F150 Pro Power Onboard

Millertyme76 · 03-31-2021, 05:15 AM

I was wondering if anyone has used the new F150 with the 7.2kW pro power onboard system to power their camper. i am interested in hearing about experiences using it. I have the thought brewing in my head to start looking for a new TV and this really caught my eye.

**flybouy** · 03-31-2021, 05:38 AM

It's a great idea but I'd like to see the door sticker on one and see what the "real" payload numer is.

Millertyme76 · 03-31-2021, 05:47 AM

The payload on what I was looking at is better than my current F150. I was looking at the 3.5 ecoboost. I currently have a 2.7 ecoboost.

**chuckster57** · 03-31-2021, 05:51 AM

What are you looking to power in the RV?

Millertyme76 · 03-31-2021, 06:05 AM

My thought would be the the ac and lights while packing/cleaning. The 240 outlet only has 30 amps. That is why I was wondering if anyone had used it yet.

**JRTJH** · 03-31-2021, 06:11 AM

A 7.2KW generator is a 7.2KW generator....

That said, using a 200cc gas engine to turn a 3.4KW generator head is significantly more efficient (in fuel use) and using a 3500 CC "turbocharged engine" to turn a "double sized generator head" (compared to the 3.4KW head)...

While it would work to use a F150 to power a trailer, in an "economic sense" it would be "significant overkill" in power production, lead to excessive idle time for the truck systems, likely lead to premature wear on the engine when compared to the rest of the drive line (look up PTO use in diesel trucks) and, even though it would work, appears to be the most "energy wasting way to power the trailer"....

Millertyme76 · 03-31-2021, 06:29 AM

I have a generator that can power the tt. It is a heavy thing to get into the back of the truck. It would be nice to pull up to the camper in the storage lot and hook up to the truck for power. The cost of a bad back outweighs the cost of my truck idling for an hour. I wouldn't use it for a camping trip.

Ken / Claudia · 03-31-2021, 07:31 AM

I seen the ads and question the over all cost of idling a pickup to get electric power for RV uses. Fuel is only 1 cost when running the engine.
If I was young and a contractor who worked out of my truck at sites without electricity I would be all over that. For an Rver to have the truck idling in front of the rv for an hour or hours running anything is a no for me.
If the need for a genny is short time use, maybe for some still not for me. I have gennys that weight 50 lbs and run for 8 hours on 1 gal of gas.
I checked the Ford site, it showed that to be a 995 added cost. Last Yamaha 2000 genny I purchased several months ago was about 850 including shipping. I have not checked into the costs of smaller gennys.
If the idea for the use is to get power to the RV while hooking it up, remember plugging the truck and RV together with the engine idling does add power. You cannot power up the A/C but it sometimes is enough to help a bad battery make the slides work.

**JRTJH** · 03-31-2021, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Millertyme76

I have a generator that can power the tt. It is a heavy thing to get into the back of the truck. It would be nice to pull up to the camper in the storage lot and hook up to the truck for power. The cost of a bad back outweighs the cost of my truck idling for an hour. I wouldn't use it for a camping trip.

I don't see any reason you couldn't do it for "special situations" and on a short term basis. It wouldn't be economical to do for a camping trip, but probably wouldn't cost too much to use for a few minutes or an hour or so to clean the trailer...

One thing you definitely need to keep in mind: IF THE 30 AMP PLUG IS 240 VAC, DO NOT PLUG YOUR TRAILER INTO IT !!!!! If you do, you'll burn up much of the electrical system in your trailer. Use one of the 20 amp 120VAC plugs and an adapter to connect to the trailer shore power cord and you'll be OK.

NH_Bulldog · 03-31-2021, 02:07 PM

As another side note, that 7.2kw feature is only available with the hybrid powertrain. There are less powerful options that don’t require the hybrid (2kw) but they will not power the camper. Given the cost of the hybrid and 7.2kw power option ($5,250), it really doesn’t sound feasible especially with an 800 lb. less weight carrying capacity (due to batteries).

Millertyme76 · 04-01-2021, 01:26 AM

Thank you all for the replies. It gives me more information to consider.

**flybouy** · 04-01-2021, 04:39 AM

This could end up being a dream instead of reality. https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/s...rd-volkswagen/

travelin texans · 04-01-2021, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NH_Bulldog

As another side note, that 7.2kw feature is only available with the hybrid powertrain. There are less powerful options that don’t require the hybrid (2kw) but they will not power the camper. Given the cost of the hybrid and 7.2kw power option ($5,250), it really doesn’t sound feasible especially with an 800 lb. less weight carrying capacity (due to batteries).

A $5200 option with the loss of 800lbs of payload on a 1/2 ton pickup? That no longer has the ability to tow anything more than a small popup, maybe, if you could afford one after the price of the option.
I think I'd spend that $$ on a diesel truck much more capable of towing something, anything & have a custom rack built for a generator on the rv or get a 5th wheel with generator built in & probably have $$ left for a tank of fuel.

Sarge2 · 04-01-2021, 07:56 AM

Our Patrol units get far more idle hours than road miles. It is harder on them to set idling than to be driven. Just saying that continuous idle time or low RPM time isn't always a good thing.

NH_Bulldog · 04-01-2021, 08:24 AM

Without a doubt it is a lot of idling. Ford says when putting out the full power capacity, it will run 32 hours continuously with a full tank of gas. With less demand on the system, it will automatically switch between the lithium batteries and gas engine when batteries get low and extends run time out to 85 hours. For RV use, this is the wrong setup, but once the technology is perfected I am sure it will start showing up on the Super Duty line which does open up some real possibilities for RV use especially since the system can remain active and produce power while driving down the road.....goodbye inverters?

Ken / Claudia · 04-01-2021, 06:29 PM

A further example of post #14, I was at the city shops when they where getting rid of a 4 year old van that was used for photo radar and than prisoner transport. It had about 7,000 miles showing. I asked the shop guy about the idle hours. He said it had enough that it was the same wear and value as a vehicle with about 200,000 miles.
All the years in the city traffic unit we had many items fail due to excessive idling. At the State Police that was not a common issue.

**flybouy** · 04-02-2021, 04:34 AM

Static ideling before all the computer controls were a big engine killer. I remember when the state police had a cable on the thtottle mounted on the dashboard to raise the idle speed at an accident scene where they would be setting with the lights on for an extended time. Prolonged idle would mean insufficiant flow for cooling, lower oil pressure and increased oil temps and fouled spark plugs leading to carbon build up on valves and pistons.

WHile modern engine controls reduce these issues they don't eliminate them. Most vehichles with prolonged gas fueled engines are fleet vehichles with a shop and several rebuilt engines on pallets ready to go. At the very least it's a waste of an engine that size to run a generator of that size and the anticipated fuel consumpyion rates pay testimate to that. After all, all we have are "sales brochures" and Ford's press releases so one has to consider these numbers as "hopeful" at best.

At this point it's preliminary as there are issues with the battery supplier. I know I've been called sceptic (I call myself a realist) but when I see the commercials I have to question the message vs reality. Like the truck commercials depicting the "best in class" whatever BS they typically show towing a flat bed with a tractor or pipe, or whatever. Reality? People equate that with pulling a 40'+ box. So, with the genset they depict someone building a cabin or camping. The truck is a good distance away from the elctrical usage, therefrore so are the PEOPLE. How long before some new "starry eyed" non experienced person goes camping in a tent with a 15' extension cord? Space heater in the tent to keep the DW and kid warm and they never wake up. Or the same inexperienced person plugs into the truck in the garage and runs a cord into the house to keep the fridge running during a power outage. The lithium battery runs the fridge and they go to bed. A while later the truck fires up when the battery runs down and well another tragic news story. Great concept but let's see what nthe real world execution is.

BulletOwner1 · 04-04-2021, 11:19 AM

Question. Is the engine running all the time or are you using the battery (in the hybrid truck) with the engine turning on when the battery needs recharged? Is there anybody that actually has one on here?

This may be a truck for those that work out of it more than just use it as a tow rig.

NH_Bulldog · 04-04-2021, 11:25 AM

The 7.2kw is only available on the hybrid. It will run off the batteries and the engine will cycle on and off as needed depending on the current draw.

**flybouy** · 04-04-2021, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BulletOwner1

Question. Is the engine running all the time or are you using the battery (in the hybrid truck) with the engine turning on when the battery needs recharged? Is there anybody that actually has one on here?

This may be a truck for those that work out of it more than just use it as a tow rig.

As the Hybird truck isn't in production yet the answer is no, no one has one yet.

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