics. I would like to plan a trip to Seattle next summer. Since I am SR, some of the stops out west are a bit iffy.

 

[srspring551]

Awesome! Love to see epic road trips like this with the Lightning! I just did a Michigan to Seattle to LA to Michigan trip in mine and it was an incredible experience - but no trailer on mine. Love to see Lightnings as tow rigs on road trips!

Nice! I'm in WI. May I ask your route and charging experience?

 

[Charge_Rob]

Nice! I'm in WI. May I ask your route and charging experience?

I drove via Stevens Point, WI actually!

It was awesome, I really had no charging issues at all on the trip other than having to unplug and replug at a few Superchargers and one EVgo. 22 EA stops, 11 Tesla, 16 other networks.

Shamless plug (and pics): https://www.f150lightningforum.com/...-1-spruce-goose-with-my-f-150-lightning.28956

 

[MaintGrl]

Awesome! Love to see epic road trips like this with the Lightning! I just did a Michigan to Seattle to LA to Michigan trip in mine and it was an incredible experience - but no trailer on mine. Love to see Lightnings as tow rigs on road trips!

Yes, I'll second that!
I'm stuck at home w/my lil farm, so I live vicariously through all you folks , , the travelers. Thank you.

 

[MaintGrl]

TL;DR: I still took my Lightning. New vehicle wasn't ready yet due to paperwork issues. Despite the limitations, due to several factors, made way better time this time. YouTube video will be coming soon. Some pictures posted below!

Those who have interacted with me in other threads may have been told that due to the limitations of a Lightning in terms of towing range, I was getting an additional different vehicle to make my annual cross-country road trip with, but due to the dealership royally screwing up the paper work, getting that vehicle ready in time became an impossibility and so my Lightning became my tow vehicle a second year in a row

I will be releasing a YouTube video soon! (Been busy spending time with friends and editing is taking longer than I planned on) I also took a much more direct route this time, with greater charger density (I-70) and my chronic health issues cooperated with me more this time. Both factors allowed me to make it to my friends near Seattle in just 10 days while towing! Last summer it took me over a month! Along to way, I kept it to 65 or below, usually average 58mph and so my efficiency in the flat areas of the country was as good as 1.3mi/kWh, but in western Colorado, parts of Utah and while climbing to the summit of Snoqualmie pass, it was as low as 0.6mi/kWh.


If you have any questions, feel free to ask! But I'll leave a few pictures from my travels below.

Just LOVE the Mountain Pic's...

 

[Chillguy]

Awesome! I just finished a 2300 mile trip towing my Airstream 21. I got an amazing 1.6 for the trip, 1.4 @60 and 1.2@65. I have done some mods to help aerodynamics. I would like to plan a trip to Seattle next summer. Since I am SR, some of the stops out west are a bit iffy.

Hi, it is definitely admirable you towing Airstream! Wow!... What modifications did you install?... I absolutely LOVE my Lightning but it's like driving a brick!. Very interested to see what you have done. Thanks!

 

[cambren]

I made a smooth rock guard for the front from a sheet of 1/4” lexan and put side pieces on the edges to stop any vortices caused by low pressure behind it. I also fabricated a fairing from the top of the Propane locker to the rock guard. I made a flush mounted door for the stove vent to replace the protruding plastic one. I hitched the trailer as close to the tow vehicle as possible. I am in the process of installing full moon wheel covers. I am also looking at fixing the flow around the rear bumper. Looking at the trailer, I believe that a mini split could be used to remove the large rooftop unit. Driving technique also helps a lot; when pulling long grades, I back off the cruise control a couple of mph and bump it up on the downhill run. I watch the consumption meter on the left, and when it gets to the middle of the lightning bolt, I bump down the CC.

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