Towing + Efficiency: Please post your experience!

[SSteveEV]

Thanks, it's surprising the drop in range with a flat trailer. I was hoping your control numbers were in higher temps

Gotcha, as I said it wasn't the most scientific test as there was some passing and differences. For what it is worth the control was by far the highest range I've gotten vs typical driving. Will be doing the drive again this morning and will run it in conserve again to see how it comes out.

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[Dirty_B]

Empty 6x10 landscape trailer average 1.55mi/kWh in conserve mode, under 63mph and city streets under 43mph combined

 

[srazz]

It only triggers when you actually hit the brake pedal. You’ll see it on the bottom right of the IC when it’s braking. It doesn’t work with one-pedal. I’m not sure if this is a good thing or not. On one hand, it’s more efficient. On the other, it’s maybe a little less safe/stable. ?‍

Ok I stand corrected. Never really saw it before but yes, trailer braking works just like any other truck. Like I mentioned before with my application regen is good enough and rarely touch the brake pedal. Haha

Having said that, brilliant application by Rivian using the button in the steering wheel rather than stretching to find a button on the dash.

 

[Thedude]

I towed my trailer about 40 miles down the freeway to a weekend campsite at the lake. No issues per usual.

I stopped at a weigh station to get a better idea in truck/trailer weights and need to go back with just the truck to get the precise numbers. Front axle 3440lbs, rear axle 4900lbs and trailer axle 6020lbs. The truck curb weight should be right about 6973lbs (8532lb GVWR minus 1559lb payload rating). Subtracting the stuff in the truck plus myself gives the front two axles a combined weight of 8000lbs meaning a tongue weight of about 1000lbs.

I left the weigh station with 76% and arrived with 45%, at 1.03kw/mi.

 

[Thedude]

Return trip was mostly the same route back at the same speed (62mph on the freeway). Total distance was 48.7 miles, .95mi/kw, started at 98% ended at 58%. It’s a 1000’ elevation change so the way down was all down hill and the way back long sloping uphill.

 

[SolartoEV]

Rented an excavator for a driveway and electrical instal project. Trailer was #2,700 and the excavator weighs about #6,000. I really couldn't ask for anything better.

 

[31ectr0nicB0b]

I hauled some lumber yesterday. Roughly 100 miles total and the lumber weighed approx 2k lbs. and 2k for the trailer, so total about 4k lbs.
The range kept increasing as we were driving it empty. Not sure what happened, it went all the way up to 635 miles.
The battery is at 50% when we got home, and the range says 260 miles, so something isnt right. Anyone else notice weird range prediction behavior when towing? It was roughly 50-55F out.

@ 1.8mi/kWh

 

[fastwheels]

I hauled some lumber yesterday. Roughly 100 miles total and the lumber weighed approx 2k lbs. and 2k for the trailer, so total about 4k lbs.
The range kept increasing as we were driving it empty. Not sure what happened, it went all the way up to 635 miles.
The battery is at 50% when we got home, and the range says 260 miles, so something isnt right. Anyone else notice weird range prediction behavior when towing? It was roughly 50-55F out.

Yes - the 635 mile range bug has been seen by a few folks - I posted the following thread in May at the end of a towing trip:

My R1T has the best towing range of any EV on the planet! | Rivian Forums - R1T R1S R2 Owners, News, Discussions, RIVN Stock


I've not towed nor seen any weird range estimates since.

 

[jakef801]

Until EA and others get their shit together, I won't be doing any more long haul trailering in my R1T. I took an enclosed, single axle Wells Cargo from SLC, UT to San Diego and it was a disaster. Way too much to get into in a forum post (think overnight in a POS motel with a 6.5kwh at a hospital 1/2 mile away, having to abandon the trailer while Rivian was towed to said motel, etc., etc.) The first of many problems began when we found out that the Scipio, UT EA location was unavailable. Both EA and Rivian said it was online with multiple 150kwh & 350kwh chargers up and running. When we arrived, we found it to be down and fenced off with chain link. We were not the only interstate travelers that got screwed by this. It was only after we called EA and Rivian that the info was updated online. It's obviously commonplace for a charger or two to be down - but an entire station that's fenced off and undergoing repairs/replacement?? Come on. Uncle Joe and company need to get their shit together with the $1.3 trillion of OUR money if they're going to continue to push EVs. There needs to be more accountability from EA, Chargepoint, EVGo, and others AS WELL AS federal assistance in keeping these things up and running along with oversight along the lines of what the FAA does with aircraft (I know, different animal - but still).

We also got the double whammy of towing directly into 30 - 40 know headwinds on almost the entire trip south as we were trying to beat an incoming blizzard. Range was horrific.

We had AAA, thankfully, but we did not have the diamond level, or whatever they call it, which would have allowed to towing company to also attach the trailer to the tow truck's ball hitch. We have it now.

For now, I will limit my towing my boat and trailers to/from local lakes and other places nearby (Bear Lake, Flaming Gorge, etc.).

If you're traveling long distances, especially while towing, get AAA everyone! It's well worth it. Also, tow in Conserve Mode and do everything within your power to get a spare and a jack puck (I have a set of 4 magnetic pucks). I bought my 21" spare from another forum member in SoCal who was selling his set when he purchased new 20"s or 22"s, can't recall. Lastly, if you're down to 5% or less, pull over at the next offramp and put the vehicle into neutral (and have a couple of tire chalks in case you're on a slope).

 

[Thedude]

If you have trailer brakes they will not working if towing in conserve mode. It’s a bad idea and shouldn’t be done.

I also started getting the 600+ mile range estimates after the last update, never did it before that.

 

[Inkedsphynx]

Do not tow in conserve mode. Plan better, make sure you have backup chargers selected, stop more frequently than you think you need to.

Do not tow in conserve mode. It's less safe and will absolutely cause more wear and potential damage to your vehicle than towing in actual Tow mode.

 

[31ectr0nicB0b]

Yes - the 635 mile range bug has been seen by a few folks - I posted the following thread in May at the end of a towing trip:

My R1T has the best towing range of any EV on the planet! | Rivian Forums - R1T R1S R2 Owners, News, Discussions, RIVN Stock


I've not towed nor seen any weird range estimates since.

So there is no fix for it yet?

 

[Thedude]

So there is no fix for it yet?

Nope, started off towing today with a 270 mile range at 43%. Just know that you can generally count on 1 mile for each percentage and be good.

 

[Indy avocado]

Did our first towing with our week old R1T. Frustrating that the range estimate is completely broken in towing mode. Varies wildly from 140 to 630+mi. It almost seemed to add miles the lower we got in charge.

We got about 1.35mi/kWh towing a large teardrop at 60-70mph.

 

[jakef801]

If you have trailer brakes they will not working if towing in conserve mode. It’s a bad idea and shouldn’t be done.

I also started getting the 600+ mile range estimates after the last update, never did it before that.

So with a 5 pin adapter/connector, you're saying that the electronically activated brakes on the trailer won't work? In my 30 something years of towing rigs, I respectfully tend to disagree - unless there's something proprietary to Rivian's electronic communication through its electronics. ABSOLUTELY DON'T W/O THE CORRECT CONNECTOR/ADAPTER. Since regen braking activates the brake lights, it seems to reason that this would also activate the trailer brakes (it certainly activates trailer lighting).

From my experiences in towing a 25ft Scarab with my R1T, the trailer brakes have been fully functional in conserve mode. Exactly the same as when towing with my Tundra in 2WD. Please correct me if I'm wrong - I don't want anyone to be in danger due to my comments. However, I've taken my Scarab down the steepest section of I-80 (that I'm aware of) three times now - from Parley's Summit to SLC - and it's felt more controlled than with my Tundra every time. Granted, the regen can make it harder to accuraty disseminate what is really occurring - however, when a trailer load is overriding the tow vehicle's descent/braking capacity, it's normally very apparent and requires a level of experience, which I feel I've learned, to adjust deceleration vs. over-braking, to avoid calamity. I'm open to comments to the contrary...just sharing here.

Everything said, and as a failsafe, I'd recommend everyone switch to tow mode for steep descents. I haven't found the need, but may well do so on future tows.

On a lighter note - on one of the aforementioned descents on I-80 (Parley's to SLC), I actually gained 12 miles of range from top to bottom. ?

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