Tractor Tow Showdown: R1T vs. F-150 Lightning vs. F-150 Hybrid

[Electric Rivilution]

Welcome to the Edmunds Tractor Pull Showdown! We have established this new category of testing after last year’s impressive results when we entered a tractor pull challenge at Truck Mania with two electric trucks from our long-term test fleet: our 2022 Rivian R1T and 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning. We decided to re-create the tractor pull ourselves, and to establish a baseline for performance, we brought those two trucks back, along with our long-term 2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid to see how it stacks up against the electrified pickups. And of course, the infamous “Terminator 2.0” — a pulling sled that weighs over 34,000 pounds — was there to stop our pickups dead in their tracks.

The goal of this challenge is to pull the sled the farthest before the truck stops moving forward. First up was our Ford F-150 Hybrid with its twin-turbo V6 hybrid powertrain producing 430 horsepower and 570 lb-ft of torque. It isn’t the strongest of the three, but the F-150 Hybrid put in the work. Next was our returning Ford F-150 Lightning, equipped with dual motors churning out 580 hp and 775 lb-ft. Last but definitely not least: the imposing Rivian R1T, possessing four motors and delivering 835 ponies and 908 lb-ft of torque. These trucks are no joke, and the results from this hefty task are surely a testament to the power they possess. So which truck can pull the Terminator 2.0 the farthest? You'll have to watch to find out!

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[Count Orlok]

makes me want to keep my powerboost f-150

 

[SlaterGS]

TLDR

 

[Donald Stanfield]

makes me want to keep my powerboost f-150

Why? It did the worst by far.

 

[Mickey]

Welcome to the Edmunds Tractor Pull Showdown! We have established this new category of testing after last year’s impressive results when we entered a tractor pull challenge at Truck Mania with two electric trucks from our long-term test fleet: our 2022 Rivian R1T and 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning. We decided to re-create the tractor pull ourselves, and to establish a baseline for performance, we brought those two trucks back, along with our long-term 2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid to see how it stacks up against the electrified pickups. And of course, the infamous “Terminator 2.0” — a pulling sled that weighs over 34,000 pounds — was there to stop our pickups dead in their tracks.

The goal of this challenge is to pull the sled the farthest before the truck stops moving forward. First up was our Ford F-150 Hybrid with its twin-turbo V6 hybrid powertrain producing 430 horsepower and 570 lb-ft of torque. It isn’t the strongest of the three, but the F-150 Hybrid put in the work. Next was our returning Ford F-150 Lightning, equipped with dual motors churning out 580 hp and 775 lb-ft. Last but definitely not least: the imposing Rivian R1T, possessing four motors and delivering 835 ponies and 908 lb-ft of torque. These trucks are no joke, and the results from this hefty task are surely a testament to the power they possess. So which truck can pull the Terminator 2.0 the farthest? You'll have to watch to find out!

Wonder why he used the Tow/Haul mode on both F-150s but used the OFFROAD mode on the Rivian? Would the same Tow/Haul mode perform even better?

 

[MoreTrout]

Wonder why he used the Tow/Haul mode on both F-150s but used the OFFROAD mode on the Rivian? Would the same Tow/Haul mode perform even better?

He did use Offroad mode in the second run with the Lightning with the AT tires. Which leads to the obvious question - How much of the improvement was from the tires and how much from the mode. Probably the vast majority was the tires, but now he needs to test the Lightning on both tires in both modes to answer it.

 

[kylealden]

Wonder why he used the Tow/Haul mode on both F-150s but used the OFFROAD mode on the Rivian? Would the same Tow/Haul mode perform even better?

I was wondering if Offroad would have helped raise the hitch a little, which could make a pretty big difference at the margins.

 

[SolartoEV]

This was good. But not Mythbusters data great.

 

[Count Orlok]

Why? It did the worst by far.

good enough is often good enough.

 

[HaveBlue]

The hybrid ran hybrid tires? I'm thinking mud terrains or something is needed. Ideally eliminate tires more from the equation and do it on pavement haha

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