Pre-Purchase Guidance and Thinking Points

[97WhiteCobra]

Hello,
I’m new to this forum, and have been wanting to purchase an electric vehicle for a couple years. I’ve read quite a lot about them study them over the years since it’s Tesla launched in 2013. I procrastinated long enough that my. 2010 F150 XLT is starting to show signs of where at 250,000 miles on it.

I’m considering buying a lightning, but would appreciate watch points, things to think about, and any guidance the community can offer as I consider a Lightning over a V-8 F-150.

A little bit about what I’m planning on using the truck for, I pull 5000 pound boat about 180 miles to my beach house (occasionally). I have vacation homes about 180 miles in each direction from my home I visit, and I go visit family in Tennessee, which is about a 300 mile trip about twice a year.

Other than that, just driving around town, hauling a bunch of stuff for chores and projects at home… very normal truck stuff.

Also, is the ability to run a house with it as a back when the electricity goes out as good as the press makes it sounds. The reason I ask is I’m thinking about putting a generator in my beach house, but wouldn’t need to the Lightning performs like the advertisement say.

thanks.

Sponsored

 

[pullinggs]

Hello George, and welcome to the forum.

Short version: The Lightning will do all that and I think you'll love it. The thought of being forced back to a V-8 makes me shiver and cringe.

A bit more: You'll probably want an EVSE (a charge station) at home and at each vacation home as this will make everything much easier. You should do a little research on a mid-point public charger for your tow-the-boat trips. Assuming you'll be on an interstate highway, this will probably be trivial. It's not completely impossible that you could make the trip without a short stop to charge a bit (lots of variables), but I seriously doubt it.

Back-up power for the house: The Ford solution has a pretty bad track record, but there are lots of solutions that work well (I have to do this several times a year and the truck is MUCH better than the generator I used to use). Edit: Make sure you get the 9.6kW Pro Power Onboard system if you want 30A/240 input to the house.

Now please take a few minutes and go search this forum. In-depth answers to all your questions are here.

 

[97WhiteCobra]

Thank you. I have been looking at some of the posts. . They are very helpful. I just wanted to be sure I had the right configuration and trim. Package for what I need. Your suggestion of the 9.6 kW Pro Pack is exactly the kind of info I’m looking for. Thanks again.

 

[WXman]

I've had mine for two months now. Came from a long line of gas and diesel trucks. Here's my take: towing for long distance (more than 100 miles) is going to be a pain. You're going to have to stop every 80-100 miles and spend 45 minutes charging at a public charger, if you can find one that will fit a truck plus trailer. Since I only tow once or twice per year like that, it wasn't a deal breaker for me. But if I towed several times per year it would have been.

Aside from towing long distances, these trucks are amazing. Great power, quiet, smooth, lots of features, comfortable, etc. The frunk is truly useful. Charging at home is the best because that is how you save money. If you buy or lease a new one, Ford will install a level 2 charger for you at home. It's a part of their Power Promise promotion.

Keep in mind that if you're planning to buy and keep the truck for 15 or 20 years, my personal opinion is that you're going to run into problems down the road because tech is changing so fast and these current Lightnings will be discontinued after 2027. With only 6 model years of production, and the tech being outdated by then in favor of the new battery chemistry and build platform on the new 2028 truck, it'll make these current Lightnings hard to keep on the road long term. That's just my opinion on it.

I think that in your situation I'd be inclined to go with the Powerboost instead of the Lightning, but you could certainly make the Lightning work if you're willing to make some sacrifices when it's time to tow your boat the 180 miles. Good luck!

 

[hturnerfamily]

we've towed our 3,100-3,800lb campers over 25,000 miles over the last 3 years with our PRO SR Lightning...

trips of 500-600 miles was not uncommon...

never an issue... if you have the right mindset and planning.


but, you also have to have an understanding mindset when it comes to how to 'manage' the travel. Planning your charging stop is primary. Sure, with a 180 mile destination with a larger boat, you'll hope that you have a nice fast Charger station exactly 90-100 miles in between, but reality says that it is unlikely - you'll may have to charge twice during the trip, since chargers are not 'exactly' where we'd like them...

also, while some will say that stations aren't towing-compatible, having to unhook infrequently is not a deal-breaker. It is what it is. We've found that 9 times out of 10, we could access an end unit without any major issue, keeping our camper attached, and, at the same time, enjoying the camper's amenities while charging : )

Understanding 'range' is also critical. Don't overestimate your capable speed while towing, as you'll WANT to slow your travel in order to keep the mi/kwh as high as possible, even if you 'think' you have plenty to get there - the 'pucker effect' does not add to travel enjoyment - driving much more conservatively allows you to arrive in the best mood.

 

[RLXXI]

Lightnings will be discontinued after 2027.

Where did you hear that Ford was discontinuing the Lightning in 2027? I know they plan a new platform of cheaper models based on a skateboard chassis but that doesn't equate to them also dropping the Lightning from the lineup.

I'd like to see proof of this discontinuation you speak of.

 

[97WhiteCobra]

Thanks to WXman and HTURNERFAMILY much for the information. I do like to keep my trucks a while. I have been wondering if it’s a vehicle I will be able to drive for +200k miles. The new truck coming was not on my radar.

Thanks both for the towing info as well, eases my mind… ring retired, I’m not in any hurry to get anywhere.

I checked out my paths and have multiple station to all my normal annual long routes.

So, it sounds like I need to get the maximum battery performance option offered no matter the trim.

 

[RickLightning]

Lightning...

No factual discontinuation of Lightning from Ford, that is not valid info.

 

[Vulnox]

Hopefully some that tow boats come in with some experience as the comment of getting 80 or 100 miles is not a side effect of towing as the truck itself isn't too bothered by weight. What usually causes range loss, as it does with gas vehicles, is wind resistance. A friend of mine got a Lightning and he has a small trailer he tows his 4-wheeler on and has another 4Wheeler in the bed. Between trailer and 4-wheeler its a couple thousand pounds. He still gets 1.7+ mi/kWh when on the expressway which on an ER will work out to close to 200 miles if he were to try and run it to dead.

If he just had the one on the trailer he may get even better mileage as the one in the bed is what is sticking up above the roof line.

But if you have a large box trailer, either utility or travel trailer, then the mileage is going to be far worse. Just as it would be with an EcoBoost ICE F-150 where people always comment about their single digit MPG.

With a boat I haven't seen a ton of feedback, if it's a larger one with a covered seating area and all that, it will probably suffer for the wind resistance reasons. But if it's a smaller bass boat then may not be really significant.

I have taken our Lightning and Mach-e on a number of road trips now. I try to consider if I was towing a trailer when I stop to charge and just get an idea of the charging stations. About 90% of them I wouldn't have an issue with a trailer, maybe sticking out into an aisle a little bit, but most are in good spots out of the main traffic areas.

Every so often I run into the odd Meijer install that has a bunch of stations right by where most traffic comes in off the main road. Those would be rough as they are tight even without a trailer.

That's where things like PlugShare are nice to get comments and see pictures of the station and get an idea if it's one you want to stop at.

Doing a dry run if you get the truck without a trailer and seeing what the stations are like is also helpful, but unless you happen to go to some of these vacation spots without the trailer already on occasion, that's a lot of driving just to scout.

 

[Streak]

97WhiteCobra
I have owned many V8 trucks in the past, but I'd say I'm so satisfied with the lightning ('23 platinum) that I never plan on going back ICE.
My situation is pretty close to what you have described for used case of a truck - i tow my boat (3500lb+trailer) occasionally 200km to cottage and where it's stored for winter. I average about 220km (140ish miles) on a charge towing it. I sometimes need to stop for a charge. I have a plan that I'll stop at a Tesla supercharger that I know I can pull my boat next to, and charge the little I need to get me to where I'm going. I would say that is the only downfall of the lightning is the range, especially when towing but the convenience of how inexpensive it is to charge the vehicle here in Ontario Canada far out weighs the slight inconvenience of planning a trip to know when to charge for the few times, I need it.
I drive my vehicle a lot, 40,000+ kilometres a year but I've never found range being an issue. I have a charger at home and at the cottage so most of my charging I would say 99% is done at a home charger and what little I need to charge away from home is easily done, especially now with the superchargers of Tesla where I usually stop for 10 to 15 minutes to get enough charge to get me where I'm going. I never find it an issue as it gives me time to stop go and do a few things , grab a coffee and by the time I'm done, the truck is always charged to what I need. It really isn't as big of a deal as some people would make it seem stopping and charging the truck. It just takes a little planning.
As far as towing goes, it's the best truck I've ever had for towing. It pulls like a train - so powerful and because it's quiet you hardly even know it's back there. As well, the extra weight and how the weight is distributed throughout the truck with the battery from front to back, it rides much smoother and handles the trailer much better. In situations where my V8 would struggle up some of the bigger hills this truck can actually even accelerate up the hills with ease. It truly is a great towing platform and I hardly even know the boat is back there.
I also use the truck as my backup generator at the cottage. I installed the Generac 6850 transfer switch and I am so pleased with it. I have a fridge, microwave, the water system pump lights in every room and fans in every room and the last time the power went out for 26 hours, It only burned through 12% of the battery without any attempt at saving power. It truly exceeded my expectations.
It's truly the best vehicle I've ever owned - knock on wood - and being a resident in Ontario, the savings is several thousand/yr cause our home electricity is so cheap - lucky us

 

[FirstF150InCasco]

1. Definitely put a charger at your home and at your vacation homes and at the place you frequently visit.
2. If one of your vacation homes is in a cold environment, note that the Lightning's range drops dramatically in cold weather.
3. Listen carefully to the advice from folks with trailers. I cannot speak to that subject.
4. As for home charging, do the research and the calcualtions to determine (a) if 9.6 is enough for your use case and (b) how long the 131 will last before the truck turns into a brick.

 

[flyct]

@97WhiteCobra

George,

I’ve owned 9 EVs in last 10 years so I have lots of experience. We routinely travel to our cabin from our house at least 3 times a month. It’s a 125 one way trip and we have hard wired chargers at both homes. We don’t tow anything so for us the Lightning is perfect. so here is my 2 cents.

Powerboost would fit your use case best. A Powerboost will allow you to use 240vac 30 amp onboard output to power house in case of power failure just like a Lightning. It would also allow you to tow your boat without having to stop and charge on the way. My prediction is a pure EV like Lightning will be outdated in 5 years due to advancements in technology and range.

180 miles to beach house and vacation homes is max limit without charging in between. An Extended range battery has max 131 kWhs. Starting at 80% and going to 10% at destination uses 70% of battery capacity or 91 kwhs. If you average 2 mi/kwh that would allow you to travel 182 miles. (91x2=181). If you have headwinds, rain, or detour you will need to stop to add l little charge to make it. Then it would take you 8-9 hours to replenish the battery at your destination if you have a 60 amp circuit 48 amp output hard wired charger at home. If you use the 30 amp output mobile charger plugged into a 50 amp outlet it will take about 13-14 hours to charge back to 80%

My guess is that you will need to stop twice to add charge when towing your boat.

 

[WXman]

we've towed our 3,100-3,800lb campers over 25,000 miles over the last 3 years with our PRO SR Lightning...

trips of 500-600 miles was not uncommon...

never an issue... if you have the right mindset and planning.


but, you also have to have an understanding mindset when it comes to how to 'manage' the travel. Planning your charging stop is primary. Sure, with a 180 mile destination with a larger boat, you'll hope that you have a nice fast Charger station exactly 90-100 miles in between, but reality says that it is unlikely - you'll may have to charge twice during the trip, since chargers are not 'exactly' where we'd like them...

also, while some will say that stations aren't towing-compatible, having to unhook infrequently is not a deal-breaker. It is what it is. We've found that 9 times out of 10, we could access an end unit without any major issue, keeping our camper attached, and, at the same time, enjoying the camper's amenities while charging : )

Understanding 'range' is also critical. Don't overestimate your capable speed while towing, as you'll WANT to slow your travel in order to keep the mi/kwh as high as possible, even if you 'think' you have plenty to get there - the 'pucker effect' does not add to travel enjoyment - driving much more conservatively allows you to arrive in the best mood.

And this is my point exactly. CAN you do it? 100% Will it be a lot more of a PITA? 100%

With my diesel truck I could stop on any corner along my trip and replenish 100% of my range in 5 minutes. No trip planning. No sitting around waiting for 45 minutes. No unhooking my camper/trailer (which IS a pain because it takes muscle and time to unhook my weight distribution/sway control system). Just pull through to the pump, fill the truck, hit the road again.

This is why I say the EV trucks are not ideal for long range towing. It's not because they can't do it. It's because they make the trip such a chore. Why do that to yourself on purpose when there are more suitable tools for the job?

Where did you hear that Ford was discontinuing the Lightning in 2027? I know they plan a new platform of cheaper models based on a skateboard chassis but that doesn't equate to them also dropping the Lightning from the lineup.

I'd like to see proof of this discontinuation you speak of.

Lightning...

No factual discontinuation of Lightning from Ford, that is not valid info.

I guess you guys have been under a rock. Ford has stated multiple times that the new "T3" truck was supposed to arrive this year, but got pushed back two model years due to "changing automotive landscape". In other words, politics. Since it's 2025, and adding two years results in 2027, then it doesn't take a calculus professor to figure out that the current truck has two model years left (maybe...could be one) until the new truck.

And since the CEO has stated, publicly, that the new truck will be on a "dedicated EV platform" that clearly indicates that it's not going to share ICE F-150 bones like the current truck.

So, if you put those two facts, stated publicly, by Ford Motor Company, together you see that the current truck will be gone after 2027 just as I said. Which means this F-150, with it's outdated tech, will have been on the road for 6 model years by then with less than 200k total sold. Does that make it rare? No. But it isn't a plentiful truck either. Do you think in 10 years you'll be able to walk into a Ford dealer and get a battery pack module for a 2025 Lightning? A motor? A 15" screen to control it all? I seriously doubt it. I'll be shocked if by then Ford is still supporting outdated tech.

I have a 2005 F-150 with 231,000 miles and I walk into any auto parts store in town right now and buy parts for it cheap. There is zero chance that in 2045 I'll be able to walk into a store and walk out with 2025 Lightning parts.

 

[RLXXI]

I guess you guys have been under a rock. Ford has stated multiple times that the new "T3" truck was supposed to arrive this year, but got pushed back two model years due to "changing automotive landscape". In other words, politics. Since it's 2025, and adding two years results in 2027, then it doesn't take a calculus professor to figure out that the current truck has two model years left (maybe...could be one) until the new truck.

And since the CEO has stated, publicly, that the new truck will be on a "dedicated EV platform" that clearly indicates that it's not going to share ICE F-150 bones like the current truck.

So, if you put those two facts, stated publicly, by Ford Motor Company, together you see that the current truck will be gone after 2027 just as I said. Which means this F-150, with it's outdated tech, will have been on the road for 6 model years by then with less than 200k total sold. Does that make it rare? No. But it isn't a plentiful truck either. Do you think in 10 years you'll be able to walk into a Ford dealer and get a battery pack module for a 2025 Lightning? A motor? A 15" screen to control it all? I seriously doubt it. I'll be shocked if by then Ford is still supporting outdated tech.

I have a 2005 F-150 with 231,000 miles and I walk into any auto parts store in town right now and buy parts for it cheap. There is zero chance that in 2045 I'll be able to walk into a store and walk out with 2025 Lightning parts.

That's one hell of an assumption on your part, sometimes 1+1 =3. When they come out and publicly state without a doubt they're cancelling the Lightning I'll believe it. If anything I believe they'll keep the line and just upgrade the batteries with better tech and lower weight/cost.

Really doesn't matter one way or the other to me, I've already got one

 

[97WhiteCobra]

Thanks so much to all thus far for taking the time to reply and providing helpful information. Sounds like providing power out of the truck not as simple and plugging it into the truck and into a power inlet in the house and hitting go. Very naive on my part.

Hopefully some that tow boats come in with some experience as the comment of getting 80 or 100 miles is not a side effect of towing as the truck itself isn't too bothered by weight. What usually causes range loss, as it does with gas vehicles, is wind resistance. A friend of mine got a Lightning and he has a small trailer he tows his 4-wheeler on and has another 4Wheeler in the bed. Between trailer and 4-wheeler its a couple thousand pounds. He still gets 1.7+ mi/kWh when on the expressway which on an ER will work out to close to 200 miles if he were to try and run it to dead.

If he just had the one on the trailer he may get even better mileage as the one in the bed is what is sticking up above the roof line.

But if you have a large box trailer, either utility or travel trailer, then the mileage is going to be far worse. Just as it would be with an EcoBoost ICE F-150 where people always comment about their single digit MPG.

With a boat I haven't seen a ton of feedback, if it's a larger one with a covered seating area and all that, it will probably suffer for the wind resistance reasons. But if it's a smaller bass boat then may not be really significant.

I have taken our Lightning and Mach-e on a number of road trips now. I try to consider if I was towing a trailer when I stop to charge and just get an idea of the charging stations. About 90% of them I wouldn't have an issue with a trailer, maybe sticking out into an aisle a little bit, but most are in good spots out of the main traffic areas.

Every so often I run into the odd Meijer install that has a bunch of stations right by where most traffic comes in off the main road. Those would be rough as they are tight even without a trailer.

That's where things like PlugShare are nice to get comments and see pictures of the station and get an idea if it's one you want to stop at.

Doing a dry run if you get the truck without a trailer and seeing what the stations are like is also helpful, but unless you happen to go to some of these vacation spots without the trailer already on occasion, that's a lot of driving just to scout.

Thanks much

Sponsored