Rivian R1T’s first real-world towing test shows 62% range loss

[madquadbiker]

What sort of trailer was it, though? The aero matters.

-Crissa

How about a Tesla trailer with motor and it’s own battery connected so the CT will control both, dam I’ve missed my mediation again.

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[FutureBoy]

I’ve missed my mediation again.

mediation or medication?

 

[madquadbiker]

mediation or medication?

Well it is late here. That’s my excuse.

 

[John K]

Towing at 73 mph your range will drop significantly vs Towing at 55 mph. Just takes longer to get to your destination. So the chose is, wait longer at Supercharging stations or sit longer behind the wheel (Yoke) while towing.

N.ICE

Tow at 73 mph, hope you don’t need to stop on a dime. Pretty sure tow speed limit is 55, who pays attention to that.

 

[FutureBoy]

Well it is late here. That’s my excuse.

I was hoping for mediation. Would be a better story. But either works.

 

[larryboy31]

What sort of trailer was it, though? The aero matters.

-Crissa

I have reservations for both a CT and an Aptera. I am going to get a two wheel trailer (?) to tow the Aptera because I don't think it can be flat towed. I will get the tent attachment for the Aptera and I can leave the CT hooked up to a level 2 charger and look around or get groceries with the Aptera. If I camp at 4 or 5 PM and stay hooked up til 8 or 9 AM the CT should be all charged up even with a level 2 charger. The aptera will be in the sun all day so it should regain the few miles I will put on it while camped. If I don't put too much stuff in front of the Aptera to keep road debris from damaging it the combination should tow pretty well. The other advantage of this plan is I can configure one of the vehicles to sleep in and the other to store grills and bikes and coolers and the like. I will let you guys know how well it works. That is, if my wife will let me go.

 

[SwampNut]

Towing at 73 mph your range will drop significantly vs Towing at 55 mph. Just takes longer to get to your destination. So the chose is, wait longer at Supercharging stations or sit longer behind the wheel (Yoke) while towing.

N.ICE

Hopefully something like ABRP will be updated to calculate the optimum driving speed relative to arrival time, charging stops, etc. "If you go 5 MPH slower you will actually arrive sooner."

Tow at 73 mph, hope you don’t need to stop on a dime. Pretty sure tow speed limit is 55, who pays attention to that.

Depends on the state, which pretty well proves that it's not about safety. I live in AZ where there is no special towing limit. I can legally do 75 down I-10 to CA. And I'm confident that my 3500 pound TT is safe at that speed. As soon as I cross the border, the limit is 55 in CA.

 

[Crissa]

That Arizona has less safe roads doesn't indicate that the speed limit is not about safety.

-Crissa

 

[SwampNut]

Good point, the roads in CA are shit, so maybe our safer roads warrant a higher limit.

 

[Crissa]

Arizona has 13.5 road deaths per 100,000 people vs California's 9.1.

-Crissa

 

[SwampNut]

Which is neither the only measure of safety, nor directly meaningful unless you include other factors.

 

[BillyGee]

Are any companies working on trailers with motors and batteries in the flatbed? I feel like a trailer that provided some thrust, reserve charge and brake Regen would be a huge change.

If the CT had a linkup for long haul towing that enabled linking like that it would be worth every penny.

 

[SwampNut]

Are any companies working on trailers with motors and batteries in the flatbed? I feel like a trailer that provided some thrust, reserve charge and brake Regen would be a huge change.

If the CT had a linkup for long haul towing that enabled linking like that it would be worth every penny.

When you start crossing the line from just a trailer to something with its own "vehicle" capabilities, the cost factor changes very quickly. I like to fantasize about a world where this makes sense, but I just can't see it. A lot of the point of trailers is that you concentrate the expense into the tow vehicle. This is particularly important for things you use only a few times a year or once a month. Like my motorcycle and off-road trailer cost $2800, and would see duty about ten times a year, from fall to spring, when the weather was good. It would sit all summer. What would that cost if it were powered?

 

[Ogre]

Which is neither the only measure of safety, nor directly meaningful unless you include other factors.

Like overly permissive traffic laws that allow cars with trailers to go too fast.

Or the fact that Arizona has a lot more retirees.

 

[SwampNut]

Old incompetent drivers are a big problem. Also, deaths aren't the only measure. My mom was rear-ended by a drunk in CA. She lived. 20 years later she's totally incapacitated and facing more back surgery.

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