Slow speed down hill braking - Hard on the Brakes!

[dirtdiver]

Hey Everyone! 2000 miles on my truck and still LOVING it! Yesterday I was coming down a steep rutted dirt road towing a ~3K pound trailer with its own electric brakes. The road was about a mile long and ends in a gate at the bottom. I was on the brake pedal the whole way down keeping the speed at 2-4mph. I noticed no regeneration showing on my dash on the way down- but didnt think much of it. I got to the bottom to open the gate and had a strong smell of hot brakes at the bottom. I verified the trailer brakes were working- at least as good as they ever do.

Im not sure where (in speed) the re-gen provides braking but it was apparent to me I was getting a bunch of braking power from the physical brakes at this low speed. In my F350 I can put the truck in 1st gear (of the automatic tranny) and get to the bottom with no hot brake smell. I don't see any way to do that in the Lightening.

Anyway, FYI to any of you with a similar long down hill at low speed. Im glad I didnt have another few thousand pounds in the trailer.

steve

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[GarageMahal]

Seems strange to not see any regen. Maybe try it in one pedal mode next time?

 

[PA Lightning]

Were you driving in normal mode or tow mode?

 

[TaxmanHog]

If in tow mode, the regen is substantially suppressed, though it is supposed to complement the friction brakes as you apply them, might want to check the gain calibration for the trailer brakes so they help with the burden, possibly you have it set low and the Lightnings friction brakes were working harder.

 

[RedLightning86]

If in tow mode, the regen is substantially suppressed, though it is supposed to complement the friction brakes as you apply them, might want to check the gain calibration for the trailer brakes so they help with the burden, possibly you have it set low and the Lightnings friction brakes were working harder.

Agreed. Could be that with your prior truck, by down-shifting with a light trailer, you just didn't need the trailer's brakes. That being said, it is also a concern of mine. It seems to me like Ford should program a high-regen mode for down-hill towing, that raises regen as much as possible, to make up for lack of down-shifting. AND re-gear the truck in future years, such that it tows better, range and down-hill. The insane acceleration is nice, but poor towing is what people are talking about "on the street" when I talk to folks.

And when I tow, I hope it is not going to let me down!

 

[O’Majestic1’slightnigF150]

My superduty’s have a suckie gui for programming the trailer brakes. If you pull multiple trailers you can name them and just have to select from a menu which one you are hooking up. But, creating the name is like old T9 texting. I have not checked my Lightning but there’s a separate screen on the super duty’s to pick the trailer brake type. You probably know this already but, Make sure the setting is correct: electric or electric over hydraulic. Mine don’t have a setting for neither, ie, dynamic.
and. If you Ever replace the truck brain, you loose all your saved settings and trailer info.

 

[Crilly]

Regen cuts out about 5 mph. You were driving to slow.

 

[RickLightning]

Regen cuts out about 5 mph. You were driving to slow.

Likely.

 

[GoodSam]

Article on 70 to zero fast stops and brakes overheating:
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a40120063/2022-ford-f-150-lightning-tested-acceleration/
So, does not matter if going slow or fast?

 

[MM in SouthTX]

Scary stuff here. Don't take one up Pikes Peak.

 

[queuewho]

Scary stuff here. Don't take one up Pikes Peak.

In one-pedal mode, without a trailer, it should be fine.

 

[dirtdiver]

Were you driving in normal mode or tow mode?

Tow mode. The trailer was plugged into the truck to use the electric trailer brakes.

steve

 

[MM in SouthTX]

So I guess the regen brake system won't overheat? You just get a lot of charge coming down from 14,000 ft!

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