Ahhh, I remember riding on the top bunk of my grandpa's cab over camper back in the 70s. Every time he went around a corner that old truck would sway back and forth from the weight of that giant camper. Too young to realize that thing would disintegrate in an accident but, that's how we rolled back then..
My father had a '70 F-100, w/302 and a highway-geared rear end. He thought he could put a heavy camper on it. Big mistake. The truck was nowhere near equipped to handle the weight. After widened wheels, heavy duty tires, new HD rear springs and shocks, and I can't remember what all parts were installed to try to make it useable, we took a trip from Georgia to Michigan at Easter to visit my mom's sister. Much like your Grandfather's it swayed all over the place. Me and little brother were in the back but whenever we got onto the bunk over the cab, it was almost unmanageable. We both had to ride in the dinette. On the way home, we crossed a bridge with ice on it. The truck swapped ends-twice! The rest of the trip was mostly uneventful but in northern Ohio we hit a nasty headwind that knocked maximum speed down to 40 mph. It took 3 times the amount of fuel coming home as it did going north. After we finally got it home, we cleaned it out and Pop put a for sale sign on it.
An EV truck will sell like hotcakes regardless but not reinventing the wheel but just making it electric and more or less in the price range of regular trucks will guarantee they will have more demand than they will be able to make for some time. The rest are leaving tons of money on the table being slow to market in this segment.
Great project! I can’t wait to see how your journey turns out. Brilliant job on the table, David! Loving those BFGs on the Lightning. Please take a drone with you to capture some aerial shots of the landscapes along your camping trip. Also, please talk about your off-grid experience as much as reasonably possible. Good luck to all of you guys. I hope the Lightning does well!
Awesome video. I love that camper. It's more affordable than I thought. Four wheel campers, you may have just caught a future buyer from this video. Pulling a camper can be a real chore. This would be so much easier and affordable. Thank you for sponsoring TFL and please keep the $11,000 version available. It makes it more accessible to a lot of us.
I can understand why Ford dissuades the masses in general from putting campers on the Lightning: 95% of truck campers on the market exceed the payload rating, except a handful of boutique shops like this that make a barebones setup. They don't want folks thinking they can just swap their 3500lb+ Lance camper sitting on a 2500 diesel dually directly over to the Lightning.
Based on testing that Kyle with Inside EVs did on weight in the bed of the Lightening and the Rivian, the weight of this camper is not a problem. The aerodynamics of the truck will be affected though which is probably going to significantly reduce the range. Any thoughts about using an aerodynamic faring in front of the pop-up to minimize the air drag effects at highway speed?
I once owned a used, 1972 vintage Fourwheel popup camper and am in the process of building from scratch one for an 8 foot flatbed. From experience, I can say that unless you're just building it with plywood, your parts alone will exceed $1,000, even for just a shell. However, I do agree with your principle of building your own, with the features, materials and quality you want and the time you're willing to spend to get there.
@@desertsasquatchxploration1568 'Talga Turf' needs to acknowledge that any home built camper better than a windowless construction of plywood and 2x4s will require hundreds of hours of labor. In addition to the material costs, I've already spent substantially over $2500 for aluminum tubing, aluminum skin, Azdel panels for insulation and skin support, and windows. I still need to buy popup specific components to lift and support the roof, as well as the fabric to build the soft shell material that bridges between the hard shell and the roof. I also still need to get stainless hinges and latches, electrical components, sealants and anything/everything that will be inside the campers.
I have a feeling the upcoming videos are going to be a lot of downtime for charging. This is going to drain the batteries fast probably down to 150 to 200 range. Cool campers but do to inflation those prices have gone up a lot from a couple years back.
I’m thinking same: 200 useful range for the 20-80% battery range that a lot of these seem to charge while travelling. BUT every night, they might get closer to 100% to start the next day with closer to 200.
I really like the respect that you showed that knowledgeable woman despite your research. You are a good man among great company. You are a person worth watching as you show what people should be, smart and kind.
I know this trip is already done but skipping the drive up through the Canadian Rockies was a mistake. Lots of charging places heading up to Jasper from Colorado.
It is cheating, but it kind of seems like they might have figured out how much time it's going to take them with all the charging and decided they couldn't spare that much time away, not creating new content.
Oh sorry, it's not useful for 0.01% of use cases, better scrap the whole project! And before you say anything, I worked for a Ford dealership as an auto detailer and final deliver PDI, where I'd clean the vehicles and install accessories for 4 years. I installed many box liners and tonneau covers, a few back racks, but never have I seen anyone desire a camper on the truck. Most tow their campers to a campsite, and others bring tents. It's super rare to see this sort of setup.
@@Xyler94 that's because most 1500 trucks don't have enough payload for a decent camper. There are tons of campers on 2500 and 3500 trucks, just open your eyes going down the freeway.
@@TS-di5zw right. I know many many people who HAVE to use slide in campers because we all tow boats or trailers with dirt bikes, atvs, rock buggies or sxs's on them
Great video Andre, excited for this series and can't wait to see how adding the camper affects the truck. Loved the tour of 4 wheel campers, it was great to see behind the scenes
Well they're made in California. All the employees probably need to make over $100k annually just to be able to live in something more luxurious than a tent.
Exactly. We’ll just keep driving our 11 Ford pickup that we use as a truck. It’s paid for with low mileage and is very reliable. I can always carry a gas can. It’s too hard to find a plug in station where we go.
Love TFL for the". Ford Says NEVER EVER Put a Camper On The EV F-150 Lightning… So guess what we did". wonder what the result will be. Four Wheel Campers has some serious build quality. Most "campers" are cheap things. The project M is first class all the way. The project M will work, but I think that table is the straw that will break the camels back. That table is responsible for 1-2 miles of range right there. Great sturdy build though kudos to the builder for building it sight unseen.
It's because Ford doesn't want to be embarrassed when the range drops to like 120 miles and becomes totally unusable. Knowing TFL they'll probably be driving this 85 MPH and wondering why the range is only 90 miles, lol.
Have fun! Alaska is a beautiful state. Now for the most important part! Make sure they make the camper mosquito, black fly, and no seeum proof! Also get plenty of deep woods off bug spray! You are going to need it! 🙀😂
My wife and I are scheduled to get our Hawk model 4wheel pop up in September. Ordered it in February. The tail does more to create drag on a camper or trailer. That is why the airstreams are relatively easy to tow. We already have a 27ft travel trailer. But most of the places that we want to go, the trailer will not fit. Also the high winds out West, the high wind restriction is 9ft in height on many highways. So the pop up design can travel safely. My pickup is a Ram1500, my wife has a Ram 2500 with twice the payload.
I think y'all should definitely try to make some sort of spoiler from the windshield up over the top of the camper, it doesn't look very hard at all to do, rather than have a huge air pocket to catch wind, just a thought.
Nicely done video, Andre, thank you! Very innovative camper design. Not sure I'd want to try taking the Lightning as far as you will be going - unless I brought along a generator! Sorry, I still don't buy into the whole electric vehicle concept, they are, as the saying goes, not quite ready for prime time, and as more and more people buy them, neither is the nation's electrical grid! Without a plan to massively upgrade the electrical grid - and build more robust, faster charging, longer range energy storage capacities AND recyclable components, it's putting the cart before the horse.
FYI you could have went 120v to 12 v DC converter and plugged in directly to the pop up camper wiring and it would free up space in back and lower the cost. The lights and fans would probably pull a kilowatt a day, so it would not change battery percentage much on the lightning
While not as dust proof as a slide in, the canopy version of the FWC eats up significantly less payload and the reduced width means less over hang / a better rearward view via the side mirrors. Thank to everyone involved for the tour of the FWC assembly process. It's good to know a quality build is still available in the US. For a build that will not rattle apart while overlanding over rough roads - $26K about right for the base Hawk, which includes a propane furnace, cook stove and a sink.
@Jebus Hypocristos _"Fossil fuel industry pays troll farms online to attack EV promoting videos"_ ---- lol not a surprising thought from someone who thinks they're fighting nazis
Ran into Eric from Brazil in Parachute, CO yesterday. He’s taking his 110 LR TDi on the same trip and you may run into him. About as opposite a conveyance as one could have! His dark blue and white 110 with stickers from all over is quite distinct. If you see him, maybe give him one of your caches. I’m guessing someone else will also find him posted-up somewhere on his way back down the west coast. Truly, a world traveler.
Wow I went to the show room and looked at them when I had a Tacoma in 2018. The prices have gone up significantly. I’m sure the price of aluminum which has quadrupled since the pandemic has played a big part in it. Other materials are outrageous also. Still a good camper but the small door was why I decided against it. I’m tall. The topper was just a prototype back then.
@@LeesChannel All of the shortages are caused by policy...forcing workers to not show up because they might catch a disease whose death rates are similar to the common cold
We just use our pickup for work around our or going to a few good fishing spots. Last summer we had to take the truck to MT to get some tings from the family farm. The pickup is a 11 Ford Ranger XLT super cab 4X4. I added a K&N intake and a 3” FlowMaster exhaust and air shocks. Fully loaded with 70# of air in the shocks and 50# of air in the tires, we got 25mpg with the cruise set on 85mph in MT and then got 26mpg with the cruise set at 75mph in WA. We only have 34K miles on the Ford, so we’ll just keep driving it…, until it drops, (which on a Ranger with the 4.0 V6 is about 250-300K miles). We know this because this is our 4th Ranger.
It's really not, people just get caught up in having the latest and greatest stuff or believe they have to have what the influencer tells them. Part of overlanding fun is building your own set up. You can easily get out there pretty cheap.
@Frugal Family Living exactly I have an 04 dakota with an a.r.e. high rise topper on it I just lay a cot down and organize all my stuff on the other side and it's ready
I wonder if there can be a slide out system to make it more like a cap by eliminating the need of the forward section while driving. It would probably need exterior struts. The exterior struts would just be longer, and there would need to be a rail system out the front for the sleeping compartment. The canvas would be lower with the upper shell protecting while storing. The rail system would need to be able to lock like a towed camper's slide out. That should positively affect the range of the truck hauling it unless the weight of the slide out system and struts is too high. The struts would increase drag, but I doubt it would be anywhere near what the portion above the truck would do. Typically, the slide outs would need another brace though, and I am not sure how that would work other than attaching it to the forward exterior struts with a support beam across the front of the slide out which the rails for the sleeping compartment would attach to. A support beam could be added from front to back structs as well to distribute the weight. The windows could be problematic, and it would be good to have interior struts to use the bed of the truck as well. The weight of the camper is not too much as exterior struts were the original way to actually level a truck camper, and this camper weighs less than that. Those exterior struts could actually level those campers so that the truck bore almost no weight at all while the camper is parked and those struts are also the storage method for the camper. My father used sawhorses under the camper while storing as well to make the struts last longer. Hookups would also be higher if cabinets with water were included, but considering there are flexible hoses, that might be doable with a rail system as well. The rail would let the hookups to the cabinet and to the outside float with the exterior camper wall, and it might be possible to have a floating sink. A range top could also be a smaller unit that attaches to the wall. Storage while hauling would be the sleeping compartment slide out, and there could also be cabinets that attach to the upper exterior wall, which would raise and lower with the wall. This would also have been part of the problem of the exterior struts so again these should not be a problem. The electric truck would also have the advantage of a forward storage compartment, which should be utilized as well. The refrigerator would easily be placed in that area, and that area would also have an electrical outlet for the trip, which eliminates the need to haul propane for the trip.
Beautiful campers. Wow. Melanie is amazing with her interaction. Very impressive how well she verbalizes and conveys the information. She definitely is a great representative for the company.
I have four AGM batteries in my 2021 Embassy Traveler Sport class B Transit 350HD and was advised not to discharge them less than 50% to maintain life span it was designed for. They are not like lithium that can go almost to nothing, as well as maintain a steady voltage as they discharge. Be advised on the AGM's, unless you don't mind buying another battery. Been there and done that...
44k for a pop up camper is just dumb, you can buy a 30' travel trailer with slide outs, living room, full bathroom and kitchen for that. These guys will be lucky to go 220 miles with that camper on the Lighning.
Very cool and enjoyed the factory/how's it made tour too! Really quite an assembly line and their taking orders into 2023, wow. Demand is still high! Can't wait for the next episode, we need them more frequently :D
I don't like the truck BUT the campers are great. I have owned two slide ins in my life time, at 77 years old may not own another. The lady guide was very pleasant. I enjoyed this video very much.
Nicely Built Stuff. If we were still in our 20/30's it would be a NICE UNIT to have. Good Luck on the TRIP. Let's see how "FAR" you get B4 Having getting Nervous about the Charging on the Lightning??? Be Interesting to say the least.
I am guessing you are doing something about the gap above roof of truck and camper. Major resistance there. Even a decent light bar there would be an improvement in aerodynamics.
The Fast Lane Truck, this video was an instant thumbs up 👍🏾 Ever since the Ford Lightning came out I’ve been wondering about ultra-light campers 🤔 Four Wheel Campers make a great product!
I feel like you can build acrylic panels that slot into the back door windows on the truck that can increase the aerodynamic efficiency of the truck without affecting visibility
Big thing a lot of people miss with these campers is the weight with water (wet weight) as well as their other crap. They get stuck on that dry weight metric being 1300 - 1700 lbs and think their good, but then put the water in and wonder why they're pushing 2100+ and the suspension/brakes wear out. I've no experience with air bag lifts and suspension mods so not sure if those would fully mitigate the issue, I've heard differing opinions...
@@stevenlippis5488 it currently isn't possible to drive an EV North of Prince George, BC and the road on the Alaska highway is still washed out. No choice but to take the Alaska Ferry out of Bellingham, WA
Cool series idea!! We have a "vintage" pop-up camper on our 2013 FX4 that we enjoy. I'm very much looking forward to seeing how you guys handle the charging requirements.
I'm excited to see your video. We live in Tacoma now but used to live in Homer, AK 30 years ago. I've made the Alcan drive a few times and it will be interesting to see how it's changed. I also drive a Nissan Leaf so am interested to see how the Lighting does. Have fun.
I'm betting that camper costs at least 25% range penalty as is. Andre mentioned doing something to improve aero so will have to wait and see what all he has planned, but in the current config, my guess is 25% reduction at highway speeds.
Well, the obvious solution to avoid the range penalty is to just carry the camper on the ICE truck and have the EV truck run empty. But that would have left the run with an asterisk - kind of like traveling to northern Alaska on a bicycle, but having a gas-powered camper van following behind you, carrying all of the gear. I also like the demonstration that equipping the camper on the EV truck is, in fact possible, and for trips outside of the Alaskan charging desert, actually practical.
I got a pro tip for you guys, get yourself a small hand held vacuum that charges off of 12v or USB. As you get up north, you’re going to start to see a lot of mosquitoes. After your all in the camper for the night the vacuum is to suck up all the bugs.
So manufacture says do not do it, insurance will insure everything until something happens then they deny your claim since it was out of manufacture spec...and you are now holding the bag, including any personal injury you caused to someone else...a dangerous game.
Some random thoughts: Andre is right to keep it light, but it seems like he's overlooking wind drag. The shovel kit mounted on the side is going to cost some miles of range at highway speed. Is there another place to mount it where it's not in the wind? Maybe an air foil for the front of the camper would help add a few miles, too. Might more solar on the roof would help with opportunistic charging? Also, metric measurements please
There is a preview video they put out and it had an air deflector on the roof of the cab. I do agree with you about external add ons like the shovel kit.
On another video, I guessed 125 miles range. A Ford-fanboi jumped all over me for that estimate. I stick with my original estimate and look forward to R-E-A-L numbers as a tie breaker.
Been driving all electric for 3 years now. Really have enjoyed it, and the needs of towing and hauling big, heavy things is the bastion of my needs for an ICE vehicle. I am excited to see more heavy duty EV's in the coming years. Love this build and your planned journey, will be following along.
Great video, absolutely love the journey I'm sad I missed you guys coming through BC 🇨🇦 would have loved to see you guys, dad would have been super excited. One thing I gotta say though with the camper frames.... The welding.. how are those getting passed?
What an interesting setup for your upcoming “to Alaska” series - I’m looking forward to watching each and every episode! I might have missed it, but did you quote the total weight for the camper, batteries, solar units, etc.?
@21:13 1,326 Lbs “as equipped”. Throw in water, food, clothes, emergency equipment, etc. etc. etc., and add in the weight of the participants, and you’re either at or above the truck’s load rating. Right?
We had a slide in camper in the back of a early 70's F250. Great way to travel, like a turtle with your home on your back. Hmm, prices have gone up a little (a lot).
Great video. Really surprised they didn't go with a 100ah or higher lithium battery, both weight advantage AND output advantage. 100ah lithium are not much more than the AGM battery they are using.
I don’t know why they’re using a separate power system at all. He said they didn’t want to tap into the 12v system on a new truck, which is understandable. However there’s these things called transformers that can convert 120v-12v which are lighter and cheaper than that battery setup they have going…
@@sgibb6802 You can't drive while charging the Lightning, so maybe you can't use the Pro Power Onboard while charging either; that would make the entire concept useless, if the main purpose is to use the canopy\camper while the truck is charging overnight at a campground.
Yes well.....After tring a cab over on my Colorado ZR2 I quickly sold the Northstar 600SS I had bought and looked into the Project M's....To tell the truth....They are a LOT of $$$ and the fuel mileage impact it had brought me to a aluminum Service cab that I picked up used for $1500. Sorry the prices on their campers are pretty unrealistic for a guy like me. Also having a full sized Lance 865 truck camper on my 2500HD Duramax....I was shocked at the fact that a Duramax would give me 14-13MPG VS the 11-13MPG the Northstar brought to my Colorado....With the $$ I saved, I can camp for 2-3 days in my service cab camper and get a nice hotel room every 3rd day when I travel...Not planning on venturing long distances in remote areas in my travels and happy I saved $13K over the cheapest build of a Project M type rig. When I'm in the woods in my ZR2 I also don't have to be concerned about the cab over camper overhang "blind spot" being hit by a tree. I saw a Tacoma with the full Aluma Flat Bed and Woolrich Four Wheel Camper in Cannon Beach Oregon last week and all I could think about is what a challenge it must be to drive that rig on a public road....NOPE won't go there!
By the title I was expecting you to explain why Ford said they didn't want you to do that. So unfortunately you didn't say anything about it in the video, so I have to ask now. Why doesn't Ford want you to put a camper on top of your lightning?
Would have been nice if they'd addressed the question they asked. I'll take a shot at it... In the video where they pick up the truck they show the door sticker that says they have 1686 lbs of cargo capacity. In this video they show that a camper "as equipped" is 1326 lbs; I'm skipping through this TFL infomercial about campers, but I'll assume their camper has similar weight. So that leaves 360 lbs for all cargo. You're only allowed 150 lbs for the weight of the driver, so a 220 lb driver needs to take 70 lbs out of the 360 available. While there's a liability concern on Ford's part, there's also performance. These guys are gonna take a range decrease for the weight and added drag of the camper, plus braking and handling are going to be different. If this was a more average camper at 2500-ish lbs it would put excessive wear on components and would destroy their range.
@@krisbarnard1684 OMG did you come up with that all by yourself? Your so original. Your mommy must be so proud. Now make sure you tighten up your safety helmet so you don't hurt yourself.
Because the lightning is already a heavy draggy brick and any camper is just making it even more of a heavy draggy brick, only one with no extra weight capacity for the gear and supplies required to go camping.
Your statement that the primary consideration for selection of camper top was range is very telling that EVs still fall short of the flexibility of ICE's or even hybrids. Very informative of how all the installers and builders must wear face diapers, but not the hosts or managers, Elites > peons.
You realize the only reason you get the ranges that you do on ICE is because the tank is 7-8x larger than the tank on an EV? Let's make it fair and put 4 gallons in each and do a range test. My guess is the low fuel light never shuts off, truck surges going on the highway, you have range anxiety while looking for the next exit with a gas station.
So the Lighting can't pull a trailer long range and per Ford can't install a on it that's two strikes so far looks like a very short term item a lot of improvements to make for sure and a lack of decent charging stations so basically that's strike three I'm not impressed with the ev
And yet, Ford can't keep them in stock. I want one real bad just for tooling around town. I don't care about range, I don't care about towing and I don't care about campers.
Agreed, that hybrid Tundra is sounding better and better, and I'm a Chevy guy looking to replace a '99 Silverado with a bit over 500k km and counting on the original 5.3 engine and trans, knock on wood 😅 (Redline fluids for the win by the way)
@@scmreport2457 I whole heartedly agree, know what better for fuel economy than a truck too? Pretty much anything lol you made a wise choice that most folks seem to forgo in the name of BiG TrUcK😅 There should be alot more car sales than truck if people actually got the smartest choice for their lifestyle, yet here we are😪
@@coryernewein You underestimate the usefulness of pickup trucks and they are a great family travel vehicle, assuming you have three or less kids. You can take bikes, four wheelers, firewood, basically anything. And you can use them for work. Real men need trucks. You sound like a liberal, worried about what other people drive. Mind your own business and let people buy what they want.
@@cliffordmontana4562 you sir seem wrapped up in the idea that people NEED trucks as opposed to WANT them. The average family or single person does not need a full size truck, and then for people to complain about fuel prices only seems ignorant. Get what you need (minivan for family or a car if you are single as rentals are a thing for that one off trip with the boys), not what you want if you are concerned with having to refuel and the subsequently larger repair costs that go along with it. People can't bitch and moan about carbon only to turn around, buy a truck and lift it 🤣😂 This truck is less usable than the Maverick for most folks and will likely be around longer than the lightning due to battery costs.
To bad your not going to get the whole Alaska Highway experience and will be missing 1500 miles of the trip…but we will welcome you to the Yukon Territory!
They had a recent outbreak which why everyone was masked (per TFLtalk episode today). Makes sense, otherwise half the staff would be home sick especially with all the antivaxers out there
That thing is going to play hell with your range. If you are going camping then go camping and just take a couple of pup tents, they weigh nothing, cost nothing and won't affect the aero dynamics.
When traveling in an EV.. isn’t the actual range always going to be about 60% of range the manufacture claims? We drive faster than 70 mph, never take EV down to 0% and they recommend recharging to 80%. That means stopping every 150 -180 miles for 45 minutes ( 90 minutes or more if having to wait) that just seems like a hassle for road trips. Flying commercial airlines these days is traveling on a greyhound bus with wings so that option is out.
Where are they going to store all the extra mounted tires? In the 90's I worked for a camper rental place in Anchorage and we made people take multiple spares on rims if they wanted to go up the Dalton highway. I think we made these guys take four one time after people earlier in the season took two and it wasn't enough. Although I wouldn't be surprised if they have improved the road over the last thirty years.
Ford will probably be changing their guidance on campers when they see how many of us put Project M's or GoFast Campers (like mine) on our Lightnings. I got a '21 shortbed PowerBoost F150 last year specifically so I could put a GFC on it, and then pop it on over to the Lightning when it comes, because of having the same bed. GFC is about 370 lbs, and is great to camp in the F-150, should be even better in the Lightning, as can keep more stuff in the frunk. Although I will miss the 500 mile range of the PowerBoost with the big gas tank! For now, I am waiting to see how TFL's Lightning range does with this setup, which is probably just a little more weight and drag than my GFC will be.
We have a 2021 PowerBoost Hybrid with an OVRLND popup very similar to the Project M. We have a2022 Lightning ordered and coming sometime this year. We will switch the camper over to it. It is a great setup but when the truck is fully loaded with the two of us and our interior buildout the truck is right at its 1380 pound payload. The Lightning has a higher payload than our Lariat trim PowerBoost Hybrid. We lost about 10% in fuel economy so hoping range loss will be fairly low on the Lightning. We will add a fairing to the Lightning to reduce drag which we haven’t done on the PowerBoost Hybrid. We will be watching this series closely.
replace that AGM battery with a Lithium battery, probably save some weight and get more power at the same time. Can't believe companies are still using AGMs. Some nice campers.
Why on earth did they use a AGM battery? Twice the weight and half the useable power compared to a Lifepo4 batteries. Newer Lifepo4 batteries have heaters and low temperature disconnect.
Holy mackerel -- you can spend a *TON* on these truck-based campers! Anywhere from about $10K to $100K -- hell of a range there! I had no idea they could get that expensive -- and that fancy!
The air resistance and weight would degrade the already short range it has and the trip computer isn't set up for calculating range drop the way it can for trailers.
If, for some reason, it experiences thermal runaway and catches on fire, I would hate to be the FD that has to deal with that 7 day burn, with a noxious camper fire on top.
@@anydaynow01 actually it does. You just have to input how much “cargo” you are going to haul/tow. In previous videos they show you the added tow/cargo and it gave the estimate range. But for sure range does drop when it’s loaded.
Yes, any EV can do Level 2 AC charging from the NEMA 14-50 receptacle at a campground if you have a portable charger. I think you’re limited to 9.6kW in that configuration.
TFL, I know you CAN sleep in the camper while charging, but safety is the question. How many news stories would you like me to send to you regarding Teslas catching fire while charging? No EV manufacturer is going to say it is ok to charge the vehicle while you are sleeping in it.
@@gr8705 Tesla’s literally have camping mode in their touchscreen and we have slept in our Model S using our DreamCase many times, and daily, millions and millions of people globally remain in their vehicle while charging. Far far more gas vehicles catch fire every day compared to Tesla’s. I’ve personally seen at 4 gas cars on fire this past year alone on the side of the road in California while driving.
Ahhh, I remember riding on the top bunk of my grandpa's cab over camper back in the 70s. Every time he went around a corner that old truck would sway back and forth from the weight of that giant camper. Too young to realize that thing would disintegrate in an accident but, that's how we rolled back then..
I did the some things. Made daddy stop so I could get up front. Got very car sick
My father had a '70 F-100, w/302 and a highway-geared rear end. He thought he could put a heavy camper on it. Big mistake. The truck was nowhere near equipped to handle the weight. After widened wheels, heavy duty tires, new HD rear springs and shocks, and I can't remember what all parts were installed to try to make it useable, we took a trip from Georgia to Michigan at Easter to visit my mom's sister. Much like your Grandfather's it swayed all over the place. Me and little brother were in the back but whenever we got onto the bunk over the cab, it was almost unmanageable. We both had to ride in the dinette. On the way home, we crossed a bridge with ice on it. The truck swapped ends-twice! The rest of the trip was mostly uneventful but in northern Ohio we hit a nasty headwind that knocked maximum speed down to 40 mph. It took 3 times the amount of fuel coming home as it did going north. After we finally got it home, we cleaned it out and Pop put a for sale sign on it.
Ah yes. Riding in the “Poopdeck” as we called it. Lol
My mom and sister and sometimes a cousin spent so much time doing the same on the way to the lake in the summer and to Tahoe in the winter....
I love that you can just drop in any normal f150 accessories into the lightning.
An EV truck will sell like hotcakes regardless but not reinventing the wheel but just making it electric and more or less in the price range of regular trucks will guarantee they will have more demand than they will be able to make for some time. The rest are leaving tons of money on the table being slow to market in this segment.
This is why Ford is positioned for success.
@@JeremyTerhunethis has aged well.
Great project! I can’t wait to see how your journey turns out. Brilliant job on the table, David! Loving those BFGs on the Lightning.
Please take a drone with you to capture some aerial shots of the landscapes along your camping trip. Also, please talk about your off-grid experience as much as reasonably possible.
Good luck to all of you guys. I hope the Lightning does well!
If you bring a drone make sure someone has part 107 certification. It would make for some great footage!
Awesome video. I love that camper. It's more affordable than I thought. Four wheel campers, you may have just caught a future buyer from this video. Pulling a camper can be a real chore. This would be so much easier and affordable. Thank you for sponsoring TFL and please keep the $11,000 version available. It makes it more accessible to a lot of us.
I can understand why Ford dissuades the masses in general from putting campers on the Lightning: 95% of truck campers on the market exceed the payload rating, except a handful of boutique shops like this that make a barebones setup. They don't want folks thinking they can just swap their 3500lb+ Lance camper sitting on a 2500 diesel dually directly over to the Lightning.
Yep, truck campers are quite heavy. The desirable ones that get people excited need a 3/4 ton at least.
@@volvo09 unless you get a host or eagle cap then you need a f550 lol
Pretty sure they scared the truck will explode with a family sleeping in the back lol.
No such thing as a 2500 diesel dually.
@Dylan Luhowy what would the world do without people like you Dylan? You're the life blood of the internet, keep it up, it's God's work.
Based on testing that Kyle with Inside EVs did on weight in the bed of the Lightening and the Rivian, the weight of this camper is not a problem.
The aerodynamics of the truck will be affected though which is probably going to significantly reduce the range.
Any thoughts about using an aerodynamic faring in front of the pop-up to minimize the air drag effects at highway speed?
Yep. I was surprised the camper did not come with slightly better aerodynamics.
So excited for this series! Glad you guys get another shot at a long trip after the original no pavement needed
Dave could have made this whole pop up camper by himself for under 1,000$.
Very ingenious man
I once owned a used, 1972 vintage Fourwheel popup camper and am in the process of building from scratch one for an 8 foot flatbed.
From experience, I can say that unless you're just building it with plywood, your parts alone will exceed $1,000, even for just a shell.
However, I do agree with your principle of building your own, with the features, materials and quality you want and the time you're willing to spend to get there.
@@desertsasquatchxploration1568 to I know I could go to home Depot and build a basic no thrills camper for less than $1000
@@desertsasquatchxploration1568 'Talga Turf' needs to acknowledge that any home built camper better than a windowless construction of plywood and 2x4s will require hundreds of hours of labor. In addition to the material costs, I've already spent substantially over $2500 for aluminum tubing, aluminum skin, Azdel panels for insulation and skin support, and windows. I still need to buy popup specific components to lift and support the roof, as well as the fabric to build the soft shell material that bridges between the hard shell and the roof. I also still need to get stainless hinges and latches, electrical components, sealants and anything/everything that will be inside the campers.
@@desertsasquatchxploration1568 Good profession.
It's easy to do when you don't pay yourself!
Now you'll have a place to nap every hour or so while recharging! 🤠
🤣🤣🤣
I have a feeling the upcoming videos are going to be a lot of downtime for charging. This is going to drain the batteries fast probably down to 150 to 200 range. Cool campers but do to inflation those prices have gone up a lot from a couple years back.
I’m thinking same: 200 useful range for the 20-80% battery range that a lot of these seem to charge while travelling. BUT every night, they might get closer to 100% to start the next day with closer to 200.
I really like the respect that you showed that knowledgeable woman despite your research. You are a good man among great company. You are a person worth watching as you show what people should be, smart and kind.
100% agreed. Classy shop tour. Andre is a gentleman.
I know this trip is already done but skipping the drive up through the Canadian Rockies was a mistake. Lots of charging places heading up to Jasper from Colorado.
Nobody wants to drive through a communist nation. TFL guys aren't stupid.
Going to say the same thing. Kind of cheating.
It is cheating, but it kind of seems like they might have figured out how much time it's going to take them with all the charging and decided they couldn't spare that much time away, not creating new content.
@@JwLincolnTC taking a ferry to bypass all of Canada is pretty much cheating yes
I gotta say, I don’t think I would like drilling holes into my brand new truck bed.
Why not?
@@seeno1 because when you take it off to sell the pickup, you’re gonna have 4-6 ugly holes on the top of your bed.
@@AnontheGOAT alittle bondo can fix that!
if you can't put a camper on a lightning. then its not a good replacement for a gasser.
It's not if you plan to use it as a truck at all.
Oh sorry, it's not useful for 0.01% of use cases, better scrap the whole project!
And before you say anything, I worked for a Ford dealership as an auto detailer and final deliver PDI, where I'd clean the vehicles and install accessories for 4 years. I installed many box liners and tonneau covers, a few back racks, but never have I seen anyone desire a camper on the truck. Most tow their campers to a campsite, and others bring tents. It's super rare to see this sort of setup.
@@Xyler94 that's because most 1500 trucks don't have enough payload for a decent camper. There are tons of campers on 2500 and 3500 trucks, just open your eyes going down the freeway.
@@TS-di5zw right. I know many many people who HAVE to use slide in campers because we all tow boats or trailers with dirt bikes, atvs, rock buggies or sxs's on them
Great video Andre, excited for this series and can't wait to see how adding the camper affects the truck. Loved the tour of 4 wheel campers, it was great to see behind the scenes
Lol 44k for a tiny truck bed camper 😂
Yeah don't take these guys camper shopping with you.
It's not even a camper. It's a shell.
What 44k for that camper and why ford said not to put a camper on the truck, it’s a truck.
About 10 times what it’s worth
Well they're made in California. All the employees probably need to make over $100k annually just to be able to live in something more luxurious than a tent.
Paying that much money for a truck and being told you can't use a truck for truck things . Pass !
I get it. But Last century people said same (kind of) thing about cars vs horses.
Exactly.
We’ll just keep driving our 11 Ford pickup that we use as a truck.
It’s paid for with low mileage and is very reliable.
I can always carry a gas can. It’s too hard to find a plug in station where we go.
Ford....lame tough!🚮
For those prices you can get an entire travel trailer with better accommodations.
Exactly, this was a kiss butt video to get free or discounted junk bed camper
Love TFL for the". Ford Says NEVER EVER Put a Camper On The EV F-150 Lightning… So guess what we did". wonder what the result will be. Four Wheel Campers has some serious build quality. Most "campers" are cheap things. The project M is first class all the way. The project M will work, but I think that table is the straw that will break the camels back. That table is responsible for 1-2 miles of range right there. Great sturdy build though kudos to the builder for building it sight unseen.
It's because Ford doesn't want to be embarrassed when the range drops to like 120 miles and becomes totally unusable. Knowing TFL they'll probably be driving this 85 MPH and wondering why the range is only 90 miles, lol.
I'd say it's a battery fire issue not the range.
@@79stroker I guess it's the same thing if you try to drill a hole in a gas tank while installing a camper
Voided Warranty?
Have fun! Alaska is a beautiful state. Now for the most important part! Make sure they make the camper mosquito, black fly, and no seeum proof! Also get plenty of deep woods off bug spray! You are going to need it! 🙀😂
Those are some beautiful and functional camper setups. Thanks for the tour of the process. It looks swell on that F150. 👍👍
My wife and I are scheduled to get our Hawk model 4wheel pop up in September. Ordered it in February. The tail does more to create drag on a camper or trailer. That is why the airstreams are relatively easy to tow. We already have a 27ft travel trailer. But most of the places that we want to go, the trailer will not fit. Also the high winds out West, the high wind restriction is 9ft in height on many highways. So the pop up design can travel safely.
My pickup is a Ram1500, my wife has a Ram 2500 with twice the payload.
I think y'all should definitely try to make some sort of spoiler from the windshield up over the top of the camper, it doesn't look very hard at all to do, rather than have a huge air pocket to catch wind, just a thought.
I love the whole “How It’s Made” aspect to this episode!
Nicely done video, Andre, thank you! Very innovative camper design. Not sure I'd want to try taking the Lightning as far as you will be going - unless I brought along a generator! Sorry, I still don't buy into the whole electric vehicle concept, they are, as the saying goes, not quite ready for prime time, and as more and more people buy them, neither is the nation's electrical grid! Without a plan to massively upgrade the electrical grid - and build more robust, faster charging, longer range energy storage capacities AND recyclable components, it's putting the cart before the horse.
So good to see a small manufacturer doing so well.
FYI you could have went 120v to 12 v DC converter and plugged in directly to the pop up camper wiring and it would free up space in back and lower the cost. The lights and fans would probably pull a kilowatt a day, so it would not change battery percentage much on the lightning
I was just at the Rancho Cucamonga show room yesterday! been eyeing a pop up camper for a long time now
Sorry guys but this video is nothing but a hidden ad for ****campers.
Not hidden, it is mentioned at the beginning and in.the description
While not as dust proof as a slide in, the canopy version of the FWC eats up significantly less payload and the reduced width means less over hang / a better rearward view via the side mirrors.
Thank to everyone involved for the tour of the FWC assembly process. It's good to know a quality build is still available in the US. For a build that will not rattle apart while overlanding over rough roads - $26K about right for the base Hawk, which includes a propane furnace, cook stove and a sink.
Lots of negative nannies! You guys are pioneers!!! Way to go and keep it up 👍
Diminishing returns. Want more range? Remove weight instead of adding.
@Jebus Hypocristos _"Fossil fuel industry pays troll farms online to attack EV promoting videos"_ ---- lol not a surprising thought from someone who thinks they're fighting nazis
@Jebus Hypocristos put your tinfoil hat down
@Jebus Hypocristos Crazy thought. Maybe people dont like electric vehicles because they currently suck and are being forced by the government.
Ran into Eric from Brazil in Parachute, CO yesterday. He’s taking his 110 LR TDi on the same trip and you may run into him. About as opposite a conveyance as one could have! His dark blue and white 110 with stickers from all over is quite distinct. If you see him, maybe give him one of your caches. I’m guessing someone else will also find him posted-up somewhere on his way back down the west coast. Truly, a world traveler.
Wow I went to the show room and looked at them when I had a Tacoma in 2018. The prices have gone up significantly. I’m sure the price of aluminum which has quadrupled since the pandemic has played a big part in it. Other materials are outrageous also. Still a good camper but the small door was why I decided against it. I’m tall. The topper was just a prototype back then.
I work in manufacturing - can confirm that aluminum prices are outrageous right now.
@@Goodbarsix Does this have anything to do with that dumb embargo/tariff on Canadian aluminum?
@@LeesChannel Not as far as I know. More of a substantial surge in demand.
@@LeesChannel All of the shortages are caused by policy...forcing workers to not show up because they might catch a disease whose death rates are similar to the common cold
We no longer camp. We usually rent an Airbnb or perhaps a nice hotel near hiking trails or fishing holes.
So now I have a 100 k truck that can go 150 miles lol
With that camper it may not even do 150 miles at highway speeds.
With a cardboard box and tent
We just use our pickup for work around our or going to a few good fishing spots.
Last summer we had to take the truck to MT to get some tings from the family farm.
The pickup is a 11 Ford Ranger XLT super cab 4X4. I added a K&N intake and a 3” FlowMaster exhaust and air shocks. Fully loaded with 70# of air in the shocks and 50# of air in the tires, we got 25mpg with the cruise set on 85mph in MT and then got 26mpg with the cruise set at 75mph in WA.
We only have 34K miles on the Ford, so we’ll just keep driving it…, until it drops, (which on a Ranger with the 4.0 V6 is about 250-300K miles). We know this because this is our 4th Ranger.
Overlanding is insanely expensive.
It's really not, people just get caught up in having the latest and greatest stuff or believe they have to have what the influencer tells them. Part of overlanding fun is building your own set up. You can easily get out there pretty cheap.
Truck Camper shells are not cheap and cumbersome. For that reason I'd rather buy SUV instead of truck
It takes big bucks to shit in a bucket!
@Frugal Family Living exactly I have an 04 dakota with an a.r.e. high rise topper on it I just lay a cot down and organize all my stuff on the other side and it's ready
@@nomadman2884 Nah man it is freaking expensive. No such thing as cheap in 2022 unless you already own everything.
I wonder if there can be a slide out system to make it more like a cap by eliminating the need of the forward section while driving. It would probably need exterior struts. The exterior struts would just be longer, and there would need to be a rail system out the front for the sleeping compartment. The canvas would be lower with the upper shell protecting while storing. The rail system would need to be able to lock like a towed camper's slide out. That should positively affect the range of the truck hauling it unless the weight of the slide out system and struts is too high. The struts would increase drag, but I doubt it would be anywhere near what the portion above the truck would do. Typically, the slide outs would need another brace though, and I am not sure how that would work other than attaching it to the forward exterior struts with a support beam across the front of the slide out which the rails for the sleeping compartment would attach to. A support beam could be added from front to back structs as well to distribute the weight. The windows could be problematic, and it would be good to have interior struts to use the bed of the truck as well. The weight of the camper is not too much as exterior struts were the original way to actually level a truck camper, and this camper weighs less than that. Those exterior struts could actually level those campers so that the truck bore almost no weight at all while the camper is parked and those struts are also the storage method for the camper. My father used sawhorses under the camper while storing as well to make the struts last longer. Hookups would also be higher if cabinets with water were included, but considering there are flexible hoses, that might be doable with a rail system as well. The rail would let the hookups to the cabinet and to the outside float with the exterior camper wall, and it might be possible to have a floating sink. A range top could also be a smaller unit that attaches to the wall.
Storage while hauling would be the sleeping compartment slide out, and there could also be cabinets that attach to the upper exterior wall, which would raise and lower with the wall. This would also have been part of the problem of the exterior struts so again these should not be a problem. The electric truck would also have the advantage of a forward storage compartment, which should be utilized as well. The refrigerator would easily be placed in that area, and that area would also have an electrical outlet for the trip, which eliminates the need to haul propane for the trip.
Beautiful campers. Wow.
Melanie is amazing with her interaction. Very impressive how well she verbalizes and conveys the information. She definitely is a great representative for the company.
I have four AGM batteries in my 2021 Embassy Traveler Sport class B Transit 350HD and was advised not to discharge them less than 50% to maintain life span it was designed for. They are not like lithium that can go almost to nothing, as well as maintain a steady voltage as they discharge. Be advised on the AGM's, unless you don't mind buying another battery. Been there and done that...
and they weigh twice as much as lithium.
44k for a pop up camper is just dumb, you can buy a 30' travel trailer with slide outs, living room, full bathroom and kitchen for that. These guys will be lucky to go 220 miles with that camper on the Lighning.
Cool camper. Enjoyed the tour of the California manufacturing facility.
I understand the reasoning behind the video, but it was kind of annoying to watch one big advertisement for the camper company
I was able to get the Tupperware with shirt and belt buckle, awesome thanks guys!!!
I like the table built by David.
Very cool and enjoyed the factory/how's it made tour too! Really quite an assembly line and their taking orders into 2023, wow. Demand is still high! Can't wait for the next episode, we need them more frequently :D
I don't like the truck BUT the campers are great. I have owned two slide ins in my life time, at 77 years old may not own another. The lady guide was very pleasant. I enjoyed this video very much.
Nicely Built Stuff. If we were still in our 20/30's it would be a NICE UNIT to have. Good Luck on the TRIP. Let's see how "FAR" you get B4 Having getting Nervous about the Charging on the Lightning??? Be Interesting to say the least.
I am guessing you are doing something about the gap above roof of truck and camper. Major resistance there. Even a decent light bar there would be an improvement in aerodynamics.
Yes,they did
The Fast Lane Truck, this video was an instant thumbs up 👍🏾 Ever since the Ford Lightning came out I’ve been wondering about ultra-light campers 🤔 Four Wheel Campers make a great product!
I feel like you can build acrylic panels that slot into the back door windows on the truck that can increase the aerodynamic efficiency of the truck without affecting visibility
Big thing a lot of people miss with these campers is the weight with water (wet weight) as well as their other crap. They get stuck on that dry weight metric being 1300 - 1700 lbs and think their good, but then put the water in and wonder why they're pushing 2100+ and the suspension/brakes wear out. I've no experience with air bag lifts and suspension mods so not sure if those would fully mitigate the issue, I've heard differing opinions...
Really misleading statement by TFL saying they're driving a Lightning with a camper to Alaska when the manufacturer calls it a "Topper".
I thought the misleading part was where they said they were driving a lightning to Alaska given they're shipping it straight there.
You both should probably get a life to be concerned over a damn video
@@luckedoutboi we’re all here watching it right? Not allowed to have a opinion?
@@stevenlippis5488 it currently isn't possible to drive an EV North of Prince George, BC and the road on the Alaska highway is still washed out. No choice but to take the Alaska Ferry out of Bellingham, WA
@@luckedoutboi You should probably get a life to be concerned over a damn comment.
I think this is going to be a fun series. But nothing to learn though. I mean, it's gonna do great riding on a ferry!
Cool series idea!! We have a "vintage" pop-up camper on our 2013 FX4 that we enjoy. I'm very much looking forward to seeing how you guys handle the charging requirements.
Maybe in a pinch they can charge the truck with the USB ports in the camper lol
Haha! I bet someone somewhere thinks that would work ;)
@@daves4202 no way, the Jackery 2000 would juice it up in no time. 😉
I'm excited to see your video. We live in Tacoma now but used to live in Homer, AK 30 years ago. I've made the Alcan drive a few times and it will be interesting to see how it's changed. I also drive a Nissan Leaf so am interested to see how the Lighting does. Have fun.
I'm betting that camper costs at least 25% range penalty as is. Andre mentioned doing something to improve aero so will have to wait and see what all he has planned, but in the current config, my guess is 25% reduction at highway speeds.
Well, the obvious solution to avoid the range penalty is to just carry the camper on the ICE truck and have the EV truck run empty. But that would have left the run with an asterisk - kind of like traveling to northern Alaska on a bicycle, but having a gas-powered camper van following behind you, carrying all of the gear.
I also like the demonstration that equipping the camper on the EV truck is, in fact possible, and for trips outside of the Alaskan charging desert, actually practical.
I got a pro tip for you guys, get yourself a small hand held vacuum that charges off of 12v or USB. As you get up north, you’re going to start to see a lot of mosquitoes. After your all in the camper for the night the vacuum is to suck up all the bugs.
So manufacture says do not do it, insurance will insure everything until something happens then they deny your claim since it was out of manufacture spec...and you are now holding the bag, including any personal injury you caused to someone else...a dangerous game.
I’ve had one for about 6 months, its been good so far but I use it in the Pacific Northwest. I haven’t needed to apply any aftermarket measures.
Some random thoughts: Andre is right to keep it light, but it seems like he's overlooking wind drag. The shovel kit mounted on the side is going to cost some miles of range at highway speed. Is there another place to mount it where it's not in the wind? Maybe an air foil for the front of the camper would help add a few miles, too. Might more solar on the roof would help with opportunistic charging? Also, metric measurements please
There is a preview video they put out and it had an air deflector on the roof of the cab. I do agree with you about external add ons like the shovel kit.
Shovel point to front and curved in..
EXCELLENT AND VERY INFORMATIVE VIDEO ! Very well done and their g.m., did a fantastic presentation. Simply epic video !
Thirty minute ad placement.
@@jasonbilek764 it’s not a road trip to Alaska. They’re shipping the truck there and driving it around for a bit.
That's what we're all here for.
For truck accessories. That's why we are watching...
Go Norweld! @24:14
We invented the 'Ute' in Australia! :)
Seems like a large portion of the trip is just hauling the truck on the ferry. So really it's not a true driving trip up to Alaska.
I enjoyed the 4 Wheeler factory tour, nice going!
Really interested in how this effects range. Camper and tires I’m thinking it will be close to 200 miles
There was another video from a different youtuber he towed a tent trailer and got 1.9 miles to a kwh
I think around 125 miles
100 if lucky
On another video, I guessed 125 miles range. A Ford-fanboi jumped all over me for that estimate. I stick with my original estimate and look forward to R-E-A-L numbers as a tie breaker.
100 miles. count on it. unless they drive at 55mph.
Clamps vs bolts would be the least of my worries for that road that wiring harness in that camper would be my biggest concern
Been driving all electric for 3 years now. Really have enjoyed it, and the needs of towing and hauling big, heavy things is the bastion of my needs for an ICE vehicle. I am excited to see more heavy duty EV's in the coming years. Love this build and your planned journey, will be following along.
@UCTgUR5Ypq4sxEsNxe-jSJbg Huh? I won something? Is this legit?
Nope, it’s a scam. We do not giveaway stuff based on comments
Great video, absolutely love the journey I'm sad I missed you guys coming through BC 🇨🇦 would have loved to see you guys, dad would have been super excited. One thing I gotta say though with the camper frames.... The welding.. how are those getting passed?
What an interesting setup for your upcoming “to Alaska” series - I’m looking forward to watching each and every episode! I might have missed it, but did you quote the total weight for the camper, batteries, solar units, etc.?
@21:13 1,326 Lbs “as equipped”. Throw in water, food, clothes, emergency equipment, etc. etc. etc., and add in the weight of the participants, and you’re either at or above the truck’s load rating. Right?
@21:05 they chose the Project M because it's "under 400 lbs" the 1,326 was for one of the floor models
We had a slide in camper in the back of a early 70's F250. Great way to travel, like a turtle with your home on your back. Hmm, prices have gone up a little (a lot).
Great video. Really surprised they didn't go with a 100ah or higher lithium battery, both weight advantage AND output advantage. 100ah lithium are not much more than the AGM battery they are using.
Lithium would severely limit it’s operating temperature range, which would be bad for an over lander design
I don’t know why they’re using a separate power system at all. He said they didn’t want to tap into the 12v system on a new truck, which is understandable. However there’s these things called transformers that can convert 120v-12v which are lighter and cheaper than that battery setup they have going…
@@sgibb6802 You can't drive while charging the Lightning, so maybe you can't use the Pro Power Onboard while charging either; that would make the entire concept useless, if the main purpose is to use the canopy\camper while the truck is charging overnight at a campground.
@@Cloud30000 I haven’t seen or heard that you can’t charge and use pro power at the same time. But good point
@@Cloud30000 Newer Lifepo4 batteries can be all weather. Low temperature charging disconnect and built-in heaters for cold weather charging.
So you’re going to take a ferry for half of the journey? Haha man up TFL
Probably a tow truck or trailer to tow electric vehicle with dead battery
Yes well.....After tring a cab over on my Colorado ZR2 I quickly sold the Northstar 600SS I had bought and looked into the Project M's....To tell the truth....They are a LOT of $$$ and the fuel mileage impact it had brought me to a aluminum Service cab that I picked up used for $1500. Sorry the prices on their campers are pretty unrealistic for a guy like me. Also having a full sized Lance 865 truck camper on my 2500HD Duramax....I was shocked at the fact that a Duramax would give me 14-13MPG VS the 11-13MPG the Northstar brought to my Colorado....With the $$ I saved, I can camp for 2-3 days in my service cab camper and get a nice hotel room every 3rd day when I travel...Not planning on venturing long distances in remote areas in my travels and happy I saved $13K over the cheapest build of a Project M type rig. When I'm in the woods in my ZR2 I also don't have to be concerned about the cab over camper overhang "blind spot" being hit by a tree. I saw a Tacoma with the full Aluma Flat Bed and Woolrich Four Wheel Camper in Cannon Beach Oregon last week and all I could think about is what a challenge it must be to drive that rig on a public road....NOPE won't go there!
By the title I was expecting you to explain why Ford said they didn't want you to do that. So unfortunately you didn't say anything about it in the video, so I have to ask now. Why doesn't Ford want you to put a camper on top of your lightning?
thanks for saving me a half hour.
Would have been nice if they'd addressed the question they asked. I'll take a shot at it...
In the video where they pick up the truck they show the door sticker that says they have 1686 lbs of cargo capacity. In this video they show that a camper "as equipped" is 1326 lbs; I'm skipping through this TFL infomercial about campers, but I'll assume their camper has similar weight. So that leaves 360 lbs for all cargo. You're only allowed 150 lbs for the weight of the driver, so a 220 lb driver needs to take 70 lbs out of the 360 available. While there's a liability concern on Ford's part, there's also performance. These guys are gonna take a range decrease for the weight and added drag of the camper, plus braking and handling are going to be different. If this was a more average camper at 2500-ish lbs it would put excessive wear on components and would destroy their range.
Because its not a real truck
@@krisbarnard1684 OMG did you come up with that all by yourself? Your so original. Your mommy must be so proud. Now make sure you tighten up your safety helmet so you don't hurt yourself.
Because the lightning is already a heavy draggy brick and any camper is just making it even more of a heavy draggy brick, only one with no extra weight capacity for the gear and supplies required to go camping.
Your statement that the primary consideration for selection of camper top was range is very telling that EVs still fall short of the flexibility of ICE's or even hybrids. Very informative of how all the installers and builders must wear face diapers, but not the hosts or managers, Elites > peons.
You realize the only reason you get the ranges that you do on ICE is because the tank is 7-8x larger than the tank on an EV? Let's make it fair and put 4 gallons in each and do a range test. My guess is the low fuel light never shuts off, truck surges going on the highway, you have range anxiety while looking for the next exit with a gas station.
So the Lighting can't pull a trailer long range and per Ford can't install a on it that's two strikes so far looks like a very short term item a lot of improvements to make for sure and a lack of decent charging stations so basically that's strike three I'm not impressed with the ev
And yet, Ford can't keep them in stock. I want one real bad just for tooling around town. I don't care about range, I don't care about towing and I don't care about campers.
@@alexzabala2154 hope you get one
Just because they don’t work for some doesn’t mean it won’t for you
God bless
@@shanechepren8119 that’s a major portion of the truck market.
Agreed, that hybrid Tundra is sounding better and better, and I'm a Chevy guy looking to replace a '99 Silverado with a bit over 500k km and counting on the original 5.3 engine and trans, knock on wood 😅 (Redline fluids for the win by the way)
@@BillLaBrie 80% of most pickup owners don't use their trucks for hauling/towing anything at all. Lightning is a good truck for them.
Thinking of getting the latest 8-ft (bed) Tundra and this project M camper.
Will be a great truck to replace the family crossover... and do the same amount of work too🙃
Trucks are very inconvenient for families. Suvs are better. I sold my Ram and bought a 4x4 SUV
Only way I will upgrade to electric vehicle is if they make the Tahoe, Suburban, Escalade, Yukon electric
@@scmreport2457 I whole heartedly agree, know what better for fuel economy than a truck too? Pretty much anything lol you made a wise choice that most folks seem to forgo in the name of BiG TrUcK😅 There should be alot more car sales than truck if people actually got the smartest choice for their lifestyle, yet here we are😪
@@coryernewein You underestimate the usefulness of pickup trucks and they are a great family travel vehicle, assuming you have three or less kids. You can take bikes, four wheelers, firewood, basically anything. And you can use them for work. Real men need trucks. You sound like a liberal, worried about what other people drive. Mind your own business and let people buy what they want.
@@cliffordmontana4562 you sir seem wrapped up in the idea that people NEED trucks as opposed to WANT them. The average family or single person does not need a full size truck, and then for people to complain about fuel prices only seems ignorant.
Get what you need (minivan for family or a car if you are single as rentals are a thing for that one off trip with the boys), not what you want if you are concerned with having to refuel and the subsequently larger repair costs that go along with it. People can't bitch and moan about carbon only to turn around, buy a truck and lift it 🤣😂
This truck is less usable than the Maverick for most folks and will likely be around longer than the lightning due to battery costs.
To bad your not going to get the whole Alaska Highway experience and will be missing 1500 miles of the trip…but we will welcome you to the Yukon Territory!
Lol the employees have to wear face diapers but the boss doesn't, just like California politicians 🤣😂🤣
I noticed the same thing.
I was coming to the comments to make the same statement. Rules for thee but not for me
Yeah. I won’t spend a nickel with a company like that.
Glad everyone knows exactly what their workplace requirements are while you pass judgement. 🙄
They had a recent outbreak which why everyone was masked (per TFLtalk episode today). Makes sense, otherwise half the staff would be home sick especially with all the antivaxers out there
That thing is going to play hell with your range. If you are going camping then go camping and just take a couple of pup tents, they weigh nothing, cost nothing and won't affect the aero dynamics.
When traveling in an EV.. isn’t the actual range always going to be about 60% of range the manufacture claims? We drive faster than 70 mph, never take EV down to 0% and they recommend recharging to 80%. That means stopping every 150 -180 miles for 45 minutes ( 90 minutes or more if having to wait) that just seems like a hassle for road trips. Flying commercial airlines these days is traveling on a greyhound bus with wings so that option is out.
Yep, it’s very obviously not made to be a road trip vehicle
The range is actually a projected range.
It doesn't take 45 minutes to charge from 20% to 80%, it does take 41 minutes on a 150kW charger and less on a 350kW (if you can find one).
@@brownro214 only supports up to 170 kw
Where are they going to store all the extra mounted tires? In the 90's I worked for a camper rental place in Anchorage and we made people take multiple spares on rims if they wanted to go up the Dalton highway. I think we made these guys take four one time after people earlier in the season took two and it wasn't enough. Although I wouldn't be surprised if they have improved the road over the last thirty years.
I found this video to be very informative and interesting!!!!!!!!!
A truck should be made to carry a camper or bulky cargo. For what other reason would anyone buy a truck?
I’d just buy a topper for all the gear, remove rear seats and sleep in the cab with a/c…
You may never wake up if you leave the ac on overnight
@@redneckedition1608 😂😂😂😂😂 special education child.
@@redneckedition1608 😂 it's an electric truck
Ford will probably be changing their guidance on campers when they see how many of us put Project M's or GoFast Campers (like mine) on our Lightnings. I got a '21 shortbed PowerBoost F150 last year specifically so I could put a GFC on it, and then pop it on over to the Lightning when it comes, because of having the same bed. GFC is about 370 lbs, and is great to camp in the F-150, should be even better in the Lightning, as can keep more stuff in the frunk. Although I will miss the 500 mile range of the PowerBoost with the big gas tank! For now, I am waiting to see how TFL's Lightning range does with this setup, which is probably just a little more weight and drag than my GFC will be.
We have a 2021 PowerBoost Hybrid with an OVRLND popup very similar to the Project M. We have a2022 Lightning ordered and coming sometime this year. We will switch the camper over to it. It is a great setup but when the truck is fully loaded with the two of us and our interior buildout the truck is right at its 1380 pound payload. The Lightning has a higher payload than our Lariat trim PowerBoost Hybrid. We lost about 10% in fuel economy so hoping range loss will be fairly low on the Lightning. We will add a fairing to the Lightning to reduce drag which we haven’t done on the PowerBoost Hybrid. We will be watching this series closely.
"The Lightning is so new we did not want to open any wires," but you didn't mind drilling holes in the bed rails?
replace that AGM battery with a Lithium battery, probably save some weight and get more power at the same time. Can't believe companies are still using AGMs. Some nice campers.
For $150k you can live in a truck down by the river
Still cheaper than a 2bdrm 1bath house nowadays
HEY! I do. But my setup is far more practical 😉
Why on earth did they use a AGM battery? Twice the weight and half the useable power compared to a Lifepo4 batteries. Newer Lifepo4 batteries have heaters and low temperature disconnect.
Price maybe? Also AGM is a little more rugged.
Really great company, with a really great Product
Not a great company at all the virtue signaling they did in this video is cringe 😬 if you know then you know.
Holy mackerel -- you can spend a *TON* on these truck-based campers! Anywhere from about $10K to $100K -- hell of a range there! I had no idea they could get that expensive -- and that fancy!
I just checked the Lightning Manual and Ford just says: "We don't recommend using a slide-in camper on the F150 Lightning." Does anyone know why?
The air resistance and weight would degrade the already short range it has and the trip computer isn't set up for calculating range drop the way it can for trailers.
Aerodynamics are critical for range, as these vehicles only have the energy capacity equivalent of a few gallons of gas.
That's just lawyer speech for "you cant sue us if your silly camper causes damage to the truck and surrounding areas."
If, for some reason, it experiences thermal runaway and catches on fire, I would hate to be the FD that has to deal with that 7 day burn, with a noxious camper fire on top.
@@anydaynow01 actually it does. You just have to input how much “cargo” you are going to haul/tow. In previous videos they show you the added tow/cargo and it gave the estimate range. But for sure range does drop when it’s loaded.
Any plans to put solar panels on the roof to charge the camper, the truck, or both?
I look forward seeing your trip . Especially when you charge up at an RV park . Question can you charge the truck at a 50 amp plug ?
Yes, any EV can do Level 2 AC charging from the NEMA 14-50 receptacle at a campground if you have a portable charger. I think you’re limited to 9.6kW in that configuration.
Do you REALLY want to be sleeping in an EV truck when it is charging?? I don’t
You can! But, it'll take all night and then some for a 100% charge.
TFL, I know you CAN sleep in the camper while charging, but safety is the question. How many news stories would you like me to send to you regarding Teslas catching fire while charging? No EV manufacturer is going to say it is ok to charge the vehicle while you are sleeping in it.
@@gr8705 Tesla’s literally have camping mode in their touchscreen and we have slept in our Model S using our DreamCase many times, and daily, millions and millions of people globally remain in their vehicle while charging. Far far more gas vehicles catch fire every day compared to Tesla’s. I’ve personally seen at 4 gas cars on fire this past year alone on the side of the road in California while driving.
There goes the Warranty :)
Nice review of the factory and the different campers, very informative.