Towing - Worst Case Scenario

[DJAlan2000]

I have to say, I am VERY surprised about the mileage... That's pretty darn good for a trailer that has a completely FLAT front to it...

I bet if you put a 'nose cone' on the trailer, it would give you another 25% (or more!) miles per charge... They are usually fiberglass so they don't weigh very much...

Without one AND with just a completely FLAT front of the trailer, it's almost like DOUBLING the weight of it!

MANY years ago when I worked at a wholesale food distributor, we put them on the 'box trucks' and they gave us about 10-15% more mileage... Paid for themselves in about a MONTH of driving... (you might take longer not using it daily). That was back in the late 80's... I bet they have better ones now that could get you even more!

I wonder if there's also something you could put on the CT that would help as well... Hmmm...

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[Pops]

I have to say, I am VERY surprised about the mileage... That's pretty darn good for a trailer that has a completely FLAT front to it...

Its not exactly flat, its a V nose in the front. But I agree with you, it doesn't get much worse than towing this thing, that is why I put "worst case scenario" in the title. I would expect anyone towing with a CT would never see worse results than this.

Maybe a wind deflector on top of the CT would help to push air over and around the trailer.

 

[PungoteagueDave]

I have towed in two situations that are probably “worse” than your scenario - reported elsewhere on the forum. My box trailer is shorter than yours but has a flat front unlike your pointed front, so has more windage. I towed it three times so far over 150 miles each time, could get 130 miles with a load on (‘52 MG once, so total about 5,000 pounds, loaded with furniture to the top once - total about 7,000 pounds) if really careful to keep it at 55 - just under 800 kWh per mile. In one return trip with the trailer empty I was able to do the entire 150 miles on a single charge - about 2,000 pounds, but still a big empty box. That day I had a slight tailwind.

The other time was with my 9,700-lb boat that has a WAY worse front profile, essentially a 12-ft high parachute. That rig is 32’ long. Max range there was about 107 miles - about 1,100 kWh per mile. In both cases (box trailer or boat) my rule going forward is to charge every 80-90 miles, stay below 60, and watch the energy screen for the effect of headwinds. I’d prefer to have the aborted range extender, but can live with this. We shall see if I still have that opinion in November after trailering the boat 1,050 miles from Maryland to our place in Delray Beach.

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