A First-Time Camper and First-Time Pickup Owner's Experience with an Electric Truck in Nature
Maybe embarking on a camping adventure conjures images of rugged landscapes, serene sunsets, and the quintessential crackling campfire. But as a first-time camper setting out from the suburban sprawl of Eastern Los Angeles County to the hippy haven of Ojai, California, my journey brought a modern twist of comfort to the traditional camping experience, thanks to a new Ford F150 Lightning XLT truck and camping tent.
Note: I've included links to some of the items we brought along. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Background
Aside from sleepovers in a tent in the wooded backyards of my home as a kid, I've never been an avid camper. As much as I enjoy the peace of nature, being a CPAP user adds complication to more remote locations without electricity or lugging travel batteries along. This trip was a way to play with the novelty of having my first pickup truck, catch up with an old friend, and see what electric plugs in nature could do.
Pre-Trip Preparations
The adventure began the day before departure, with an essential task: charging our new electric steed from 80% to a full 100%. This is only recommended by Ford for road trips. Although we don't have charging at home, the process was both convenient and economical, costing just $8 at a shopping center where the first two hours of charging were complimentary—a lovely opportunity as we enjoyed lunch nearby and returned for the truck after dinner.
The Journey to Ojai
Between the luxuriously comfy seats, adaptive cruise control, and the way the truck handles, the drive to Ojai was nothing short of a revelation. We've only had the truck a month, and while I knew it drives like a dream, this was the first road trip beyond commuting and a trip to LAX and back.
Along the way, the F150 Lightning attracted some curious glances and inquiries, particularly about its range and charging capabilities. I didn't think the truck looked that different than a standard F150 -- but these questions came from fellow diners at lunch, shoppers at the grocery store where we stocked up on provisions, and a fella at our campsite. I was happy to tell them our adjustment to an EV vs an ICE vehicle has been delightfully uneventful so far.
Setting Up A Ford F150 Camping Tent
For our tent, we opted for a Napier Backroadz Truck Bed Tent, which was praised online for its affordability and had generally positive reviews. One modification I made—a small window cut into the tent's bottom tarp, secured with duct tape—allowed us to utilize the truck's bed outlets inside the tent. I did an assembly dry run in our driveway the day before, so setting up the tent only took 15 minutes with two people out in the field. Not bad. (Assemble it on the ground first, then place on the truck bed to be strapped in!)
We placed an Intex Air Mattress (Full Size) inside, which inflated in less than 2 minutes. We've had this one for 6 years, and knock on wood, its never lost air on us yet. (We're big guys and used every ounce of its 600 pound weight capacity.)
Because of the wheel wells intruding into the truck bed, there are two spaces beside the head of the bed, which I plugged with Bolster Pillows. This gave us full use of that room for our shoulders. At the foot of the bed, it was handy to have the space on either side of the bed for shoes and storage, rather than having to climb over belongings set on the tailgate portion of the tent.
We were expecting 39F overnight temperatures, and I had researched various electric heating methods. One of the concerns with an air mattress in a truck bed is losing body heat to the air mattress, compounded further being so far off the ground. I ended up covering the air mattress with a thick blanket then a 12-Hour Sunbeam Fleece Electric Blanket with the controls carefully protected in ziplock bags to guard against dew or unexpected moisture.
We slept on top the electric blanket with my favorite comforter, the Buffy Cloud Comforter, over us. The extra material of a king size comforter was cozier and perhaps retained a bit more heat.
Topping off the equipment, I added a hanging lantern with remote controlled LED lights from the built-in tent ceiling hook.
A fun feature about the Napier tent is that the truck bed's side rails served as convenient shelves inside the tent fabric for essentials like my CPAP machine, phone, and the remote for the LED lights.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention Ford F150's tailgate step. I did exhaustive research before buying this truck... and each and every time someone mentioned that tailgate step, i rolled my eyes. At 6'3", I can fairly easily climb into most truck beds. But let me tell you... that step is absolute genius and it was constantly helpful for getting in and out of the bed tent.
A Night Under the Stars
The setup proved exceptionally comfortable, keeping us snug in 39-degree weather with only very minor dew formation inside the tent near the lower part of the entrance zipper in the morning. While the system worked perfectly for our dry night under the stars, I had a cautious pause at the thought of rain. Yet, the tranquility of a generator-free campsite, powered silently by our F150 Lightning, was unparalleled.
My only constructive feedback for Ford here would be a "Camping Mode" to dim screens, disable zone lightning and beeps for doors, and silence chimes while camping. None of those things were dealbreakers... but we intentionally limited frunk (front trunk) use to avoid the beeping and disturbing the stillness.
Morning Delights and the Journey Home
Morning brought a breakfast luxury... we used our 10 year old indestructible Breville toaster in the truck's frunk to toast up slices of homemade Babka, while the fold-down work table in the front seat made for an ideal spot to run an electric kettle for tea. This quiet, serene start to our day was made possible by the truck's efficient power use—which overnight, running all our gadgets, electric blanket, and facing chilly temps led to only an 8% reduction in charge. That was far below the 20% I had budgeted as a worst case scenario.
Our return trip, including a stint through 40 minutes of LA traffic, concluded with the F150 Lightning's battery at 23%—pretty ideal for our normal 20-80% charging routine for regular driving use. Well within our expectations for 220 miles driving, 1300’ elevation change, and Pro Power use.
Reflections
This trip felt like a glimpse into the future of our outdoor adventures. I have to admit that I was even more charmed by the truck than I thought I'd be. Something about the sustainability meeting comfort and convenience in nature pushes all the right buttons for me. Especially the profound QUIET. No generator noise. The Ford F150 Lightning not only transported us to and from our natural retreat in abject comfort, but also transformed our camping experience, providing a silent, cozy, and emissions-friendly haven in the great outdoors.
I'm excited for the future of electric vehicles like the F150 Lightning to revolutionize the way we drive and fuel up. They've already reshaped my outdoor experience, and are likely on their way to proving that modern convenience and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand, even miles away from the nearest wired power outlet.
Until Next Time,
