First Impressions of a 2023 Lightning from a 2022 Owner

[flyct]

I’ve had power running boards on 4 previous Super Duty trucks. They were perfect for my wife to get into and out of the very tall trucks.

The power running boards on our Lightning are very noisy and thankfully it’s a relatively inexpensive option on the Lightning or I would have been pissed.

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[jmc6020]

Shaking could be an issue of balance and/or alignment. But even if your truck is perfect the ERs ride harsher than the SRs. My Pro was buttery smooth, my Lariat ER is not so much. It's not terrible but it's not a comfy couch like the Pro was.

Buttery smooth is exactly how I describe my old SR Lightning. It feels like a constant rumble under my seat in this ER. Tire pressures are good and I will have to have the balance and alignment checked but it’s an interesting theory that the extra weight of the ER could be the culprit.

 

[Yellow Buddy]

Buttery smooth is exactly how I describe my old SR Lightning. It feels like a constant rumble under my seat in this ER. Tire pressures are good and I will have to have the balance and alignment checked but it’s an interesting theory that the extra weight of the ER could be the culprit.

I wish I could say you get used to it, but I didn’t.

It’s the weight but also for me - as I’m not sure on your configuration but my Pro had 36psi ATs and my Lariat needs 42psi AS and lower profile tires. It’s incremental things that adds up to one very different experience.

Unless you’ve owned both it’s probably hard to notice.

 

[Adventureboy]

I


I can see that being annoying. I actually have approach lighting off because I walk by the truck frequently while working.

I had them on my 2018 as well, through a few winters. You need to do some maintenance on the power boards before winter. Spray the moving joints with a spray of lithium grease, wait for it to set, wipe the excess, and then give the joints a coating of Fluid Film.

I bought my 2018 in 2020 and they seized the first winter. I had to use penetrating oil to loosen them up. No trouble in the following winters after I did the lithium/fluidfilm treatment.

 

[AI_Speed]

I am in Day 1 of my 2023 Lariat ER experience after trading up from a 2022 Lariat SR. Everything is mostly the same as I expected it to be. Really the only difference I have noticed (other than range obviously) is the finish and feel of the steering wheel. The wheel of the 23 has a “cheaper“ feel to it. The material isn’t as soft and has a rougher texture than the 22. It’s not bad and I wouldn’t have had any thoughts about it had I not experienced a 22 but I think it’s a slight downgrade.

This 23 has power deployed running boards. This is a option I did not care about one way or the other previously but I have to say I hate them. They are really noisy and I find the sound jarring. Something I’ll get used to I’m sure.

The third difference between my two trucks is something I believe is a mechanical issue. I just made my first drive at highway speeds in the 23 and the truck was shaky starting at around 50 MPH. I am used to the ultra smooth ride in a Lightning so this stood out to me immediately. Any thoughts what this could be? Could the tires be out of balance from the factory?

Wow that is radical! I never used the power running boards on my Cadillac Escalade - they felt like a hazard jutting out suddenly, so I kept them up + cleaning them & keeping them running smoothly was a challenge! The shaking could be a number of things - best of luck & let us know the fix.

 

[jmc6020]

I tried setting the running boards to be always out but the truck forgets the setting and reverts back to Auto.

 

[JRT]

Honestly get a service appointment now of you aren't happy. My Dad had a few Fords with bad tires and needed replaced. The power boards sound terrible too, so complain and get it in. I has wished for that as an option on my XLT ER original but guess I'm happy with 1 less technology issue. My XLT ER ride os very nice, better then my RAM and honestly more comfortable then my 2021 Mach-e.

 

[RedLightning86]

I am in Day 1 of my 2023 Lariat ER experience after trading up from a 2022 Lariat SR. Everything is mostly the same as I expected it to be. Really the only difference I have noticed (other than range obviously) is the finish and feel of the steering wheel. The wheel of the 23 has a “cheaper“ feel to it. The material isn’t as soft and has a rougher texture than the 22. It’s not bad and I wouldn’t have had any thoughts about it had I not experienced a 22 but I think it’s a slight downgrade.

This 23 has power deployed running boards. This is a option I did not care about one way or the other previously but I have to say I hate them. They are really noisy and I find the sound jarring. Something I’ll get used to I’m sure.

The third difference between my two trucks is something I believe is a mechanical issue. I just made my first drive at highway speeds in the 23 and the truck was shaky starting at around 50 MPH. I am used to the ultra smooth ride in a Lightning so this stood out to me immediately. Any thoughts what this could be? Could the tires be out of balance from the factory?

My dealer thought it was my GoFast Camper that causes this. With mine is from about 44-49 mph, then it's fine. Doesn't do it when slowing down, just when speeding up. After seeing others talk about tires here, I think I will ask them to check tire balance/alignment the next time it's in.

 

[cal]

I have the power-deployed running boards. They actually get quieter after a month or so. It seems they have a break-in period where they are really clunky and noisy initially. They are nicer for entering the truck since they deploy lower and more outboard than the fixed counterparts.

My pet peeve: They deploy with approach lightning. I wish this could be turned off without killing the approach lightning. I had to turn off the approach lighting because every time I walked by the truck it flapped its wings like a flightless metal duck.

Saw my first powered running boards the other day at Costco on another make. It really retracted fast. Like guillotine quick. Are the Ford ones fast like that? Too far away to hear anything.

 

[Adventureboy]

Saw my first powered running boards the other day at Costco on another make. It really retracted fast. Like guillotine quick. Are the Ford ones fast like that? Too far away to hear anything.

They take a second or so to deploy and retract. Not slow, but if you are trying to jump in really quickly, you may have to pause for a 1/4 second before stepping on the boards. If you leave approach lighting on, they deploy before you get to the truck. If you are interested, I can take a quick video this afternoon.

 

[cal]

No need as I'm too cheap to upgrade to anything like this but thanks.

 

[Pioneer74]

I had a 2018 Platinum (gas, obviously) with the power running boards. I loved them. You hardly noticed them or heard them going in or out. I was bummed they weren't available at the time I ordered my Lightning.

However, my dad purchased a 2023 gas F-150 with the power running boards that I drive occasionally and I am thanking the stars they weren't available because I'd have to either remove them or just leave them set to out always. His is incredibly loud and provide a bump you can feel when they finish moving. Jarring is the best word to describe them for sure.

2018 power boards were made by AMP. Probably the best manufacturer of power boards in the business. 2021+ model year boards are produced by Magna, known for making things dirt cheap.

 

[NetNerd]

My 23 rides as smooth as butter at all speeds.

 

[AI_Speed]

I am in Day 1 of my 2023 Lariat ER experience after trading up from a 2022 Lariat SR. Everything is mostly the same as I expected it to be. Really the only difference I have noticed (other than range obviously) is the finish and feel of the steering wheel. The wheel of the 23 has a “cheaper“ feel to it. The material isn’t as soft and has a rougher texture than the 22. It’s not bad and I wouldn’t have had any thoughts about it had I not experienced a 22 but I think it’s a slight downgrade.

This 23 has power deployed running boards. This is a option I did not care about one way or the other previously but I have to say I hate them. They are really noisy and I find the sound jarring. Something I’ll get used to I’m sure.

The third difference between my two trucks is something I believe is a mechanical issue. I just made my first drive at highway speeds in the 23 and the truck was shaky starting at around 50 MPH. I am used to the ultra smooth ride in a Lightning so this stood out to me immediately. Any thoughts what this could be? Could the tires be out of balance from the factory?

What kind of a loss did you take on the '22 Lariat SR - about $20k or so?

 

[jmc6020]

What kind of a loss did you take on the '22 Lariat SR - about $20k or so?

Unfortunately yes if you compare the depreciation from the MSRP of the '22 to the MSRP of the '23. I had $4,000 of negative equity on my loan but I will get the $7,500 tax credit again plus $1,000 from my electric utility again so that will cover the negative equity and actually leave me with extra cash.

The way I look at it I got to upgrade to the ER for the cost of 10 months of payments on the '22 minus the $4,500 ($7,500 + $1,000 - $4,000) I will get back. At the same time I "reset" my warranty and knocked 20,000 miles off my truck

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