Towing + Efficiency: Please post your experience!

[Taco]

I towed my camper trailer for the first time last weekend. Most of the driving was on the freeway at 60 mph with some rolling hills, and some traffic in spots, but no mountain passes. The trailer probably weighs around 7000lbs+ including gear. If you are towing anything heavy and not aerodynamic do not expect 50% range loss as advertised. Expect more like 2/3 range loss. I got less than 1 mile per KWH and went from 100% battery to 40% battery in 55 miles. I was hoping to be able to get at least 100 miles per charge, but reality is I wouldn't push it any further than 75 miles per charge. With the limited infrastructure out West, that really limits where you can go. I have a Max pack on order and will definitely be upgrading once it's available. Hopefully that enables me to comfortably get 100 miles of usable range.

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How's life with the truck AND your 2400BH? We're looking at one but would like to get a real world view from someone with one.

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[Epicloop]

Towed this trailer with 6400lbs over mountain passes with 9000ft of gain & not sure of losses (much less than gain) had to charge before destination but by % It would have been 150 miles. The return trip nearly unlaiden (trailer +500lbs) 25% remaining from empty.
The start elevation was sea level & destination was 3800'. I was pretty satisfied with the range.

 

[tk21]

Towed this trailer with 6400lbs over mountain passes with 9000ft of gain & not sure of losses (much less than gain) had to charge before destination but by % It would have been 150 miles. The return trip nearly unlaiden (trailer +500lbs) 25% remaining from empty.
The start elevation was sea level & destination was 3800'. I was pretty satisfied with the range.

So you’re saying the 100% to charge (??% SoC) for the trip up was about 150miles of range? Just making sure I’m reading that part right. I assume the return trip was 100% - 25% SoC.

 

[Epicloop]

So you’re saying the 100% to charge (??% SoC) for the trip up was about 150miles of range? Just making sure I’m reading that part right. I assume the return trip was 100% - 25% SoC.

Yes, each way I started with 100% and the distance was actually 154miles. On the way there I would have been 2% shy of making my destination based on segment usage. On the way back is a net elevation loss and I had 25% remaining from a full charge for the return trip.
On the way there I had the cruise set at a conservative 95kmh(59mph) due to not knowing what to expect with all the climbing which I did not slow down for.
For the return trip I was less conservative as I had a better idea of range expectations and the trailer load combination was only 3400lb not 6400lbs (not including hitch weight) as it was on the way up. The combined weight R1S & trailer on the way up was 14,300lbs.
I checked a previous recording and the net elevation gain is 3500' (10000'+ gain/6500'+ loss over the distance) on the way to destination.
It tows significantly better than my outgoing 07 Tundra.

 

[twieland]

Just returned home from our first longer trip - 1300 mile round trip from Omaha, NE to Grand Haven, MI towing our Airstream Basecamp 20x. Set cruise at 62 mph on the way out and ended with 1.21 mi/kWh (we had some pretty constant headwind / crosswind most of the trip). Return trip upped cruise control to 65mph and achieved 1.31mi/kWH with more favorable wind conditions. Pretty happy with those results and are more comfortable now for upcoming longer trips knowing we can control our efficiency better by slowing down when needed. Looking forward to a 2000+ trip through Wyoming at the end of the month. Charging will be more challenging and will require an overnight campground stay on both legs of the trip.

 

[AbhorViolence]

Just returned home from our first longer trip - 1300 mile round trip from Omaha, NE to Grand Haven, MI towing our Airstream Basecamp 20x. Set cruise at 62 mph on the way out and ended with 1.21 mi/kWh (we had some pretty constant headwind / crosswind most of the trip). Return trip upped cruise control to 65mph and achieved 1.31mi/kWH with more favorable wind conditions. Pretty happy with those results and are more comfortable now for upcoming longer trips knowing we can control our efficiency better by slowing down when needed. Looking forward to a 2000+ trip through Wyoming at the end of the month. Charging will be more challenging and will require an overnight campground stay on both legs of the trip.

Great results, thank you! Comparing specs, your Basecamp 20x is almost exactly the same size and weight as my Intech Sol Horizon. Mine is a foot less long, and 3.5" taller (with AC), and my box width is slightly less (7'0") but the wheels stick out a bit more. Weight basically exactly the same. Very similar shape as well, though I do think yours is a bit more aerodynamic, especially with the taper at the back.

And I love that you have road tires and tested this at 62 and 65mph. I have figured that 60 will be my optimal towing speed. This gives me the most confidence yet that I'll be able to achieve a respectable 1.2+ mi/kWh, which means 100 miles between charges if charging 20-80%. Can't wait.

 

[av8or]

Just returned home from our first longer trip - 1300 mile round trip from Omaha, NE to Grand Haven, MI towing our Airstream Basecamp 20x. Set cruise at 62 mph on the way out and ended with 1.21 mi/kWh (we had some pretty constant headwind / crosswind most of the trip). Return trip upped cruise control to 65mph and achieved 1.31mi/kWH with more favorable wind conditions. Pretty happy with those results and are more comfortable now for upcoming longer trips knowing we can control our efficiency better by slowing down when needed. Looking forward to a 2000+ trip through Wyoming at the end of the month. Charging will be more challenging and will require an overnight campground stay on both legs of the trip.

Hell yes! Great information and results. Range anxiety is real and towing ramps it up a lot, but with some good planning and using campgrounds to fill in any blanks most places are still accessible. Every time I tow I’m amazed with this truck and the anxiety eases. I bet with some overnight campgrounds and maybe some nice people on PlugShare you could get to Alaska!

 

[twieland]

Just returned home from our first longer trip - 1300 mile round trip from Omaha, NE to Grand Haven, MI towing our Airstream Basecamp 20x. Set cruise at 62 mph on the way out and ended with 1.21 mi/kWh (we had some pretty constant headwind / crosswind most of the trip). Return trip upped cruise control to 65mph and achieved 1.31mi/kWH with more favorable wind conditions. Pretty happy with those results and are more comfortable now for upcoming longer trips knowing we can control our efficiency better by slowing down when needed. Looking forward to a 2000+ trip through Wyoming at the end of the month. Charging will be more challenging and will require an overnight campground stay on both legs of the trip.

Good luck, I will be interested to hear about your towing efficiency!

 

[twieland]

Hell yes! Great information and results. Range anxiety is real and towing ramps it up a lot, but with some good planning and using campgrounds to fill in any blanks most places are still accessible. Every time I tow I’m amazed with this truck and the anxiety eases. I bet with some overnight campgrounds and maybe some nice people on PlugShare you could get to Alaska!

LOL .... Alaska is on the 'bucket list' but probably not for a while!

 

[DamonR1T]

I just got back from a 1,144-mile round trip, towing my 2023 Grand Design Image 3210BH with my R1T. I had a lot of reservations about whether it would even make it from El Dorado State Park to Athens, TX to the Texan RV Park and home of the National RV Training Academy. I tried to collect as much information along the way as I could and wanted to share my experience on this trip in hopes that others can make an informed decision.

I'll start off by mentioning I have very little experience towing anything. I've towed a few trailers mostly when I was younger, but I have never towed anything near the size of this travel trailer (37' from ball hitch to back bumper). I watched a few videos to learn the basics and I asked a ton of questions from my RV tech when he explained how to use my Blue Ox weight distribution and sway protection system. With all my belongings, I estimate that the trailer came in just under 10,000 lbs. I wish I had stopped at a CAT weigh station, but didn't want to waste even a single minute.

I didn't really know what to expect for range, so I planned my route with chargers approximately every 80 miles apart based on some other stories I've read. Turns out that was a good estimate and left a little bit of range, if needed. On one leg, I did stretch it to 93 miles with a starting SOC of 96%. I ended up in reduced power mode with the Turtle light. I had never seen that before and was scared I wouldn't make it. I pulled in and luckily was able to pull straight to the charger without dropping my trailer. I only had 3% battery left when I started charging. I tried to charge up to at least 92-96% each time I stopped, and then I planned on 1% decrease per mile driven. With charging stops planned roughly every 80-85 miles, it was easy to plan how far I could go with my remaining charge. This is necessary since none of the battery level indicators show properly when towing. Hopefully Rivian will fix this with their summer towing update that was announced.

All-in-all, I thought the truck pulled the trailer like a dream. Being brand new to towing, I did get nervous a lot when semitrucks passed and there was a noticeable pull on the trailer. I used the trailer brakes a couple of times, mostly out of an abundance of caution. I really appreciated that the right thumb control doubled as the trailer brake control. It was very easy to reach without having to think about it. I kept my speed down to under 60 always, but tried to keep under 55 as much as possible.

I had to stop and charge about 6 times each direction, and had to charge for right at an hour each time. This added 10 hours and 39 minutes of charging time, plus probably 2-3 hours to drop/reconnect the trailer to my entire trip.

To summarize, the Rivian R1T was very capable and handled the very large load behind it with ease. I didn't ever feel as though the truck couldn't manage, never felt like it was sluggish to get up the hills or anything like that. If you want to tow something this large, I would recommend towing it small distances only. Otherwise, plan to spend a lot of time charging along the way. If you aren't in a hurry to get from one location to another, then you may not mind the breaks along the way. One final note, there was only one charging location where I was able to charge the truck without dropping the trailer off first. Thankfully for me, 90% of my charging stops were in Wal-Mart parking lots and I was able to drop the trailer off nearby. Twice, though, I had to drop the trailer off a mile or two away from my charging location and then quickly returned after charging. Due to the extra time charging, I slept in two Wal-Mart parking lots on travel days, which wasn't too bad, except it was really hot and humid. My total charging expenses came out to $232, most of which was to Electrify America and two ChargePoint chargers. One final note on charging, I was able to charge at my campground using the 50 AMP electrical and an EV-safe surge protector.

Here are a few pictures from the trip. This first image is my first charging stop at a Casey's in Blackwell, OK. I was excited to be able to pull directly up to the charger!

I was joined by two Ford Lightnings at one of my charging stops. My Rivian looked small compared to them, but I know mine is better!

Charging again at Casey's in Blackwell on my way back home.

Here's a screenshot of the entire trip summary according to my Rivian.

 

[Thedude]

I used the trailer brakes a couple of times, mostly out of an abundance of caution. I really appreciated that the right thumb control doubled as the trailer brake control. It was very easy to reach without having to think about it.

You might already know this but I’ve seen the same idea posted about the Rivian before so I’m not sure people misunderstand the system.

Using the thumb wheel for trailer brakes is essentially the same as using the e-brake in a conventional vehicle rather than the brake pedal. The thumb control is for emergencies, confirming the brakes work after hitching up and to help counter sway in some cases. The trailer brakes are activated any time you press the brake pedal and the level of strength in comparison to the truck braking is dictated by the gain setting in the towing drive mode menu.

 

[av8or]

I just got back from a 1,144-mile round trip, towing my 2023 Grand Design Image 3210BH with my R1T. I had a lot of reservations about whether it would even make it from El Dorado State Park to Athens, TX to the Texan RV Park and home of the National RV Training Academy. I tried to collect as much information along the way as I could and wanted to share my experience on this trip in hopes that others can make an informed decision.

I'll start off by mentioning I have very little experience towing anything. I've towed a few trailers mostly when I was younger, but I have never towed anything near the size of this travel trailer (37' from ball hitch to back bumper). I watched a few videos to learn the basics and I asked a ton of questions from my RV tech when he explained how to use my Blue Ox weight distribution and sway protection system. With all my belongings, I estimate that the trailer came in just under 10,000 lbs. I wish I had stopped at a CAT weigh station, but didn't want to waste even a single minute.

I didn't really know what to expect for range, so I planned my route with chargers approximately every 80 miles apart based on some other stories I've read. Turns out that was a good estimate and left a little bit of range, if needed. On one leg, I did stretch it to 93 miles with a starting SOC of 96%. I ended up in reduced power mode with the Turtle light. I had never seen that before and was scared I wouldn't make it. I pulled in and luckily was able to pull straight to the charger without dropping my trailer. I only had 3% battery left when I started charging. I tried to charge up to at least 92-96% each time I stopped, and then I planned on 1% decrease per mile driven. With charging stops planned roughly every 80-85 miles, it was easy to plan how far I could go with my remaining charge. This is necessary since none of the battery level indicators show properly when towing. Hopefully Rivian will fix this with their summer towing update that was announced.

All-in-all, I thought the truck pulled the trailer like a dream. Being brand new to towing, I did get nervous a lot when semitrucks passed and there was a noticeable pull on the trailer. I used the trailer brakes a couple of times, mostly out of an abundance of caution. I really appreciated that the right thumb control doubled as the trailer brake control. It was very easy to reach without having to think about it. I kept my speed down to under 60 always, but tried to keep under 55 as much as possible.

I had to stop and charge about 6 times each direction, and had to charge for right at an hour each time. This added 10 hours and 39 minutes of charging time, plus probably 2-3 hours to drop/reconnect the trailer to my entire trip.

To summarize, the Rivian R1T was very capable and handled the very large load behind it with ease. I didn't ever feel as though the truck couldn't manage, never felt like it was sluggish to get up the hills or anything like that. If you want to tow something this large, I would recommend towing it small distances only. Otherwise, plan to spend a lot of time charging along the way. If you aren't in a hurry to get from one location to another, then you may not mind the breaks along the way. One final note, there was only one charging location where I was able to charge the truck without dropping the trailer off first. Thankfully for me, 90% of my charging stops were in Wal-Mart parking lots and I was able to drop the trailer off nearby. Twice, though, I had to drop the trailer off a mile or two away from my charging location and then quickly returned after charging. Due to the extra time charging, I slept in two Wal-Mart parking lots on travel days, which wasn't too bad, except it was really hot and humid. My total charging expenses came out to $232, most of which was to Electrify America and two ChargePoint chargers. One final note on charging, I was able to charge at my campground using the 50 AMP electrical and an EV-safe surge protector.

Here are a few pictures from the trip. This first image is my first charging stop at a Casey's in Blackwell, OK. I was excited to be able to pull directly up to the charger!

I was joined by two Ford Lightnings at one of my charging stops. My Rivian looked small compared to them, but I know mine is better!

Charging again at Casey's in Blackwell on my way back home.

Here's a screenshot of the entire trip summary according to my Rivian.

That’s a big trailer! Excellent results.

 

[Zac]

Anyone have any experience or data they can share on towing a small, off-road trailer like the Taxa Woolly Bear or the Tribe Basecamp? Even though they are small, they seem less aerodynamic to me than trailers like the Airstream Basecamp. So, I am curious how the range impact works out with these types of trailers.

 

[fastwheels]

Just towed a car trailer (total of approx 4800 lbs) 250 miles, mostly flat, low 70 degree day, minimal wind. At 50 mph efficiency was 2.0, 65 mph it dropped to 1.62, 70 mph dropped to 1.24. Was able to use RAN on the way. Tows beautifully!

 

[AbhorViolence]

Amazing the difference at different speeds. Seems like the sweet spot for safety and efficiency is right around 60mph.

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