Towing PUP with a Tesla
- Thread starter stem44
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NMroamer
Super Active Member
I would take short driving trips to see how quickly the batteries drain.
Just wondering where you are going to fasten the hitch to on the car.
Just wondering where you are going to fasten the hitch to on the car.
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Their are a few of you out their, more to come I'm sure. Towing as stated will reduce your millage. So, teat it as stated. Addtionally, make sure you plan a bit for charging. And be aware that some/most charging spots are not trailer freindly. Some articals I have read nessesatated the droping of the camper before charging. There are some videos on you tube. Poke around a bit and keep us updated.
J Starsky
Super Active Member
Just Camp INSIDE the Tesla! Heat, AC, TV - what more do you need?
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Porcupine Mountains - Union Bay Campgrounds, Ontonagon, MI
This was our last campgrounds for our Lake MI Circle Tour of 2022. We have stayed here before, if you take the way back machine to when DW and I started dating. We stayed an entire week here and it never feels long enough. A site on the shoreline is a must, if you're planning to come all...
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BikeNFish
Super Active Member
I have done some casual research into EV's towing abilities. Most of the article's that I have read suggests that your towing range is greatly reduced when towing with any EV. Most articles I have read suggest that the range is reduce by an average of 50% when towing at greater than half the tow capacity.
I have not read too many complaints about the towing ability. In fact, many rave about the power they have when towing with and EV. However, I have read that planning anything but a short trip is a pain because of the frequent stops that must be made to charge. One person suggested that if you don't have a lot of time and patience, don't tow a trailer with an EV.
I have not read too many complaints about the towing ability. In fact, many rave about the power they have when towing with and EV. However, I have read that planning anything but a short trip is a pain because of the frequent stops that must be made to charge. One person suggested that if you don't have a lot of time and patience, don't tow a trailer with an EV.
jmkay1
2004 Fleetwood/Coleman Utah
Non camper friendly charging stations I feel will be your biggest problem to deal with. I don't know about using campground power to charge. Some of the places I stay have just barely reliable electric for the camper. I wonder if an RV serge protector would work, at least something to protect your car from the iffy power you can find at campgrounds. I'd be very curious to hear how everything works for you.
J Starsky
Super Active Member
Tesla Bob just plugged in and camped two nights. He knew he needed a stop between the Mighty Mac Bridge and MN, and the Porkies seems to fit for him (with a bonus music festival). It looked like he was plugged into the 50amp side to enjoy all his do dads and goodies a Telsa can provide.
From what I've seen, it will take planning. From what I see as we go by, most charging stations are not camper-friendly. When we stopped at an information center in UT last spring,t here were two charger, only one of which was in service, and you'd probably have to drop the camper int he main section of the parking lot.
Also, you need to check to make sure there are charging stations where you will need them. For instance, there are a couple now in the parking lot at the general store at South Rim of Grand Canyon. However, there is nothing available at North Rim, the infrastructure has not allowed for their installation and the nearest charging station is Kanab, Utah. The NPS website is clear about this in their many pages of info, but I find not very many read all the details.
Also, you need to check to make sure there are charging stations where you will need them. For instance, there are a couple now in the parking lot at the general store at South Rim of Grand Canyon. However, there is nothing available at North Rim, the infrastructure has not allowed for their installation and the nearest charging station is Kanab, Utah. The NPS website is clear about this in their many pages of info, but I find not very many read all the details.
generok
Super Active Member
You are a pioneer on the electric TV frontier! Blaze trails for others to charge on, and good luck!
CheyenneCanada
Member
- Sep 25, 2021
- 76
You might want to carry a generator and a can of gas in case you can't find a charging station ![[:D]](/smileys/smile_big.gif "Big Smile [:D]")
Hubby and I have batted this idea around and done a miniscule amount of research and we will wait until others have encountered and solved all the problems I can see with it. You are braver than we!
Hubby and I have batted this idea around and done a miniscule amount of research and we will wait until others have encountered and solved all the problems I can see with it. You are braver than we!
ThroughLiner
Member
- Aug 30, 2022
- 70
Not exactly the same scenario... but we used to tow a coleman popup (~1,000 LBS) with our Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The car would normally get about 25 MPG on the highway, but when towing it got about 14 MPG. The batteries would die within about 45 minutes of driving... leaving us with the gas engine only (and vastly reduced power).
Felger
New Member
- Jan 26, 2022
- 2
We've been towing our PUP with our VW ID.4 for almost two years now, and it works great! We lose about 40% of our range with the camper in tow, which still leaves more than enough to hop charging stations even in Texas. We use ABRP with live data to calibrate to the trailer so it's really easy to get a really accurate charging plan.
The biggest annoyance is charge stations not set up for towing. I've gotten pretty quick at disconnecting the trailer after starting my charge, and wheeling it into another space while we charge. Can't wait for some pull-through charging stalls, that'll really help a lot.
The biggest benefit is always leaving the campground at a full charge! Picked up one of these to get a few extra amps out of the 30-amp plug instead of being relegated to the 20-amp. But it is really nice getting a nice easy full charge on the 50-amp plugs.
The biggest annoyance is charge stations not set up for towing. I've gotten pretty quick at disconnecting the trailer after starting my charge, and wheeling it into another space while we charge. Can't wait for some pull-through charging stalls, that'll really help a lot.
The biggest benefit is always leaving the campground at a full charge! Picked up one of these to get a few extra amps out of the 30-amp plug instead of being relegated to the 20-amp. But it is really nice getting a nice easy full charge on the 50-amp plugs.
model y's actually have factory hitch options. I believe a class 1.
Unfortunately, wheeling it into a spot isnt possable with all pups. Mine I could not move it I tried by myself. Hope your is light enough, if not make sure you put out chocks if on a slope. Have fun!
Felger
New Member
- Jan 26, 2022
- 2
Thankfully, ours is only 1300lb dry, quite easy to wheel manually. It's also easy enough to back it into a space first, chock it, drop it, then go charge.
Still really annoying to have to do all that in the first place though, so hopefully with more tow-capable EVs hitting the market the charge networks will build out some pull-through stalls!
My worry wasn’t moving the Aliner when unhitched but stopping it. So we’d need a charge station with not only a spare parking spot for the trailer but also enough room to maneuver the trailer into & out of the spot while hitched to the TV. That actually isn’t too hard in our area but neither the Bolt nor the older version Model S are candidates for towing.
Actually, I think the Bolt could handle our little, aluminum, motorcycle trailer & our smallish bikes. But that would be on the way from/to the trails. If it were a multi day trip, the Zero motorcycle would need charging, also. Modern life
Actually, I think the Bolt could handle our little, aluminum, motorcycle trailer & our smallish bikes. But that would be on the way from/to the trails. If it were a multi day trip, the Zero motorcycle would need charging, also. Modern life
