Towing Airstream for Mother’s Day - Speed is Key

[Cyber241]

For Mother’s Day weekend, we took the truck and Airstream to a local Airstream RV resort—The Range Vintage Trailer Resort. From where I store our camper, it was an exact 100 miles round trip. I have an AWD CT and a 25’ Airstream that weighs 7300lb fully loaded. Trip was a 100-150’ drop in elevation getting to the campsite (and so a 100-150’ climb on the way back). I have a towing trip from Texas to Colorado this summer, so I drove this test drive at a flat 55mph (other than maybe 6-8 total miles of backroads) because I know that is what it likely will take in stretches of that trip.

Out—50mi; 624wH/mi
Back—50mi; 704wH/mi

Based on these numbers, averaged range if it were any kind of rolling elevation changes yields a 185-186 mile range. I’m super happy with the experience. Is this the vehicle for a full-timer RV life? Probably not because of the speed and charges. For a few trips a year? Absolutely. I now have no concerns about being able to pull something a reasonably long distance a couple times a year.

The exponential nature of aero drag is wild. A prior test drive driving 60-65mph had an average close to 800wH/mi. When I had some downtime at the campsite, I created a spreadsheet that will take inputs (mileage to next charger, top charge level, lower buffer desired, battery degradation) and calculate the efficiency needed to reach the destination.

The coolest part of this was running both AC’s (and for a brief moment, a big air pump too). So, on a long road trip, as long as I stop in the parking lot where a super charger is, I can run both ACs through the night and then just top off in the morning and be on my way. In the winter it was never a problem because I only needed heat (which didn’t require a 240V).

The not coolest part was discovering a nail in rear, driver side tire. Thankfully perfect nail placement, so easily patchable.

Could you charge your Cybertruck at the RV park?

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[Texarado]

Unfortunately my dogbone doesn’t work with the mobile charger. I was at a 30A site and I didn’t have the 30A plug. If I had been at a 50A site, then yes, the 14-50 would have worked just fine.

 

[TexasRaider]

I’m not sure I understand what you’re asking about. Do you mean while on cruise control and phantom braking? Or something else?

One thing I failed to mention in the initial post is that the one pedal driving is absolutely incredible. As is the trailer brake (Though it was never used). The ability to take your foot off the accelerator and bring this combined 13-14k lb beast to a complete stop without using a brake is just incredible. The driving experience was just so easy.

Yes, while on Cruise Control.
(I’ve noticed on lesser driven highways, it’s worse. My experience on US 287 and US 64 happened several times.)

 

[Texarado]

Yes, while on Cruise Control.
(I’ve noticed on lesser driven highways, it’s worse. My experience on US 287 and US 64 happened several times.)

I honestly can’t remember. I’ve had it phantom brake before on the North Tollway. I don’t think it phantom braked this past weekend. I use a lot of cruise control and haven’t noticed it A ton. Don’t get me wrong, it’s annoying when it does it and certainly more buggy than FSD on my M3.

 

[Cyber Man]

Love this trip report. Thanks for sharing. This is the type of towing I’ll be doing, but with a smaller Airstream trailer. We need real owners’ experience like this to encourage other CT owners to confidently tow. There is so much negativity out there in claiming that Ct is not a good tow vehicle. I think as pull through charging network improves, CT has the potential to be a great tow vehicle. It already is for short trips like this! Love it. ?

 

[TexasRaider]

I honestly can’t remember. I’ve had it phantom brake before on the North Tollway. I don’t think it phantom braked this past weekend. I use a lot of cruise control and haven’t noticed it A ton. Don’t get me wrong, it’s annoying when it does it and certainly more buggy than FSD on my M3.

Glad to hear.
(In my TX - CO trip there and back the cruise control braked 5 times for no apparent reason. Bigger nose dive/impact because it’s a bigger vehicle. Of course. So I very curious on how it would impact when towing.)

 

[Texarado]

Love this trip report. Thanks for sharing. This is the type of towing I’ll be doing, but with a smaller Airstream trailer. We need real owners’ experience like this to encourage other CT owners to confidently tow. There is so much negativity out there in claiming that Ct is not a good tow vehicle. I think as pull through charging network improves, CT has the potential to be a great tow vehicle. It already is for short trips like this! Love it. ?

I’m really excited to see the results of towing up to Colorado this summer. No longer worried about it. I’ll use my little spreadsheet calculator to run some efficiency target calculations as I’m charging.

One other thing I forgot to include is that the vehicle Energy app does an incredible job estimating the range while towing. I think it must assume a 55-60mph speed while towing. But it was really close to accurate—within 1-2%.

 

[Ballsamic VINegar]

My hope is someone figures out how to do some live charging. Meaning figuring out a way to pass current to the vehicle while it's in motion. It should be possible using the same connection the range extender uses. You could add a generator in the bed or have a few kilowatts of solar on your trailer feeding directly in to the Cybertruck.

Elon talked about adding a solar option at some point.

Unlikely to happen I know, that a man can dream can't he?

A Yanmar/Generac diesel generator in the bed would be very loud but capable of putting out 5 kilowatts for about 20 hours on a 12 gallon tank which is enough to charge the Cybertruck battery.

You'd think a solar company like Tesla would offer at least a taste of their solar tech in the Cybertruck. Fisker offers it and supposedly it adds a few miles of range per day in full sunlight. A Cybertruck solar panel would probably have more output than that.

 

[Manodamountain]

I’ve always said, EVs aren’t for everyone and I’m good with that. I really think there’s a fundamental flaw in your statement. For you, it might be the case. But not everyone.

Well I understand and do appreciate your data. Im a bit bitter about reserving a 49k truck that I believe was supposed to get 350 to 500 miles range. Now the price is blown out of the water and ranges just aren’t there. In any case, if I end up with one, I won’t be feeling guilty bringing a generator along for remote distant camping trips. I’d really like to custom build a solar camp trailer but even with a 5kw solar system I don’t think I’d gaining much range. I wonder if people realize just how much a supercharger is using to juice these cars?

 

[Texarado]

Well I understand and do appreciate your data. Im a bit bitter about reserving a 49k truck that I believe was supposed to get 350 to 500 miles range. Now the price is blown out of the water and ranges just aren’t there. In any case, if I end up with one, I won’t be feeling guilty bringing a generator along for remote distant camping trips. I’d really like to custom build a solar camp trailer but even with a 5kw solar system I don’t think I’d gaining much range. I wonder if people realize just how much a supercharger is using to juice these cars?

Today I was watching CNBC and they were talking about how Ford loses $100k per EV. Think about that for the current price points. I hear and get the bitterness but the reality is Tesla is a profitable venture. Not the case for the other guys. So, sure 4.5 years ago that was the thought for the truck. Enter COVID, supply chain disruption and the politics of inflation (not poking it either way, but it’s a neutral reality). I can tell you this vehicle is much more efficient—relatively speaking—compared to my 2018 M3. Sure my M3 has better energy consumption but the truck performs much closer to stated range.

 

[Cyberman]

For Mother’s Day weekend, we took the truck and Airstream to a local Airstream RV resort—The Range Vintage Trailer Resort. From where I store our camper, it was an exact 100 miles round trip. I have an AWD CT and a 25’ Airstream that weighs 7300lb fully loaded. Trip was a 100-150’ drop in elevation getting to the campsite (and so a 100-150’ climb on the way back). I have a towing trip from Texas to Colorado this summer, so I drove this test drive at a flat 55mph (other than maybe 6-8 total miles of backroads) because I know that is what it likely will take in stretches of that trip.

Out—50mi; 624wH/mi
Back—50mi; 704wH/mi

Based on these numbers, averaged range if it were any kind of rolling elevation changes yields a 185-186 mile range. I’m super happy with the experience. Is this the vehicle for a full-timer RV life? Probably not because of the speed and charges. For a few trips a year? Absolutely. I now have no concerns about being able to pull something a reasonably long distance a couple times a year.

The exponential nature of aero drag is wild. A prior test drive driving 60-65mph had an average close to 800wH/mi. When I had some downtime at the campsite, I created a spreadsheet that will take inputs (mileage to next charger, top charge level, lower buffer desired, battery degradation) and calculate the efficiency needed to reach the destination.

The coolest part of this was running both AC’s (and for a brief moment, a big air pump too). So, on a long road trip, as long as I stop in the parking lot where a super charger is, I can run both ACs through the night and then just top off in the morning and be on my way. In the winter it was never a problem because I only needed heat (which didn’t require a 240V).

The not coolest part was discovering a nail in rear, driver side tire. Thankfully perfect nail placement, so easily patchable.

Looks like they were made for one another.

 

[HaulingAss]

Well I understand and do appreciate your data. Im a bit bitter about reserving a 49k truck that I believe was supposed to get 350 to 500 miles range.

You believed wrong. The $49K was for the dual motor Cybertruck and it was only supposed to get 300+ miles of range. At 340 miles with all-season tires, Tesla delivered more range than promised (even if the announced price was not realized).

 

[MeadowShade]

I’m not sure I understand what you’re asking about. Do you mean while on cruise control and phantom braking? Or something else?

One thing I failed to mention in the initial post is that the one pedal driving is absolutely incredible. As is the trailer brake (Though it was never used). The ability to take your foot off the accelerator and bring this combined 13-14k lb beast to a complete stop without using a brake is just incredible. The driving experience was just so easy.

Remember that FSD, when we finally get it, will be disabled when towing. I think cruise will work, but NOT FSD. I learned that on my X too!

 

[Texarado]

Remember that FSD, when we finally get it, will be disabled when towing. I think cruise will work, but NOT FSD. I learned that on my X too!

I’m not too worried about that. It would be nice if auto steer would work to stay in the lanes. But even if not, I’m not worried about that part. The tow experience is just very very easy with this truck. There are still desperately needed UI/software updates—e.g., hitch assist/zoom in on rear camera, etc.

 

[FL370]

Excellent write-up and news. We are debating on getting a 20' Bambi or Basecamp. I wonder how much if any improvements the lighter weight would garner. Would be great to see aerodynamic values for various campers. The Bowlus is nice but price is a bit much.

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