Towing Efficiency by Trailer Size & Weight

[rookford]

I am doing research on buying a small teardrop and with different sizes and weights of trailers I was wondering what others get for efficiency towing with their R1T or R1S? Hopefully this will help me decide which trailer is better for my needs and if size/weight of the trailer is really a determining factor.

For those interested, here is my research such far on trailers. I am looking to store it in my garage which is why I have the length and height recorded.

Preference	Make	Model	Cost	Length	Width	Height	Height w/RTT	Dry Weight	CCC	GVWR	Warranty
1	Escapod	TOPO2 Nomad	$ 47,225.00	162	84	81	94	1,650	1,850	3,500	5 Years
2	Cedar Ridge	Vega 2.0 XT	$ 41,413.00	156	85	79	93	1,800	1,700	3,500	3 Years
3	Offgrid Trailers	Pando 3.0	$ 42,275.00	166	89	79	93	2,200	1,300	3,500	5 Years
4	Escapod	TOPO2 Voyager	$ 56,275.00	162	84	81	94	1,920	1,580	3,500	5 Years
5	ROC Trailers	ALD09	$ 24,753.00	177	86	72	86	1,500	1,500	3,000	3 Years
6	Expedition Trailers	Voyger	$ 57,700.00	192	89	82	96	2,300	1,200	3,500	2 Years
7	Taxa Outdoors	Mantis	$ 40,116.00	228	90	83		3,115	1,085	4,200	3 Years
8	InTech	Luna	$ 26,000.00	186	94	75	89	1,800	600	2,400	3 Years
9	InTech	Sol Horizon	$ 38,000.00	228	102	118		3,350	650	4,000	3 Years
10	Mission Overland	The Summit	$ 46,240.00	180	86	79		2,250	1,250	3,500

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[vandy1981]

I am doing research on buying a small teardrop and with different sizes and weights of trailers I was wondering what others get for efficiency towing with their R1T or R1S? Hopefully this will help me decide which trailer is better for my needs and if size/weight of the trailer is really a determining factor.

For those interested, here is my research such far on trailers. I am looking to store it in my garage which is why I have the length and height recorded.

Preference	Make	Model	Cost	Length	Height	Height w/RTT	Dry Weight	CCC	GVWR	Warranty
1	Escapod	TOPO2 Nomad	$ 47,225.00	162	81	94	1,650	1,850	3,500	5 Years
2	Cedar Ridge	Vega 2.0 AT	$ 41,413.00	156	79	93	1,800	1,700	3,500	3 Years
3	Offgrid Trailers	Pando 3.0	$ 42,275.00	166	79	93	2,200	1,300	3,500	5 Years
4	Escapod	TOPO2 Voyager	$ 56,275.00	162	81	94	1,920	1,580	3,500	5 Years
5	Expedition Trailers	Voyger	$ 57,700.00	192	82	96	2,300	1,200	3,500	2 Years
6	ROC Trailers	ALD09	$ 24,753.00	177	72	86	1,500	1,500	3,000	3 Years
7	Taxa Outdoors	Mantis	$ 40,116.00	228	83		3,115	1,085	4,200	3 Years
8	InTech	Luna	$ 26,000.00	186	75	89	1,800	600	2,400	3 Years
9	InTech	Sol Horizon	$ 38,000.00	228	118		3,350	650	4,000	3 Years
10	Mission Overland	The Summit	$ 46,240.00	180	79		2,250	1,250	3,500
11	Boreas Campers	EOS-12	$ 74,180.00	232	106		3,500	1,500	5,000

I don' t have experience with these trailers, but height and width are the most important factors by far. Weight is not as important unless you're going up mountains. Off-road tires and tandem axles are also going to create more rolling resistance. BTW, the MSRPs of those small teardrops are insane.

There is a thread about trailer towing efficiency and you'll probably be able to extrapolate from there:

https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/...post-your-experience.5602/page-12#post-449186

 

[rookford]

I don' t have experience with these trailers, but height and width are the most important factors by far. Weight is not as important unless you're going up mountains. Off-road tires and tandem axles are also going to create more rolling resistance. BTW, the MSRPs of those small teardrops are insane.

There is a thread about trailer towing efficiency and you'll probably be able to extrapolate from there:

https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/...post-your-experience.5602/page-12#post-449186

Thanks for this info!

And when it comes to good quality teardrops the range is $35k to $60k. I am looking for something that will last instead of a wood trailer which will breakdown faster over time and a company that will not go belly up right after I buy.

 

[Billybobgt]

Since you're not looking for wood the trailer I have isn't for you, but hiker trailer is the company. 5x9 boxed trailer weighs about 1500 lbs when loaded. Historically get around 1.6 to 1.7 ish at 65mph when temps are probably 50 or greater. Did a 700 mile trip in January when the last large cold snap went through and was getting around 1.4 ish until the temps got around 15 or lower and snowing and then dropped a bit. I'll be doing the reverse in about two weeks and should have more reasonable numbers. On the long trip I was able to stay in the 10 - 75% range and had legs of about 120 miles between charging.

All told this is based off around 1500 miles of towing mostly at highway. When towing over new years at 50 mph or lower much less range lost and probably around 2.0 or better. I've got the quad with 21 in wheels and over 14k miles have averaged just under 2.3 including the towing. If your planning on a teardrop even if it's slightly bigger or a little heavier I wouldn't worry to much about range. Just do a long leg start and then the shorter legs after.

I'm going to be looking to sell the hiker trailer soon and have an order in for happier camper breeze due for completion in spring. Still a light trailer just a little bigger to have room for all the beasts that are there with wife and I. See below pictures of towing at charger and one of the beasts.

By the way I've also towed the trailer with wife's id4 and other than less range there is plenty of power.

 

[rookford]

Since you're not looking for wood the trailer I have isn't for you, but hiker trailer is the company. 5x9 boxed trailer weighs about 1500 lbs when loaded. Historically get around 1.6 to 1.7 ish at 65mph when temps are probably 50 or greater. Did a 700 mile trip in January when the last large cold snap went through and was getting around 1.4 ish until the temps got around 15 or lower and snowing and then dropped a bit. I'll be doing the reverse in about two weeks and should have more reasonable numbers. On the long trip I was able to stay in the 10 - 75% range and had legs of about 120 miles between charging.

All told this is based off around 1500 miles of towing mostly at highway. When towing over new years at 50 mph or lower much less range lost and probably around 2.0 or better. I've got the quad with 21 in wheels and over 14k miles have averaged just under 2.3 including the towing. If your planning on a teardrop even if it's slightly bigger or a little heavier I wouldn't worry to much about range. Just do a long leg start and then the shorter legs after.

I'm going to be looking to sell the hiker trailer soon and have an order in for happier camper breeze due for completion in spring. Still a light trailer just a little bigger to have room for all the beasts that are there with wife and I. See below pictures of towing at charger and one of the beasts.

By the way I've also towed the trailer with wife's id4 and other than less range there is plenty of power.

Thank you for your response! This is exactly what I was looking for in very helpful. I’ve definitely looked at hiker trailers, however just isn’t right for me and really against wood long-term. Know plenty of people who have gotten RVs or travel trailers that have wooden builds in them and had many issues with either rot or things coming loose because the wood shifts overtime.

 

[240vPlug]

I can't speak to teardrop units but we have a coachmen apex 245 BHS. About 5,500 lbs, tandem axle, and 28ft long. Tested on both T and S. We get between 1 and 1.2 mi per kwh. The T does a little better than S.

 

[DuoRivian]

I am doing research on buying a small teardrop and with different sizes and weights of trailers I was wondering what others get for efficiency towing with their R1T or R1S? Hopefully this will help me decide which trailer is better for my needs and if size/weight of the trailer is really a determining factor.

For those interested, here is my research such far on trailers. I am looking to store it in my garage which is why I have the length and height recorded.

Preference	Make	Model	Cost	Length	Height	Height w/RTT	Dry Weight	CCC	GVWR	Warranty
1	Escapod	TOPO2 Nomad	$ 47,225.00	162	81	94	1,650	1,850	3,500	5 Years
2	Cedar Ridge	Vega 2.0 AT	$ 41,413.00	156	79	93	1,800	1,700	3,500	3 Years
3	Offgrid Trailers	Pando 3.0	$ 42,275.00	166	79	93	2,200	1,300	3,500	5 Years
4	Escapod	TOPO2 Voyager	$ 56,275.00	162	81	94	1,920	1,580	3,500	5 Years
5	Expedition Trailers	Voyger	$ 57,700.00	192	82	96	2,300	1,200	3,500	2 Years
6	ROC Trailers	ALD09	$ 24,753.00	177	72	86	1,500	1,500	3,000	3 Years
7	Taxa Outdoors	Mantis	$ 40,116.00	228	83		3,115	1,085	4,200	3 Years
8	InTech	Luna	$ 26,000.00	186	75	89	1,800	600	2,400	3 Years
9	InTech	Sol Horizon	$ 38,000.00	228	118		3,350	650	4,000	3 Years
10	Mission Overland	The Summit	$ 46,240.00	180	79		2,250	1,250	3,500
11	Boreas Campers	EOS-12	$ 74,180.00	232	106		3,500	1,500	5,000

Have you thought about Pebble : https://pebblelife.com

 

[rookford]

Have you thought about Pebble : https://pebblelife.com

Took a glance and can’t justify the cost. The one I really considered was polydrop campers https://www.polydrops.com/ but just not for me based on wanting to put my RTT on the camper for kids.

 

[aaronhall98]

I am doing research on buying a small teardrop and with different sizes and weights of trailers I was wondering what others get for efficiency towing with their R1T or R1S? Hopefully this will help me decide which trailer is better for my needs and if size/weight of the trailer is really a determining factor.

For those interested, here is my research such far on trailers. I am looking to store it in my garage which is why I have the length and height recorded.

Preference	Make	Model	Cost	Length	Height	Height w/RTT	Dry Weight	CCC	GVWR	Warranty
1	Escapod	TOPO2 Nomad	$ 47,225.00	162	81	94	1,650	1,850	3,500	5 Years
2	Cedar Ridge	Vega 2.0 AT	$ 41,413.00	156	79	93	1,800	1,700	3,500	3 Years
3	Offgrid Trailers	Pando 3.0	$ 42,275.00	166	79	93	2,200	1,300	3,500	5 Years
4	Escapod	TOPO2 Voyager	$ 56,275.00	162	81	94	1,920	1,580	3,500	5 Years
5	Expedition Trailers	Voyger	$ 57,700.00	192	82	96	2,300	1,200	3,500	2 Years
6	ROC Trailers	ALD09	$ 24,753.00	177	72	86	1,500	1,500	3,000	3 Years
7	Taxa Outdoors	Mantis	$ 40,116.00	228	83		3,115	1,085	4,200	3 Years
8	InTech	Luna	$ 26,000.00	186	75	89	1,800	600	2,400	3 Years
9	InTech	Sol Horizon	$ 38,000.00	228	118		3,350	650	4,000	3 Years
10	Mission Overland	The Summit	$ 46,240.00	180	79		2,250	1,250	3,500
11	Boreas Campers	EOS-12	$ 74,180.00	232	106		3,500	1,500	5,000

Hey Dan - was in a similar quandary last year but you are being much more thorough! I only considered Escapod Topo2 and the Bean trailers. Ended up going with an Escapod and we love it…I’ve towed it with our Jeep Wrangler JKUR and Audi SQ7; just picked up our R1S a month ago and looking forward to our first trip so I can get a feel for the efficiency/range hit. There’s a great Rivian/Escapod post here - - in case it helps.

 

[rookford]

Hey Dan - was in a similar quandary last year but you are being much more thorough! I only considered Escapod Topo2 and the Bean trailers. Ended up going with an Escapod and we love it…I’ve towed in with our Jeep Wrangler JKUR and Audi SQ7; just picked up our R1S a month ago and looking forward to our first trip so I can get a feel for the efficiency/range hit. There’s a great Rivian/Escapod post here - - in case it helps.

Super helpful!! Really good to know.

 

[Marchin_MTB]

We bought a used happier camper traveler and measure 1.6 to 1.7 mi/kWh at 65mph. Probably helps that it is not wider than the truck and not very tall. It may or may not fit in your garage but it’s smaller brother, the HC1 might. They are doing a spring sale I believe.

 

[hgpayne]

I have a couple very different trailers I tow. The bigger and heavier camp trailer on the left is more efficient than the cargo trailer on the right. It's all about aerodynamics. I've only had the opportunity to tow in the winter so far so I'm eager for this summer when we can go camping and I can see how far this R1T PDM Max actually tows.

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