[TwoFrom93449]

We think we've reached the point where it is time to downsize from our F250 Diesel and big fifth wheel. We have a Lightning reserved and I have been trying to determine if we can get the adapters necessary to mount a hitch on the frame. Most of the hitch suppliers have referred me to Ford. Finally I found Jeri at Pull Rite, who says the Pull Rite Techs think that the Lightning frame is the same as F150 Hybrid. They furnish frame adapters for their 3100 sliding hitch which attaches at puck points much like the current setup in the F250. We will surely wait to see feedback on the Lightnings range towing a load. My hope is to be able to tow one of the light fifth wheels (under 6000 lbs.) for 200 miles between charges. From everything that I have read online regarding Lightning & Rivian towing, I think this might be possible with the Lightning. Please no lectures about what I need to tow with a fifth wheel, I've been pulling trailers of all sorts on the fifth wheel and bumper longer than most of you have been alive.

 

[knicehit]

The question about 5th came up in this video. I couldn't hear the response well enough to relay the answer. It a long video but that is exactly why the truck there. For aftermarket companies to measure and prep.

 

[TwoFrom93449]

Thank you. He talked about the 10,000 pound load limit, the tow package, and the extended range batteries. We put a deposit on a Lariat model that offers all of those features. We think we'll have to stay well under the 10,000 pounds to get any range. I am hoping for being able to pull 6000 pounds 200 miles between charges. We are in CA, but our son lives in NC so we do a lot of long trips. But we are at an age where going a few less miles a day, hopefully 400, isn't a problem I know a fifth wheel will be taller and have more wind resistance, but pulls so much better than a bumper pull trailer. If we were just taking shorter trips in West I would just go with a bumper pull. We'll probably have to wait for someone that get a Lightning and tow a fifth wheel.

 

[FM_Jack]

Thank you. He talked about the 10,000 pound load limit, the tow package, and the extended range batteries. We put a deposit on a Lariat model that offers all of those features. We think we'll have to stay well under the 10,000 pounds to get any range. I am hoping for being able to pull 6000 pounds 200 miles between charges. We are in CA, but our son lives in NC so we do a lot of long trips. But we are at an age where going a few less miles a day, hopefully 400, isn't a problem I know a fifth wheel will be taller and have more wind resistance, but pulls so much better than a bumper pull trailer. If we were just taking shorter trips in West I would just go with a bumper pull. We'll probably have to wait for someone that get a Lightning and tow a fifth wheel.

Just for additional information. I think there is a push to get a heavy duty EV out. Magna is testing motors for heavy duty now and they sell to Ford and Tesla and others. I don't know how soon.

 

[Fryballin]

If you watch that video, it shows the instrument panel and its assumed to be while the towing test was taking place. The range indicator shows 128 miles of range, with about 62% of remaining capacity. Simple math would say that at 100% the range would have been about 206 miles, and this is supposed to be with towing a 10,000 lb trailer. Seems too good to believe but I‘m just going off of what the footage shows and I believe this footage was provided by FORD to several outlets to reports on the ”torture testing” that they did

 

[Fryballin]

This video has better audio describing the testing

 

[jamesklafehn]

Get a range extending camper.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuMPs5qUmnoQuucl0pizJ-x2yzmWnY_uM

 

[TwoFrom93449]

This video has better audio describing the testing

Thank you! We had seen portions of these videos, but not the portion that shows the range/charge gauge. And these videos were before Ford bumped the range for the extended battery up to 320 miles. I think this means that with some intelligent driving, our 200 mile range while towing might be possible.

I think we are going to give up the fifth wheel idea for the time being, We have other bumper tows (cargo trailer & boat ) that weight about the same as the trailers were looking at (5000-6000 lbs), but they would be shorter range tows. Regardless of the Lightning purchase, it is time for us to get into a smaller/lighter trailer. So we will probably have a different trailer by the time our Lightning is delivered. If the Lightning is able to tow the new trailer 200 miles between charges we will be selling our pristine 1999 F250 7.3 Liter, which I thought I would drive to the end of the line! Will miss the "real truck sound", but not the stops at the diesel pump.

 

[Fryballin]

The question about 5th came up in this video. I couldn't hear the response well enough to relay the answer. It a long video but that is exactly why the truck there. For aftermarket companies to measure and prep.

I watched the video and the guy said “you can” when there was a question about hooking up a fifth wheel. He didn’t give any details though

 

[Easycamper]

Yep I asked her about the fifth wheel and she relayed the question which was great.

Mainly I’m interested in physical access to install the hitch, working around high voltage cables and the suspension. Fifth wheel towing is “not recommended” by Ford but I wasn’t expecting it would be.

I’m sure it’s possible one way or another. I’ve been towing fifth wheels with half-tons for 20 years and this would be my third vehicle with a plug.

 

[FM_Jack]

Timestamped: "No way"

 

[Voltz]

Her question:
"Look out into the future with me for a second, can you see all the F-150s going electric? And, what would it take for that to happen?"

His answer:
"No way."

I don't think it's an answer about the possibility of installing a fifth wheel on Lightning as much as it is about killing ICE F-150s in the foreseeable future.

 

[GoGoGadgetTruck]

Timestamped: "No way"

it's kind of refreshing to hear that honesty even if the underlying reason is "we have to reassure the ICE Super Duty buyers we didn't forget about them".

 

[ChasingCoral]

it's kind of refreshing to hear that honesty even if the underlying reason is "we have to reassure the ICE Super Duty buyers we didn't forget about them".

That day will come and needs to come. However, it won't be this decade.

 

[Easycamper]

Now having seen this view from a video taken at the launch event, I can’t see any reason a fifth wheel hitch couldn’t be installed.

 

[TwoFrom93449]

We have given up on the fifth wheel hitch for now. The fifth wheel trailers are heavier and stand taller, so we decided to go to a bumper pull that weighs about 5800 lbs. If the Lightning can't pull the 5800 lbs. 200 miles between charges, the 7.3L stays in the fleet!

 

[Easycamper]

We have given up on the fifth wheel hitch for now. The fifth wheel trailers are heavier and stand taller, so we decided to go to a bumper pull that weighs about 5800 lbs. If the Lightning can't pull the 5800 lbs. 200 miles between charges, the 7.3L stays in the fleet!

Sounds great. I haven’t given up just yet. We’re buying a new Grand Design fifth wheel and I’m planning on towing it with the Lightning. I may be the Guinea pig here but I don’t mind. The Lightning’s payload is similar to my 2015 SuperCab so I can’t see why the fifth wheel wouldn’t work.

 

[TwoFrom93449]

I want to keep track of your findings. Please drop me an email [email protected]. It's not about whether it will haul the load, but how far it will haul the load. Just like an ICE truck has worse M/G towing, an EV truck will have less M/KW towing (range drops). Wind resistance is also very important, and that is worse on a fifth wheel because it sits higher. I am hopping to pull a 5800 lb. bumper pull 200 miles between charges. Also will not be able to "lay the wood to it" as we can with our 7.3L turbo. Just saw online article regarding a Rivian only being able to tow a 7000 lb. trailer 135 miles. Maybe 200 miles is out?!

 

[FM_Jack]

Maybe 200 miles is out?!

I didn't timestamp it at the start of him messing with the trailer profile but at the end he points out the difference in range based on the trailer profile he made and it was 205miles. But of course that is full charge, once on the road you'd realistically only go up to 80%.

 

[Easycamper]

I’ll keep in touch. My range expectations are modest. I typically do only one trip per year over 150 miles / 250 km. Since 90% of my usage is much closer to home I’m not really concerned about it, but 200 miles does seem like a stretch.

I reserved in the first 24 hours and I’m hoping to get an invite to order in the summer. Not sure I’ll get an opportunity to tow with the Lightning before the trailer goes away for the winter. In the meantime I’ll get to see how it performs with my current truck.