Living in a Lightning

[Texas Dan]

I do a lot of traveling in my lightning. For a variety of reasons I’ve gotten to where my preferred overnight stay is sleeping on a back seat inflatable mattress inside the Lightning. I’m always looking for ways to make extended periods in the Lightning more livable and I’m posting to share my thoughts and to solicit ideas.

First off I should mention that it appears you NEVER have to turn the Lightning off. I found this out using the cabin climate control on hot and cold nights. If you turn the Lightning full on and turn off the automatic turn off time, it will run forever or at least until the battery lower limit is reached.

One way to prevent the battery from ever reaching its’ lower limit is to have the Lighting connected to a charger while you’re using the climate control or running any accessory power. Again, I found this out sleeping in RV parks connected to NEMA 14-50 outlets overnight. I read through the owner’s manual to see what it said about having the Lightning in full on mode while charging but all it says is that the Lightning has to be in Park while charging and says nothing about needing to turn the Lightning off while charging.

My back seat air mattress is pretty comfortable and I have privacy screens all around so my Lightning is already like a little RV but I’m looking for ways to make it more versatile, more like a typical RV. It’s not that I can’t afford an RV, it’s just that for me an RV or even staying in hotels/motels really doesn’t seem to make a lot of financial sense. My wife doesn’t like to travel but I’m the adventurous type, so usually it’s just me traveling alone.

One of the things I’ve been think about a lot is giving the Lightning more kitchen capabilities. I already have a mini Keurig that I use to make coffee and hot cereal but I’m also thinking refrigerators, microwaves, toaster ovens, hot plates, etc. The lightning has the power outlets so that’s not a problem but how do you store/tie everything down so that stuff doesn’t slide around and get damaged on the road?

The longer I have the Lightning, the more amazed I am at this vehicle. Being able to provide accessory power virtually forever, the Lightning brings the concept of car-camping to a whole new level. If any of you have experience and/or ideas on making the Lightning more RVish for extended trips/time spent living in a Lightning or any vehicle for that matter, please provide a post.

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[El Duderino]

Post some pictures of your setup. Be neat to see your stealth camping.

 

[hturnerfamily]

from day ONE, the 120v outlets and the constant power that this amazing truck provides, is WHY I ordered it in the first place - the smooth, easy ride is secondary, but VERY important, as well...

while we've had a camper for years, and towed it behind this amazing machine for thousands and thousands of miles, I've still 'overnighted' in my LIGHTNING several times, and, actually, always carry my mini-fridge, microwave, coffee maker, and even a toaster with me...
they aren't always needed, but they are in the back seat area, with the seats UP/stowed.

In the past, I've also carried them in the bed area, on the full bedrug, where 'slipping around' is no real issue. Even the mini-fridge fits under the hard tri-fold, if needed.

I've not slept in the cab, yet, but I HAVE in the bed, as my bedrug already provides a 'softer' base, but a heavy blanket provides even more comfort, and a pillow.
While the bed is not really long enough for me to stretch out to my liking while sleeping, if I let the tailgate down, it's perfect...

I even carry my small TV, and internet box, for all the same entertainment I get at home...

bottle water makes most ready-meals and microwave meals possible, and for my morning coffee, and the fridge is home to those things that need to stay cold.

I've also carried a 8x12 heavy-duty tarp that I've used to keep rain out, even with my tri-fold hard cover... the tri-fold also gives me the freedom to make a 'tee pee', of sorts, for more 'headroom' when inside the bed area...and covers the back of the tailgate area when it's open... no bugs, no rain.

no, my wife does not participate : / oh well....

 

[vvgogh]

Copied from another thread and expanded
Left Shelf built out of 2020 T Slot aluminum ($140 for 10x 1.5m)
1. $178 Ecoflow River 2
2. $180 Ninja Flip Air Fryer (and oven, toaster)
3. $120 Tramotina Induction Cooktop (its flat surface is usable shelf space when not cooking)
4. $20 Electric kettle

Right Rail
5. $20 Recycle Bin
6. $26 Trash bin

Underneath left shelf
7. $190 Phantom 30L 12V Electric cooler
8. $1,600 Ecoflow Delta Pro 3.6 kWh (+$9 ground neutral bonding plug to use Ford EVSE to charge off roof solar)
9. $9 ea Dual 6' 12 ga extension with triple lighted outlets velcroed to smartcap clamps
10. Reliance 26.5L water jug, bungeed to secure off-road

Top:
11. Cargo net for lightweight camping gear (exped inflatable matt, tent, pillows, sleeping bags)
11a $15 ea Dual 120W AC Heated blanket (+25' extension cord in underfrunk for glamping)
12. Paper towels on bungee with rubber band to prevent unspooling
13 Cones to mark discrete dispersed camping sites
14. $100 Magnetic 2000 Lumen spotlight, usb-c charged
15. Camera Tripod held tight to ceiling with $9 pair of 1" x 8 ft lashing strap lashed to 2020 T slot in ceiling

Roof
16. $200 250W Newpowa solar panel attached with half height unistrut ($35/10')

Cab
17. $90 3" Inflating closed cell foam sleeping pad, 62x26x3" (Exped 72" is too long for cab and bed, but a more comfy 4" thick)

Frunk
18. $70 Shoe Dryer, AC 300W
19. $107+$99+$50 Dewalt air compressor, 5Ah Battery+Charger, AC/DC Inverter
20. Ford EVSE 32A (120V can self charge truck off truck-mounted solar)
Underfrunk
21. 25' 16 gauge extension cord
22. NEMA 5-20 120V outlet multitap for end of extension cord
23. $18 NEMA L14-30 240V to dual two-sided 5-20 120V for cooking off truck 7.6 kW 14-30
24. $59 NEMA 14-30 35' extension cord 10 gauge (haven't used in 18 months yet)
25. $280 NEMA 14-50 40A EVSE for max charge rate in campgrounds

I've since replaced the left/right SmartCap struts with shorter 14" length ($17/pair) so I can upgrade solar closer to 1 kW overhanging left/right while still clearing the gullwing doors.

Figure 1 - Kitchen accessible from driver side of smartcap: Airfryer flip down and induction hot plate.

Figure 2- View from tailgate. Supporting battery/inverter useful for running 12V cooler 24/7 and 6'+25' extension cord to tent for 120V heated blankets for ~10h overnight (130W/blanket x 10h = 1.3 kWh/blanket on max. Setting to reduce to 25%, 50%, 75% heat power). Supporting batteries recharged off 250W roof solar providing up to 2 kWh/day in summer - also useful for cooking off solar power instead of draining 131 kWh battery..

Figure 3 - Cab rear seat with shorty L 62" x W 26" x 3" thick sleeping pad

 

[kubel]

i built an L shaped platform that sits on top of the rear seats and extends towards the back of the front passenger seat (all the way forward position). I added hingest to sections of the platform enabling use of the rear passenger seat or front passenger seat. I cut up an old memory foam trifold matress to the custom size. This lets me (5'9") fully extend my feet while sleeping in the cab (feet are behind passenger seat and you kind of sleep at an angle). It's not as comfortable as the Tesla Model 3 but the increased headroom makes it less claustrophobic.

I'll get a picture next time I set it up. It's pretty comfortable in there, but the heat pump is insanely loud and probably pisses off fellow campers.

 

[FloridaMan655321]

I'm too tall to be able to sleep in the cab like that, but now I kind of wish I was haha

 

[Zaptor]

We sleepin in trucks here? Sorry the bed ain't 'made'
My setup
Zap

 

[TMND]

Quite the festival set up very nice

 

[Texas Dan]

I'm too tall to be able to sleep in the cab like that, but now I kind of wish I was haha

I’m not sure tall too tall is but there may still be some options for you. I push the passenger seat all the way forward and tilt it all the way so I can stretch out. I fill the void behind the seat that the air mattress doesn’t cover with a sleeping bag and pillows.
Another option that may work for you but is more expensive is to replace the seats with Platinum lay flat seats.

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