They're up front because it's cheaper to run cable that way. The sad fact is that there's not much thought to usage because most places installing chargers are just looking for gov't funding.
Every auto manufacturer should watch Howard's discussion midway through the video in regards to station charging, design and general issues. The planning, foresight, and effort to get something like this done can be inconvenient for those traveling. It's a hard sell to be honest.
Except that from next year on it will also have the Tesla Supercharger network to charge in. And I'm sure Tesla is going to be installing quite a few pull through chargers for it's Cybertruck that the lightning will be able to use.
@Paul-cj1wb yep, with a adapter all ford products can charge at the supercharger network. And in 2025 they will be nac so you won't even need a adapter.
@@mrspeigle1 The current Superchargers will need more than just an adapter. Due to the port location on the Lightning, like almost all non-Tesla, being on the wrong side and the Tesla cable being extremely short, (without taking up 2 spots) it will also need an extension.
For safety you generally want chargers to be located in a highly visible and/or well trafficked part of a lot - not out in the back for the convivence of people with a trailer. Many people don't want to charge at night in a unfamiliar, secluded location. I've never hauled a trailer but I've been to a lot of gas stations. Outside of a rest stop on an expressway I honestly don't recall 1 station that had room for such a long trailer. At the most I've seen lawn crews pull a small trailer in with mowing equipment - hopefully when a station wasn't busy. Gas stations are often at corners where there is a lot of traffic but the lot size isn't that large. Still, I'd agree that we need more pull-through, gas station type layouts for EV charging, as there will be more large trucks and vans that need charging. Hopefully, though, I'll never see anyone try to drive a travel trailer in.
@@hairychesticles1 on busy weekend we get enough death stares at gas pumps filling up a truck for 5 minutes while our trailer/boat blocks the pump behind us. Lol image an hour at a charger with a trailer bollocking people. Or having to drop your $100,000 boat somewhere so the truck can go tuck into a charger.
Meh the people buying these use them to drive to the office. They likely have a second expensive truck at home if they want to tow, along with a 100k sports car in the second garage beside the wife’s BMW SUV
As an owner of a small EV car, and a big ICE truck, I’ll say you did a pretty good job with this video. I’ll add that I can’t afford to trade my ICE truck for an $$$ EV truck, and an EV truck can’t tow a trailer long distances between remote areas (where I like to camp), so it’s just a total no-go for me right now. My EV car has lots of check-ins at DC chargers, and routinely does 400+km trips, but it’s not the right tool for every job.
This is so true, I have a hybrid f150 for my towing needs. I have a focus for my daily driver. However, I thought about getting an ev for my daily driver when my focus gets old enough. I guess I'm a little anxious about the longevity of the battery. When it comes that time I may look into it a little closer.
As an RV puller, I've had a chance to drive that Lightning (the one in the video). I towed my small trailer to a campsite, connected my EV to the park 30-amp service via a portable Level 2 charger, and then connected my trailer's 30-amp service plug. It used the truck as a battery of sorts and charged it with the excess juice from the park plug. I did this at a local Ontario Parks campsite.
I was wondering this very thing. I'm glad to hear someone has plugged their truck into the RV outlet at the park and then ran their trailer off the pro power on board. Genius. 👍
I've towed a 24' boat several times and have had to pull into charging spots in less than ideal ways at times. Some are better designed for it. One time, I had to disconnect the boat to charge to not block everything. Some rural places in Utah have been more convenient for charging while towing.
Great video! Thanks for being blunt and honest about how poor the experience is at the current charging infrastructure (no canopy covers, high cost, and definitely not set up for EV trucks towing). Thanks!
I think you pretty much hit the nail right on the head. Your analysis really applies to all EVs but even more so to vehicles that are towing. The infrastructure is not yet ready for EVs. I have an EV car and a gas powered pickup truck. I use the EV around town and for relatively short trips because the cost to charge at home is very low. If I were to take the EV on a long trip I would have not only the inconvenience of the added frustration and time of planning for the charging but the cost goes up significantly (yes still cheaper than gas but not by as much as people think). If I am taking a longer trip I take my traditional gas powered vehicle because it will be no problem to refuel in just a few minutes. I think EVs are great and that they will eventually be more plentiful than gas/diesel powered vehicles but money is gonna have to be spent on the infrastructure first and most entities are reluctant to do that part. Currently planning a 1,000 mile trip and it will be nice to only have to stop 3 times for fuel and I won't have to plan my stops ahead of time. Thanks for the video.
@@jdlangley6864 yes that is economics 101. Also there is a huge amount of taxes on gasoline and diesel. Supposedly for infrastructure like road construction. As more people move to EVs the government will have to find new ways to get that tax revenue. People will not be happy about that. Really any currently perceived savings in operating costs will evaporate and it will become cheaper to use gas and diesel for your transportation needs.
If EV's weren't so ridiculously expensive for what they are, more people might be interested, but for the ridiculous cost plus having to have the charging station installed at your house, its not worth it...not to mention the inconvenience of having to wait an hour to charge if you are on long trips, plus not all those fancy charging stations work, so you may or may not be able to charge when you need to. I can pull into a gas station, fill up the gas tank and on my way in 10 minutes or less...can't do that with an EV...you sit and wait...if they put chargers in convenient spots, which they don't, maybe pulling a trailer for somewhat short trips would kind of work, but the charging stations aren't setup for people pulling trailers. I had a battery powered bike for a while, got rid of it because it wasn't the type that folded up, so I couldn't take it with me when I was in my car....I plan on getting one of the folding E-Bikes soon, and can park my car on the outskirts of the city I live close to and ride the bike into downtown because cars of any type downtown in the city are a pain in the butt due to parking restraints, metered parking, congestion, etc....I wish more cities and towns were more bike friendly, so much stuff that you see if you walk or ride a bike compared to driving a car. Eventually EV's will become more common, but right now the people who have them are either rich, or living way above their means and just don't realize it yet. I wouldn't mind a small EV for around town, but the cost, and inconvenience of an EV in general and cold weather just don't leave much room to talk myself into throwing money into buying one....if they could build a plain old car and make it an EV, without all the nonsense gadgetry and keep the cost below $20k, they might sell a heck of a lot of them, but the automakers are way more into how much tech crap they can keep cramming into vehicles rather than just getting back to the basics, and building stuff that is reliable...who cares how fast it goes, how many touch screens it has, how fast you can charge it, etc. if it ain't reliable.
@@wildbill23c you make some valid points. However I own an EV and am neither rich nor am I living above my means. Right now an EV is not the best solution for every driving situation. Battery tech development to get the price down is still necessary. I think setting the price bar at under $20K is a bit ridiculous since the average price of an ICE powered vehicle is north of $40K. The cost of a charger at your home can be offset in less than a year with the cost savings of fueling up at home vs putting gas or diesel in your vehicle. Also note that electricity prices are much less volatile than gas. Typically while on the road, charging only takes about 20-25 minutes as you don't have to charge the battery all the way to 100% to reach your next stop. Yes gas powered vehicles are often a better choice for trips especially if you are going to be off the beaten path. This really is an infrastructure problem and not a vehicle problem. Gas powered vehicles had this same issue when they first came out. For now and the foreseeable future the choice is simple. If you want one or the other buy it. If it is in your budget buy one of each. That is the beauty of living in a (somewhat) free society. You have choices
16:31 "KOA" is just telling BS, probably because they know nothing and just ban rather than think. What is the difference between feeding a trailer (AC, fridge, washing machine, etc) and an EV ? None. If you have a socket for eg 3 kW you can use it, but of course you must configure the car to charge accordingly. And it will not "damage the car", is the worse case it could damage the installation if the line is not protected by a circuit breaker matching the cable, but then they are at fault and an accident can occur even without an EV. Or KOA just don't want to pay the charge, and it is 100% normal, they just should say it and install wattmeters.
I think that type of scenario can be extrapolated from tests like this. If we know what the experience and range is like here, I can imagine what it would be like at 30 below.
@@pabo8080 how so? Seems like charging in ideal conditions is already a pain in the butt, I can imagine trying similar when it's much colder and/or snowing/windy/ice accumulation etc. Seems like range is a pain in the butt in ideal conditions as well, so I can imagine how bad it might be in much colder weather too. Doesnt take a rocket surgeon to imagine this scenario.
I think pop should consult with these electric charging station companies and be a part of thier design team. Also those trucks should have a charging port on both sides.
Good job guys! By far the best RUclips video I've watched on EV towing. Accurate, comprehensive and informative, minus all the BS drama that some video creators exhibit.
The reason I'd imagine KOA doesn't allow vehicle charging is because the electrical code allows you to undersize the service feeders the more lots there are, if you are at a RV park with 100 sites with 50A connections on them the service feeders can be sized at 40% of the connected receptacles so instead of 5000A service equipment and feeders they can be 2000A rated conductors / equipment. The problem with electric vehicles they are rated at 100% demand factor so if even 1/4 of campers had electric vehicles charging + the load of the RV's/Campers it could trip the main breaker at the campground quite easily
The best towing review I've seen yet. You have covered all aspects to include the aspects of town with gas and the mpg reduction. I tow with my Tesla Model Y and am glad to say they are starting to allow pull through for towing vehicles.
Love the channel. Fair and unbiased review. Howard is right, the charging experience is awful. And when the entire population is dependent on EVs for transportation, that cost savings relative to gas/diesel is going to disappear quickly. I don't see myself ever owning one Rather get the Powerboost hybrid
That trailer is pushing the limits of what a 1/2 ton can pull, really more suited to a 3/4 ton imo. That the Lightning can pull it comfortably without an equalizing hitch is impressive.
I don’t agree they nailed the strategy. Right now it’s been reported they’ve lost billions. This isn’t gonna work until there is a breakthrough in battery technology. I imagine charging all the vehicles going through one of the major fueling stations on a holiday weekend. Nope won’t work. $192 for 8 hours of driving? So if I take $12 for one have hour x $16. That’s hugely expensive.
"You don't feel like you are in a space ship"😂 Awsome! Just bought a Lariat 98kWh today (Norway) for use in construction work. Lots of trailer towing with gravel, pavestones, excavators etc. Thank you guys!
If I could make it work, I'd much rather have electric than ICE. There's just so many pros with an EV that I'd be giving up with an ICE, like the smoothness, quietness, convenience of home charging, reliability (my Volt has been the most reliable car I've ever owned), and in the case of more powerful EVs like the Lightning, ACCELERATION! There really is no contest. Electric is awesome.
I swear, the people producing, designing, and installing EV charging infrastructure have not thought through some of the most basic considerations and use-case scenarios of a normal vehicle. It's like they've never had to drive outside the city or ever pull a trailer. The classic fuel station design has been around for over a century, and for good reason. It's a pull-through design, accessible on both sides by vehicles of any length or size, and located away from general parking, where other drivers not refueling/recharging might be tempted to park. They're doing a poor job of reinventing the wheel. These half-baked infrastructure implementations are going to be a huge problem for the future of EVs.
My lightning works great for my use case (just towing the boat to the dock, or utility trailers around town) but i wouldnt use it for pulling a camper unless youre good with taking a really long time to get anywhere
This is the perfect truck for suburban people that commute, tow a boat to the local lake, home depot runs and so on. Heavier/longer towing a diesel is still your best bet.
Exactly. I keep reading that if I tow 10000 lbs with this it will cut my range in half. I'm on the old side and have owned several trucks, but I've never towed 10000 lbs. I drive to work, grocery store, occasional Lowe's run or towing a riding lawn mower a few times each year. I think most people drive like me and not long hauling heavy loads. But if they do - yes, they should purchase a different truck. I love my Lightning.
don't forget the hours charging on the road adds. with ICE, 5 minutes to refill at a gas station is much easier and quicker than 45+minutes to get enough charge to make it to the next charger... depending on your location and the infrastructure available.
Our company bought three of them to test for hot shot trucks. All three of them couldn't last half a day. We're sticking with the 5.0s electric isn't ready for work yet.
Great video! I own a lightning with the standard range battery. I absolutely love the truck! I have to do some light towing with it for work but only a few thousand pounds. Plus I don’t need to drive more then 20 to 30 miles per day. I do agree that they could improve the charging infrastructure because it will be a huge pain to charge while towing.
planning locations for ev charging is not as simple as you stated, logistics for the main power sub station on property dictate the prime reason for the location. LEVEL 2 & 3 charging requires huge amount of amperage. So a short junction to the substation is the most cost effective solution. There’s also many other variables when they choose a location EV Chargers.
This is something that people don't seem to understand is the sheer amount of power we are talking about. They think that it's the same as they're plugin level one or two charger at home but have no concept just how much is being pulled on these bigger chargers...
If this were actually true four of the top ten least reliable vehicles would not be electric but as it stands they are with this very thing sitting atop the heap. A lot of money and inconvenience for that distinction.
I commented the same thing. They really glossed over how much time they spent charging. If I'm traveling with my TT down south, I don't have time to make a 13 hour drive 26 hours.
I like everything about the Lightning. However the infrastructure for charging is the biggest issue. As mentioned with gas (or Diesel) you can fill up just about anywhere at any time. However while more and more charging stations are popping up - they aren't catering to those of use who tow. Likewise I think the time spent at a charger could easily add hours to an already long road trip. That said I won't be investing in a Full Electric truck anytime soon as my tow vehicle.
Excellent point on campgrounds not alloiwng you to charge at the campsite. That is a total deal breaker for me.. I had high hopes for the Lightning, and the lariat payload i saw was 1760lbs which matches my gas 21 F150. But the range is brutal on towing from all the videos i see.
@@TonkaFire2019 Yes. To add a "but" to my post above - I spoke to a friend who is a city-bound tradesman, and he named two reasons he would not buy it (and other reasons that would make him wait): (1) Significant price premium; and (2) It is only offered with a 5.5-foot bed.
Good video. Appreciate the honest view. Fully agree that the lack of pull-through charging locations is a definite problem, and must be addressed with any new DC Fast Charge Installations going forward. I am aware Tesla has some pull-through chargers. With Ford and GM both moving towards NACS and gaining full interoperability with Tesla’s charger network, this issue may become slightly reduced but it will obviously depend on where you’re going. Personally not in 100% agreement on the need for a canopy as I have driven past and used plenty of gas stations that have nothing overhead throughout Ontario and Quebec (usually more rural), however a canopy is a great place for these instal sites to add on solar to help reduce the strain on the grid, especially if those panels are dumping electricity into a bank of batteries. I will say I think some of the concern will start to go down when we begin to see better battery compositions with significantly longer ranges and higher charging input both become a thing. Do I think we will get down to sub-5 minute (0-100%) charging? Not for trucks rated to go 1000km on a single charge, no. But I do think we will get to sub-10 minute charging (5-90%),and more frequent charger locations with this same true truly high speed charging will make it far easier to tow with these vehicles. Keep in mind this isn’t 4 or 5 years down the road (I think), but maybe 10 or 20 years down the line (again, in my humble opinion). After all, it was only a little over 100 years ago we were still making rules against combustion engine vehicles, and we have been making much faster advances since then.
@@TruckKing I had a whole long response as to why your review was honest, including examples from other reviewers and RUclipsrs, and even discrediting the example used unless I missed a video from another channel, and RUclips ate it 😂
@@Chris-pd7lg TFL has two Ike towing videos with the lightning. One with near full load, one with a toy hauler. The toy hauler (effectively an RV) they had no issue other than not being able to make it back to boulder on a single charge. I recommend checking out All Electric Family (literally recording their excursions with a heavy trailer and their various EV trucks / SUVs). Some of their older videos they seemed to regularly exceed 90 miles (144.8 km) between charges with their fully loaded 8000+ lb airstream trailer when they did have a Lightning. That is still a huge drop from the full range of the truck, I agree, however that does immediately negate your claim that you can’t exceed approximately 120 km (74 miles) while towing with the lightning. Keep in mind, for many of these electric vehicles, the real range killer is the aerodynamics of the trailer, not so much the weight. And hey, if you wanna buy me a Lightning to do the test, go for it, no one is stopping you 😂. I would buy one myself but they be pricey…. And I’d go Rivian before I went Ford for an EV anyway (personal choice, nothing truly wrong with the Ford).
I'm disappointed that you chose such a short distance tow. The Lightning does everything that an ICE F-150 does EXCEPT you must stop to recharge about every 100 miles. That is a HUGE inconvenience especially considering that most charging stations don't accommodate a trailer. So you must unhitch, charge and rehitch each time.
I think the big issue is charging infrastructure. I own a travel trailer and would be interested in a Lightning because over 135000Km I've towed my trailer 25000km, so obviously I could save alot going electric. Issue is I live in BC and we have hills and mountains. I hope there is more investment in charging stations, and that they start to consider having some set up for ttrucks and trailers, especially on the highways. Great video, love the channel.
Love the idea of an electrical truck. Unfortunately, it definitely has some huge drawbacks at this moment in time, much of what was discussed in this video. I do realize that we are in the infancy of the technology though. We have to start somewhere, and I would say thus far, Ford has shot out of the gate great with the Lightning. It will be interesting to see how the tech evolves as time marches on. Great video! I enjoyed the content.
We have a trip planned to Canada from Georgia using a Lightning with Airstream Basecamp 20x. Anticipating charging hassle doesn’t offset a great time. Max range EPA rated 320 miles yields about 270 on highway, then cut that in half when towing. Good thing we are not in a hurry and take 2000+ mile trips with camper only in Summer. Wish us good travels. EV trucks towing trucks need 400+ range or future camper designed with onboard bidirectional batteries. Meanwhile, for local towing/hauling and daily driver we love it.
The biggest issue with EVs is charging stations, both the amount of them, the location and the reliability because they are very often not operational, so often so that it's the norm. Imagine gas stations having only 50% uptime, oh wait, you could fill up lots of jerry cans. Can't do that with electricity. Also forget towing lol.
It is possible to buy a 21-kWh battery with inverter. For a car, that's better than a 5-gallon jerry can as it is a third of the tank. For a truck, it's not quite as good. It's only a sixth of the battery for the extended range. For the standard range, it is a 4th of the battery, and it should be as good as a 5-gallon can. Also, that truck can actually charge other vehicles. Good luck working the baffles to syphon fuel.
That is one of the sensors that is used to monitor the driver to make sure they have their eyes on the road. It's part of the Active Driver Assist package on the Lightning and F-150. You don't see that blinking with the naked eye, but the camera usually picks it up.
I can’t imagine the headache of towing our boat 300km to my cottage. Bad enough going through the GTA corridor with a trailer let alone have to stop on the trip up and trip back to charge. Electric pickups just don’t work in their current form unless you’re just using it as a daily driver where a Ford Escape likely could have sufficed
100kms doesn't get you anywhere you'd be towing to in most of populated Ontario. Love to see how fun it'd be sitting on the 401 between Milton and Oshawa. and how it tows at 100kph between transports doing 120, because I've yet to see any doing the mandated 90.
@@OntarioBearHunterVs are actually quite efficient and nice to drive in heavy traffic, and at high speeds. There are numerous charging stations between Milton and Oshawa along the 401, HOWEVER, most of them would be a nightmare with a 35ft trailer.
With the trailer on, I saw 132 miles. Without the trailer, I saw 333 miles. Thats a 60% loss in range. 10% worse than the average petrol powered truck. Add to that, the inconvenience of charging with a trailer and this is way more of a pain.
Definitely something you’d have to enjoy the journey with. I think we’ll get there, batteries are improving, but for now? I’d say you’re still better of with an ICE vehicle for towing.
Electric vehicles will never, ever, ever, become mainstream until you can pull into a filling station and recharge in the same time, or less, than it takes to refill a gasoline or diesel vehicle. Putting charging stations at every home, apartment complex, company parking lot, etc. etc. would be an absolute blight on the surface of the Earth.
Absolute game changer for towing and hauling. Tesla *SO HILARIOUSLY LATE* to this but specifically why do i need propane tanks on my travel trailer anymore? Definitely no need for a Generator for the Travel Trailer anymore! So far the Trailer Industry has been absolutely *MORE THAN USELEESS* in driving product to this booming market. Call it a *"leveling set"* here in the Lower 48 but yes, incredible "instant on" torque which is *GREAT* for ingress and egress upon the Big Highway. Since most Travel Trailer is done during Summer well...who does Travel Trailer work during the middle of ahem "Winter Driving Season" ahem? Great review. Keep 'em coming.
I’ve learned that chosing an EV truck, more specifically the Ford Lightning, boils down to one’s mission requirements, weather, and availability of convenient chargers. My Lightning with the extended range battery is, quite simply, the most comfortable vehicle I’ve ever owned. It works for me because, in part, I live in a warm climate location; I use a home charger 90% of the time; and only tow occasionally. The number of public EV chargers along interstate highways is growing on a daily basis - which all but eliminates range/charger anxiety. A recent 800 mile road trip was trouble free and quit enjoyable. Bottom line, don’t bash it if you have not tried it.
Eletric motors are great at towing the problem is that requires a shit ton more power even a hybrid wouldn't be able to handle it either you need a truck with a gas v8 of some sort with a big fuel tank for reasonable range or a diesel it just makes more sense.
12:05 Chargers are close to shops cause when you charge you can go shopping. It is not a gas station, you do not have to stand beside your vehicle. And it is also why there is no roof, plugging just takes 4 seconds, while when you are fueling you need to stay outside under the rain for 5 minutes. Maybe this place has been designed by people who drive an EV not just for reviews. And regarding the access for towing vehicles, some other stalls have to be installed with parallel or drive through parking, maybe just one or two stalls per site, it will comes with time as more and more EVs are used for towing.
My only issue with sticking the charging stations way off in the corner, I’m disabled. If it’s closer to amenities, I can make my way with my canes. Off in the corner, then I’d have to dig out my chair for any distance. This would make a rest brake a 2 stop proposition, as I’d probably just fuel up, then go find a service station to use the rest room and grad a coffee.
Lightship L1 travel trailer and this truck would make a great combination: the trailer has an 80kwh battery and integrated solar panels, which are good for increasing range and boondocking.
1500 lbs isn't exactly what I would call "high payload"! Put just a couple of Elmers in that truck and you can barely have 10% tongue weight on that 9k lbs trailer. Great truck, as long as you don't go far, often or deep into the hinterland... Or unless you bring a nice big gas generator with you. Could you run a generator while you drive? Short range urban vehicle, incredible within that narrow window, but niche. Great video gents.
Steve and Howard, would love for you guys to use your platform to push charging companies to stop billing us Canadians by time and to only bill us by energy consumed, like a gas station. Keep up the great work.
It's not the companies who decide how they charge at chargers, it's the Canadian government. They just approved the move from charging by time to actual consumption in Feb 2023. They (government) haven't decided the application process or testing process for approval yet. The government had said they hope to have that in place later this year.
@jeffw6894 but 'also' implies it is also part of the reason for the delay from switching being charged by the hour to being charged by the kwh. It has nothing to do with the delay.
Regarding the KOA no charging policy. I find it foolish at minimum...alarmist in reality on their part. A 240 volt/50 amp RV plug will deliver a max of 50 amps...40 amps in reality due to electric code 80% rule. It doesn't matter what is connected to it...be it a Tesla Model S Plaid or a Ford F150 Lightning...or a 40 ft motor coach with twin AC units, an electric clothes dryer and my daughter blow drying her hair and my son microwaving some hot pockets while the heated floor is keeping the chill off for my wife having a shower using the electric hot water tank and I'm grabbing a beer out of the electric fridge. If you're throwing the breaker on the pedestal, it will happen in either scenario. In reality, I bet the Lightning will consume less power overall as once it's charged it will sit there until it's time to leave. Great video guys...very accurate.
Where I live there are chargers in the Walmart parking lot that are a good ways away from the front of the store. They are also pull though, not covered, but are well placed. Not sure if they were planned that way or not.
Strange that with the max tow package Ford does not include the extendable trailer tow mirrors. Looks like a huge blind spot with the large wide trailer.
All electric super duty ford should consider it, frame is heavy duty could potentially have a double layer battery with double the current range ideal for trailer pulling
Nice job guys, way out of my league concerning technology. A flip phone, 2 GMC gassers, no cable or satellite tv, trails for my wheelers and a 500 ft. bass pond out back, and more 4 legged neighbors than 2 legged ones. I'm not up for engaging in an experiment, just the basics.
That fact that I need to download an app for every charging station, instead of swiping a credit card like a normal gas station is a huge deterrent for me.
The bigger reason for not feeling the sway vs ICE isn't because of the weight. It's because of the lack of a sway eliminating setup. Without that the trailer is rotating on the ball of the hitch as it moves and none of the weight or pressure is being transfered to the truck
I am going to "yell" at Truck King about weight distribution. Both my previous F150 and my current Silverado state that you can not tow more than 6000lbs without weight distribution. Don't be lazy, be safe.
WD hitches are great on flat highways other than that see the damage they can cause on uneven surfaces and only uneducated or cheapskates tow more than 75 percent regularly.
The next step for the EV charging infrastructure is for Gas Stations to adopt it. (Which some chains are currently doing off major interstates such as I40 in the US). As stated in the @13:00 "rant" - gas stations exist with roofs, a small convince store, and are setup as such that parking would not be impacted by other retail desires. So the next logical step is for someone (IE a gas giant chain) to adopt a marketing strategy to sell EV. Make each station the same third party network to reduce variations and put tops over them. Places like loves or flying J will soar due to onsite amenities offered to current travelers. But like you said, the people who want EVs and designed the infrastructure are people who sit down and look at numbers on paper. I'd rather us invest into alternative fuels than EVs. I think hybrids are great, they help extend the range and reduce emissions with small battery packs. But pure EV with massive capacities just isn't right for our planet. But who knows, maybe in 5 years they will discover a new type of battery method and drastically change the game.
One thing never told about towing with EV truck is you must disconnect truck from trailer to charge. Otherwise you block traffic, so add that extra time to your travel as well!!! Another added hour or so
The camping lots not having chargers shouldn't be an issue, just unhook and send 1 person to the store to use a fast charger, while shopping for all the food and stuff you forgot to bring.
![Noob To Max With DRAGON REWORK In Blox Fruits [FULL MOVIE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LnBMOinoOvA/mqdefault.jpg)
Pop is 100% spot on about the charging stations.
Paul H
Facts
Yup. If the experience sucks, people just won’t do it.
I had a thought about washing the bugs off your window, that’s another stop!
There needs to be high-power drive-through style chargers for this to work.
They're up front because it's cheaper to run cable that way. The sad fact is that there's not much thought to usage because most places installing chargers are just looking for gov't funding.
Every auto manufacturer should watch Howard's discussion midway through the video in regards to station charging, design and general issues. The planning, foresight, and effort to get something like this done can be inconvenient for those traveling. It's a hard sell to be honest.
Except that from next year on it will also have the Tesla Supercharger network to charge in. And I'm sure Tesla is going to be installing quite a few pull through chargers for it's Cybertruck that the lightning will be able to use.
@Paul-cj1wb yep, with a adapter all ford products can charge at the supercharger network. And in 2025 they will be nac so you won't even need a adapter.
@@mrspeigle1 The current Superchargers will need more than just an adapter. Due to the port location on the Lightning, like almost all non-Tesla, being on the wrong side and the Tesla cable being extremely short, (without taking up 2 spots) it will also need an extension.
For safety you generally want chargers to be located in a highly visible and/or well trafficked part of a lot - not out in the back for the convivence of people with a trailer. Many people don't want to charge at night in a unfamiliar, secluded location.
I've never hauled a trailer but I've been to a lot of gas stations. Outside of a rest stop on an expressway I honestly don't recall 1 station that had room for such a long trailer. At the most I've seen lawn crews pull a small trailer in with mowing equipment - hopefully when a station wasn't busy. Gas stations are often at corners where there is a lot of traffic but the lot size isn't that large. Still, I'd agree that we need more pull-through, gas station type layouts for EV charging, as there will be more large trucks and vans that need charging. Hopefully, though, I'll never see anyone try to drive a travel trailer in.
It'll get there.
Pain in the butt is my vote. Maybe worth short commutes and hauling stuff occasionally, but towing...100% NO.
Its the toatal pain in the ass navigating a crowded charging station. that alone would easily make an EV truck a hard pass for me
@@hairychesticles1 on busy weekend we get enough death stares at gas pumps filling up a truck for 5 minutes while our trailer/boat blocks the pump behind us. Lol image an hour at a charger with a trailer bollocking people. Or having to drop your $100,000 boat somewhere so the truck can go tuck into a charger.
Meh the people buying these use them to drive to the office. They likely have a second expensive truck at home if they want to tow, along with a 100k sports car in the second garage beside the wife’s BMW SUV
@@Combatpzman sure, but the democrats in the USA and the Canadian government want to make EVs the only option.
@@duggydo Of course, why should the lowly peasants get in the way on the road? That’s a joke if it’s not obvious. ;)
As an owner of a small EV car, and a big ICE truck, I’ll say you did a pretty good job with this video.
I’ll add that I can’t afford to trade my ICE truck for an $$$ EV truck, and an EV truck can’t tow a trailer long distances between remote areas (where I like to camp), so it’s just a total no-go for me right now.
My EV car has lots of check-ins at DC chargers, and routinely does 400+km trips, but it’s not the right tool for every job.
This is so true, I have a hybrid f150 for my towing needs. I have a focus for my daily driver. However, I thought about getting an ev for my daily driver when my focus gets old enough. I guess I'm a little anxious about the longevity of the battery. When it comes that time I may look into it a little closer.
Love the well reflected honest data and information. Howdy from one Canadian to another.
As an RV puller, I've had a chance to drive that Lightning (the one in the video). I towed my small trailer to a campsite, connected my EV to the park 30-amp service via a portable Level 2 charger, and then connected my trailer's 30-amp service plug. It used the truck as a battery of sorts and charged it with the excess juice from the park plug. I did this at a local Ontario Parks campsite.
That's camping for pussies.
I was wondering this very thing. I'm glad to hear someone has plugged their truck into the RV outlet at the park and then ran their trailer off the pro power on board. Genius. 👍
Junk. I have ZERO 0 NOTTA. Interest in a EV AV Anxiety Vehicle. Especially a truck with a 100 range pulling a Trailer.
I've towed a 24' boat several times and have had to pull into charging spots in less than ideal ways at times. Some are better designed for it. One time, I had to disconnect the boat to charge to not block everything. Some rural places in Utah have been more convenient for charging while towing.
You speak from my heart when it comes to the charging stations... nothing, no roof, no table, no shop, not even an ice cream machine, nothing...
You guys are spot on about the bad designs of these charging stations!
Great video! Thanks for being blunt and honest about how poor the experience is at the current charging infrastructure (no canopy covers, high cost, and definitely not set up for EV trucks towing). Thanks!
I think you pretty much hit the nail right on the head. Your analysis really applies to all EVs but even more so to vehicles that are towing. The infrastructure is not yet ready for EVs. I have an EV car and a gas powered pickup truck. I use the EV around town and for relatively short trips because the cost to charge at home is very low. If I were to take the EV on a long trip I would have not only the inconvenience of the added frustration and time of planning for the charging but the cost goes up significantly (yes still cheaper than gas but not by as much as people think). If I am taking a longer trip I take my traditional gas powered vehicle because it will be no problem to refuel in just a few minutes. I think EVs are great and that they will eventually be more plentiful than gas/diesel powered vehicles but money is gonna have to be spent on the infrastructure first and most entities are reluctant to do that part. Currently planning a 1,000 mile trip and it will be nice to only have to stop 3 times for fuel and I won't have to plan my stops ahead of time. Thanks for the video.
And the rates for charging will go up as demand goes up, as more people get EVs.
@@jdlangley6864 yes that is economics 101. Also there is a huge amount of taxes on gasoline and diesel. Supposedly for infrastructure like road construction. As more people move to EVs the government will have to find new ways to get that tax revenue. People will not be happy about that. Really any currently perceived savings in operating costs will evaporate and it will become cheaper to use gas and diesel for your transportation needs.
If EV's weren't so ridiculously expensive for what they are, more people might be interested, but for the ridiculous cost plus having to have the charging station installed at your house, its not worth it...not to mention the inconvenience of having to wait an hour to charge if you are on long trips, plus not all those fancy charging stations work, so you may or may not be able to charge when you need to. I can pull into a gas station, fill up the gas tank and on my way in 10 minutes or less...can't do that with an EV...you sit and wait...if they put chargers in convenient spots, which they don't, maybe pulling a trailer for somewhat short trips would kind of work, but the charging stations aren't setup for people pulling trailers.
I had a battery powered bike for a while, got rid of it because it wasn't the type that folded up, so I couldn't take it with me when I was in my car....I plan on getting one of the folding E-Bikes soon, and can park my car on the outskirts of the city I live close to and ride the bike into downtown because cars of any type downtown in the city are a pain in the butt due to parking restraints, metered parking, congestion, etc....I wish more cities and towns were more bike friendly, so much stuff that you see if you walk or ride a bike compared to driving a car.
Eventually EV's will become more common, but right now the people who have them are either rich, or living way above their means and just don't realize it yet. I wouldn't mind a small EV for around town, but the cost, and inconvenience of an EV in general and cold weather just don't leave much room to talk myself into throwing money into buying one....if they could build a plain old car and make it an EV, without all the nonsense gadgetry and keep the cost below $20k, they might sell a heck of a lot of them, but the automakers are way more into how much tech crap they can keep cramming into vehicles rather than just getting back to the basics, and building stuff that is reliable...who cares how fast it goes, how many touch screens it has, how fast you can charge it, etc. if it ain't reliable.
@@wildbill23c you make some valid points. However I own an EV and am neither rich nor am I living above my means. Right now an EV is not the best solution for every driving situation. Battery tech development to get the price down is still necessary. I think setting the price bar at under $20K is a bit ridiculous since the average price of an ICE powered vehicle is north of $40K. The cost of a charger at your home can be offset in less than a year with the cost savings of fueling up at home vs putting gas or diesel in your vehicle. Also note that electricity prices are much less volatile than gas. Typically while on the road, charging only takes about 20-25 minutes as you don't have to charge the battery all the way to 100% to reach your next stop. Yes gas powered vehicles are often a better choice for trips especially if you are going to be off the beaten path. This really is an infrastructure problem and not a vehicle problem. Gas powered vehicles had this same issue when they first came out. For now and the foreseeable future the choice is simple. If you want one or the other buy it. If it is in your budget buy one of each. That is the beauty of living in a (somewhat) free society. You have choices
16:31 "KOA" is just telling BS, probably because they know nothing and just ban rather than think. What is the difference between feeding a trailer (AC, fridge, washing machine, etc) and an EV ? None. If you have a socket for eg 3 kW you can use it, but of course you must configure the car to charge accordingly. And it will not "damage the car", is the worse case it could damage the installation if the line is not protected by a circuit breaker matching the cable, but then they are at fault and an accident can occur even without an EV. Or KOA just don't want to pay the charge, and it is 100% normal, they just should say it and install wattmeters.
Would be interesting to see the same test at -20, -30 degrees winter driving.
Most people don't go camping at -30..
@@lenm2857 maybe not a 9,000lb camper but an enclosed toy hauler with sleds
I think that type of scenario can be extrapolated from tests like this. If we know what the experience and range is like here, I can imagine what it would be like at 30 below.
@@ALMX5DP If you reread what your wrote and take a minute, you'll realize how stupid this comment is.
@@pabo8080 how so? Seems like charging in ideal conditions is already a pain in the butt, I can imagine trying similar when it's much colder and/or snowing/windy/ice accumulation etc. Seems like range is a pain in the butt in ideal conditions as well, so I can imagine how bad it might be in much colder weather too. Doesnt take a rocket surgeon to imagine this scenario.
I think pop should consult with these electric charging station companies and be a part of thier design team. Also those trucks should have a charging port on both sides.
Good job guys! By far the best RUclips video I've watched on EV towing. Accurate, comprehensive and informative, minus all the BS drama that some video creators exhibit.
Glad it was helpful!
The reason I'd imagine KOA doesn't allow vehicle charging is because the electrical code allows you to undersize the service feeders the more lots there are, if you are at a RV park with 100 sites with 50A connections on them the service feeders can be sized at 40% of the connected receptacles so instead of 5000A service equipment and feeders they can be 2000A rated conductors / equipment. The problem with electric vehicles they are rated at 100% demand factor so if even 1/4 of campers had electric vehicles charging + the load of the RV's/Campers it could trip the main breaker at the campground quite easily
Another excellent video. I’m getting about 40kWh/100km not towing with 0-10 degree weather on my 23 XLT ER. So 55kWh/100km while towing is impressive!
The best towing review I've seen yet. You have covered all aspects to include the aspects of town with gas and the mpg reduction. I tow with my Tesla Model Y and am glad to say they are starting to allow pull through for towing vehicles.
Love the channel. Fair and unbiased review. Howard is right, the charging experience is awful. And when the entire population is dependent on EVs for transportation, that cost savings relative to gas/diesel is going to disappear quickly. I don't see myself ever owning one Rather get the Powerboost hybrid
That trailer is pushing the limits of what a 1/2 ton can pull, really more suited to a 3/4 ton imo. That the Lightning can pull it comfortably without an equalizing hitch is impressive.
That’s cause f150 lightning kinda is a 3/4 with how heavy it is and power number.
Not to mention charging isn’t free and the price of these trucks is outrageous
Stephen, The trick to towing with the Lighting is hitch it to a huge battery on wheels instead of a typical trailer. 😉😂🤣
I don’t agree they nailed the strategy. Right now it’s been reported they’ve lost billions.
This isn’t gonna work until there is a breakthrough in battery technology. I imagine charging all the vehicles going through one of the major fueling stations on a holiday weekend. Nope won’t work.
$192 for 8 hours of driving? So if I take $12 for one have hour x $16. That’s hugely expensive.
"You don't feel like you are in a space ship"😂 Awsome! Just bought a Lariat 98kWh today (Norway) for use in construction work. Lots of trailer towing with gravel, pavestones, excavators etc. Thank you guys!
If I could make it work, I'd much rather have electric than ICE. There's just so many pros with an EV that I'd be giving up with an ICE, like the smoothness, quietness, convenience of home charging, reliability (my Volt has been the most reliable car I've ever owned), and in the case of more powerful EVs like the Lightning, ACCELERATION! There really is no contest. Electric is awesome.
Yeah but unfortunately they aren't ready for towing heavy or long distance yet without being significantly more inconvenient.
I swear, the people producing, designing, and installing EV charging infrastructure have not thought through some of the most basic considerations and use-case scenarios of a normal vehicle. It's like they've never had to drive outside the city or ever pull a trailer.
The classic fuel station design has been around for over a century, and for good reason. It's a pull-through design, accessible on both sides by vehicles of any length or size, and located away from general parking, where other drivers not refueling/recharging might be tempted to park. They're doing a poor job of reinventing the wheel. These half-baked infrastructure implementations are going to be a huge problem for the future of EVs.
My lightning works great for my use case (just towing the boat to the dock, or utility trailers around town) but i wouldnt use it for pulling a camper unless youre good with taking a really long time to get anywhere
I think the balance weight is a great point and that it is about range you can tolerate charging time if you have driven long enough
Very informative review. Thank you. I just plunked down a deposit for a F150 lightning XLT after watching this
This is the perfect truck for suburban people that commute, tow a boat to the local lake, home depot runs and so on. Heavier/longer towing a diesel is still your best bet.
Exactly. I keep reading that if I tow 10000 lbs with this it will cut my range in half. I'm on the old side and have owned several trucks, but I've never towed 10000 lbs. I drive to work, grocery store, occasional Lowe's run or towing a riding lawn mower a few times each year. I think most people drive like me and not long hauling heavy loads. But if they do - yes, they should purchase a different truck. I love my Lightning.
don't forget the hours charging on the road adds. with ICE, 5 minutes to refill at a gas station is much easier and quicker than 45+minutes to get enough charge to make it to the next charger... depending on your location and the infrastructure available.
And if the chargers are working and if there is a fast one and if there’s enough space for a trailer too and if there’s an available space…
Yeah I mentioned that they really glossed over the hours added to a trip charging.
I love the Lightning and in a few yrs I hope to own one.This was a great video btw
Thank you
Glad it was helpful!
@Chris you know this how? I watched the video and don't planning on towing any further than the guys on Truck King did.Will work perfectly form needs
@@Chris-pd7lg I've watched all the videos, again for my needs with short distance towing it's perfect. Not for everyone but for me perfect
Junk. I have ZERO 0 NOTTA. Interest in a EV AV Anxiety Vehicle. Especially a truck with a 100 range pulling a Trailer.
@@zoobrizz to each their own
This is a great video. I think it was an honest look at towing with the Lighting.
Our company bought three of them to test for hot shot trucks. All three of them couldn't last half a day. We're sticking with the 5.0s electric isn't ready for work yet.
Great video! I own a lightning with the standard range battery. I absolutely love the truck! I have to do some light towing with it for work but only a few thousand pounds. Plus I don’t need to drive more then 20 to 30 miles per day. I do agree that they could improve the charging infrastructure because it will be a huge pain to charge while towing.
Junk
planning locations for ev charging is not as simple as you stated, logistics for the main power sub station on property dictate the prime reason for the location. LEVEL 2 & 3 charging requires huge amount of amperage. So a short junction to the substation is the most cost effective solution. There’s also many other variables when they choose a location EV Chargers.
This is something that people don't seem to understand is the sheer amount of power we are talking about. They think that it's the same as they're plugin level one or two charger at home but have no concept just how much is being pulled on these bigger chargers...
Perfect commentary about the idiocy of those who think EV works when towing anything heavier than an empty jet ski trailer.
Quite a few new charging stations are getting pull through stalls.
In my books the #1 positive is just how much less mechanical components there are then an ICE vehicle. Also more modular components.
If this were actually true four of the top ten least reliable vehicles would not be electric but as it stands they are with this very thing sitting atop the heap. A lot of money and inconvenience for that distinction.
He is spot on about the chargers... Still! I tow my TT with my Lightning and love it.
You guys do a great job. No sales pitch. I might have missed it but how much time was spent charging and how many total kms was the trip.
I commented the same thing. They really glossed over how much time they spent charging. If I'm traveling with my TT down south, I don't have time to make a 13 hour drive 26 hours.
I like everything about the Lightning. However the infrastructure for charging is the biggest issue. As mentioned with gas (or Diesel) you can fill up just about anywhere at any time. However while more and more charging stations are popping up - they aren't catering to those of use who tow. Likewise I think the time spent at a charger could easily add hours to an already long road trip.
That said I won't be investing in a Full Electric truck anytime soon as my tow vehicle.
Thumbs up for Dad’s rant 😂 well said!
Excellent point on campgrounds not alloiwng you to charge at the campsite. That is a total deal breaker for me.. I had high hopes for the Lightning, and the lariat payload i saw was 1760lbs which matches my gas 21 F150. But the range is brutal on towing from all the videos i see.
This may be attractive to city-bound tradesmen, particularly in warm areas. For longer trips, not so much.
The only people i see in my area with Lightnings and Rivians are people who have never had or used a truck before.
@@TonkaFire2019 Yes. To add a "but" to my post above - I spoke to a friend who is a city-bound tradesman, and he named two reasons he would not buy it (and other reasons that would make him wait): (1) Significant price premium; and (2) It is only offered with a 5.5-foot bed.
Towing with this is amazing, except for the awful payload and when you have to recharge.
Awesome video. Real world. I like the part too on campgrounds take on electric
Good video. Appreciate the honest view. Fully agree that the lack of pull-through charging locations is a definite problem, and must be addressed with any new DC Fast Charge Installations going forward. I am aware Tesla has some pull-through chargers. With Ford and GM both moving towards NACS and gaining full interoperability with Tesla’s charger network, this issue may become slightly reduced but it will obviously depend on where you’re going. Personally not in 100% agreement on the need for a canopy as I have driven past and used plenty of gas stations that have nothing overhead throughout Ontario and Quebec (usually more rural), however a canopy is a great place for these instal sites to add on solar to help reduce the strain on the grid, especially if those panels are dumping electricity into a bank of batteries.
I will say I think some of the concern will start to go down when we begin to see better battery compositions with significantly longer ranges and higher charging input both become a thing. Do I think we will get down to sub-5 minute (0-100%) charging? Not for trucks rated to go 1000km on a single charge, no. But I do think we will get to sub-10 minute charging (5-90%),and more frequent charger locations with this same true truly high speed charging will make it far easier to tow with these vehicles. Keep in mind this isn’t 4 or 5 years down the road (I think), but maybe 10 or 20 years down the line (again, in my humble opinion). After all, it was only a little over 100 years ago we were still making rules against combustion engine vehicles, and we have been making much faster advances since then.
why is our review not honest?
@@TruckKing I had a whole long response as to why your review was honest, including examples from other reviewers and RUclipsrs, and even discrediting the example used unless I missed a video from another channel, and RUclips ate it 😂
@@Chris-pd7lg TFL has two Ike towing videos with the lightning. One with near full load, one with a toy hauler. The toy hauler (effectively an RV) they had no issue other than not being able to make it back to boulder on a single charge. I recommend checking out All Electric Family (literally recording their excursions with a heavy trailer and their various EV trucks / SUVs). Some of their older videos they seemed to regularly exceed 90 miles (144.8 km) between charges with their fully loaded 8000+ lb airstream trailer when they did have a Lightning. That is still a huge drop from the full range of the truck, I agree, however that does immediately negate your claim that you can’t exceed approximately 120 km (74 miles) while towing with the lightning. Keep in mind, for many of these electric vehicles, the real range killer is the aerodynamics of the trailer, not so much the weight.
And hey, if you wanna buy me a Lightning to do the test, go for it, no one is stopping you 😂. I would buy one myself but they be pricey…. And I’d go Rivian before I went Ford for an EV anyway (personal choice, nothing truly wrong with the Ford).
I'm disappointed that you chose such a short distance tow. The Lightning does everything that an ICE F-150 does EXCEPT you must stop to recharge about every 100 miles. That is a HUGE inconvenience especially considering that most charging stations don't accommodate a trailer. So you must unhitch, charge and rehitch each time.
Yeah 60 miles is nothing for almost every TT owner. Try 600 miles and tell me how many hours it added to your trip? 😂
I think the big issue is charging infrastructure. I own a travel trailer and would be interested in a Lightning because over 135000Km I've towed my trailer 25000km, so obviously I could save alot going electric. Issue is I live in BC and we have hills and mountains. I hope there is more investment in charging stations, and that they start to consider having some set up for ttrucks and trailers, especially on the highways. Great video, love the channel.
Love the idea of an electrical truck. Unfortunately, it definitely has some huge drawbacks at this moment in time, much of what was discussed in this video. I do realize that we are in the infancy of the technology though. We have to start somewhere, and I would say thus far, Ford has shot out of the gate great with the Lightning. It will be interesting to see how the tech evolves as time marches on. Great video! I enjoyed the content.
We have a trip planned to Canada from Georgia using a Lightning with Airstream Basecamp 20x. Anticipating charging hassle doesn’t offset a great time. Max range EPA rated 320 miles yields about 270 on highway, then cut that in half when towing. Good thing we are not in a hurry and take 2000+ mile trips with camper only in Summer. Wish us good travels. EV trucks towing trucks need 400+ range or future camper designed with onboard bidirectional batteries. Meanwhile, for local towing/hauling and daily driver we love it.
The truth of pickup trucks is that a lot of them are rarely used to haul big loads.
As a guy from the Midwest his rant about the dude who designed the charging station is hilarious.
The biggest issue with EVs is charging stations, both the amount of them, the location and the reliability because they are very often not operational, so often so that it's the norm. Imagine gas stations having only 50% uptime, oh wait, you could fill up lots of jerry cans. Can't do that with electricity. Also forget towing lol.
It is possible to buy a 21-kWh battery with inverter. For a car, that's better than a 5-gallon jerry can as it is a third of the tank. For a truck, it's not quite as good. It's only a sixth of the battery for the extended range. For the standard range, it is a 4th of the battery, and it should be as good as a 5-gallon can. Also, that truck can actually charge other vehicles. Good luck working the baffles to syphon fuel.
Or you show up and there's a line up to use them and your 1 hour charge break is going to be a 3.
What’s the purple light on the A pillar between the tweeter and side mirror? Some kind of sensor the camera picked up?
That is one of the sensors that is used to monitor the driver to make sure they have their eyes on the road. It's part of the Active Driver Assist package on the Lightning and F-150. You don't see that blinking with the naked eye, but the camera usually picks it up.
@@TruckKing ah gotcha, thanks. Had to edit my typo, I meant to say camera in my original comment
Love it! ⚡🚛
Great review and analysis guys.
I can’t imagine the headache of towing our boat 300km to my cottage. Bad enough going through the GTA corridor with a trailer let alone have to stop on the trip up and trip back to charge.
Electric pickups just don’t work in their current form unless you’re just using it as a daily driver where a Ford Escape likely could have sufficed
100kms doesn't get you anywhere you'd be towing to in most of populated Ontario. Love to see how fun it'd be sitting on the 401 between Milton and Oshawa. and how it tows at 100kph between transports doing 120, because I've yet to see any doing the mandated 90.
@@OntarioBearHunterVs are actually quite efficient and nice to drive in heavy traffic, and at high speeds. There are numerous charging stations between Milton and Oshawa along the 401, HOWEVER, most of them would be a nightmare with a 35ft trailer.
With the trailer on, I saw 132 miles. Without the trailer, I saw 333 miles. Thats a 60% loss in range. 10% worse than the average petrol powered truck. Add to that, the inconvenience of charging with a trailer and this is way more of a pain.
the chargers are near the to promote the electric car, drive an electric car get a spot right by the door. you are right about everything
Definitely something you’d have to enjoy the journey with. I think we’ll get there, batteries are improving, but for now? I’d say you’re still better of with an ICE vehicle for towing.
Great charger locations points pop, just great
Electric vehicles will never, ever, ever, become mainstream until you can pull into a filling station and recharge in the same time, or less, than it takes to refill a gasoline or diesel vehicle. Putting charging stations at every home, apartment complex, company parking lot, etc. etc. would be an absolute blight on the surface of the Earth.
I live in a camping destination and noticed a lot less travel trailers on the roads this Summer.
The lightning is great as long as it doesnt self combust. Great feature in cold Canadian winters.
Another stupid comment
Most common gas car fire is the front engine where all the combustion occurs.
Hilarious. The range sux in the cold
@@starshipdriver8536. I’ve never seen that
@@zoobrizz Plenty on the news
Great video. I'm waiting for the 2025 Ramcharger, I think that will be a game changer for trucks.
Electric trucks are just Evolving this is a Great truck for all applications!
Absolute game changer for towing and hauling. Tesla *SO HILARIOUSLY LATE* to this but specifically why do i need propane tanks on my travel trailer anymore? Definitely no need for a Generator for the Travel Trailer anymore! So far the Trailer Industry has been absolutely *MORE THAN USELEESS* in driving product to this booming market. Call it a *"leveling set"* here in the Lower 48 but yes, incredible "instant on" torque which is *GREAT* for ingress and egress upon the Big Highway. Since most Travel Trailer is done during Summer well...who does Travel Trailer work during the middle of ahem "Winter Driving Season" ahem?
Great review.
Keep 'em coming.
Morning Truck King
I’ve learned that chosing an EV truck, more specifically the Ford Lightning, boils down to one’s mission requirements, weather, and availability of convenient chargers. My Lightning with the extended range battery is, quite simply, the most comfortable vehicle I’ve ever owned. It works for me because, in part, I live in a warm climate location; I use a home charger 90% of the time; and only tow occasionally. The number of public EV chargers along interstate highways is growing on a daily basis - which all but eliminates range/charger anxiety. A recent 800 mile road trip was trouble free and quit enjoyable. Bottom line, don’t bash it if you have not tried it.
Eletric motors are great at towing the problem is that requires a shit ton more power even a hybrid wouldn't be able to handle it either you need a truck with a gas v8 of some sort with a big fuel tank for reasonable range or a diesel it just makes more sense.
12:05 Chargers are close to shops cause when you charge you can go shopping. It is not a gas station, you do not have to stand beside your vehicle. And it is also why there is no roof, plugging just takes 4 seconds, while when you are fueling you need to stay outside under the rain for 5 minutes. Maybe this place has been designed by people who drive an EV not just for reviews. And regarding the access for towing vehicles, some other stalls have to be installed with parallel or drive through parking, maybe just one or two stalls per site, it will comes with time as more and more EVs are used for towing.
My only issue with sticking the charging stations way off in the corner, I’m disabled. If it’s closer to amenities, I can make my way with my canes. Off in the corner, then I’d have to dig out my chair for any distance. This would make a rest brake a 2 stop proposition, as I’d probably just fuel up, then go find a service station to use the rest room and grad a coffee.
Lightship L1 travel trailer and this truck would make a great combination: the trailer has an 80kwh battery and integrated solar panels, which are good for increasing range and boondocking.
I'll stick with my hybrid and charge myself. Maybe when they get better charging stations out.
I like the old man. Rough around the edges and no bullshit. He’s like me.
1500 lbs isn't exactly what I would call "high payload"! Put just a couple of Elmers in that truck and you can barely have 10% tongue weight on that 9k lbs trailer. Great truck, as long as you don't go far, often or deep into the hinterland... Or unless you bring a nice big gas generator with you. Could you run a generator while you drive? Short range urban vehicle, incredible within that narrow window, but niche. Great video gents.
10 percent is generous.. my trailer weighs 3000lbs and stated tongue weight is 485
I’m confused - was there any range information when used for towing?
100 miles
@@zoobrizz yeeeesh and that is probably under ideal temperatures, incline etc.
Steve and Howard, would love for you guys to use your platform to push charging companies to stop billing us Canadians by time and to only bill us by energy consumed, like a gas station. Keep up the great work.
It's not the companies who decide how they charge at chargers, it's the Canadian government. They just approved the move from charging by time to actual consumption in Feb 2023. They (government) haven't decided the application process or testing process for approval yet. The government had said they hope to have that in place later this year.
They're also trying to figure out how much money in fuel taxes they're losing for the road tax portion so they can add it to the price at the charger.
@@jeffw6894 that has nothing to do with it, although I am sure it will come with time. It's a Canada Weights and Measures Act thing
@@jasondesjarlais5507 Hence me saying "Also"
@jeffw6894 but 'also' implies it is also part of the reason for the delay from switching being charged by the hour to being charged by the kwh. It has nothing to do with the delay.
How many times did you have to charge?
Regarding the KOA no charging policy. I find it foolish at minimum...alarmist in reality on their part. A 240 volt/50 amp RV plug will deliver a max of 50 amps...40 amps in reality due to electric code 80% rule.
It doesn't matter what is connected to it...be it a Tesla Model S Plaid or a Ford F150 Lightning...or a 40 ft motor coach with twin AC units, an electric clothes dryer and my daughter blow drying her hair and my son microwaving some hot pockets while the heated floor is keeping the chill off for my wife having a shower using the electric hot water tank and I'm grabbing a beer out of the electric fridge. If you're throwing the breaker on the pedestal, it will happen in either scenario. In reality, I bet the Lightning will consume less power overall as once it's charged it will sit there until it's time to leave.
Great video guys...very accurate.
Do the camp grounds have gas pumps for gasoline vehicles?
Great review! Wondered what the truck would pull and for how long (miles).
100 miles during the summer. Less in winter
I pull a 32ft Vibe 7k dry with my 2003 RCSB sierra. I get just about 9mpg at 65mph. I'll keep my truck for now
How was regenerative braking, especially descending a grade? Did you have to use manual braking or extra trailer braking very often?
Where I live there are chargers in the Walmart parking lot that are a good ways away from the front of the store. They are also pull though, not covered, but are well placed. Not sure if they were planned that way or not.
Strange that with the max tow package Ford does not include the extendable trailer tow mirrors. Looks like a huge blind spot with the large wide trailer.
Would probably murder range way more
All electric super duty ford should consider it, frame is heavy duty could potentially have a double layer battery with double the current range ideal for trailer pulling
I thought the Rivian R1T was the first to market. Funny there was no mention of them at all.
Nice job guys, way out of my league concerning technology. A flip phone, 2 GMC gassers, no cable or satellite tv, trails for my wheelers and a 500 ft. bass pond out back, and more 4 legged neighbors than 2 legged ones. I'm not up for engaging in an experiment, just the basics.
The best use for this is to cap it and use it as a makeshift 5 seat Expedition EV. I wonder if the range would improve much.
That fact that I need to download an app for every charging station, instead of swiping a credit card like a normal gas station is a huge deterrent for me.
The bigger reason for not feeling the sway vs ICE isn't because of the weight. It's because of the lack of a sway eliminating setup. Without that the trailer is rotating on the ball of the hitch as it moves and none of the weight or pressure is being transfered to the truck
I am going to "yell" at Truck King about weight distribution. Both my previous F150 and my current Silverado state that you can not tow more than 6000lbs without weight distribution. Don't be lazy, be safe.
WD hitches are great on flat highways other than that see the damage they can cause on uneven surfaces and only uneducated or cheapskates tow more than 75 percent regularly.
@Robert You always unhook the weight distribution when you enter camp ground. But driving on the highway without one above 6k lbs is unsafe.
The next step for the EV charging infrastructure is for Gas Stations to adopt it. (Which some chains are currently doing off major interstates such as I40 in the US).
As stated in the @13:00 "rant" - gas stations exist with roofs, a small convince store, and are setup as such that parking would not be impacted by other retail desires.
So the next logical step is for someone (IE a gas giant chain) to adopt a marketing strategy to sell EV. Make each station the same third party network to reduce variations and put tops over them.
Places like loves or flying J will soar due to onsite amenities offered to current travelers.
But like you said, the people who want EVs and designed the infrastructure are people who sit down and look at numbers on paper.
I'd rather us invest into alternative fuels than EVs. I think hybrids are great, they help extend the range and reduce emissions with small battery packs. But pure EV with massive capacities just isn't right for our planet.
But who knows, maybe in 5 years they will discover a new type of battery method and drastically change the game.
One thing never told about towing with EV truck is you must disconnect truck from trailer to charge.
Otherwise you block traffic, so add that extra time to your travel as well!!! Another added hour or so
We’re ten minutes down the road
Time to charge. LOL 😅
Personally I'm sticking with diesel for towing, until diesel isn't available anymore. They're probably decent for short trips around town though.
The camping lots not having chargers shouldn't be an issue, just unhook and send 1 person to the store to use a fast charger, while shopping for all the food and stuff you forgot to bring.