Crossing the stream(s)

[alexose]

There's a lake out where I live that's only accessible if one is willing to cross a decent-sized creek, then four-wheel drive up a steep embankment:

(This isn't it exactly, but it's close)

On paper, a stock Lightning should have no problems, but it does involve driving over some decent sized boulders, and through a foot of water. I'm nervous about smashing up the front air deflector or worse yet, denting up something on the underside.

Can anyone talk me into not being too precious with my prized truck? Thanks in advance.

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[Heliian]

Like most cars and trucks. The recommended max water depth is to just below the wheel hub.

The departure angle is great on these trucks however the approach and clearance under isn't that great.

I've found that due to the weight of the truck, it likes to pop little boulders out of the trail that can then ride up into the belly.

Underbody protection is minimal.

 

[Henry Ford]

Underbody protection is minimal.

Can you expand on this? I'm not an off-roaders so maybe I'm missing something but I've never seen more armour under a stock vehicle than what is on the lightning.

 

[tubby]

I would find something less nice and less expensive to get there with....to make sure your flashy new awesomely cool Lightning stays 100% intact.

 

[Heliian]

Can you expand on this? I'm not an off-roaders so maybe I'm missing something but I've never seen more armour under a stock vehicle than what is on the lightning.

Yes, it's better than most stockers but I wouldn't go bouldering with it.

The thin metal is a slight improvement over the ice f150s recycled carpet skid pads.

My atv has actual skid plates you can slide over rocks with, the lightning has stone chip protectors, not actual skid plates.

 

[invertedspear]

Can anyone talk me into not being too precious with my prized truck?

Just ask yourself if you bought a pavement princess or did you buy something to roll in the mud? No judgement if you want to keep such an expensive machine pristine, go get a jalopy jeep to get you to those weird places.

 

[shutterbug]

 

[Henry Ford]

Yes, it's better than most stockers but I wouldn't go bouldering with it.

The thin metal is a slight improvement over the ice f150s recycled carpet skid pads.

My atv has actual skid plates you can slide over rocks with, the lightning has stone chip protectors, not actual skid plates.

That makes sense. The skid plates are there to protect the batteries from road debris not balance the truck on.

To your point, I stopped a tech at Discount Tire from lifting the truck with the skid plates. They are strong but I wasn't about to risk whatever happens when you puncture a battery module on it.

 

[Simpso57]

You're good, this was me a while back:

https://youtu.be/zhZ-vIQv5UU

 

[Fastnf]

I bought my lightning to be a truck and work like a truck. I have forded 18" of water with no problem. Not worried about getting it wet or dirty. Where I live down an dirt road and across a stream it was wet and dirty the day I brought it home and its going to stay that way unless I move. Sure I wash it occasionally but it always dirty when I get home.

 

[NCMike]

I have a farm that has one field back in the woods and I have to cross a creek to get to it. When the water is high, the front fans can be heard hitting the water which concerns me. May want to crawl under the front of the truck to check the clearance to those fans. I haven't done that yet because my path across the creek doesn't have huge rocks, just gravel.

 

[SmoothJ]

You're good, this was me a while back:

https://youtu.be/zhZ-vIQv5UU

You have some of the testing Ford does (Hybrid, but close enough):

You have another YouTuber:

Slow and steady...

 

[Zprime29]

@shutterbug That's what comes to mind every time I see the title of this thread

 

[alexose]

I would find something less nice and less expensive to get there with....to make sure your flashy new awesomely cool Lightning stays 100% intact.

I've heard of people doing the crossing in a Subaru, so I don't think it's too bad. The biggest rocks are around 10 inches in diameter. Still, I worry about what happens if one were to get high centered somehow.

I remember reading an early review of the Lightning where they jumped it:

The Lightning is robust enough to take some hits. During an off-road test we introduced the underbody to the ground, and it wasn't just a glancing blow. We hit some moguls where the vehicle's weight sat on the protective underbody. We cringed, Magagnoli laughed. The truck did what it was designed to do; with plates running from front to back, the pickup can almost surf over obstacles like the mogul we crested. Deep ruts, mud, and water also did not phase the Lightning.

I'm still not sure about rocks though. I guess we'll have to see

 

[alexose]

Just ask yourself if you bought a pavement princess or did you buy something to roll in the mud? No judgement if you want to keep such an expensive machine pristine, go get a jalopy jeep to get you to those weird places.

While it spends most of its time on pavement, I definitely bought something to roll in the mud.

I love the idea of my Pro as a do-it-all vehicle, and I don't mind taking on a couple of dents and scratches if it means proving that my EV is every bit as capable the ICE version. I take it up into the woods all the time, on rutted roads, through the snow, etc.

At the same time, I want to keep it on the road for as long as I can. I suppose I want some assurance that an unlucky rock to the undercarriage won't end my joyriding days forever.

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