3,400 miles towing a camping trailer w/ Cybertruck -- 19' Airstream (~4,500 lbs) to see solar eclipse

[HeathInLA]

I took my Cybertruck towing 19' Airstream (~4,500 lbs) to see the eclipse. Total towing miles was 3,400 (out of the 5,400 total miles on the truck). Started in Salt Lake City, Utah and went to Houston, TX and back.

Stats:

Miles driven:	3,420
kWh used:	2,686
Wh per mile:	785 Wh
Time Driven:	66 hours
Average Speed:	52 mph

I'll see if I have the stats for how many of the charging stops required dropping the trailer, but it was less than 50%, and I got the time needed to unhook the trailer to around 3 minutes (I was using a sway control hitch).
EDIT: 30 supercharges when I had the trailer, only had to drop the trailer 10 times. Most of the rest of the time the superchargers were empty, and I could get in and charge across multiple chargers (only blocking 1 or 2 other chargers if I could approach from the left and leave the trailer outside of the supercharging area).

“30 Superchargers” ouch

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[Crissa]

Miles driven:

3,420

Yes, if charging at home. But supercharging cost ~$0.33 per kWh, so the entire drive would have cost $886 at supercharger prices - I think a truck getting 13 or 14 mpg would have come in at a similar cost for gas.

Current average of gasoline in Texas is $3.20, (tho you drove through states with higher so this is a minimum) would be $782. Diesel is about the same in Texas ($3.21) and usually get 25% more miles (according to Google) per gallon.

Yeah, that's pretty close. And of course, you diesel or gas can't power itself off of sun or wind so your carbon footprint would be massively larger, not to mention your toxic emissions from your tailpipe.

-Crissa

 

[Crissa]

“30 Superchargers” ouch

30 times 1 minute plugging unplugging, 1 minute to get on and off the highway assume remained of time is saved by eating and using the facilities...
vs
Pumping 30 gallons at 6 gallons a minute (US maximum) plus one minute to pay and get on and off the highway (assuming Supercharger is less convenient by a minute) so that's eight stops at least.

So that's 6 minutes a stop wasted fueling vs 2 minutes wasted charging; and therefore an hour spent playing with charging infrastructure vs the absolute best time fueling like a pro and spending... more than three quarters of an hour fueling.

It's just not a big deal as people make it out to be.

-Crissa

Fixed misspelling 'therefore'.

 

[BlueLightning]

My speeds varied - on the highway I'd usually cruise between 55 mph and 65 mph, with higher speeds really hurting the efficiency. I had a headwind in Wyoming which destroyed my efficiency, and I ended up driving 49 mph just to make it to the next supercharger.

The "Energy" portion of the trip planner was surprising accurate, dropping to realistic numbers as soon as it was in towing mode. That accuracy was in part due to my driving in response to the estimate - the estimated arrival % would drop as I sped up, so I'd slow down to hit the estimate. The estimated arrival times were way off though, since I wouldn't drive the 70 mph to 80 mph speed limit.

I camped at a winery NW of Austin for the eclipse, and made detours to Houston and Tulsa to see friends. Here's the route; note that the map includes some driving around Houston, Austin & Tulsa without the trailer (~370 miles), but my trailer stats only include the drives I did pulling the trailer.

Congrats, looks like an awesome trip and learning experience. It’s possible it’s just a different lifestyle. If wanting to do 85mph up hill the whole way it would be 6.7L Power Stroke. But if able to listen to the Tesla computer, show some restraint and willing take your time. You got it done. Thanks.

Oh and nice setup for eclipse viewing. We seen about 94% wish we could have planned a trip to see the total eclipse, as next one is 20 years away. ?

 

[HeathInLA]

30 times 1 minute plugging unplugging, 1 minute to get on and off the highway assume remained of time is saved by eating and using the facilities...
vs
Pumping 30 gallons at 6 gallons a minute (US maximum) plus one minute to pay and get on and off the highway (assuming Supercharger is less convenient by a minute) so that's eight stops at least.

So that's 6 minutes a stop wasted fueling vs 2 minutes wasted charging and there for an hour spent playing with charging infrastructure vs the absolute best time fueling like a pro and spending... more than three quarters of an hour fueling.

It's just not a big deal as people make it out to be.

-Crissa

You’re completely ignoring the additional range and less stops of a gas burner

 

[Crissa]

You’re completely ignoring the additional range and less stops of a gas burner

No, I'm not. Please diagram my post where I did so, and I will correct it.

-Crissa

 

[CyberJet]

Towing long distance? But that’s un-possible!

The saying goes "nothing is impossible in this world."

 

[HeathInLA]

No, I'm not. Please diagram my post where I did so, and I will correct it.

-Crissa

Your whole post makes it sound like it’s no big deal to have to stop and charge that many times. You use stats that compare charging vs gas fueling like it’s one to one but it’s not. Gas fueling would be half the stops. Don’t get me wrong, I have a Model Y and love it. But just because you can do something (tow 4500 miles with an EV) doesn’t mean it’s the best thing to do.

 

[Crissa]

Your whole post makes it sound like it’s no big deal to have to stop and charge that many times. You use stats that compare charging vs gas fueling like it’s one to one but it’s not. Gas fueling would be half the stops. Don’t get me wrong, I have a Model Y and love it. But just because you can do something (tow 4500 miles with an EV) doesn’t mean it’s the best thing to do.

Yes, that's why I counted 8 stops for gas vs 30 stops for charging.

But unlike gas, once you're plugged in, you can wander off and go pee, get snacks, stretch your legs, eat dinner - just like you'd have to do on you gas powered drive. But with your gas powered drive, you're leashed to the pump the entire time you're fueling. And woe is you if a station isn't giving you 6 gallons a minute.

-Crissa

 

[HeathInLA]

Yes, that's why I counted 8 stops for gas vs 30 stops for charging.

But unlike gas, once you're plugged in, you can wander off and go pee, get snacks, stretch your legs, eat dinner - just like you'd have to do on you gas powered drive. But with your gas powered drive, you're leashed to the pump the entire time you're fueling. And woe is you if a station isn't giving you 6 gallons a minute.

-Crissa

Very true. But like I said…love my Y but I’d stick with my gas burner for those long hauls. But I bet it’d be an interesting trip lol

 

[Crissa]

Very true. But like I said…love my Y but I’d stick with my gas burner for those long hauls. But I bet it’d be an interesting trip lol

Well, your loss.

-Crissa

 

[Woodrick]

“30 Superchargers” ouch

Let's put that into perspective, nearly 3500 miles. That's 50 straight hours of driving. That's a much bigger ouch.

 

[Woodrick]

Very true. But like I said…love my Y but I’d stick with my gas burner for those long hauls. But I bet it’d be an interesting trip lol

True, why stop and smell the roses when you can play jet and fly past everything?

 

[HeathInLA]

Let's put that into perspective, nearly 3500 miles. That's 50 straight hours of driving. That's a much bigger ouch.

True Dat!

 

[nevetsyad]

This is what I can't wait for. Supercharge once, then find a high power J plug to park at for the night. Plug the trailer into the truck and run AC/fans and sleep in a real bed for the night. Maybe have a hot shower also before unplugging, fully charged, and doing another 200-300 miles the next day.

Yes, mostly campground NEMA 14-50 with the travel charger, or a destination charger (shoutout to Sandhills Brewing in Hutchinson, KS).

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