The Ford F150 generator mode allows you to use your F150 as a mobile generator for powering your electrical tools and appliances. It is available on Ford F150 2021 models and onwards with 2.7L and 3.5L Ecoboost and 5.0L V8 engines. This feature comes with 3 possible output power ratings: 2.0 KW, 2.4 KW and 7.2 KW. The 2 KW onboard generator will cost you $995, while the 2.4 KW generator comes as a standard on PowerBoost® Hybrid F150s. The PowerBoost® Full Hybrid Ford F150 models can also be upgraded to 7.2 KW for an additional $750.
Still confused about what the Ford F150 generator mode really does? Don’t worry. In this article I will be discussing this feature in great detail. So let’s dig in!
What is The Ford F150 Generator Mode?
The Ford F150 “Generator Mode” is a feature on these trucks that lets you use them as a mobile generator. Ford calls this feature the “Ford Pro Power Onboard”. In this mode the engine or the battery packs sends energy to multiple outlets located in the truck’s bed.
It is very handy when you need to use power tools at a work site or simply power electrical appliances. Moreover, the generator mode can also be used when you are driving. This means you can charge your tools while you are on your way to work.
Which Models of Ford F150 Have Generator Mode?
The F150 Generator Mode, also known as the Ford Pro Power Onboard, is a new optional feature for F150 trucks. This feature is available as an option on select 2021 Ford F150 models. If you get a F150 PowerBoost, this feature (2.4 KW output power) is standard.
You can get this option on F150 models that came in 2021 to present times and have one of these three engine types:
- 2.7 liter V6 EcoBoost engine
- 3.5 liter V6 EcoBoost engine
- 5.0 liter V8 engine
What Power Output Can I Get from Ford F150 Generator Mode?
You can get Ford F150s with 3 different power output ratings:
- 2.0 KW Onboard Generator: This is an optional feature that comes with at least 2 120V 20A outlets at the back of your F150. You can opt for a maximum of 4 outlets of similar rating if you get this trait. This trait is available for F150 with 2.7 liter EcoBoost engine, 3.5 liter EcoBoost engine and 5.0 liter V8 engine.
- 2.4 KW Onboard Generator: This is a standard feature that comes with 3.5L PowerBoost® Full Hybrid Ford F150 models. Similar to F150s with 2.0 KW Onboard Generator, it has 2 120V 20A outlets with option for 2 additional outlets.
- 7.2 KW Onboard Generator: This feature can be purchased as optional on the 3.5L PowerBoost® Full Hybrid F150s. They are equipped with 4 120 V 20A rated outlets at the back. The number of outlets of this rating can be increased to 6.
Additionally, the F150 3.5L PowerBoost® Full Hybrid also comes with a 240V 30A outlet at the back. This outlet is mostly for powering heavy power tools and electrical appliances.
What is The Fuel Consumption of Ford F150 Generator Mode?
The fuel consumption of Ford F150 Generator mode depends on the power output rating and the load applied. This table shows the estimated fuel consumption at maximum load for different power ratings:
| Power Output of onboard generator | Fuel consumption per hour(Gal/hr) | Fuel tank capacity (Gal) | Estimated total generator run time in one tank of gas |
| 7.2 KW | 1.07 | 30.6 | 28.5 hr |
| 2.4 KW | 0.77 | 30.6 | 40 hr |
| 2.0 KW | 0.7 | 30.6 | 43 hr |
How much fuel your particular F150 model will, however, vary depending on the engine swept volume. Engines having higher volumes tend to consume more fuel.
Moreover, how long you can generate electricity will depend on the power you are drawing and the capacity of your fuel tank. We are assuming 30.6 gallon fuel tanks as a constant for this comparison.
What Can I Do Using Ford F150 Generator Mode?
You can power your outdoor electrical appliances and machine tools using the Ford F150 in generator mode. You can use this mode even when you are driving. This is very convenient if you need to charge your tools and equipment before you get to your work site to save time.
You can do outdoor machine work using a F150 7.2 KW onboard generator. For instance, you could power all the tools needed for a crew to work simultaneously on building a house:
| Machine Tools | Wattage (Approximate) |
| Air Compressor | 1000 |
| Chain Saw 12” | 900 |
| Concrete Vibrator | 1,100 |
| Electric Drill | 600 |
| Miter Saw (10″) | 1,800 |
| Area Flood Lights | 800 |
| Total | 6,200 W |
You can use these tools to do any typical building work while leaving an additional 1 KW to account for surges.
With a 7.2 KW on board generator you could also go camping in the woods. Here is what you could do with a 7.2 KW on board generator at a campsite:
| Equipment | Wattage (Approximate) |
| Coffee pot | 1000 W |
| Phone charger | 10 W |
| String LED lights | 5 W |
| Speaker Charger | 10 W |
| Cooling fan | 50 W |
| Space heater | 1500 W |
| Air mattress pump | 50 W |
| Electric dirt bike | 2,400 W |
| Total | 3,025 W |
You could have a great camping experience with your onboard 7.2 KW generator in this way. With this, you could also use a 1,400W electric griddle to cook your food.
Does that mean you can’t do these with a 2.0 KW or a 2.4 KW F150 onboard generator? Not really. You could do most of these things with a 2.0 KW or a 2.4 KW output F150 but with less convenience. But for most applications a 7.2 KW generator is usually an overkill.
A 2.4 KW F150 will be sufficient if all you want to do is power your home:
| Equipment | Wattage (Approximate) |
| Refrigerator | 800 W |
| Microwave | 1200 W |
| TV (LED/LCD) | 100 W |
| Laptop | 80 W |
| Multiple phone chargers | 100 W |
| Total | 2280 W |
Alternatively, you could also organize a movie drive in for your neighborhood:
| Equipment | Wattage (Approximate) |
| Loud Speakers | 1,000 W |
| Popcorn Machine | 800 W |
| Projector | 500 W |
| Total | 2,300 W |
You could do similar activities with your F150 2.0 KW onboard generators as well. But you would have to unplug some of the appliances to reduce the total load on the generator.
How Do I Enable Generator Mode On My Ford F150?
In order to enable generator mode on Ford F150 follow these three steps:
Step 1: Start the engine of your Ford F150.
Step 2: Locate the button named “Pro Power Onboard” near the headlight control. Here is a picture showing this button:
Step 3: Finally, press this button to enable it.
Alternative method for switching on the generator mode on your F150 using the Ford infotainment system:
Step 1: Go to the features option by pressing “features” on the touchscreen.
Step 2: Then press “Pro Power Mode”
Step 3: Lastly press the “Generator Mode” option. This will allow you to use your F150 as a generator.
To use the electricity produced by the generator mode, locate the power outlets at the back of your truck. This is what the power outlets will look like:
Source: Ford Authority
You can now plug in your equipment to these outlets in order to power them.
How Much Does an Onboard Generator Cost on a Ford F150?
The price of adding an onboard generator to your Ford F150 depends on the output rating of the generator. Here is a table demonstrating how much an onboard generator costs on a Ford F150:
| Generator Power Output | Cost | Remarks |
| 2 KW | $995 | Only for 2021 models and onwards with 2.7 liter EcoBoost engine, 3.5 liter EcoBoost engine and 5.0 liter V8 engine. It is an optional feature. |
| 2.4 KW | Free | It comes as a standard feature with the F150 PowerBoost. |
| 7.2 KW | $750 | This is an optional upgrade for the F150 PowerBoost only. |
You might wonder, how long can I use the ford f150 generator mode? The answer is you can use the Ford F150 Generator Mode as long as you have fuel in the tank and how much load you put. Furthermore, the engine variation doesn’t matter.
FAQs
Can I power my equipment while my Ford F150 is not running?
Yes, you can power your equipment while your Ford F150 is not running. This is different from most trucks manufactured by other companies. This is because the power is provided by the electrical batteries of the F150. The engine is used only to recharge the batteries when needed.
Is an inverter better than a generator?
Inverters are better when it comes to lower fuel cost, quietness, compactness and efficiency. Generators are better regarding the amount of power to be produced and affordability. Inverters are necessary when converting DC to AC but generators directly produce AC current.
Is a generator better than solar?
A generator is better than solar in terms of the quantity of energy produced, affordability, convenience and reliability. Solar is better in terms of environment friendliness, quietness, maintenance and portability. Whether you should use a generator or solar to power your tools and appliances depends on your individual needs.
Conclusion
I hope I managed to satisfy your curiosity on Ford F150 generator mode. This is a relatively new feature introduced by Ford on their F150 models from 2021 and onwards. So, there is a lot of curiosity around this feature. I expect this article helped you understand whether this particular feature is the right one for you.
That is it for today. All the best and goodbye!
