Garage too small. Anyone park outside? In the snow?

strahanjen · Nov 1, 2024

I'm considering purchasing a Lightning, but my garage is a few inches too small. I could park it on the pad next to the garage and have the charger installed outside, but I live in MN. There will be snow to deal with. I wonder if anyone else has had to do this. Any comments on the experience?

Has anyone found a way to extend the garage that doesn't cost a ton of money? The contractor I talked to said that by the time he extends and blends in new construction, I might as well just tear down the garage and build a new one.

I'm trying to decide if I should wait for a smaller truck to come out, but I could use the Lightning next summer for powering a job site for a cabin build.

sfringer · Nov 1, 2024

I don't live in an area that would get nearly the winter weather as MN, but my Lightning doesn't fit in the garage and has been parked outside for the year I've owned it. Had the FCSP mounted on the exterior of the garage as well since it was a straight run from the service panel. I've not noticed any issues.

Maquis · Nov 1, 2024

Have you looked into the feasibility of putting a roof over the slab next to the garage where you park? Just keeping the snow off would be very helpful.

TaxmanHog · Nov 1, 2024

strahanjen said:
The contractor I talked to said that by the time he extends and blends in new construction, I might as well just tear down the garage and build a new one.

Opportunity to further expand the pad and make a nice hobby / workshop as well as a larger garage!!

TMND · Nov 1, 2024

I only charge at work (so far). Here in northern North Dakota is already getting down into the low 20s at night. My lighting is sitting in the driveway frosty but warm inside when I leave in the morning. Maybe one percent of battery gone compared to when I put it to bed. We’ll see what happens when we get to January and I get 2 to 3 weeks below -20. I’ll be sure to post a video then.

Dave70 · Nov 1, 2024

My garage is 8 inches too small to fit my Lightning. I'm in WI, and it's sat outside in the cold and snow. My Emporia charger is mounted outside as well. No issues with the truck being outside in the cold. I just start it up 10 minutes before I have to leave so it's nice and warm inside. I usually do that while plugged in to draw from the house, but not totally needed. My commute to work is only 20 miles, so I don't bother with departure times unless I do a longer drive, then I set the departure time and see a significant increase in efficiency.

snowy_91 · Nov 1, 2024

South Dakota here, I don't put the truck in the garage. I use the garage to store things like motorcycles and convertibles.

saturnschildren · Nov 1, 2024

Ontario, Canada here, my Lightning is always outside. No issues.

RocketGhost · Nov 1, 2024

It baffles me that houses are being built even today with garages that won't fit an F150 - the best selling vehicle in America.

My house had a carport and I wanted an enclosed garage. I had the carport completely torn down and a garage built in its place. I had the advantage of already owning an F150, so I knew how big the garage needed to be.

What it would take to get a few inches out of yours depends on so many things and we don't know anything about the construction of your garage.

Grease Lightning · Nov 1, 2024

I only park outside. If you get a lot of snow you will want to buy or build something to shield the charge port. This last winter we had snow then freezing rain and my port got covered and frozen so I was stuck until I melted away the snow so I could unplug. With the worst part is the ice building in the latch area so it is hard to get out. This year I have a cover for over the port and hopefully that will help.

in line with that, I also saw a lot of accumulation in the wiper recessed area, that I again had to extract to get the wipers to move.

So if you have to park outside with lots of snow, know you might have some areas of accumulation concern.

Calvin H-C · Nov 1, 2024

I'm just north of Toronto and my wife's Lightning doesn't fit in the garage so it has to be parked outside. The Emporia EVSE is installed inside the right side of the garage about a yard inside, so the Emporia's 24' cable reaches the truck regardless of which side of the driveway it is parked.

Ford F-150 Lightning Garage too small. Anyone park outside? In the snow? 1000007141

We took a page from when I got my Focus Electric in 2017. The FFE has an EVSE that we installed on the right side of the garage also close to the door. The FFE is usually parked in the garage but it's EVSE's 18' cable reaches over and up to the port at the front. When parked outside, it also reaches well.

The rubber seals at the bottom of the garage doors do a good job of keeping the weather out while not crushing the cable.

StevenC56 · Nov 1, 2024

We live in California but I still wanted to park my Lightning in my garage, Last 3 Chevy Silverado's were parked outside. Sold and tossed a bunch of stuff and moved around everything with overhead storage and the rest went to my single car side. (3 car garage) The lightning was about 2" too long. Changed a couple of the rollup garage door hinges to lower profile and I'm in the process of notching out the garage wall just under 2 inches with reinforcements for the notched studs. Having a steel box made to box the 36.5" X 80" area. Test parked and I have about .5-.75" clearance front and back.

OtterJohn · Nov 1, 2024

strahanjen said:
I'm considering purchasing a Lightning, but my garage is a few inches too small.

Have you tried parking at a slight angle? Ours fits, but I have to put it at about a 5% left angle to fit between the wall and the steel pipe protecting the furnace and gas lines (had to do the same with our Tundra).

bmwhitetx · Nov 1, 2024

StevenC56 said:
We live in California but I still wanted to park my Lightning in my garage, Last 3 Chevy Silverado's were parked outside. Sold and tossed a bunch of stuff and moved around everything with overhead storage and the rest went to my single car side. (3 car garage) The lightning was about 2" too long. Changed a couple of the rollup garage door hinges to lower profile and I'm in the process of notching out the garage wall just under 2 inches with reinforcements for the notched studs. Having a steel box made to box the 36.5" X 80" area. Test parked and I have about .5-.75" clearance front and back.

Would love to see pics. Especially the low-profile interior door hinge. Always felt those interior hinges (without a roller) could be lower profile. so not potentially scrape the bumper.

Adventureboy · Nov 1, 2024

I have to park outside. No issues. When it is cold, it will draw a bit of power to keep the batteries from getting cold soaked on the really cold days.

If you have the room, it might be an opportunity for a solar-covered carport ;-). I wish I had the room for that where I am. Next house maybe.

Garage too small. Anyone park outside? In the snow?

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