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Can The New Ford F-150 Electric Truck Tow A Travel Trailer?

Published on June 11th, 2021 by Emily Lawrence

New Ford F-150 Electric Truck driving on city street - can it tow a travel trailer?

Can The New Ford F-150 Electric Truck Tow A Travel Trailer?

If you’re a diehard Ford fan, or just want to keep up to date with the latest automotive news, you may have heard of the upcoming F-150 Lightning from Ford. This is an innovative electric vehicle that is currently being prepared for a nationwide launch. However, one of the major questions on everyone’s mind is: Can the F-150 tow a travel trailer?

The F-150 Lightning has a maximum tow capacity of 10,000 lbs. and a payload limit of 2,000 lbs. This is sufficient to tow a variety of travel trailers, since these often weigh 10,000 lbs. or less. The F-150 Lightning also has a special mode for towing and hauling that will help it run efficiently.

Tow/Haul Mode

The F-150 has always been a hardy truck that was capable of pulling heavy loads behind it. The F-150 Lightning doesn’t sacrifice any of this power by switching over to electric. On the contrary, it now has a driving mode that is specifically designed to provide the best towing and driving experience possible.

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The F-150 Lightning has 4 different drive modes available. These are: Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Tow/Haul. You can switch between these modes using the built-in touchscreen that is mounted on the front dashboard. Each of these driving modes will help the vehicle adapt to different terrains and driving conditions. They will help your truck spend the energy more efficiently while providing a high level of power and control.

The Tow/Haul mode will give your vehicle an extra boost, which will help when you need to speed up and slow down. It will also help you ration your energy more efficiently so you can tow for longer periods of time. The Tow/Haul mode is perfect for drivers who want to bring a travel trailer along for the ride!

Towing features

In addition to the Tow/Haul mode, the F-150 Lightning also has several features that are added specifically to make towing easier. These towing features include:

  • Pro trailer hitch assist
  • Onboard scales
  • Smart hitch
  • Pro trailer backup assist
  • Trailer reverse guidance

If you have a travel trailer, you’ll appreciate the extra convenience and safety that these features provide. Backup assistance and trailer reverse guidance will be especially useful when you need to park or get in and out of camping spots. The onboard scales will also help you stay within the suggested weight limits.

Extra built-in storage space

Another feature that will appeal to travel trailer owners is the Mega Power Frunk that the F-150 Lightning comes with. A “frunk” or front trunk, is a new innovation that has emerged with the popularity of electric vehicles. Because there is no longer a need for an engine in the front, that space can be converted to a fully functional trunk space!

The Mega Power Frunk is spacious and can be used to store a wide variety of items. Anyone who owns a travel trailer will agree that a little extra storage space goes a long way! You’ll definitely appreciate the large, easy-to-access frunk.

The F-150 Lightning is a luxurious vehicle that was designed for all types of terrain. It has powerful towing capabilities and a wide variety of special features and customizable options. To learn more about it, visit the Ford F-150 Lightning homepage.

Choosing a travel trailer for the F-150 Lightning

Travel trailers are popular because they are comfortable, versatile, and can fit a lot of nice amenities. Unlike motorhomes, they can also detatch from the main vehicle, so you can set up camp and drive the tow vehicle into town by itself.

With a maximum towing capacity of 10,000 lbs, the F-150 Lightning will be able to tow a wide variety of camper trailers. However, if you’re considering a fifth wheel, you will need to keep a closer eye on the trailer weight. Even though it’s a powerful truck, you don’t want to push the limits when it comes to towing capacity.

When you’re in the market for a new trailer, you need to consider the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and the cargo carrying capacity (CCC). These two measurements are very important to narrowing down your choices. For instance, if you found a travel trailer that has a base weight of 9,000 lbs, you might want to avoid that one. This is because it will weigh much more than 9,000 lbs once you account for the water storage tanks, passengers, cargo, and anything else you pack inside.

As a good rule of thumb, you should try to stay 10-15% below your vehicle’s maximum towing capacity. Doing this will ensure that you don’t place too much strain on the tow vehicle and damage it. Trucks and travel trailers are both expensive, so you’ll want to make sure you keep both of them in good condition.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxe352yOYyk

Driving or towing an RV is different. You can’t drive as far, as long, or as fast. Knowing where you need to stop at the end of the day is a challenge, unless you have RV LIFE Trip Wizard. The unique Driving Radius provided by RV LIFE Trip Wizard shows you exactly where to stop and find a campground or RV park, based on criteria you have set. Plan ahead, plan smart, and know exactly where to stop.

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74 thoughts on “Can The New Ford F-150 Electric Truck Tow A Travel Trailer?”

  1. PG&E just had a big demonstration, they have a huge generator on a trailer-can power a town and the 9 axle trailer was custom made by Cozad Trailers-Stockton, CA. The unit was supposed to be pulled triumphantly out of the yard by a new electric heavy haul unit……it made it to the front gate and ran out of juice. The technology for heavy haul by battery powered electric vehicles is not up to the job yet.

    Reply
  2. I’m guessing all these electric vehicles hitting the market will cast a premium price on electricity in the near future making travel costs surge…. you won’t be able to afford long distance camping anyway.

    I can see a world where you fly or other mass transit method, to a distant location and rent/lease a camping package that will allow you to explore areas within a modest range (200-300 miles) from that “hub”

    They say, “You will own nothing and you will be happy”

    Reply
  3. There needs to be an auxiliary battery / solar panel option. Sometimes we go 800 miles in a day.

    With an additional battery and solar panels on the travel trailer and perhaps the bed of the F-150 the formula looks a little brighter.

    Reply
    • You’re not going to be able to do 800 miles in an electric vehicle, even if you AREN’T towing! And the batteries take a long time to charge, too, so you have to account for that.
      But I’m really looking forward to getting an electric truck to tow a travel trailer!! Can’t wait. Just have to lower your travel distance expectations.

      Reply
    • I agree. I’m surprised (and I’m sure they are already working this) that the body and glass aren’t used to collect energy. Probably being fought by the energy industry. Rather than focus on 0-60 focus on battery range. I’m not drag racing.

      Reply
  4. Like many have pointed out, the issue isn’t *can* it tow a travel trailer, the real question is **how long** can it tow a travel trailer?

    Reply
  5. Another thing that bothers me is the range the give is with 100% charge but the charge time is always shown at 80%, why not tell the whole truth. Reminds me of government just telling you what makes their case without the facts.
    Where are the charging stations that are drive through? Since they take so long to charge seems like the stations are going to need a lot more space than gas stations before this would be practical if at all.

    Reply
  6. Too many logistical problems currently to make one feasible for me. 230 mile range? That is nothing to write home about. With the AC on? Towing? So you tow your trailer 200 miles to a campground that has recharge stations at there campsites? How likely is that? Then you are not going anywhere while your truck charges. Hope you like the campground. Charging stations while traveling, have never seen one which will accommodate a truck and trailer. So, dump the trailer and return to the charging station? This is a work in progress. Not ready for prime time from my point of view.

    Reply
    • YUP, REALITY blows electric vehicles for about 85% of population in today’s world, but feel some multi-billionaire has a plan in THEIR head “to make the masses comply”? Even then, I suspect EV will never approach 50% in my childrens/ gkids lifetime, admitting I am an old man? There are too, too many facotrs that they have either not yet thought of, or have put too, too little importance on vs the public in general?

      Reply
  7. Based on our experience with a Tesla, the mileage distance is based on flat level land at about 25 deg C outside temperature during daylight hours.. Mountain or hill country and colder weather reduces distance between charges. In the mountains in the winter expect about a 40% drop in distance depending upon weight added. There is a reason Ford is not talking distance for hauling loads.

    Reply
  8. I wonder if there is any way to utilize an RV’s solar power system for charging the truck during travel.

    Reply
    • A couple of 250W solar panels will help charge your batteries if connected correctly, however the micro-trickle they give you, peak at 500W, is almost negligible in the overall scheme of things.

      If you remote camp and stay for a couple of weeks in full sun, 10 solar panels will make an impact, but it would take weeks from a 75% discharge point to fully charge.

      It kind of reminds me of putting a wind turbine on top to charge the batteries while on the road.

      Reply
  9. Look up how long it takes to recharge one of those expensive toys. Could take up to 4 days using `120. Also, “where” can you recharge. Some campgrounds won’t allow it. I’ll pass.

    Reply
    • None of them. They are very close together and most expect you to back your vehicle in to the single space to charge. Plus it’ll take hours to charge. There really isn’t any reason to own an electric vehicle unless staying in the same town for the rest of one’s life and never leaving.

      Reply
  10. This is from Ford without a camper, F-150 Lightning offers two options: a standard-range battery targeting 230 miles of EPA-estimated range and an extended-range battery targeting 300 miles of EPA-estimated range7. My guess is 100 miles?

    Reply
  11. I agree with John D. You can expect 50% of the range when you are towing. There are many variables besides weight, terrain and wind not to mention a few. Second major issue is currently most charging stations have a 8 to 12 foot cable and you need to back in to reach charger. That will necessitate disconnecting trailer to charge. All this will change in the future, meaning at least three years. Look at maps for the charging locations to where you tow to. Find out distances or charging stations you could use. Then use that information for making your decision. Triple A can not bring you a charge if your are stuck. My background: EV owner two now and sold my 2016 car.

    Reply
    • Lardog,
      Based on the Youtube video, the charging plug is on the front side of the truck in front of the driver’s door.

      Reply
  12. I will stick with my Ram Diesel. Stop for a fill up and on my way again. I know every truck stop has diesel and I don’t have to charge for an hour to get back on the road. Also do not forget that FORD stands for ( fix or repair daily)

    Reply
  13. Tow capacity is a meaningless number, since with a trailer you always exceed payload first. If the payload is 2,000, and you are riding 300 lbs. of passengers, pets, and incidentals in the truck (can’t forget them), your safe max trailer weight suddenly drops to 8,500 or thereabouts. Except for trailers up to medium tiny, any 150/1500 class tow vehicle is a problematic choice.

    Reply
  14. It is interesting to note that Ford says you can tow a travel trailer as truck is able to pull 10000 pounds. Unfortunately I disagree as I have a F250 Super duty and pulling my Fifth wheel that has a weight of 11000 lbs and about 1000 lbs for accessories and this truck was not legal to pull that weight. Better check carefully first before you buy an F150.

    Reply
  15. Let’s not forget science, ladies and gentlemen. It takes a lot of power to move a camper trailer down the highway, as we all know from the drop in gas mileage we experience when we tow our camper.

    If the Ford Lightning 150 had adequate capacity to tow a camper trailer more than just a few miles, they would feature this fact in the writeup.

    I am in support of reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, though I don’t believe the doomsday predictions currently posing as science when you try to discuss the subject. Electric vehicles have significant negative environmental impacts that lead me to conclude that wide adoption is not feasible.

    The most promising new technology I have seen is synthetic fuels manufactured chemically, rather than originating from fossil fuels. Still unproven but showing great promise.

    Reply
  16. Electric vehicles are still toys for the wealthy as far as I am concerned. They’re not practical for apartment dwellers, long distance travel, or those who park on the street. I’ve seen the Tesla folks waiting an hour at the super charging stations waiting for hours to recharge their cars. No thanks.

    Reply
  17. Big question is how much does this rig cost? And like everyone else how far will it go pulling a RV/Toyhauler? Cant even imagine getting an RV into those tiny plug in stations. Sounds perfect for urban city trucks or trucks that go in between SF and LA or Phoenix and Tucson for work. No thanks

    Reply
    • Why can’t they make a truck that can truly flex between diesel, solar and electric that way driving 600-1000 miles a day to reach several states away is feasible?

      Reply
  18. Yep it may be rated to tow 10,000 lbs. but I’m willing to bet it AINT going to like towing it!
    I had a GMC 1500 gas that didn’t like towing 7,000 lbs. I had a GMC 2500 HD gas that could tow 10,000 lbs, but it surely didn’t like towing my fifth wheel dry at 8,000lbs.
    So that Ford may be rated to tow 10,000, it may be capable of towing 10,000, BUT like any vehicle towing more than it is really capable of towing, how long will it last being over worked!

    Reply
  19. This was a total puff piece article not worth reading because it left out the one thing we wanted to know – real world range while towing. Folks made a 250 mile drive from Denver in their Tesla (with its 300 mile range) with a bike rack on top. They had to stop in Silverthorn to recharge; and after that barely made it to their destination – because of the drag of the bikes and the mountains.
    Real world in the American west I doubt this F150 is good for legit 150 miles.

    Reply
  20. Interesting concept.
    But…
    Until they have charging stations as wide spread as standard gas stations that can ‘refuel’ the thing in 5 or 10 minutes while you’re hooked up to your travel trailer….
    Until they publish ‘real world’ typical towing ranges…
    Until they have ‘alternative’ ways to charge the truck out in the typical rural camping areas where there a NO electric vehicle charging stations…
    I’ll just keep my trusty old 2006 Toyota Tundra with 145,000 miles of good service and towing travel trailers.

    Reply
  21. Range is the key. My new leaf has a 62 KWh battery and does well to make 200 miles before requiring charging. At least tell us the capacity of the battery so we can calculate the range ourselves. Electric vehicles are being oversold with today’s or near future’s expected battery capacity. As an electrical engineer I feel the obligation to tell it like it is.

    Reply
  22. Yes, range will be divided by at least 1/2 up to 1/3 towing depending on the weight of the trailer, its been tested already, its not worth towing 100 miles or less then recharging thru the day while trying to travel long distance, since its impossible to find recharge stations at these intervals. You need to be able to tow a 3200 lb trailer at least 225 miles on one charge, not sure this is possible, I am pretty sure by previous tests of others, 125 miles might be the max for a 3200 lb trailer. Early tests with towing show under 100 miles per charge towing a travel trailer, I am sure not buying a new Ford Lightning to test the range, I will let others do it for me.

    Reply
  23. So – more important questions are, 1. how many miles can the electric truck tow a travel trailer on one charge, and, 2. How long will it take to charge the truck again so one can proceed on one’s trip? You failed to answer this. I realize the elevation changes are a big factor but I would like to know how far I can go on a charge on flat roads versus mountainous ones, etc.
    Also, how long will I have to wait in line at the charging station to re-charge my truck?

    Reply
  24. Sounds great for running to the store and picking up a few groceries. However, waiting for a day to charge the thing every 100 miles on a long haul might not be so much fun!

    Reply
  25. It’s advertised to tow 10,000 lbs, so the answer the unspecific rhetorical question “Can it tow a travel trailer” is obviously YES. But how far? 20 miles? 100 miles? By the very nature of electric vehicles, they’re going to be unsuited to RVing, unless your trips consist entirely of going to the state park 15 miles down the road.

    Reply
  26. The new electric F150 is definitely a step in the right direction. Now for the issue. We were in Bryce NP when the announcement appeared and then the discussions began. Many assumptions were being made, but I don’t think the distance rating a charge can take you has been published. I am sure it is a matrix table, like combustion engines, that is distance versus weight being towed. Has any such matrix been created yet? The above article discusses 5th wheel weight vs towing capacity, but charge distance is also on every trailer owners mind.

    Reply
    • That is the question I would like to see more attention, also while towing, why not be charging from the motor coach while in route to your next destination.

      Reply
  27. Emily – don’t tease… if you know anything about people with campers, they want to know how far they can travel between charges! C’mon man..

    Does us no good to be able to tow, if I can’t make it more than a couple hundred miles without stopping for the night…. What about camp suites, do they plan to install charging stations?

    The article talks about planning and details while shamelessly name dropping RV trip wizard, but no details about the actual topic.

    I love to tow my Airstream with an electric truck, we’ll see.

    Kind regards.

    Reply
    • Gavin,
      Thank you for asking my question. To write an article about an electric truck and not mention towing range appears to be trying to hide the ball.

      Reply
    • I agree. Unless I missed it, the only thing I wanted to know was, How far can it tow? I suspect that was internationally left out or the information was not provided by FORD.

      Reply
    • EVs are coming fast Gavin so truck stops will offer charging on the highway and campsites will adjust. A charging station is just a power outlet and most already have power at each site.

      Reply
      • Ross,
        You indicated the charge stations are “just a power outlet”, doesn’t it require a special plug to plug into them? Thanks!

        Reply
  28. Yes, the F-150 is rated to tow 10,000 lbs. However, the question which should be addressed, perhaps even more appropriate, is what the towing range before a recharge is required when pulling for example a 7500 lb trailer? That comes a critical factor.

    Reply
    • Cover the roof of your TT. with solar panels, that’s what I will do, granted it won’t be enough to charge the truck completely but it should be able to get you a lot of extra miles.

      Reply
    • What is even more critical is if you are towing in Kansas or south Texas on flat ground the towing distance would be significant less than if you are towing in the Colorado mountains up steep mountains. That will suck the juice right out of those batteries fast. Then you have to plan your trip according as to whether or not you can find a place that can recharge your batteries. 30 amp camp hook ups WILL NOT charge those batteries by morning on an over night stay.

      Reply
  29. So you never really even mention the only thing we really want to know?
    How far can it tow on a charge?
    Nothing else matters to me and I bet the answer is not too far.

    Reply
    • I want to know the range but also where I can recharge, and how long will it take to charge. I can see a problem with a truck towing a 18-26 foot camper charging it batteries or even finding a place to charge.

      Reply
    • Seems to me we are ready for electric. We need the infrastructure. Build the infrastructure (charging stations) and we will buy.

      Reply
  30. One problem with an electric vehicle in a state park (at least in Washington) is they don’t have recharge stations and don’t want you hooking up to the power pedestal. We have a small electric fridge/freezer in the back of our towd and have been ask a few times if our car is electric.

    Reply
  31. With a 230 mile range or 300 mile range empty with the extended battery option, what is the projected range with the A/C running, while towing a trailer? How about towing in mountainous terrain? I wouldn’t want to try and operate this truck in remote areas where charging stations may be hundreds of miles apart. Of course one can always haul a gas powered generator to recharge if needed. This sounds like a great option for fleet trucks used in an urban environment.

    Reply
  32. all very nice, but most important thing is range when towing. Nothing else matters if you can only go 100 miles. Recharge stations are of no use when pulling a trailer as there is no room in current setup. I have an electric car and I think electric pickups are a long way from working with rvs.

    Reply
    • I own both an EV and a lightweight travel trailer that I tow with a truck. With the EV, the battery range can decrease 75% when going uphill. When I tow with my truck, my MPG deceases 25% or more on flat roads. If towing a trailer uphill to a mountain campsite with a 400 mile EPA range EV truck , I would expect range to be about 400 miles X (1-75%) X (1-25%) =~56 miles. In testing done by TFL truck (a YT channel), they showed a range decrease of up to 90% when towing with a Tesla Model X. The answer is, EV trucks can tow a lot of weight, just not very far.

      Reply
  33. What is the real world mileage of an electric truck when towing a travel trailer and if you want to go further, can it be recharged in 5 minutes like a gas/diesel truck can?

    Reply
    • Probably not I’m not sure about the ford but on the Tesla the electric motor would act as a generator if it is towed and you would overcharge the battery. This is great when going downhill or just stopping as the motor acts as a brake and Regent the battery. Electric vehicles are also very heavy because of the battery which makes them unsuitable for towing.

      Reply
    • Exactly Willie…. I’ve been asking and no blogger or Ford official can answer that question! Supposedly the hybrid (2021 Powerboost) can be flat towed but they need to tell us motorhome owners whether the Lightning is the same. If it can be towed four wheels down, it shows Ford is listening. It’d be a potential game changer. But if not, then they need to get back to the drawing board! I refuse to use a tow dolly.

      Reply

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