Towing story featured by Ford: Two months. Nearly 6,000 miles. One epic journey.

[MidAtlanticLightningClub]

Story just posted by @Ford Motor Company

What's it like to drive across the country in an F-150 Lightning while towing a camper? Smooth sailing these days according to @MarkEakin https://www.fromtheroad.ford.com/us...n/articles/2025/fast-charging-adapter-helps-electric-vehicle-owners-see-america

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[Zaptor]

#couplesgoals that's pretty cool, thanks for sharing!

EDIT: Just noticed that's you! Nice feature, and you two look like you have a lot of fun together. Is that a heeler I spotted in one of the pics? We've got a couple of those around too!

Cheers
-Zap

 

[MidAtlanticLightningClub]

#couplesgoals that's pretty cool, thanks for sharing!

EDIT: Just noticed that's you! Nice feature, and you two look like you have a lot of fun together. Is that a heeler I spotted in one of the pics? We've got a couple of those around too!

Cheers
-Zap

Indeed. Our Sheila is about 18 1/2 now.

 

[Zaptor]

"18 1/2 now!

Wow, we should all be so lucky! Jocko here is 7 so we've got a ways to go. Safe travels!

-Zap

 

[astrand1]

I would love to see some more data. Like weight of the trailer, speed and ave kWh. I like to nerd out of data. But I love seeing stories like this. Shows with a little pre planning it’s totally possible.

 

[explosive0]

I absolutely love my Lightning, but I wouldn't classify having to charge every 150 miles when towing as "smooth sailing"

 

[PJnc284]

I absolutely love my Lightning, but I wouldn't classify having to charge every 150 miles when towing as "smooth sailing"

I'd be curious on efficiency, charge duration and how many stops required disconnecting the trailer. Heck if you're just doing the normal 80%-10%, I'd expect stops every 150 miles in good weather not even towing anything. Even less if you don't want to spend 40 minutes at every stop since the charging speed/efficiency is less than ideal for charger hopping.

 

[bananaslug79]

I absolutely love my Lightning, but I wouldn't classify having to charge every 150 miles when towing as "smooth sailing"

Not to be devil's advocate, but why? That's about 2 to 2.5 hours of driving, well worth a stop for bathroom, snacks, stretch, etc. When we traveled with Sparky down the East Coast this was around our average per travel leg and it felt ideal the majority of the time.

I've never understood people that will drive for hundreds of miles at a stretch just because they can...seems like our bodies/minds and the rest just weren't really designed to do this. IMO

 

[walla2]

I bought a (hard to find) two axle High Wall Pop-Up Camper in November. Problem was, it was on the Lake Michigan side of Wisconsin, and I live in... Eastern Washington.

I drove there and back with the Lightning over the course of a week, 1,874 miles each way. Yes, I had to stop every two hours on the way back, but it's a long, lonely ride on I-90 and I-94 as winter comes on. I would use the time to either nap, catch up on work, or other sundry tasks. And since I was pushing the pace, it was *nothing like* what we'll do with my family when we go camping this summer and fall.

Keeping the speed around 60-65, in some occasionally brutally cold temperatures, managed to get an average of around 1.2 mi/kWh. Never had to disconnect the trailer, but I suppose that Montana and North Dakota isn't prime Tesla territory either, especially in November a week before thanksgiving.

I should add that I installed the Ford OEM backup camera, TPMS, and yaw sensor on the trailer using intstructions from this site. Worked like a charm.

 

[FloridaMan655321]

Story just posted by @Ford Motor Company

What's it like to drive across the country in an F-150 Lightning while towing a camper? Smooth sailing these days according to @MarkEakin https://www.fromtheroad.ford.com/us...n/articles/2025/fast-charging-adapter-helps-electric-vehicle-owners-see-america

Have any more detailed data such as your miles/kwh?

 

[Larry_23Lightning]

Mark this was a great read. We are planning our trips out with our camper now. If you have any insights that might help us out please pass them along.
Thanks

 

[Joneii]

Mark this was a great read. We are planning our trips out with our camper now. If you have any insights that might help us out please pass them along.
Thanks

There is a towing data thread on this forum somewhere with a lot of good planning data. You just have to sift through to find a trailer that is similar to yours.

I tow a 25’, 7300 lb Airstream Classic and average 1.1 mi/kWh at 65 mph. Obviously there are a lot of variables, so you have to start conservatively and learn your trailer. After thousands of miles of towing, my truck still thinks it can pull my Airstream 167 miles with a full charge. In the real world that is probably possible on the perfect day at 50 mph, but I don’t plan on it. For planning I use 1.0 mi/kWh. If there aren’t any reducing factors (low temps, extreme elevation changes, high winds), I’m comfortable if a charger is within 115 miles (I try to avoid charging over 90% due to the longer time). If the charger is a Supercharger I don’t plan a backup. If it is anything else, I plan a backup up. If there are multiple choices, I’ll check PlugShare for info/pictures to pick the one I think would be best to avoid dropping the trailer.

If the chargers are farther apart or there are reducing factors I get a little more in the weeds on the planning. You can often shift chargers over a couple stops to make the distances work. This has gotten a lot easier with the NACS adapter! Multi-day roadtrips give you the option to find lvl 2 chargers for overnight charging that can eliminate a DCFC stop (sometimes these are even free—community colleges tend to be good locations as the parking lots are empty overnight, so you can leave the trailer hitched). We went from PA to ID and only had to drop the trailer once or twice.

I love being able to relax at each stop in our camper, get a snack or nap and use a bathroom that is always clean!

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