So wrong. The RV and boat markets exploded during COVID. Not everyone tows long distance but millions of people do, and this truck was marketed SPECIFICALLY for towing, with many pictures showing it in action towing backhoes, large boats, small boats, and large box campers. The working guidance was about 50% loss of range with a max load (9,000 lbs.). it turns out that loss is more like 70%, with actual range under 100 miles. The difference between 150 mile range and 90 miles range = feasible truck vs useless truck for my purposes.
That’s one but there are several others. Bottom line is when towing at the max spec on this truck, you get 100 miles or less. Yes, max spec. 9,000 pounds, tall rig (my boat is 12’6”).
Considering the lack of efficiency on Gas it more like a 12 gallon tank or on my Tundra a 15 gallon tank. But yes point taken.
The lightning is a 1/2 ton light truck. I know people do this on the ICE but really should not.
He has to he super duty but his A-hole HOA will not allow any heavy duty trucks on the property. He even has matching king ranch super duty and f150 power boost. They don't look enough alike to fake out the HOA. He has said before to go at the powerboost gets about 150 miles range towing his boat north from Florida. He is well aware that towing his boat is better in the super duty.
Yup! Just don't think the Lightning is fit for this use case. Best to stay ICE or Hybrid.
I agree that long distance towing requires SO much energy that the energy density of liquid fuels will be difficult to surpass. The only hope for long distance EV towing is higher voltage batteries so that they can accept a charge faster and more charging locations capable of supplying the high voltage/high amperage batteries of these trucks. Driving slower will help because air resistance contributes the most drag when towing. If you can make the truck move through the air more efficiently the unloaded range will go up. The towing efficiency of a brick towing a bigger brick may not be that different than a super slippery brickish object towing a bigger brick. It is simply an energy problem (470watts per mile empty or even heavy but clean airflow versus 1100watts per mile with a big trailer...). You just need more watts to tow more distance. However if you are within the towing range of the truck, the power and weight of the lightning should allow it to tow more comfortably than most other half ton pick-up trucks.
all correct - I own two other Super duties and a PowerBoost King Ranch F-150, but have a special situation at my Florida home where I cannot park anything over half ton. That's a known trade-off for having a gated situation in a waterfront community - sounds like a pain in the butt until you consider the security positives for a property lived in half the year, all landscaping handled, etc. I have total freedom at my Virginia farm, but have a lot more cameras and guns there, gave up a bit of control in Florida to gain a bunch of sets of eyes on my piers and other assets inside a more controlled environment with limited access. Really couldn't do it any other way without having staff (which we do at the Virginia farm).
