MAX TRAILER TOW PACKAGE if not planning to tow?

[shutterbug]

If you're planning to own the Lightning for a long time ie. 10 years, I'd say you would be better without the max tow option, with the truck being that old a decade from now, is likely not going to be a target of interest for someone wanting the option.

Save a few bucks and do without it

If you're going to flip it in 1-3 years, then that option would be more useful to subsequent buyers

OTOH, if you're keeping the truck for 10 years, Max Tow will cost less than $10 a month. I got it since I live in hotter than hell AZ with more than a few hills, so I thought it would help.

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[TaxmanHog]

OTOH, if you're keeping the truck for 10 years, Max Tow will cost less than $10 a month. I got it since I live in hotter than hell AZ with more than a few hills, so I thought it would help.

OP is in Eastern VA between DC & Richmond, sure it gets warm there too, but not hellish warm as AZ, different strokes for different folks, no right or wrong.

 

[Maquis]

It does provide the auto trailer ball hitch line up when pressing the button doesn't it?

I think that’s in the tow tech package, not max tow.

 

[gratney]

It hits the 100's here during the summer...probably not as hot as AZ, but more humid. Considering the price difference, I think this debate has talked me into the package..although I know there's no definitive "right answer". But lots of the discussion has swayed me that way. I just can't wait to get the truck now. Casting a net out to several dealters for the best value.

 

[shutterbug]

It hits the 100's here during the summer...probably not as hot as AZ, but more humid. Considering the price difference, I think this debate has talked me into the package..although I know there's no definitive "right answer". But lots of the discussion has swayed me that way. I just can't wait to get the truck now. Casting a net out to several dealters for the best value.

It's those days when the temperature doesn't go below 100 here. Add to that 5% grade road, and I think extra cooling is helpful.

 

[Jim Lewis]

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

I got distracted by yard work I needed to do...

If I'm damaging my truck, then the Lightning really isn't built "Ford Tough..." I'm 78 years old. In 10 months, I've put 2,500 miles on my truck. If I'm lucky enough to live 10 more years, that's less than 30K miles driven by the time I'm 88. Letting the truck "run" in Full Accessory Mode while plugged into my FCSP and doing nothing in the garage (which is air-conditioned to ~85 deg F in the summer) is probably nowhere near the wear of putting real miles on a Lightning. So, I've got lots of never-to-be used mileage reserves in my truck to keep my LVB charged up. I also got a Ford Protect plan for 10 years, 60K miles. I imagine that will cover compressors and fans, but it probably won't pay much towards LVBs croaking with Ford's not-so-great battery management system. The AC on my 2007 Honda lasted 16.5 years in Texas's extreme summer heat. It only needed to be topped off once with a little refrigerant and ran real cold the whole life of the car. So perhaps the message is that I shouldn't expect the same endurance from a Ford in a moderately air-conditioned garage with fans and compressors hardly having to work to control any low-level electric heat generated charging my LVB.

Even though AGM batteries tolerate deep discharge better than classic lead acid batteries, most advice says not to let them stay long below 50% and that it is best to keep them above 70% SOC. Yet Ford built a system into the truck that will only trigger a recharge within 48 hours if the SOC drops below 40% and only recharge immediately if the SOC reaches 30%. And the truck came with a suspect BSM (with a replacement still on backorder two months later for my truck ). IMO, it's unfortunate that Ford carried over the ICE vehicle philosophy into its EVs; you have to drive the vehicle to keep the LVB charged up, or otherwise mess around with wires and a battery tender in your frunk, or like me, if you've got miles of life in the truck never to be used, just let it run - only it's in Full Accessory mode with all accessories turned off, and unless Ford Accessory mode is fake, it really shouldn't be doing much of anything except charging the LVB. I only hear a fan running. And the dash message says I can't turn the vehicle on unless I unplug my FCSP charger.

 

[shutterbug]

I also got a Ford Protect plan for 10 years, 60K miles. I imagine that will cover compressors and fans, but it probably won't pay much towards LVBs croaking with Ford's not-so-great battery management system.

Don't know if that changed, by Ford Protect did cover my LVB in C-MAX.

 

[Jim Lewis]

Ford Protect did cover my LVB in C-MAX

In my Ford Protect policy under #7, Items Not Covered, it says the following under subitems s and t:

s) All Wear Items are excluded except when LeaseCare is purchased;​

t) Batteries of all types and cables, brakes (front hub, drums, shoes, linings, disc rotors, pads), exhaust system (includes catalytic converter), and software upgrades;​

My plan is a PremiumCARE EV plan. Under coverage for PremiumCARE, it says the following:

5C. COVERED ITEMS - "PremiumCARE EV"

If You elected PremiumCARE EV, all Failures are covered EXCEPT for

those items excluded in the Provision titled: "WHAT IS NOT COVERED

BY THIS AGREEMENT."

Don't see fans, compressors, and radiators specifically mentioned under What Is Not Covered. One could say that those items would be excluded by term s) as Wear Items, but under the Standard and ExtraCare (lower grade policies), the air conditioning, the radiator, the radiator blower, etc., are all covered. Presumably, that would include the Max Tow Technology package as far as compressor, fan(s), and radiator, too, one would think(radiator and radiator blower mentioned under ExtraCARE High Tech terms). The LVB does seem to be specifically excluded from Ford Protect coverage (term t) but would be covered under a standard pro-rated battery warranty.

The High Tech coverage terms are below. I don't see how that coverage, which would be included in PremiumCARE EV, can cover all those things and not the Max Tow Technology package (except maybe for any software part).

High Tech - Automatic temperature control, air conditioner
accumulator, heater blower motor, heater control assembly, heater
core assembly, radiator, radiator fan, radiator fan clutch or motor,
electronic instrument cluster (excluding the dash pad, clock, audio
and visual equipment), keyless entry system (excluding door
handles), power seat motors, power window motors and regulators,
power antenna, power door locks (excluding door handles and
electronic key fobs), power door lock retainer clip, cruise control
components, anti-lock brake module and sensor, electronic air
suspension (excluding air-lift bags), powertrain mounts.

 

[Henry Ford]

I got distracted by yard work I needed to do...

If I'm damaging my truck, then the Lightning really isn't built "Ford Tough..." I'm 78 years old. In 10 months, I've put 2,500 miles on my truck. If I'm lucky enough to live 10 more years, that's less than 30K miles driven by the time I'm 88. Letting the truck "run" in Full Accessory Mode while plugged into my FCSP and doing nothing in the garage (which is air-conditioned to ~85 deg F in the summer) is probably nowhere near the wear of putting real miles on a Lightning. So, I've got lots of never-to-be used mileage reserves in my truck to keep my LVB charged up. I also got a Ford Protect plan for 10 years, 60K miles. I imagine that will cover compressors and fans, but it probably won't pay much towards LVBs croaking with Ford's not-so-great battery management system. The AC on my 2007 Honda lasted 16.5 years in Texas's extreme summer heat. It only needed to be topped off once with a little refrigerant and ran real cold the whole life of the car. So perhaps the message is that I shouldn't expect the same endurance from a Ford in a moderately air-conditioned garage with fans and compressors hardly having to work to control any low-level electric heat generated charging my LVB.

Even though AGM batteries tolerate deep discharge better than classic lead acid batteries, most advice says not to let them stay long below 50% and that it is best to keep them above 70% SOC. Yet Ford built a system into the truck that will only trigger a recharge within 48 hours if the SOC drops below 40% and only recharge immediately if the SOC reaches 30%. And the truck came with a suspect BSM (with a replacement still on backorder two months later for my truck ). IMO, it's unfortunate that Ford carried over the ICE vehicle philosophy into its EVs; you have to drive the vehicle to keep the LVB charged up, or otherwise mess around with wires and a battery tender in your frunk, or like me, if you've got miles of life in the truck never to be used, just let it run - only it's in Full Accessory mode with all accessories turned off, and unless Ford Accessory mode is fake, it really shouldn't be doing much of anything except charging the LVB. I only hear a fan running. And the dash message says I can't turn the vehicle on unless I unplug my FCSP charger.

If you take care of yourself like you take care of your truck you'll hit 100,000 miles.

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