Interesting towing results with OTA Update 2023.38 -- R1T on Ike Gauntlet (by TFL)

[R1TCntrlMaIzzy]

I think many may find this of interest. I have not towed a darn thing, but may in the future..

Summary posted by @MountainBikeDude

- Weight estimation of the trailer was near dead on, until the third passenger entered the vehicle, then it adjust to the next nearest 500lbs.​

​

- Range was still around the same as previously, but regen has been improved since their last test, recouping just over 8kWh on the decent, with about 20kWh used on the climb. Rivian always attested that the vehicle could recoup half of the power used on a climb, and finally it's achieved it.​

​

- Stability/power/cabin noise were noticeably better in the Rivian despite the conditions of the road (wet/slush)​

​

- Silverado was the range king, especially when price is factored in, Ford and Rivian are tied for range while towing/not towing.​

​

Overall Andre and company were thoroughly impressed with the updates Rivian has made to the software and towing experience. their main complaint was no wide towing mirrors, but I think that point is moot given the cameras on the platform especially the bed camera.​

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[Electrified Outdoors]

Thanks for sharing will watch. I tow our 5500lb travel trailer at least a dozen times per year. Towing capability is huge for us. I love what Rivian is doing!

 

[AxelR]

As usual a short summary would be helpful for the rest of us not interested in watching the video (or not having time).

 

[MountainBikeDude]

TLDW

- Weight estimation of the trailer was near dead on, until the third passenger entered the vehicle, then it adjust to the next nearest 500lbs.

- Range was still around the same as previously, but regen has been improved since their last test, recouping just over 8kWh on the decent, with about 20kWh used on the climb. Rivian always attested that the vehicle could recoup half of the power used on a climb, and finally it's achieved it.

- Stability/power/cabin noise were noticeably better in the Rivian despite the conditions of the road (wet/slush)

- Silverado was the range king, especially when price is factored in, Ford and Rivian are tied for range while towing/not towing.

Overall Andre and company were thoroughly impressed with the updates Rivian has made to the software and towing experience. their main complaint was no wide towing mirrors, but I think that point is moot given the cameras on the platform especially the bed camera.

 

[moosetags]

We watched the entire video. We were impressed with the R1T's performance.

We pull a 7,400# Airstream Travel Trailer. We are now confident that we can get a 140 mile range on flat ground with the 21" road tires. We are also anxious to see how accurately the R1T estimates the trailer weight.

Brian

 

[Hillbilly]

We watched the entire video. We were impressed with the R1T's performance.

We pull a 7,400# Airstream Travel Trailer. We are now confident that we can get a 140 mile range on flat ground with the 21" road tires. We are also anxious to see how accurately the R1T estimates the trailer weight.

Brian

That's been my range when towing our AS.

 

[R.I.P.]

I think many may find this of interest. I have not towed a darn thing, but may in the future..

Summary posted by @MountainBikeDude

- Weight estimation of the trailer was near dead on, until the third passenger entered the vehicle, then it adjust to the next nearest 500lbs.​

​

- Range was still around the same as previously, but regen has been improved since their last test, recouping just over 8kWh on the decent, with about 20kWh used on the climb. Rivian always attested that the vehicle could recoup half of the power used on a climb, and finally it's achieved it.​

​

- Stability/power/cabin noise were noticeably better in the Rivian despite the conditions of the road (wet/slush)​

​

- Silverado was the range king, especially when price is factored in, Ford and Rivian are tied for range while towing/not towing.​

​

Overall Andre and company were thoroughly impressed with the updates Rivian has made to the software and towing experience. their main complaint was no wide towing mirrors, but I think that point is moot given the cameras on the platform especially the bed camera.​

Nice picture. I bought my first Rivian partially to replace my F-250 towing my Jeep to competitions. Unfortunately, my first Rivian was a disappointment, and was not up to the task.

Taking delivery of my second R1T this week. We will try it again, hoping that the F-250 will be a thing of the past.
?

 

[moosetags]

That's been my range when towing our AS.

Thank you for this information. We were concerned that we would only be able to a a 100 miles range.

Brian

 

[Hillbilly]

Thank you for this information. We were concerned that we would only be able to a a 100 miles range.

Brian

Biggest issue is drag. At 65mph you should be fine. It gets much worse the faster you go.

 

[ThisIsMyHandle]

Chevy is delaying the Silverado, unknown when they will be made so F-150 is currently the only other truck (Elon's ugly truck will come in third)

https://electrek.co/2023/10/24/gm-delays-equinox-ev-and-electric-trucks-ultium-bolt-update-in-q3/

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

Biggest issue is drag. At 65mph you should be fine. It gets much worse the faster you go.

This^. I tow a travel trailer.... Doesn't get much worse than that as far as drag. The difference between 60 and 65 for me is about 0.15 mph per kilowatt hour. Pulling in the extreme heat with the R1S at 65. I did exactly 1 mi per kilowatt hour. But when I lowered my speed to 60 I was able to do 1.14. a travel trailer in my opinion represents a worst case scenario for towing range. Now when I towed a tandem axle flat trailer in the pouring rain with a Polaris Ranger kinetic XP all electric UTV in it which was about 4000 lb. I was able to get much better between 1.3 and 1.4 miles per kilowatt hour. And that was in the pouring down rain with 10 to 12 mph winds.

 

[camaroz1985]

While nowhere near what TFL towed, I did have an opportunity to tow a small trailer this weekend to pick up some flooring.

Definitely not a test of the Rivian in any way, but enough to let me know this update is a very welcome addition. Within a mile or so of stating your trip it calculates the weight/aero effects of the trailer and gives you an estimated range at full charge as well as the weight of the trailer.

I wasn't sure if you would have to reset if the weight changed, but I was happily surprised to see it recalculates with each power cycle, and let me know with a pop up message in the driver screen that it had updated after I added the flooring.

I didn't tow far enough to validate the accuracy of the claimed range, but assuming it is, it will make towing even more effortless. Hopefully gone are the days of checking consumption and hypothesizing how the rest of your trip might look (speed, terrain, etc.), then calculating your range based on remaining percentage of battery and assumed full capacity. It is nice to let the truck do the work for you.

Also the bed view camera is great, and will be even better when hauling stuff in the bed with the tailgate down where the standard backup camera is blocked, and just giving piece of mind to check on your load.

Even the app appearance gets updated when you have a trailer attached. Not functional, but a cool nod to the attention to detail that was put on this.

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

Thanks for sharing! Its an awesome update for sure. I will be towing in a few days and plan to produce a video of how it does with my TT. A 5,500 lb box on wheels ?

 

[camaroz1985]

I will be doing a longer tow with my enclosed car trailer next month to help a family member move. Will be interesting to see how it changes from empty (4k lbs) to loaded (??? lbs). This was one of the use cases where I was wondering if I needed two profiles for one trailer. It is nice to see that it does recalculate for the weight with each drive cycle so that isn't necessary. They put a lot of thought into this update.

 

[R1TCntrlMaIzzy]

Ummh,

TLDW

- Weight estimation of the trailer was near dead on, until the third passenger entered the vehicle, then it adjust to the next nearest 500lbs.

- Range was still around the same as previously, but regen has been improved since their last test, recouping just over 8kWh on the decent, with about 20kWh used on the climb. Rivian always attested that the vehicle could recoup half of the power used on a climb, and finally it's achieved it.

- Stability/power/cabin noise were noticeably better in the Rivian despite the conditions of the road (wet/slush)

- Silverado was the range king, especially when price is factored in, Ford and Rivian are tied for range while towing/not towing.

Overall Andre and company were thoroughly impressed with the updates Rivian has made to the software and towing experience. their main complaint was no wide towing mirrors, but I think that point is moot given the cameras on the platform especially the bed camera.

Thank you very mucho for taking the time to write up a summary and to the admin for pasting your 411 in my original post!! I would not do so, unless it is my own content.

So folks expect a person to watch the entire video from a third party, then post the "Cliff Notes" for them. Because of "x, y, z" reasoning. Nah, I do not believe in the participation award for everyone that showed up and did not finish, well exceptions understood. If I did not end up in 1 - 3, I earn nada, other than my own personal gratification.

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