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Not sure how this could be done simple, safe, or efficiently.Propulsion from the toad to eliminate the load of the toad would be simple. To assist the towing vehicle would be more complicated. But both would be possible.
You would have far more range than operating the vehicle by itself because of the reduced drag. You could simply have an algorithm to use only so much energy in the batteries just like any hybrid. Same with applying power in turns. The hitch would not be standard. You would need something more stable than a regular bumper pull and with a pivot point closer to the rear axle.Not sure how this could be done simple, safe, or efficiently.
1. You would run the battery out because you would recapture energy at a slower rate than expended
2. Propulsion wouldn’t work because the application of the force through the single point of the hitch would destabilize the RV. Acceleration on any curve would push to fishtail the RV.
3. The tow arm to handle this would probably be more expensive by a factor of 3 or 4 times.
I think you are discounting how incredibly complex this is. How this would require real-time data from both the car and the RV, and probably a multiple new sensors. Some of which would have to be on the hitch.You would have far more range than operating the vehicle by itself because of the reduced drag. You could simply have an algorithm to use only so much energy in the batteries just like any hybrid. Same with applying power in turns. The hitch would not be standard. You would need something more stable than a regular bumper pull and with a pivot point closer to the rear axle.
Articulated pusher bus. Look it up. It has been done before.I think you are discounting how incredibly complex this is. How this would require real-time data from both the car and the RV, and probably a multiple new sensors. Some of which would have to be on the hitch.
I will disagree with one premise here. Towed vehicles and/or trailers ALWAYS transfer energy from towed to the towing vehicle during braking, and there is no problem with this. This is the reason why it's important for tow bars to be close to level; if not, the force/momentum from the toad can either lift the back of the coach or potentially be lifted/levered up into the back of it.
The reason you can't back up with a toad has to do with lateral force, not the front/back.
However, propulsion from a toad would be complicated, and not worth the effort IMO.
Articulated buses are completely different. They are meant for low speed urban environments, and there are studies that show they are inherently less stable because they are pushers.Articulated pusher bus. Look it up. It has been done before.
THIS^^^Of course you're correct as every time I brake without the Brake Buddy engaging (it only engages for heavy braking), it'll be pushing forward. I didn't work my physics correctly on that one. It makes sense that my bent bars that came from backing up just a couple of feet in a pinch in heavy city traffic at a tight intersection I couldn't clear--that would be the lateral force you're talking about. And that was backing up with a 2700# Mini Cooper, not a 7200# Rivian.
Then again, pushing forward with the Rivian to "help" up a grade would somehow have to be always perfect at not inducing lateral force under any circumstance.
THIS^^^
You guys should take a look at how flat tow bars are constructed. They simply aren't built to handle compression of any form and any hiccup would destroy them in compression. An entirely different system would have to be designed that would have to be significantly more heavy duty by a factor of 3x or 4x to handle this.
Under panic stopping the towed vehicle is braking...............This isn't true at all. The max acceleration of an RV pulling is many times less than it can decelerate in a panic stop. I had have to panic stop in my RV. I can go from 60 to 0 in a few seconds. It takes me well over 20 to go from 0 to 60. Therefore, the compressive loads experienced by a tow bar are many many times higher than the tension forces.
I have a surge brake system which requires the compressive load BEFORE the toad brake is applied. And basically you are saying that if the brake fails, the tow bar will fail, which is not true at all.Under panic stopping the towed vehicle is braking...............
A properly installed ReadyBrake should never hit forces you are stating. The breaks should trigger while the trigger compression is happening and not once it over compresses and slams.I have a surge brake system which requires the compressive load BEFORE the toad brake is applied. And basically you are saying that if the brake fails, the tow bar will fail, which is not true at all.