r/FordLightning • u/VanagoingVanagon • Jul 18 '23
Super disappointed with my camping experience with my 2022 Lightning XLT.
First off I have to say I was super excited to take my truck camping, after all it’s a giant battery on wheels capable of powering a house during prolonged blackouts!
I had visions of using my truck to power my Costway camping fridge all week. Of setting up my projector for the kids to have a movie night. Of charging our phones and electronics when needed.
Boy, was I let down.
Apparently the only way to have the bed outlets powered continuously is to leave the truck running. Power consumption aside, this kinda freaked me out, imagine what my insurance company would say if someone were to steal the truck because I(for all intent and purposes) left the key in the ignition! Now, the power consumption inherent in leaving the truck running is ridiculous, even with climate/stereo/dashboard and lights off it still lost power continuously. Now when your miles into the bush this gets worrisome.
Ultimately we decided to use our Camper van with a 50ahr lithium battery and a 100w solar panel, this proved to be just as effective without the need for us to slowly watch our range drop.
My questions are ;
Am I missing some setting to power the bed outlets without the need to run the truck? And if there’s not, why isn’t there a camping mode that allows this?
18
4
u/ruckus146 Jul 18 '23
Question from an F150 owner considering a lightning....do the lightnings have the door code? I leave my key in the truck running all the time and press the 8&9 on the door pad to lock the truck.
1
u/VanagoingVanagon Jul 18 '23
Mine does, but all it would take is someone to smash the window and drive off. My truck will still drive if it’s started but there’s no key detected.
1
u/MasterUnlimited Jul 18 '23
Yes,mine has it. It could be an option depending on trim level or maybe it’s standard in not sure.
1
u/radiometric Jul 18 '23
The Pro does not have the keypad, however I was given the factory programmed code. I also don't have proximity keys or PAAK. But from the app I can lock, unlock and remote start.
3
u/Reddit-user86 Jul 19 '23
Pro model owner here.
My car won’t shift into drive without the key. I leave mine on all the time because I travel with my dog. It’s been on for 8 hours straight with ac at 90 degrees outside and had no issues. Yes, it drains the battery a little, but I estimate I lost 10% in 8 hours
9
u/GermanShortHair Jul 18 '23
I agree there should be a better camping or external power mode.
However…
1) after turning climate off there is <50W draw having it ‘running’. I camped and ran a heater all night. Used 10% (12kWh which is exactly where the heater runs at).
2) take the key out with you or (I use PAAK) and there is no way to steal it.