Slate pickup sighting in downtown Warsaw, IN! (w/ frunk, bed, charging port closeup)

[The Weatherman]

Let's be realistic here. No contracting company is going to use a fleet of F150 Lightning EVs to do actual work. They'll use F250/Silverado 2500s/Ram 2500 and up with varying bed types. If you want to compare work specs, the Rivian has a leg up on the Ford in all metrics, even towing (11000lbs vs 7700lbs). At the end, both trucks are lifestyle trucks and it just so happens the Rivian is the better truck.

Opinions are fine. Facts are better.

I own an F150 Lightning Lariat and it’s tow rating 10k not 7.7k. The Platinum trimmed version is 7.7k.

 

[evtruth]

Opinions are fine. Facts are better.

I own an F150 Lightning Lariat and it’s tow rating 10k not 7.7k. The Platinum trimmed version is 7.7k.

Last I checked the tow rating for the Lightning was based on extended range battery or not (less towing capacity for standard range battery). Has that changed?

 

[The Weatherman]

As far as I am aware the same numbers still hold true.

 

[evtruth]

As far as I am aware the same numbers still hold true.

Yeah, those are the numbers I remember. They are based on both extended range AND "max tow package."

The weird thing is that Ford's tow ratings on the Lightnings are less than their ICEV trucks...

Meanwhile my Silverado EV will tow 12.5K and the TurboMax Silverado 1500 tows only 9.6K. 🤔

 

[SichuanHot]

Opinions are fine. Facts are better.

I own an F150 Lightning Lariat and it’s tow rating 10k not 7.7k. The Platinum trimmed version is 7.7k.

It's not an opinion. The base model Lightning SXT is rated for only 5000 lbs, 7700 lbs only with the Max Trailer Tow package which is an additional $1100. Only when you step up to the Lightning Flash with the tow package do you get 10000 lbs.

In contrast the Gen 1 Rivian R1T is rated for 11000 lbs across all models. It's only with the Gen 2 Rivians has the gap closed since they downgraded the tow rating to 7700 with their base model.

 

[evtruth]

It's not an opinion. The base model Lightning SXT is rated for only 5000 lbs, 7700 lbs only with the Max Trailer Tow package which is an additional $1100. Only when you step up to the Lightning Flash with the tow package do you get 10000 lbs.

In contrast the Gen 1 Rivian R1T is rated for 11000 lbs across all models. It's only with the Gen 2 Rivians has the gap closed since they downgraded the tow rating to 7700 with their base model.

To be fair:

- The Flash is (one of) their best selling trims because it has the ER battery
- The Rivian isn't necessarily an apples to apples comparison when you can get a Lightning Flash for about $20K less than Rivian's cheapest R1T Dual

 

[cvollers]

To be fair:

- The Flash is (one of) their best selling trims because it has the ER battery
- The Rivian isn't necessarily an apples to apples comparison when you can get a Lightning Flash for about $20K less than Rivian's cheapest R1T Dual

I think the Lightning is a great truck. If going full size, that's the one to get and it sounds like the Flash is the Lightning trim to get. Personally, I don't want or need full size nor do I want to spend that kind of money.

 

[evtruth]

I think the Lightning is a great truck. If going full size, that's the one to get and it sounds like the Flash is the Lightning trim to get. Personally, I don't want or need full size nor do I want to spend that kind of money.

I really liked the Lightning when I test drove it, but liked the Silverado EV's software (Android Automotive - different than Android Auto) better so I picked up a Silverado EV for towing. It has just over 400 miles of range, so should get me a little over 200 miles (about 3 hours) of towing a camper. My Tesla, on roadtrips, gets me about 2 hours of driving between charges. This last road trip I took a gas pickup truck and still stopped about every 2-3 hours with the wife and kids, so really for us the Silverado EV will be perfect for towing and the Tesla is just fine as well. What's nice is the Silverado EV has SOOOO much room.

If Ford had switched to Android Automotive for 2025 like they had said they would, they may have gotten a sale from me, but maybe not because towing range was my #1 concern.

 

[SichuanHot]

To be fair:

- The Flash is (one of) their best selling trims because it has the ER battery
- The Rivian isn't necessarily an apples to apples comparison when you can get a Lightning Flash for about $20K less than Rivian's cheapest R1T Dual

That's fair. I'm just extremely biased against Ford. The recent Lightning recall with the falling control arm nut doesn't help their image or reputation either...

 

[cvollers]

That's fair. I'm just extremely biased against Ford. The recent Lightning recall with the falling control arm nut doesn't help their image or reputation either...

So I went on ChatGPT to check. There have been four Lightning recalls including the control arm nut issue (29.5K affected). Other three are: ESC software issue (all units), battery fire risk (1K affected), and rear light bare malfunction (16K affected).

Rivian also has had four recalls: 1) headlight control module failure (R1T/S, 17.3K affected), 2) improperly tightened steering fastener (all models, 12.2K affected), 3) passenger seatbelt sensor malfunction (R1T/S, 12.7K affected), and 4) passenger airbag deactivation issue (R1T, 502 affected).

In 2024, Ford sold 33.5K Lightnings in the U.S., up 39% over 2023. Rivian sold 51.6K combined R1T/R1S (58% R1T to 42% R1S) in 2024, up just 3% over 2023. That's 3.5K more trucks for Ford in 2024. If they maintain that growth, it will be 15.7K more trucks in 2025. Now here we have Slate trying to achieve 150K units per year at a price that is about half a base Lightning. Can they do it?

 

[evtruth]

So I went on ChatGPT to check. There have been four Lightning recalls including the control arm nut issue (29.5K affected). Other three are: ESC software issue (all units), battery fire risk (1K affected), and rear light bare malfunction (16K affected).

I mean, my Silverado EV is in the shop after only 1,853 miles... 😂

My Teslas have never been in the shop though, so the best track record for me (all of my recalls have been simple OTA updates) goes to the cars so many people now hate. 😞

 

[cvollers]

I mean, my Silverado EV is in the shop after only 1,853 miles... 😂

My Teslas have never been in the shop though, so the best track record for me (all of my recalls have been simple OTA updates) goes to the cars so many people now hate. 😞

My FJ has only been in the shop once for a defective 4WD actuator switch (a very important part known to fail...). Other than the chief mechanic at my Toyota dealer, no one knew how to fix the issue.

 

[SichuanHot]

So I went on ChatGPT to check. There have been four Lightning recalls including the control arm nut issue (29.5K affected). Other three are: ESC software issue (all units), battery fire risk (1K affected), and rear light bare malfunction (16K affected).

Rivian also has had four recalls: 1) headlight control module failure (R1T/S, 17.3K affected), 2) improperly tightened steering fastener (all models, 12.2K affected), 3) passenger seatbelt sensor malfunction (R1T/S, 12.7K affected), and 4) passenger airbag deactivation issue (R1T, 502 affected).

In 2024, Ford sold 33.5K Lightnings in the U.S., up 39% over 2023. Rivian sold 51.6K combined R1T/R1S (58% R1T to 42% R1S) in 2024, up just 3% over 2023. That's 3.5K more trucks for Ford in 2024. If they maintain that growth, it will be 15.7K more trucks in 2025. Now here we have Slate trying to achieve 150K units per year at a price that is about half a base Lightning. Can they do it?

Only 4 recalls for a brand new car company vs Ford, which has been in business for over a century is not a good look for Ford no matter how you slice it.