EVtowing
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Introduction:
I’m new to this forum. Have owned only Teslas for the past 10 years; Roadster, Model S, currently a 2018 Model 3 and 2017 Model X 100D which I purchased specifically to tow a Safari Condo Alto F1743 trailer. It is 17 ft long, weighs about 2,200lb fully loaded, and has been extensively modified; added 600Ah of LiFePO batteries and 735W of solar panels among other changes.
I have towed the trailer for probably over 12,000 miles. The X hitch is only rated for 3,500 lbs but the car easily handles the relatively lightweight trailer and feels stable while towing; no surprise there since the car outweighs the trailer by much more than two to one.
When towing at 55mph on a level dry road with no headwind the car gets about 2m/kW which decreases to about 1.7m/kW at 60mph. For such a large EV the X is very energy efficient, getting about 3.2m/kW at 60mph when not towing . When new, my X showed 285 rated miles at 100% charge, it now shows 264 miles fully charged (7% decrease) and has 74K miles on the odometer. A new Model X is EPA rated at 330 miles.
I’ve been following Rivian for years now and have always been impressed by their vehicles, and the coming R2 and R3 vehicles are very compelling. The R1S is almost exactly the same length and width as the Model X but has more cargo capacity because of its squarer shape; the downside is that it is not as aerodynamic and therefore is not as energy efficient. But Rivian clearly puts more effort into towing capability and related features than Tesla ever has; for Tesla towing has always been an afterthought. People towing RVs is not their target market, but when I bought my X it was the only EV available that could tow.
Rivian Towing Advantages
This list also includes some non-towing features the R1S has that I find compelling and the Model X lacks. If I have made any factual errors please correct me.
Will the Rivian Max Pack Dual Motor give me significantly more towing range than my X100D?
This is a difficult question to answer but it’s a critical one for me. I have researched this forum to try to determine how the R1S Dual Motor energy usage compares to my Model X. It’s difficult because people post numbers but not for a fixed speed on a level dry road with no headwind, and of course tire size and type make a big difference as well. As near as I can tell, R1S energy usage is significantly higher than the Model X, perhaps by as much as 40%. However, there is another complicating factor in trying to compare towing range between the two vehicles; how their shape alters the air flow impacting the front of the trailer.
When towing at highway speeds the primary reason for increased energy usage is the increased aerodynamic drag of the trailer. A secondary effect is the rolling resistance of the two trailer tires; that predominates at speeds below about 35mph but is a minor factor at higher speeds. The larger frontal area of the taller R1S compared to the Model X, and its squarer rear end, may serve to more effectively channel air away from the front of the trailer, reducing the amount of additional energy the R1S uses while towing.
In other words, while the R1S baseline energy usage is higher than a Model X, when towing the R1S may show a smaller percentage increase in energy usage compared to a Tesla because of the different aerodynamics and that may result in an overall greater towing range with the R1S Dual Motor Max Pack compared to my 2017 Model X.
But there is no way to know for sure without a real world towing test with my trailer behind an R1S Dual Motor. If I get serious about replacing my Tesla with a Rivian I could ask my local Rivian showroom if that would be possible. It would be a very interesting test.
I’m new to this forum. Have owned only Teslas for the past 10 years; Roadster, Model S, currently a 2018 Model 3 and 2017 Model X 100D which I purchased specifically to tow a Safari Condo Alto F1743 trailer. It is 17 ft long, weighs about 2,200lb fully loaded, and has been extensively modified; added 600Ah of LiFePO batteries and 735W of solar panels among other changes.
I have towed the trailer for probably over 12,000 miles. The X hitch is only rated for 3,500 lbs but the car easily handles the relatively lightweight trailer and feels stable while towing; no surprise there since the car outweighs the trailer by much more than two to one.
When towing at 55mph on a level dry road with no headwind the car gets about 2m/kW which decreases to about 1.7m/kW at 60mph. For such a large EV the X is very energy efficient, getting about 3.2m/kW at 60mph when not towing . When new, my X showed 285 rated miles at 100% charge, it now shows 264 miles fully charged (7% decrease) and has 74K miles on the odometer. A new Model X is EPA rated at 330 miles.
I’ve been following Rivian for years now and have always been impressed by their vehicles, and the coming R2 and R3 vehicles are very compelling. The R1S is almost exactly the same length and width as the Model X but has more cargo capacity because of its squarer shape; the downside is that it is not as aerodynamic and therefore is not as energy efficient. But Rivian clearly puts more effort into towing capability and related features than Tesla ever has; for Tesla towing has always been an afterthought. People towing RVs is not their target market, but when I bought my X it was the only EV available that could tow.
Rivian Towing Advantages
This list also includes some non-towing features the R1S has that I find compelling and the Model X lacks. If I have made any factual errors please correct me.
- 410 mile EPA range with the Max Pack 137kWh battery and Dual Motors
- Vehicle rear view camera shows a center line useful for guiding the hitch ball to the trailer tongue clamp
- “Trailer Profiles” setting, software calculates energy usage while towing a specific trailer and remembers it to calculate towing range
- Trailer brake control is included and is adjustable (I had to add a Tekonsha P3 brake controller to my X)
- 120V outlets in the center console and trunk and a 1500W inverter that can power the trailer or charge its batteries
- 5,000 lb towing capacity using the standard hitch (a new X is rated for 5,000 lb, but not rated for a WD hitch)
- Built in air compressor in the trunk to pump up tires
- 360 degree video view at low speed when parking
- Rear cross traffic alert
- 5 radars (and 11 cameras) can see through fog/rain/snow (Tesla has gone to cameras only, I think that may turn out to be a mistake)
- Two 60W USB-C outlets in the front that can power a laptop and charge a phone, plus 6 USB-C outlets in the rear areas
- Trailer Assist: Helps with reverse maneuvers while you have a trailer attached (unclear on exactly what this will be)
- Less efficient, higher energy usage compared to a Model X
- The Rivian Adaptive Cruise Control is deactivated while towing (manual cruise only) which is a big negative for me. Rivian needs to fix that; old style “dumb” cruise control is a huge step backwards. While towing the Tesla TACC (Traffic Aware Cruise Control) can be used and is very nice to have on trips. In both vehicles while towing other driver assist features like lane centering/auto steer are not available, which is unfortunate but understandable.
- Fewer DC fast charging stations, though this is debatable now that Tesla has opened up the majority (not all, V1 Superchargers remain Tesla only) of the Supercharger network to other EVs. I know there are many commercial DC charging networks, e.g. Electrify America, but they are not nearly as reliable and easy to use as the Tesla Superchargers.
- (Specific to me) My X came with free lifetime Supercharging. Tesla stopped offering that not long after I bought my car.
Will the Rivian Max Pack Dual Motor give me significantly more towing range than my X100D?
This is a difficult question to answer but it’s a critical one for me. I have researched this forum to try to determine how the R1S Dual Motor energy usage compares to my Model X. It’s difficult because people post numbers but not for a fixed speed on a level dry road with no headwind, and of course tire size and type make a big difference as well. As near as I can tell, R1S energy usage is significantly higher than the Model X, perhaps by as much as 40%. However, there is another complicating factor in trying to compare towing range between the two vehicles; how their shape alters the air flow impacting the front of the trailer.
When towing at highway speeds the primary reason for increased energy usage is the increased aerodynamic drag of the trailer. A secondary effect is the rolling resistance of the two trailer tires; that predominates at speeds below about 35mph but is a minor factor at higher speeds. The larger frontal area of the taller R1S compared to the Model X, and its squarer rear end, may serve to more effectively channel air away from the front of the trailer, reducing the amount of additional energy the R1S uses while towing.
In other words, while the R1S baseline energy usage is higher than a Model X, when towing the R1S may show a smaller percentage increase in energy usage compared to a Tesla because of the different aerodynamics and that may result in an overall greater towing range with the R1S Dual Motor Max Pack compared to my 2017 Model X.
But there is no way to know for sure without a real world towing test with my trailer behind an R1S Dual Motor. If I get serious about replacing my Tesla with a Rivian I could ask my local Rivian showroom if that would be possible. It would be a very interesting test.
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