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

[Literider150]

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.

So, you leave it on all night? Maybe turn off the lights and make sure other things are off? I've not tried this. They warm up so fast though that I'd think 15 min. or so initiated by the phone app would be enough to get going in the A.M. In the Idaho mountains where I live though, ice is always a problem early in the winter. Nice to keep the ice off as much as possible.

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[Larryumo]

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.

I live in Maine. My truck lives outside all year. No problems. I like NOT TO charge in the rain, but have had no problems when forced to do so.

 

[TMND]

So, you leave it on all night? Maybe turn off the lights and make sure other things are off? I've not tried this. They warm up so fast though that I'd think 15 min. or so initiated by the phone app would be enough to get going in the A.M. In the Idaho mountains where I live though, ice is always a problem early in the winter. Nice to keep the ice off as much as possible.

No, I haven’t done that. Used to with my old 7.3 power stroke lol. I have a departure time programmed so it prepares the cabin, the batteries and the motors for me 10 minutes before my programmed departure time. I just only charge at work. Mainly because I have just one charger right now but work is free and level two. bought it this summer so this is all new to me. We’ll see what happens as the temp drop. Come January I won’t see positive temps for weeks.

 

[Larryumo]

In my travels across the US including camping in the Rockies in January (lotsa snow) I found this charging port cover works very well for snow:

https://macapuche.com/

Thanks, larry

 

[Grammy]

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.

I live on the east coast of Lake Ontario in Northern NY. Lake Effect snow storms dump feet at a time. Average temperatures 20-30º f. I have always parked and plugged-
in outside.
Never a problem. But, an 80% charge definitely takes about 1-2 hours longer.

 

[strahanjen]

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.

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.

Excellent tip, thanks!

 

[strahanjen]

My garage is my toy box, I always park outside! I keep my two evse inside and installed a two gang outdoor receptacle cover for passing the cords outside.

Nice!

 

[strahanjen]

Inches?

There has to be a door design that can give a few more inches interior space.

Yeah, I could consider mounting an exterior roll up door but I'm not sure how well those hold up in the snow.

 

[strahanjen]

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips. I think I'll go for it!

 

[eRock77]

I parked outside all winter last year, I just ran my charger cord under the door. Turn it on 10 minutes ahead of time and it melts off the snow for you too.

 

[Whitecaps]

Central NY cold and snow are no problem for the Lightning.

 

[strmwzrd]

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.

Same here. Only rain here so far over the last 15 months in Western NC--my truck doesn't even know that some trucks sleep inside. FCSP outside too.

 

[Ford Motor Company]

Central NY cold and snow are no problem for the Lightning.

We couldn't agree more, Rick! Rain, snow, or shine; the F-150 Lightning is prepared for whatever comes your way! Thanks for sharing.

 

[chl]

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.

I once had a steel framed car tent in my driveway in front of the garage that I kept an old Peugeot parts car under so I would not run afoul of the local enforcers of tidiness"

The are relatively inexpensive and there are many sizes and designs.

I will say that wet heavy snow would accumulate on it. It had curved sides like a half-pipe, so pulling the snow off the sides was fairly easy with a broom. They never looked like they would buckle.

But I don't live in MN. I live in Northern Virginia. We have gotten some heavy snow now and then in the past.

I believe I got that tent from Shelter Logic:
https://www.shelterlogic.com/

The thing is around here they fell into a code loop-hole - not a permanent structure so no building code or zoning issues, much to the chagrin of some of my pickier neighbors.

 

[chl]

I've been thinking about something like this (the carport, not the truck).

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