Rivian not yet ready for primetime (towing)?

[kdauto]

I imagine EVs will get there, but they will be a PITA for now hauling anything even moderately heavy. Here's results from one towing a Mustang on a flatbed trailer. 118 mile range on average.

https://driveteslacanada.ca/news/fir...ge-range-loss/

[move on]

I think the range of these EVs is being way overhyped. Every time I see one on the road they are driving slowly in the right lane. That tells me the drivers are burdened by range anxiety. I can't imagine how they feel when they are towing.

[radar]

Originally Posted by move on

I think the range of these EVs is being way overhyped. Every time I see one on the road they are driving slowly in the right lane. That tells me the drivers are burdened by range anxiety. I can't imagine how they feel when they are towing.

ROTFLMAO. . Range anxiety. . Another myth brought to you by the petroleum industry. Lol

[F4Gary]

Originally Posted by radar

ROTFLMAO. . Range anxiety. . Another myth brought to you by the petroleum industry. Lol

Speaking of myths....

[carybosse]

Originally Posted by kdauto

I imagine EVs will get there, but they will be a PITA for now hauling anything even moderately heavy. Here's results from one towing a Mustang on a flatbed trailer. 118 mile range on average.

https://driveteslacanada.ca/news/fir...ge-range-loss/

Towing a mustang on a trailer is an easy load compared to a travel trailer.

My story with a gasser: I towed a Saturn Vue 250 miles on a tow dolly behind my 2015 GMC Canyon, did my best to keep speed below 65 MPH but Canyon was ready to fly. On return trip, towed a Wrangler JK. I averaged in range of 15 MPG on both trips, weight was in 4400-4500 pounds. (U-Haul tow dolly had no trailer brakes, this was the first time I had ever towed a tow dolly or towed with this truck.)

I towed a large Forest River 228D popup behind same truck. Yes, it had trailer brakes, it probably pushes over 3000 pounds loaded, is wider than truck and taller than the bed of the truck in collapsed mode at 66" in height. I tended to tow at higher speeds, 70 MPH, fought to get 15 MPG.

Imagine the impact of a 10 foot tall by 8 foot wide travel trailer on the range on an EV versus towing a Mustang.

I don't personally know anyone with a fulltime EV - knew a guy with a Chevy Volt. He had backup gasoline power, so his anxiety was less. I think we have a long way to go, and nothing I am hearing or reading is making me think my opinion is wrong.

[kdauto]

Originally Posted by carybosse

Towing a mustang on a trailer is an easy load compared to a travel trailer.

My story with a gasser: I towed a Saturn Vue 250 miles on a tow dolly behind my 2015 GMC Canyon, did my best to keep speed below 65 MPH but Canyon was ready to fly. On return trip, towed a Wrangler JK. I averaged in range of 15 MPG on both trips, weight was in 4400-4500 pounds. (U-Haul tow dolly had no trailer brakes, this was the first time I had ever towed a tow dolly or towed with this truck.)

I towed a large Forest River 228D popup behind same truck. Yes, it had trailer brakes, it probably pushes over 3000 pounds loaded, is wider than truck and taller than the bed of the truck in collapsed mode at 66" in height. I tended to tow at higher speeds, 70 MPH, fought to get 15 MPG.

Imagine the impact of a 10 foot tall by 8 foot wide travel trailer on the range on an EV versus towing a Mustang.

I don't personally know anyone with a fulltime EV - knew a guy with a Chevy Volt. He had backup gasoline power, so his anxiety was less. I think we have a long way to go, and nothing I am hearing or reading is making me think my opinion is wrong.

Heck, back when I was younger and more daring (or stupid? LOL) I regularly towed vehicles on a dolly with my Jetta. Largest one was a 3700-4000lb Dodge Caravan. No big issues pulling, slower for sure on acceleration, but no issue attaining 100km/h. Braking was less fun. I pulled a smaller 4'x8' enclosed tall U-haul trailer, THAT was a chore. 100km/h-110km/h flat out, gas mileage decreased almost 3 fold.

We have a Bolt EUV on order and are not stressed with range and all that, but won't be towing anything with it.

[George Schweikle]

I know these people with the Rivian, and their Facebook thread states they are towing at 70-80 MPH.

Originally Posted by move on

I think the range of these EVs is being way overhyped. Every time I see one on the road they are driving slowly in the right lane. That tells me the drivers are burdened by range anxiety. I can't imagine how they feel when they are towing.

[kdauto]

70MPH is quite fast, but drag on that setup isn't even 1/2 as high as with a tall TT or 5th wheel. 80MPH towing is probably illegal in most states, and it is dangerous, especially with a smaller tow vehicle.

A French article here was stating 118km range. That might have been an error and they forgot to convert the 118m to km.

[MRUSA14]

Originally Posted by George Schweikle

I know these people with the Rivian, and their Facebook thread states they are towing at 70-80 MPH.

Okay, for how many miles? Towing with an electric vehicle is like trying to cut a steak with a spoon.

[carybosse]

Originally Posted by kdauto

Heck, back when I was younger and more daring (or stupid? LOL) I regularly towed vehicles on a dolly with my Jetta. Largest one was a 3700-4000lb Dodge Caravan. No big issues pulling, slower for sure on acceleration, but no issue attaining 100km/h. Braking was less fun. I pulled a smaller 4'x8' enclosed tall U-haul trailer, THAT was a chore. 100km/h-110km/h flat out, gas mileage decreased almost 3 fold.

We have a Bolt EUV on order and are not stressed with range and all that, but won't be towing anything with it.

Are you one of those guys?

We regularly see people driving through the DFW area with an undersized vehicle flat towing two vehicles behind them. All three vehicles usually look like they belong in a junk yard. I have never understood how they were not stopped for unsafe towing, I know there are no brakes on either of the towed vehicles. I assume there are all either manual transmission or have had a drive shaft pulled, but many are FWD. They must be Taco Bell delivery vehicles, because they look like they are making a run to the border.

I towed a U-Haul double axle enclosed trailer with my 4.3L V6 C1500 back in 1999. Hit a headwind on Interstate 49 and literally ran out of gas before I could find an exit with a gas station. Trailer was pretty loaded as was the bed of my truck.

(Back in those days at least, gas stations on I49 outside of a few cities were about as rare as an EV charging station today. There is still only one rest stop from Lafayette to Shreveport.)

[dbircky]

I drove my 1996 7.3 ccdrw Ford towing an empty 20 foot long steel trailer from Akron to Dallas and averaged 15.4 mpg at an average speed of 64 mph. Loaded a Jeep in Dallas and drove back to Akron averaging 15.2 mpg at an average speed of 63 mph. Left on a Friday night and returned on Sunday afternoon. What these folks experienced with their trip wouldn’t have worked. Nor would it have worked a few years ago when we were hauling hay with the same timeframes to Texas because of the drought.

E compare.io use the Electric Car Charging Cost and Time Calculator. Can’t hyperlink to the exact page on a cell but here’s the screen shot on charging time to get maximum range.

I also find it amazing that the Rivian which is heavier than my f350 has a lower towing capacity. But that the problem with battery power, heavy for a comparable sized ice. Tires will wear fast too, negating some of the alleged savings from less maintenance.