What trailer tow package do you want?

T

Texas Niro EV

Active Member
One of the most exciting features of the F150 Lightning is that it’s rated to tow heavy trailers but it’s not as simple as just ordering the F150 Lightning with a tow package. The gas F150 has four different tow options; just a simple Class IV Trailer Hitch, a Tow Technology Package, a Trailer Tow Package and a Max Trailer Tow Package. Here is a list of what is included in each package for the gas F150:

Tow Technology Package

Class IV Trailer Hitch
Pro Trailer Backup Assist
360-Degree Camera
Trailer Reverse Guidance
Smart Trailer Tow Connector
Trailer Brake Controller

Trailer Tow Package

7-pin wiring harness
Class IV Trailer Hitch
Pro Trailer Backup Assist
Smart Trailer Tow Connector
Trailer Brake Controller

Max Trailer Tow Package

Locking rear differential
7-pin wiring harness
Extended range fuel tank
(Does Lightning require extended range battery?)
Class IV Trailer Hitch
Pro Trailer Backup Assist
Smart Trailer Tow Connector
Integrated Trailer Brake Controller
Upgraded Rear Bumper

You can see that setting up you F150 Lightning or for any F150 for that matter is not straight forward. One of the most intriguing towing features available is the Smart Trailer Tow Connector. I went to the Ford dealer today and asked a salesman to explain the 12-pin Smart Trailer Tow Connector to me, he didn’t even know the F150 had this.

I have tried to find out more about the Smart Trailer Tow Connector system and pretty much struck out. The Smart Trailer Tow Connector system is supposed to included BLIS, does this mean that the trailer needs BLISS sensors? And what are the functions of all the other of the 12-pins of the Smart Trailer Tow Connector?

Towing options on the F150 Lightning that appear to be in addition to what is available on the gas F150 include Pro Trailer Hitch Assist, Onboard Scales and Smart Hitch. Pro Trailer Hitch Assist is supposed to autonomously steer the truck hitch to the trailer hitch and is especially exciting.

Anyway, I’m opening up this thread for the discussion of towing packages on the F150 Lightning. What tow package(s) do you want on your F150 Lightning and why? I realize the towing packages must have been discussed extensively on other F150 forums but I’m hoping we can generate informative posts specifically related to towing packages on the F150 Lightning.
 
Texas Niro EV said:
One of the most exciting features of the F150 Lightning is that it’s rated to tow heavy trailers but it’s not as simple as just ordering the F150 Lightning with a tow package. The gas F150 has four different tow options; just a simple Class IV Trailer Hitch, a Tow Technology Package, a Trailer Tow Package and a Max Trailer Tow Package. Here is a list of what is included in each package for the gas F150:

Tow Technology Package

Class IV Trailer Hitch
Pro Trailer Backup Assist
360-Degree Camera
Trailer Reverse Guidance
Smart Trailer Tow Connector
Trailer Brake Controller

Trailer Tow Package

7-pin wiring harness
Class IV Trailer Hitch
Pro Trailer Backup Assist
Smart Trailer Tow Connector
Trailer Brake Controller

Max Trailer Tow Package

Locking rear differential
7-pin wiring harness
Extended range fuel tank
(Does Lightning require extended range battery?)
Class IV Trailer Hitch
Pro Trailer Backup Assist
Smart Trailer Tow Connector
Integrated Trailer Brake Controller
Upgraded Rear Bumper

You can see that setting up you F150 Lightning or for any F150 for that matter is not straight forward. One of the most intriguing towing features available is the Smart Trailer Tow Connector. I went to the Ford dealer today and asked a salesman to explain the 12-pin Smart Trailer Tow Connector to me, he didn’t even know the F150 had this.

I have tried to find out more about the Smart Trailer Tow Connector system and pretty much struck out. The Smart Trailer Tow Connector system is supposed to included BLIS, does this mean that the trailer needs BLISS sensors? And what are the functions of all the other of the 12-pins of the Smart Trailer Tow Connector?

Towing options on the F150 Lightning that appear to be in addition to what is available on the gas F150 include Pro Trailer Hitch Assist, Onboard Scales and Smart Hitch. Pro Trailer Hitch Assist is supposed to autonomously steer the truck hitch to the trailer hitch and is especially exciting.

Anyway, I’m opening up this thread for the discussion of towing packages on the F150 Lightning. What tow package(s) do you want on your F150 Lightning and why? I realize the towing packages must have been discussed extensively on other F150 forums but I’m hoping we can generate informative posts specifically related to towing packages on the F150 Lightning.
Click to expand...

Hard to discuss what's wanted when no one knows yet what's available, one thing to note is all of the trim levels, Pro, XLT, Lariat, and Platinum regardless of battery range option, all have the same torque rating.

Pretty sure it'll out tow todays Superduty diesels @ 775 lb-ft.

Also there are no differentials to speak of, not as we have come to understand them, the Lightning has twin integrated motor/axle assemblies with full time all wheel drive.

You can read all about the new EV f150 on this link https://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/f150-lightning/2022/
 
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Here is the link to the 2021 Ford towing guide, https://www.fleet.ford.com/content/...-guides/2021_Ford_RVandTrailerTowingGuide.pdf. Of course the 2021 guide does not list information on the F150 Lightning but you can assume until the full 2022 guide is available that most of the capabilities and options for the F150 will also be available for the F150 Lightning. There is a good TOWING EQUIPMENT & TRAILER TOWING PACKAGES list on page 17 that lists trailering standard and optional equipment for the F150.
 
Texas Niro EV said:
Here is the link to the 2021 Ford towing guide, https://www.fleet.ford.com/content/...-guides/2021_Ford_RVandTrailerTowingGuide.pdf. Of course the 2021 guide does not list information on the F150 Lightning but you can assume until the full 2022 guide is available that most of the capabilities and options for the F150 will also be available for the F150 Lightning. There is a good TOWING EQUIPMENT & TRAILER TOWING PACKAGES list on page 17 that lists trailering standard and optional equipment for the F150.
Click to expand...
I never assume anything, had it bite me on the arse too many times lol.
 
The towing accessories list on page 45 of the 2021 towing guide indicates that trailer mounted cameras and trailer tire pressure monitoring systems are available for F150s equipped with Pro Trailer Backup Assist. I don't know if the signals for those accessories go through the Smart Trailer Tow Connector or are wireless but somehow those signals have to get to the infotainment display. I don't see any BISS sensors listed in the accessory list but why would BLIS be listed as part of the Smart Trailer Tow Connector option in the F150 configurator if the trailer BLIS signals don't go through the connector?
 
Puppethead said:
I wonder if a gooseneck hitch will be supported.
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Pages 21 and 22 of the 2021 towing guild list 5th-wheel and gooseneck towing capacities for the F150. Unfortunately page 41 of the guide indicates that the 5th-Wheel/Gooseneck Hitch Prep Package, which includes an in-bed wiring harness, is only available for the Superduty. So it looks like you will be able to connect a 5th-wheel or gooseneck trailer to the F150 Lighting but you will probably have to go with aftermarket in-bed wiring harness and hitch kit.
 
Texas Niro EV said:
Pages 21 and 22 of the 2021 towing guild list 5th-wheel and gooseneck towing capacities for the F150. Unfortunately page 41 of the guide indicates that the 5th-Wheel/Gooseneck Hitch Prep Package, which includes an in-bed wiring harness, is only available for the Superduty. So it looks like you will be able to connect a 5th-wheel or gooseneck trailer to the F150 Lighting but you will probably have to go with aftermarket in-bed wiring harness and hitch kit.
Click to expand...

Good data and I know you didn't ask the original question, but connecting things is not the concern. You can actually buy the items needed to connect a 5th wheel to a mid size truck. But you almost never see 5th wheels connected to them or even half-tons due to payload and GVWR ratings. F250s and F350s are the correct tool for 5th wheels.

Payload ratings for reference.

F150L 1,380lbs
F250 up to 4,323lbs
F350 up to 7,033lbs


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Texas Niro EV said:
So it looks like you will be able to connect a 5th-wheel or gooseneck trailer to the F150 Lighting but you will probably have to go with aftermarket in-bed wiring harness and hitch kit.
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It looks like an option is available for the F-150, and I did a 3rd party gooseneck hitch for my F-350. But for the F-150 Lighting I guess it all depends on where the batteries and wiring are. Plenty of time to see Ford release details before the Lightning gets to a shipping date, although they could conceivably not offer all configuration options at rollout.
 
Recoil45 said:
Good data and I know you didn't ask the original question, but connecting things is not the concern. You can actually buy the items needed to connect a 5th wheel to a mid size truck. But you almost never see 5th wheels connected to them or even half-tons due to payload and GVWR ratings. F250s and F350s are the correct tool for 5th wheels.

Payload ratings for reference.

F150L 1,380lbs
F250 up to 4,323lbs
F350 up to 7,033lbs


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Its been reported that the F150 will have a cargo capacity of up to 2,000 lbs but will have a towing capacity of up to 10,000 lbs. The towing guild recommends a 15% tongue weight for a gooseneck or 5th-wheel or about 1,500 lbs for the F150 Lightning. If you really want to tow a 5th-wheel with an F150 Lightning you can get 30 foot long RV 5th-wheel that weigh less than 10,000 lbs.


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The chassis.

51223922580_5887d5671b_h.jpg
 
I found a video series on changing out the 7-pin trailer connector installing Ford trailer tire pressure monitor and camera, https://www.youtube.com/c/MyTorino/search?query=trailer camera. The video is for a Superduty but the installation should be the same for the F150. One interesting note is that if your F150 did not come with the trailer camera and TPMS connection you should be able to add one.

Another very interesting thing that is reveled in the video is that the 12-pin camera and TPMS cable is completely separate from the 7-pin brake controller cable. So if you connect up the camera and TPMS you will have two cables going to your trailer, one cable for the lights and brake controller and another for the camera and TPMS.
 
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Puppethead said:
I wonder if a gooseneck hitch will be supported.
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etrailer.com sells a gooseneck hitch for the 5-1/2 foot bed (https://www.etrailer.com/g-2021_Ford_F-150.htm), the same bed as the one on the F150 Lightning, but they do not sell a 5th-wheel hitch for the 5-1/2 foot bed. The gooseneck hitch actually connects to the frame rails under the bed. You would have to remove either the battery or the bed to install the gooseneck hitch and there still may not be enough room around the battery for the gooseneck hitch supports.
 
In reference to mounting either a gooseneck or 5th wheel hitch, look at the chassis picture above, you will notice the battery occupies all the space between the frame rails and wheel wells, it does not extend back over the rear axle where said hitch might be mounted, however there is the placement of the rear motor to be concerned about as far as clearance goes.
 
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Texas Niro EV said:
You would have to remove either the battery or the bed to install the gooseneck hitch and there still may not be enough room around the battery for the gooseneck hitch supports.
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I stand corrected, the gooseneck hitch installs over the rear axle which is where the rear motor is in the F150 Lightning. The installation instruction for the gooseneck hitch say that you don't have to remove the bed or the rear axle to install the hitch. Since Ford provided enough clearance above the ICE axle for a gooseneck hitch then it's possible they provided enough room above the F150 Lightning motor for a gooseneck hitch.

If I had to guess I would say that Ford probably did provide enough room for a gooseneck above the motor. The Supercrew F150 is not the only truck model Ford is going to make all electric. Within a few years we should see EV variants of all the truck models and you can bet that Ford is designing in gooseneck and 5th-wheel hitch adaptation into all the models.
 
The biggest concern I see with any type of hitch is weight distribution. This new truck does not have a solid rear axle, it has independent rear suspension, with what appears to be essentially coil over shocks like the front of current Ford F150's have. It's hard to tell from the photo even for me and suspension is one of my specialties.

It could be air bags inside coil springs for load leveling with separate shocks. In any event I'm fairly confident once these trucks have been on the road a little while, aftermarket companies will make accessories for such needs.
 
5th wheel receivers mostly mount above the bed so battery clearance should not be an issue. If you desire to do it, you will be able to. But you will do what everyone else who tries towing a 5th wheel with a 1/2 ton does after 12 months and that is sell the half ton and buy the 3/4 or 1 ton. It's the wrong tool for the job and it has nothing to do with acceleration or maintaining speed up a grade.


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Recoil45 said:
you will do what everyone else who tries towing a 5th wheel with a 1/2 ton does after 12 months and that is sell the half ton and buy the 3/4 or 1 ton.
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You know every single person on this planet that has used a 5th wheel on a 1/2 ton truck? That's amazing!
 
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