Lightning towing teardrop trailer cross-country trip report series! [PITTSBURGH ➡️ SEATTLE]

[ctuan13]

Damn, that's a hell of a loss for such a light and low profile trailer. So you were estimating about 1.1 mi/kWh? I would think that setup would get closer to 1.5, but apparently I know squat about it. I wonder if the shape of the pickup truck, specifically the drop to the bed is part of it, maybe you'd have a better slipstream for the trailer if you had a camper shell?

I was getting a maximum of about 1.3 regularly. Got 1.6 for a decent stretch of downhill driving from Wisconsin to Minnesota.

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[ddbrooke]

I've been towing a 19' GeoPro FD for the past year. 1.2 to 1.3 is typical when I take it to State Parks here in Western PA and not traveling on interstates much. I've gone to Toledo OH twice which has much of the trip on interstates where I still keep my speed around 60, but my efficiency goes down to 1.1 on that trip. The short story is speed kills range. My GeoPro is not near as aerodynamic as your trailer and it weighs nearly 1000lb more.
Would a truck cap help? Maybe but probably not. Unless you have a wind tunnel in your backyard, finding a way to have the air slip over the truck and trailer without it slamming into the front of the trailer would be impossible to figure out.
Planning is really critical when you are towing since you can plan on perhaps 145 miles of range when you leave home at 100%. Once you start DCFCing to 80% you're working with 115 miles of range. And you can't have any mistakes or broken chargers or you'll be lucky to simply park the trailer and find another charger. Fortunately having the Tesla network open makes it so much easier.
I've also found some unusual chargers, like a Shell Recharge near Youngstown, OH and EV Connect at a new convenience chain called FriendShip Kitchen in northern Ohio. Both of those were empty although pricey.

 

[Jseis]

I bicycled through that UP- Munising-Newberry country on a West Coast to New York Via Canada (mostly) in ‘78. I’d guess you’re rolling at 65 mph on freeway? We averaged 12 mph on our bikes !

 

[Refactoringdr]

I have a NuCamp T@G, which is considerably shorter and smaller than your T@B. I get around 1.6 mi/kwh at 65 mph. I think the biggest gain is that my trailer is shorter than the truck cab, so it sits inside the slipstream. With that, I can push 200 mi on a full battery.

 

[ctuan13]

I have a NuCamp T@G, which is considerably shorter and smaller than your T@B. I get around 1.6 mi/kwh at 65 mph. I think the biggest gain is that my trailer is shorter than the truck cab, so it sits inside the slipstream. With that, I can push 200 mi on a full battery.

Yeah that Tag is much better profile wise. Unfortunately, I just can't live without a bathroom

 

[ddbrooke]

I'm sorry for being a bit MIA these past weeks, I've been on the road since early June, been hard to keep posting regularly while having to deal with constantly traveling. I'm doing my best to document my entire trip, here's Part one. Obviously there will be a decent delay between current travels and uploads as editing takes time. I will keep posting as I add additional videos!

My camper is a 2023 NuCamp Tab 320S with a tongue weight of around 326 pounds, a length of 15.5 feet and a total weight of about 2350 pounds. So far she tows like a dream and while towing my range from 90% is around 135 miles.

Feel free to comment!

In your video it appears you are driving on the PA Turnpike just past the Harmarville exit.

 

[EG_Orren]

I don’t think the trailer is really low profile though, seems to be a good size height wise.

I've got the 2022 model of that trailer (minus the roof rack and microwave)

The trailer is 8 feet tall. It's also a "boondock" model so the wheels are more offroad-ish and not as efficient on roads at higher speeds.

haven't taken mine on an extended road trip with my truck yet because I'm worried about the range - and charger availability - once I pack up the gear and the dog (2023 ER Platinum)

 

[Heybucket]

My camper is a 2023 NuCamp Tab 320S with a tongue weight of around 326 pounds, a length of 15.5 feet and a total weight of about 2350 pounds. So far she tows like a dream and while towing my range from 90% is around 135 miles.

Feel free to comment!

thanks for update! just back from 2nd camping trip with a 2005 popup, and we get about 200 miles at 90% I think aerodynamics play a bigger part than we thought! our popup is roughly 17'x 8' but only 5' tall at 3000 lbs with full water tank/gear. Sor far have been on 3 camping trips, total about 600 miles driven, but furthest site was only 160 miles away. Last trip we went big and filled tank up and we didnt see much of a change on range (1.7-1.8 kWh)

But yes, tows like its not there! charging mid trip is another issue! took up four stalls at Tesla station on way up to camping this weekend!

thanks again for the awesome summary

Lariat ER

 

[derm]

Fk!... 1.1 mi/kWh?
I was planning on pulling a double jet ski trailer next month west of Chesapeake VA about 150 miles each way and we only have ONE fast charger 90 miles out and I have a standard range.

Anyone have experience pulling two sit down trailers with a double wide trailer?

 

[Hammick]

I towed a NuCamp TAB 400 from Denville, NJ to Kansas City and averaged around 1.3 mi/kWh. It's an 18' long 3,000lb trailer and a fair amount taller than the 320. That was at 55mph. Crazy thing is we decided to get a NuCamp AVIA and sell the TAB. Pretty much got the same mi/kWh pulling the 28' 6,000lb AVIA from Louisville to Kansas City (although the weather was a little warmer on that trip). The trip from Denville was exhausting as I had to uncouple at about 4 of the charging stops.

 

[Hammick]

Fk!... 1.1 mi/kWh?
I was planning on pulling a double jet ski trailer next month west of Chesapeake VA about 150 miles each way and we only have ONE fast charger 90 miles out and I have a standard range.

Anyone have experience pulling two sit down trailers with a double wide trailer?

You should be fine. The wind resistance is the major factor. I'm guessing the jet skis might be lower than the tailgate. Even if they aren't they are definitely lower than the cab.

 

[ctuan13]

After an inordinate amount of time, I am finally back with part two of my trip. It's quite behind on my travels as I'm already 2/3rds the way home, but I'm gonna try to do better to keep a better schedule with editing and publishing the videos.

Here's part two:

 

[21st Century Truck]

Nice story on teardrop towing. Thanks! Teardrops are awesome!

I've towed my TimberLeaf Pika teardrop from Grand Junction Colorado through the Rockies and Minnesota to Virginia, then to Maine and Vermont, and Atlanta and Kentucky. That was with the Mach E equipped with the Ford European tow drawbar. A total of 7,500+ miles.

With the Lightning, so far the we've towed the Pika all over the MidAtlantic. About 1,000 miles.

Yeah, high speed has the the largest tow range impact, the second-largest impact = serious mountains. Of course, Winter temps lower the range significantly but that is seasonal.

With the little 1,500 pound aerodynamic Pika in tow, my best tow range / speed effects are around 62 - 65 mph.

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