Finally, we have a victory to celebrate when it comes to the Ford F-150 Lightning and towing. While the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning has been dropping a lot of range during testing, it managed to pull a trailer up a steep incline without overheating. 

Is the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning good for towing? 

On paper, the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning is pretty good for towing. When properly equipped, it can tow up to 10,000 lbs. This is with the extended-range battery. With the standard battery, it can tow up to 7,500 lbs. 

However, the gas-powered Ford F-150 can tow up to 14,000 lbs, making it the better choice if you need to haul more. Anyways, the Fast Lane Truck took the F-150 Lightning up a steep mountain, where other trucks have overheated during the same test. 

The climb includes six to seven percent grades over dirt roads up to about 8,000 feet. The 2021 Chevy Silverado with the 6.2-liter V8 engine was also tested. It has 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. 

The Silverado actually started to struggle as the transmission reached 241 degrees. This isn’t dangerously hot, but it’s enough to get your attention to start slowing down. Also, you could smell the transmission a little. 

How did the F-150 Lightning perform? 

While climbing the same inclines, the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning’s extra power was noticeable. The extended-range setup provides 563 hp and 775 lb-ft of torque. But the truck is silent, so it’s hard to gauge its performance based on sound. 

However, you can hear the trailer without the loud engine revs. Also, the F-150 Lightning doesn’t have temperature readouts, only gauges. 

In areas where the Silverado struggled to keep going uphill, the F-150 Lightning felt fine, with more than enough power. The extra torque pushed it onwards to the top. But of course, due to the limited range on the Lightning, the Silverado can go farther. 

But this test is focused on stressing the transmission, not evaluating range. The Silverado had to be placed in 4×4, but the Lighting did fine in drive. Also, the Lighting had 20-inch wheels and a smoother ride while the Silverado sat on 22-inch tires. 

The Ford F-150 Lightning’s temperature gauges remained at a steady level and regained about 12 miles of charge on the way back down. Overall, the F-150 Lightning was more relaxing during the test. 

Does the F-150 Lightning have good towing tech? 

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning is getting smarter for towing. The Intelligent Range feature measures the driver’s habits, ambient temperature, battery charge, traffic speed, and route topography to accurately update the range. 

This info is based on Ford electric trucks that have traveled on similar roads with comparable trailers and loads. 

Use the Power My Trip feature to enter your trailer specs and map out your route based on the best places to recharge your truck. 

The Smart Hitch makes it easier to connect the trailer, and the OnBoard Scales measure the weight of your load, including the tongue hitch. Plus, the Pro Backup Trailer Assist leads your trailer in the right direction. 

The Ford F-150 Lightning is very smart and helps make towing easier and more relaxing compared to gas-powered trucks. The only thing holding it back is range.