MAX TRAILER TOW PACKAGE if not planning to tow?

[gratney]

I'm debating between two different Lightnings for purchase. One already had a bedliner sprayed in from factory and comes with the mobile charger..both things I like.
The second has neither of these but has the Max Trailer Tow Package? Would it provide benefits for someone only planning to haul camping gear in the bed? I've read that it provides coolers for the batteries..which sounds good, but would the additional weight be a negative for it since I won't tow. Just wondering if there are benefits if you're not towing.

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[TomB985]

I'm debating between two different Lightnings for purchase. One already had a bedliner sprayed in from factory and comes with the mobile charger..both things I like.
The second has neither of these but has the Max Trailer Tow Package? Would it provide benefits for someone only planning to haul camping gear in the bed? I've read that it provides coolers for the batteries..which sounds good, but would the additional weight be a negative for it since I won't tow. Just wondering if there are benefits if you're not towing.

Your battery cares about temperature, not how much cooling capacity it has. The Max Tow package adds a layer of complexity with another compressor and refrigerant loop, and it doesn’t sound like it would be doing anything.

I don’t see any upside to max tow if you‘re not pulling heavy. This seems like an easy call.

 

[mr.Magoo]

The batteries have a cooling circuit already, the max tow provides an additional one.
For regular driving (w/o towing) I doubt 1 vs 2 matters, but it might be beneficial for charging (L3/DCFC).

For the money, I'd get it (and I did) even if you'll never tow anything of significance.

 

[reffahcs]

I can't remember the exact video I was watching, I think it was Out of Spec? Anyways they mentioned that it was helpful when it came to fast charging like Mr.Magoo mentioned.
Edit: It was Out of Spec, time stamped video where he mentions it here:

 

[gratney]

Thank you. I'll have to check that out. Up until a day ago I didn't exen know about the tow package. Every day something new to consider it seems.

 

[Kev12345]

It’s a strange option. If it’s beneficial to charging, ford should make it standard equipment.

 

[Jim Lewis]

I got the Max Tow Technology package as I'm in Texas. Last summer, we had ~114-> 116-degree highs most days in July and August. I figured if I'm climbing a steep hill on the Interstate at 70 mph, the dual compressors, one for the cabin, one for the batteries and the engines, would more easily keep things cool with less wear-and-tear on each compressor. I don't know what the head of EV sales at my dealer actually knows in detail about the units, but he said you get more radiator area, too, with the Max Tow Package, and he agreed with my theory that with the greater cooling capacity, my truck would be better able to handle especially heat-stressful conditions in Texas. If you live in a much cooler climate, heat stress will certainly be less of a concern. He discouraged me from getting retractable running boards as he said that would add as much as 200 lbs and cause additional stress on the (12v, I presume) battery. So I don't think he was out to sell me options, agreeing the Max Tow Technology would be worthwhile but telling me the retractable running boards would add weight and battery stress. The EPA combined city/highway mileage on my 2023 Lariat ER is 320 miles. Presumably, that rating should take into account the added Max Tow Technology weight. Another reason for not getting the power running boards was that it's just something extra to break.

 

[Ray R]

I bought my XLT with it because batteries are temperature sensitive and I want to be able to drive it in the highest heat of summer without worrying about the batteries, even if towing.

 

[reffahcs]

I got the Max Tow Technology package as I'm in Texas. Last summer, we had ~114-> 116-degree highs most days in July and August. I figured if I'm climbing a steep hill on the Interstate at 70 mph, the dual compressors, one for the cabin, one for the batteries and the engines, would more easily keep things cool with less wear-and-tear on each compressor. I don't know what the head of EV sales at my dealer actually knows in detail about the units, but he said you get more radiator area, too, with the Max Tow Package, and he agreed with my theory that with the greater cooling capacity, my truck would be better able to handle especially heat-stressful conditions in Texas. If you live in a much cooler climate, heat stress will certainly be less of a concern. He discouraged me from getting retractable running boards as he said that would add as much as 200 lbs and cause additional stress on the (12v, I presume) battery. So I don't think he was out to sell me options, agreeing the Max Tow Technology would be worthwhile but telling me the retractable running boards would add weight and battery stress. The EPA combined city/highway mileage on my 2023 Lariat ER is 320 miles. Presumably, that rating should take into account the added Max Tow Technology weight.

That's good to know. I didn't realize the retractable running boards sucked up more of the 12V battery. They came with the truck, not sure if I would have gotten them otherwise. Now I'll have to think about disabling them, as they do seem to retract rather quickly, ie before you can even walk behind the bed to the other side of the truck, which just causes them to deploy again etc...

 

[TomB985]

Don’t believe everything you read on the internet. The 12v battery isn’t a single-use resource you “use up.” It’s charged by the DC-DC converter that converts power from your HV system to drive your low voltage system. Neither your 12v battery nor DC-DC converter are going to care about power running boards.

I’ve been driving EVs since 2019 and the one constant has been people overthinking batteries on the internet. It’s the engineers’ job to design systems that hold up for their intended use. It’s your job to drive the truck with a smile on your face. If any of us thought they couldn’t perform that task, we shouldn’t have bought the truck.

 

[reffahcs]

Oh, yeah I get that it gets recharged. I didn't mention in my previous post, but my daily round-trip commute is 9 miles, so my concern is mainly that I don't drive my truck enough to charge up the low-voltage battery.

 

[Randall Stephens]

I can't remember the exact video I was watching, I think it was Out of Spec? Anyways they mentioned that it was helpful when it came to fast charging like Mr.Magoo mentioned.
Edit: It was Out of Spec, time stamped video where he mentions it here:

this video pisses me off that ford kept getting rid of color options...

 

[Jim Lewis]

The 12v battery isn’t a single-use resource you “use up.” It’s charged by the DC-DC converter that converts power from your HV system to drive your low voltage system. Neither your 12v battery nor DC-DC converter are going to care about power running boards.

I think it's about the long-term wear and tear on the 12v battery, not its current SOC. If every time you get in and out of your truck, the mirrors unfold/refold, the driver's seat moves to its memorized position and back, the running boards go in and come out, you can draw a fair amount of current from your 12-volt battery, even if you just retrieving something from the vehicle and not driving anywhere. Yeah, you can recharge the LVB, but the more you use the battery, the sooner you'll be replacing it. So I don't use autofold for my mirrors, and I don't use the memorized seat position movement, whatever it's called. And I imagined if I got the Power Running Boards, every time I ran out to my truck for any reason, I'd be moving them back and forth, too, even if I didn't intend to drive the truck. Since I run my truck in the garage ~every day to keep the LVB charged up for updates, at least twice a day, I'd be moving all these various parts for no reason (there's not enough room in the garage in front of the truck to access the frunk to charge the LVB with a battery tender directly). With the auto headlight setting, the headlights come on, too, whenever I turn on the truck just to charge the LVB up. I don't drive my truck much, and I don't feel like letting the LVB SOC drop into the 30% or 40% range before the recharge by the HVB is triggered. Don't think that's great either for getting updates or the long-term lifespan of the LVB.

 

[Henry Ford]

I think it's about the long-term wear and tear on the 12v battery, not its current SOC. If every time you get in and out of your truck, the mirrors unfold/refold, the driver's seat moves to its memorized position and back, the running boards go in and come out, you can draw a fair amount of current from your 12-volt battery, even if you just retrieving something from the vehicle and not driving anywhere. Yeah, you can recharge the LVB, but the more you use the battery, the sooner you'll be replacing it. So I don't use autofold for my mirrors, and I don't use the memorized seat position movement, whatever it's called. And I imagined if I got the Power Running Boards, every time I ran out to my truck for any reason, I'd be moving them back and forth, too, even if I didn't intend to drive the truck. Since I run my truck in the garage ~every day to keep the LVB charged up for updates, at least twice a day, I'd be moving all these various parts for no reason (there's not enough room in the garage in front of the truck to access the frunk to charge the LVB with a battery tender directly). With the auto headlight setting, the headlights come on, too, whenever I turn on the truck just to charge the LVB up. I don't drive my truck much, and I don't feel like letting the LVB SOC drop into the 30% or 40% range before the recharge by the HVB is triggered. Don't think that's great either for getting updates or the long-term lifespan of the LVB.

You are overthinking this. Power folding mirrors, moving seats, and power running boards are nice features. I would trade the use of those features for replacing the LVB slightly earlier but it's not clear to me you are even doing harm to the LVB by using these features.

The LVB TSB should take care of any issues with updates. It is overkill to start your truck in the garage to charge the LVB. If you are concerned about wear and tear consider all the other wear and tear you are putting on other components verses just letting your truck sit there. Screens, lights, HVB contactors, etc. It's conceivable you are doing more long term damage to your truck by charging the LVB which is a normal wear and tear item.

I don't think you are likely doing damage to your truck but it seems if you start your truck you should be getting some joy out of it. I suppose if charging your LVB gives you joy then you are doing exactly the right thing.

 

[Ffxdude]

I went with the max tow for the extra towing capacity, towing features, and the extra cooling capacity. At the time of order it wasn’t going to potentially add to the delivery time like the spray on bedliner was potentially going to do. I figured that the bedliner could be done locally after purchase. The mobile charger came with mine, but again that can be purchased locally after the fact. The tow package can’t be added after the fact.

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