300 Mile Trip to Frankfort with the Lightning - Thoughts and Stats with the Airstream in tow

[Griswold22]

Thanks for those insights !
Come September, I should be able to share my experience towing a 20’ Geo Pro similar to the one on your last photo. I’m hoping to reach 125 miles (200km) with a trailer about half the weight of your Airstream.
Carrying a 7 500 watts dual fuel generator on longer trips and hard to reach destinations (longer interval or no charging stations), I plan on running the trailers AC with the truck at night when dry camping and charge the truck with the generator during the day.
Have you tried running the AC with the truck ?

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[oneguynick]

Thanks for those insights !
Come September, I should be able to share my experience towing a 20’ Geo Pro similar to the one on your last photo. I’m hoping to reach 125 miles (200km) with a trailer about half the weight of your Airstream.
Carrying a 7 500 watts dual fuel generator on longer trips and hard to reach destinations (longer interval or no charging stations), I plan on running the trailers AC with the truck at night when dry camping and charge the truck with the generator during the day.
Have you tried running the AC with the truck ?

I did, and it functions fine. I have a slow starter on our AC that allows it to run on a standard 20amp house plug, so it's probably not the best example.

My FIL has a 20' Geo Pro, and his hit to the gas mileage of our ICE F-150 is about the same as the airstream. Sure you will be fine depending on the terrain.

 

[2wheeltraveler]

Not long after mine arrives, I'll be putting it to the test with a 32' Grand Design Imagine 3400BH.... will be close to max load and not the slightest bit aerodynamic. My ICE GMC sees about 50% of the expected range.

 

[Griddlez]

Not long after mine arrives, I'll be putting it to the test with a 32' Grand Design Imagine 3400BH.... will be close to max load and not the slightest bit aerodynamic. My ICE GMC sees about 50% of the expected range.

Looking forward to hearing the results! Please share when the time comes.

 

[Kev12345]

But I read on the internet that the lightning runs out of juice after 60 miles!

Seriously though these trucks clearly need more range for towing...

 

[bri0528]

Be careful, the owners manual advises against using BlueCruise with a trailer:

 

[FordLightningMan]

But I read on the internet that the lightning runs out of juice after 60 miles!

Seriously though these trucks clearly need more range for towing...

I have a SR coming and I don't intend to tow much, but this info would indicate you'll get about 70 miles per charge with a SR.

The current administration is working to mandate charging stations every 50 miles on interstates, so it could be possible to tow a trailer even with a SR. Depending how far your camp site is from your house, you certainly will need to add a few hours to the trip. At a minimum, campgrounds will need to start adding Level 2 chargers, which would mean you could camp anywhere that's < 70 miles from an interstate. Though it's not the interstate that scares me going forward, it's the challenges you might run into if your destination is a rural area a few hours off of the interstate.

 

[Mathington]

Great write up! I love seeing the the details about journeys like this and figuring out the true capabilities of the truck.

 

[Ktown]

Is your lightning a standard or extended range?

 

[LYFISHER]

Great write up. Thanks! I went back and forth between F150 EV and 8-cyclinder ICE (6.5 box, 6 seater, the 8-cyclinder ICE is for towing with 36 gal tank). Glad to know EV RV towing is doable, though must be planned carefully.

I don't like the shorter box and the huge fixed center console, but it's a small price to pay for an EV.

 

[bigskylightning]

I REALLY appreciate you taking the time to report. We're considering selling our 25ft Safari Airstream for a lighter trailer - we haven't pulled it yet anywhere, but we have a similar truck (2023 Lariat Lightning) and, presumably, range. I'll keep a look out for a similar report with a trailer like the ones we're considering for a final decision.

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