Tesla Model Y Towing

What is towing in the Tesla Model Y like? We hooked up our travel trailer to find out just what it's like.
Our trailer weighs in at just over 3,000 lbs, and limiting our luggage to be at the max towing capacity of 3,500 lbs in the Tesla Model Y was a challenge. That said, we set off with a full charge and learned a lot about towing in the Tesla Model Y.
We added the Tesla tow hitch to our Model Y a few days before our trip and had a successful drive. Having the right equipment to tow is crucial to a successful tow. We had a weight distribution hitch, sway bar and brake controller.
We had no issues towing the trailer, but it was quite the drag on range. Weight is only one factor that will impact range when towing in the Tesla Model Y. The size of the trailer, and its aerodynamics have an equally large impact on range.
When camping in the Tesla Model Y, or towing a camper, you will want to bring along proper charging equipment. You cannot just get a standard adapter from 30 to 50 amp, you need one that is specifically wired for a Tesla charger.
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[@bluetrepidation]

You are a hero among EV owners.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Haha

[@korswe]

Hero EV guinea pig! Have you considered a large teardrop camper over the one you have?

[@EarlBalentine]

@@korswe The only large teat drop trailers K ever saw were ting tear drops. Provide a model number if you have something in mind.

[@louismorejohn586]

Drive 55 mph, enjoy the scenery, travel more safely, lower blood pressure and go farther on charge for less cost. It's the journey, not the destination. It works. I do it.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Yea, agree more and more as I get older

[@ernestgalvan9037]

@@BeardedTeslaGuy ... I also agree.. when I was young, I was all about “go go go, get there” driving. As I got older, I started noticing the scenery.. By the time I hit 19, I was old enough to appreciate life.. 48 years later, I’m still appreciating the view along the way. Life is a Journey

[@carperdiem8754]

Those trailer tires may not be rated for 70mph anyway. My guess is 65 tops

[@MrJcjet]

@@carperdiem8754 most are rated for 68mph. Depending on where you live that would be a great cruising speed. In the western USA - it would be dangerous to drive 65mph when the posted limit is 80 and most traffic travels 85. In the Midwest, you'd be just fine at 65 with the slower traffic there.

[@kellyheath8547]

@@MrJcjet I've never been in a part of the western US with a posted 80 limit, and I live here. Many trucks are limited to between 60 and 65 so tucking in with them would be a good idea.

[@scottgraham6717]

Super interesting, thank you for experimenting for all of us.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Welcome

[@jstravelers4094]

I am here because some clown said Tesla's can't tow!

[@Geckogold]

Thanks for sharing, and breaking down the energy costs. That brick sure sapped a lot of efficiency from your Model Y. But it was awesome to see this.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Yea it was quite a bit of a hit indeed. I’m glad you enjoyed

[@a_landstander]

Still, at average at-home kwH charge pricing of $0.11/kwH, the whole trip cost about $15, which is amazing.

[@midnightera385]

@@a_landstanderabout how many miles did he travel in this trip

[@thefish5861]

I think I’ll just use my factory hitch on my Model Y for a bike rack only!

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Good idea lol

[@stephschambs8612]

Major props!! I would have seen 4% and had a panic attack lol! Love the vid man!

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

You think I didn’t have a panic attack?!?! Haha, I was sweating bullets.

[@starshipcaptain4753]

Trailers need to have a battery pack that Model Y can feed into

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Would be pretty sweet

[@ronb4633]

But sadly he was already at the weight limit, adding a 1000lb battery pack is not a real practical solution. I think the more aerodynamic trailer plan is the best idea.

[@uriasmint5954]

Regenerative brakes and solar panels on the roof can be a good solution.

[@jackjoyce1744]

@@ronb4633 here in Europe, a there’s a trailer manufacturer that is trying to add a small battery that can power a small motor to reduce the consumption of the main ev battery.

[@ronb4633]

@@jackjoyce1744 That sounds very cool.

[@AudiTTQuattro2003]

Real appreciate the honesty. The vehicle obviously had no problem with towing the rated load, but you didn't "fan boy" gloss over the short comings of range. Very informative.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Yea, it’s unfortunately not a real practical solution for big loads like this for any long distance.

[@RobertBratt]

This is exactly what I’ve been wanting. Thank you. My wife and I are planning on a Model Y in the spring and we’ve looked at upgrading to a camper trailer in the near future as well. The layouts and size we’ve looked at is near identical to what you’ve got here so it was relevant to what we were thinking. Sadly it shows that for our needs and road trips, with the current state of superchargers in the area, that a Y towing the right size camper for our lifestyle won’t work. And I still haven’t successfully talked her into a cybertruck over the Y as her vehicle. Thanks again!

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Your takeaway is spot on. This is not practical if you have any real distances to travel in this size of a unit. Probably among the most common size trailer group too, so a lot of people. If you can keep it within 1 charging stop, it’s not so bad, so maybe 150-175 miles. But that’s honestly not very far

[@EarlBalentine]

@@BeardedTeslaGuy 150-175 miles is diffintley far enough for us. It would put us in the cool mountains. Just have to make one stop to charge and then charge at the campground. It seems most Tesla model 3's and Y's at maximum weigh capacity can get about 100 miles on a long range battery depending on elevation change.

[@gary8397]

That was the best video I have seen on towing with an electric vehicle. Most videos are not owners and give unrealistic data. Thank you for taking the time to make this video it was really thought-provoking. I will have to think about my next car this has really made me stop and consider what to buy next.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Cheers

[@jeffreythurnau6796]

Thank you for the very informative and interesting video. It was nice to see your test with the most weight, large frontal area and high aerodynamic drag trailer possible for the Model Y. It would be interesting to see the range numbers comparing the Model Y W/O a trailer, towing a lighter smaller more aerodynamic trailer and towing your current trailer. I have a 2017 Tesla Model S 75D and my wife has a 2019 Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD so I’m a big fan of Teslas. I’ve only been camping a couple of times in my life and never really enjoyed it. My family never went camping when I was growing up. My father was in World War Two and he always said “I had four years of camping in the war and that was enough”. 😉

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

All about aerodynamics. Weight doesn’t seem to be a major factor

[@Liefpj]

Jeez we just went on our 1st long range trip in a Bolt going 50-56mph and arrived with less then 8%. We arrive in a town 40mins away from our off grid cabin rental🤦🏻, both J-1772 were taken. My wife was not impressed. Wish I had the Tesla adaptor as 3 of those stations were empty. The way back was easier with no rain, downhill and wind at our backs. I try to keep it around 15kwh now.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Yea, you have to plan if your going somewhere remote. The Tesla seems to have a very robust network though

[@TheTechofTech]

What a fun family adventure while getting some really useful info for other Tesla owners! My wife and daughter do not like sleeping in a tent, and we don’t have a trailer, so I end up camping inside my Model 3 by myself.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

I’m glad you enjoyed it

[@dhiltonp]

Batteries actually can discharge different amounts of energy based on how hard they're being worked - look at the Discharge, Energy graph here: lygte-info.dk/review/batteries2012/Panasonic%20NCR18650G%203600mAh%20(Green)%20UK.html. Basically, when batteries are worked harder you get fewer watt-hours out of them.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Thanks for sharing

[@DSTESLA]

Good video brother. I would like to try it with my family and my model Y.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

It was such a great weekend away. Not practical for any real distance though.

[@noahpalmieri941]

If someone pulls up and shares a V2 supercharger on the same circuit with others available I just always point it out to them. Really a win win for both of us so they're always happy to know

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Yea I started doing that too

[@themeach011]

When you walk into a bathroom and there's one other guy and ten empty urinals you don't snuggle right up next to him. Lol why would someone pull into the same charger?

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Agreed! Grr lol

[@dahveed284]

It's more like there are 10 stalls and the only one being used is the handicap stall by a non-handicapped user.

[@ThePbatemon]

Especially since you won't get full rate of charge with someone using the charger right new to you

[@impitt28]

Cuz people are fucking morons!

[@satajet883]

I am blown away that you were able to tow that. I have that camper with a different layout and tow with a Jeep Liberty. And it is a bit much for that.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Towed with ease. No issues at all. Just lacks the range to do it long distances

[@JamesJAllen-sx5vn]

EV torq does amazing things.

[@e_rawk]

I just did a similar trip with my Y, with a trailer much like yours. Pretty close to the rated limit. I reduced the tongue weight by a lot, because that was definitely over the 350 mark when I started. I got similar consumption as you did - between 900 and 950 at around 65mph. Other than the range, it tows like a dream. Not bad for short trips!

[@akm3726]

Thanks for the towing review. Generally the drag goes as the square of the speed, so if you increase (or decrease) the speed by 5% the power needed will change by about 10%. This is pretty close to what you found. I'd like to see someone report towing an A-liner or a High-Low trailer which has much less area facing the wind. Good video!

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Glad you liked it. Just a data point for people to understand for now

[@PaulSage]

I’ve got a 17mx and just replaced the Aliner with a Trailmanor 3124; neither affected my range nearly as bad as you experienced. At highway speeds, the car typically is in the upper 360s to 400 wh/mi. Towing, 705-715 at 75 and in the 630s at 70. Speed really does kill the range. I’m going to do another range test in a few weeks and try to maintain 65 Just to see how it does.

[@tanglemac76]

I grew up in Brown County, and I was nervous for you thinking about you pulling that trailer up and down those hills in the state park with so little charge left. Glad you made it!

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Lol they didn’t seem so steep until I was in that situation haha

[@RyanCowan]

1,111 comments 👀 .. but thank you so much for this video mate ! Been looking into towing a caravan with our Model Y in Australia 👍

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Yea man, all that seems to matter is aerodynamics so get the least amount of frontal area trailer you can. Worry about the weight later as it has a way smaller impact I have found

[@RyanCowan]

Okay awesome, thank you mate !@@BeardedTeslaGuy

[@theunknown2011]

Great video thanks for sharing! Something I noticed towing recently with my Model Y was that my initial trip was way higher than my return and it was because my trailer batteries were not fully charged before leaving so they just pulled extra juice from the car.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Interesting. We did have ours plugged into the house before hand so this wouldn’t happen, but I never thought about it. Now I will, thanks for sharing.

[@EarlBalentine]

The Tesla will charge the the trailer batteries while driving but you can turn your trailer batteries off so there is no juice going from Tesla batteries to the trailer batteries. Once you get out of the Tesla the 12v electrical hookup to the trailer goes dead so it doesn't continue to draw power out of the Tesla.

[@trevorleung8426]

Man, I was worried for you lol 😂

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Lol, I was worried for me too!

[@liroger733]

Awesome video! Love your trailer - it's better than I expected with your interior configuration! I don't have a tow hitch in my Y, but it's still fun to watch this episode.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Glad it was enjoyable.

[@shekharmoona544]

Towing telemetry really needs to be improved especially with the release of the cyber truck in the near future.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Cybertruck will for sure bring an emphasis on towing

[@Jethr001]

Slide in pop-up camper be great for the cyber truck

[@jesondag]

I use this adapter. It's pricier, but it auto sets the current. www.evseadapters.com/products/tt-30-adapter-for-tesla-model-s-x-3-gen-2/

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Yea, I have seen a couple people mention this now

[@peachezprogramming]

Bro 900Wh/mi? The Tesla Semi is supposed to use

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

100%. Aerodynamics are everything when towing. It’s crazy how high the usage got along the way.

[@bolero5000]

Awesome vid . Thanks for sharing . I'm trading my M3 for a MY next year. Also, I'm looking for a teardrop or Aliner...

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Look for something as aerodynamic as possible. Seems weight isn’t the main driver, which in hindsight makes sense. You’ll like the space of the Y

[@My_HandleIs_]

65 mph is 105 km/h, which is very fast driving when towing. In Europe you are not allowed to tow (anything!) faster than 80 km/h, so most drive around 87 km/h to avoid tickets. The energy consumption increases SUPER FAST for every km/h you drive above 80 km/h. This has primarily to do with the effect of wind resistance, that increases by the speed squared, so doubling the speed increases the wind resistance by four and so on. The reason towing speed is limited is because of the increased risk of accidents at higher speeds. I saw the contraptions used for sway and what not. That, and the supposedly very high tongue weight is not necessary here. What is the Y rated for in tongue weight? It usually is around 100 kg for most vehicles here, so putting 3-400 kg on that tow bar would be a very dangerous combination. One thing about the physics of towing a caravan, is that the wind resistance is lifting the tongue (=decreasing the tongue weight) and getting under 40-50 kg (net) is really dangerous, as that is when swaying starts! Maybe that is why US starts with crazy high tongue weights, so it balances up to a low net weight at highway speeds where the rotational force on the caravan gives the tongue weight reduction... Summary: By slowing down, you increase the range significantly and at the same time decrease risk of accidents and less wear on the car's suspension and chassis (high tongue weight) and if you still DO have an accident, lower speeds means much much less velocity energy, so you are less likely to get injured.

[@gardencompost259]

Thank you for this video. My wife and I are retired and want to travel around the US, and Canada, camping. We are on the list for a cyber tuck, but feel it is more than we need. Your post is convincing us maybe the model Y is more our speed. We are putting a sleeping bed in my wife’s CR-V, but after viewing your bed setup in your Y in another video, we are looking into a Y instead of the Cybertruck. We have a motorcycle trailer fitted out with a kitchen and all for camping with the CR-v. The proverbial lightbulb went off above our heads, yeah, the Y would be Much better in our stimulation.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

The weight is less of a factor than the size and shape of the trailer. If it is aerodynamic, you should be able to do better than we did with this brick of a trailer lol. It’s nice being able to sleep in the car though because you have HVAC to keep you nice and cozy all night

[@travis1118]

Did you get the cybertruck?

[@gardencompost259]

@@travis1118 unfortunately not. A lot has happened in the last few years. Plans change.

[@senordockman1138]

We are considering a much smaller and lighter trailer with air, coffee maker, and a bed!

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Wish the wife would be on board with something like that!

[@cynthiaallison1684]

Senor Dockman - Would love to know what trailers you are considering, and what trailer you ultimately went with!

[@tobyray8700]

Look at a T@B

[@Crazypostman]

Great video! I can't wait to get a cybertruck!! I'm going to be a camping and overlanding machine!

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Agreed. Should be a beast for stuff like this.

[@jakesta11]

You cannot fight drag with a big big box

[@imnotusingmyrealname4566]

Overlanding means going of the grid. EVs can't do that.

[@Crazypostman]

@@imnotusingmyrealname4566 you're not going to get much further than 500 MI in anything else either without carrying fuel. The Cybertruck can charge itself slowly with the solar option just camp somewhere for a few days and you're good to move on again!

[@imnotusingmyrealname4566]

@@Crazypostman Carrying fuel is the whole point! No overlander will go without at least one jerry can. Good luck with the solar panel though. Maybe it'll get you to a traveled road after one day of charging.

[@AdventuresWithBrian83]

You need to be very careful with that vehicle trailer combination. It has a GVWR of 4400 pounds and that is the number that actually matters for insurance, and highway patrol, they don't care what the dry weight is. If your trailer GVWR exceeds your towing capacity then you could get slapped with up to $100 per pound overweight fine. Also, if you are involved in an accident, even if not your fault, that overweight trailer can often be listed a contributing factor in the accident in which case you become liable for the accident and your insurance will likely deny the claim because you were outside of your vehicle's rated capacity.

[@bikeholy]

Thanks for sharing Tesla Semi truck review 😂 Take care !

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

haha

[@rjgallman4916]

Lol golden comment!

[@pegefounder]

Most important would be less air resistance, For a much bigger towing task, I study inflatable attachments to reduce air drag,

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Air resistance is the key here.

[@Dave-ms1wi]

A better route planner lets you add the trailer weight for more accurate results

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Yea, we use it for trip planning for all our road trips. Really like it.

[@DeepTubeNYC]

Hi, Excellent detailed video. Thank you. God Bless the family and boys. Question: Is it possible to tow a 2019 Winnebago Minnie Plus 26RBSS with my 2021 Tesla Dual Motor AWD Model Y ? The Trailier specs show Dry Weight 6280 and Payload Capacity 2520. Thank you in advance.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

No current Tesla can tow that much

[@Stack151]

A seven foot wide travel trailer would be much better and a tear drop or something more aerodynamic would also help. Good stuff, thanks for doing this!

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

It’s all about the aerodynamics as we have now shown.

[@EarlBalentine]

I have spent months if not years several hours everyday looking at all the possible trailers that a model Y could tow based on the model Y towing weigh limitation. If you want some thing bigger than a tent that has a bathroom, there is only a few choices to get the biggest trailer for your weight specs.

[@rotojo2]

@@EarlBalentine I like the Adria Action 391 PH/PD Or weinsberg 390 puh

[@health101DOTorg]

@@EarlBalentine Earl, could you mention what they are. I'm getting a Model Y Long Range and want to tow a Rockwood Geo Pro 19FBS, but I'll have to lighten it some to be able to use it.

[@JohnVaughan-he1kb]

What is the tongue weight of your Travel Trailer? Was it the Keystone Springdale 1800BH? Seems like the Tesla advertised tow hitch tongue weight of 350lbs is very limiting.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

It was 330 lbs.

[@buzzofftoxicblog791]

Subscribed 👏😀. Great to see towing big thing with clean electric Tesla. Anything above 50mph zaps the energy aerodynamics interesting to see the difference with a aerodynamic trailer. Like your luxurious caravan / trailer 😀🌏 #buzzofftoxic

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Cheers

[@flyboypat]

Yikes, I was hoping to get a little better milage than that. I do have a smaller trailer. I have a Little Guy Mini Max. Its only 6.5ft wide and about 9ft tall and empty weight is only 2540 lbs. I just ordered a MYLR. I looked at a better route planner and going from Northern Illinois to Florida and back. The longest stretch I would need to get 105 to 107 miles of range. I guess if I have to go even slower during those stretches, that what I'll have to do. Thanks for the video

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Cheers

[@dhincks1]

Hi, in California towing is always limited to 55 mph. Even with ice it makes a huge difference when slowing down on consumption. I've not towed with my lrdm 3. I do have a truck camper on a f350 diesel. I per ordered the tri-motor Cyber just for the towing capacity. There are people experimenting with batteries in the trailer powering the trailer wheels lowering the drag thus extending the range. Another approach is to fuel the towing vehicle with the extra battery in the trailer. Exciting times for sure.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Will be cool to see next gen trailers

[@fabioromano7752]

Have you checked your hitch weight? I checked out a 17BH by Jayco, and the dry hitch weight was 320lbs. When we put propane a couple of light items in the trailer to test hitch weight, it came out to 423lbs when I weighed it. As I understand the spec on the tongue weight for the Model Y is 350lbs max. I'm thinking it may be a bad idea for us to buy that 17BH.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

You can move things around in your camper to help offset, or store the tank and battery in the back of the camper FYI.

[@brentweaver2964]

Jeeze! I’m thinking about getting a Safari Condo 17” trailer. For my Y. Weighs under 2k and super aerodynamic

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Yea, there was no way to get the wife on board with something smaller. I tried to talk her into a pop up but she wasn’t having it.

[@dr.marshallblue7730]

Hello, I have been watching your videos for several weeks now and would like so tips on trailer hitch weight stability of the original Tesla hitch. I have own a 2022 Tesla Y and have ordered a new 2023 16’ Airstream Caravel. The Caravel has a gross weight of 4300lbs and dry weight of 3500lbs. My concern is the hitch weight of the Tesla is only 350lbs and the tongue hitch weight of the Caravel is 490lbs. Is your trailer tongue hitch weight at or below the max Tesla or did you modify your Tesla Y hitch to carry more weight? Please provide some guidance here as I have been so inspired to get out on the open road and begin new adventures on the weekends with my Tesla Y and my new Caravel 16’.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

That’s too heavy. Our tongue weight was under 350

[@desertdan100]

This is a good video because it shows and proves perfectly what we truck people have been saying. I am a guy who works and tows with a truck and has for 35 years. We have been telling people that there is going to have to be a huge change in battery tech , capacity and charging to make towing any distance viable. For Electric trucks they have to be able to tow or pull full load for 500 miles or Electric is never going to replace the tail pipe. I am not saying that it is impossible , I am just saying that this is the reality that we live with. With the range anxiety you were dealing with, just imagine it being a work day or a time deadline where you have got to be somewhere no matter what. Now imagine it is an emergency service of some type or Ambulance or Fire truck that relies on a huge power draw for many more accessories on the vehicle.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Yep, big steps forward still needed. Will see what the 4680 cells bring.

[@orbnexus]

I bought the 2900 dry weight RV to connect with my Tesla Y. Wondering how you have setup the weight distributions. Do you have any video or post to setup weight distributions?

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Probably not a good idea to use weight distribution hitch on a unibody car honestly

[@IceburgEVolution]

This video 99% might put me over the edge to trade "up" to a Model Y. I won't be able to use it this summer--but it will be worth the wait!! Thank you for the attention to detail and all of the information. Love the channel!

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Cheers!

[@rzu7120]

For some reason, there seem be a substantial number of Tesla owners who don’t realize how the Superchargers with the same number share power. When you see somebody pulling in next to you, and all of the other Superchargers are not in use, why not politely walk up and explain it to them? I’m sure most people would be happy to learn that they can charge faster if they just move down to the next unit. I’m surprised Tesla doesn’t post a little how-to video on their entertainment system to educate their owners with some charging tips.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

I do now. Its always awkward, but I try to do it as politely as possible.

[@patrickdavey9692]

there are "Air dam" attachments for trailers which create a more aerodynamic profile behind you.

[@muriloninja]

Duuuude, you pulled that massive trailer with your MY. hahaha! The battery drained so much from having to carry your massive balls. lol I would have been panicking because you damn sure wouldn't be able to pull into a charger with that thing attached, or at least none of the SC's I have seen. Saw you got lucky with that charging station. This is a job for the Tri-Motor Cybertruck, not the MY.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Can’t wait for the Cybertruck

[@commuterbranchline8132]

Your speed while towing has a major impact on your energy consumption. On the return journey, you could try limiting your top speed to 55-60 mph? That should get you home with more margin remaining on the battery.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Yea big time

[@pilotavery]

50mph gets you the best range

[@AkioWasRight]

@@pilotavery Going downhill with a tailwind gets you the best range. I mean, seriously...

[@camman194]

Yes! And 72mph is not 70mph. Use indicated speed. Don't try to compensate for indicated speed error that may not exist.

[@maiwyck]

So this trailer's hitch or tongue weight is 485lbs...that's over the 350lb limit set by Tesla in the Y manual. I'm new to this and wondering if you were towing this much overweight, was it doing something damage to the car? Your drive seemed fine right? All the other wisdom I have found on the internet says to never go over the tongue weight limit for your car...is this not true? It would really open up the options for trailer rentals for me. Right now I seem to be relegated to teeny tiny 16 footers because nothing else has a tongue weight lower than 350lb.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

So the current ones have a much higher tongue weight. This unit that I had specifically had a tongue weight under 350, though I don’t remember the exact number. I don’t know what they added, or changed in the setup since we had ours but it’s much heavier up front now.

[@GunPilot3000]

Thank you for doing this towing video I have wanted to know this information for the longest time. I go camping in my model Y all the time and I've been trying to talk the wife into doing a trailer trip. Thank you for your service coming from an 82nd guy.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

gracias, i am glad you liked it. And thank you for your service too! (king of battle over here)

[@GunPilot3000]

@@BeardedTeslaGuy did you use a brake controller? Just curious.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

absolutely! I put the controller we used in the description. I have a video in the works on the setup. Its pretty straight forward, but you do need to get a plug adapter from Tesla to plug it in.

[@GunPilot3000]

@@BeardedTeslaGuy Awesome thx man look forward to it.

[@EarlBalentine]

Check out the Vintage Cruiser trailers 19CSK model.

[@truthjunkie3]

The weight should have much effect as long as you use regen and not brakes. But aerodynamics are killer.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Big killer

[@homeloans2611]

You definitely need a cybertruck dual or tri-motor

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Tri motor on order!

[@lakefiftyseven]

I wonder if campgrounds frown on campers charging cars at the campsite. I was thinking if you had a small camper and you could get 150 miles between charges a person could travel, and with free charging at your campsite, you could travel very inexpensively.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

I’ve never had an issue

[@seanhornbuckle3668]

in the uk we are only allowed the speed limit of 60 mph so will have better economic driving

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

There you go! Here you’d be run off the road for going that slow so not a good option. We did for a short bit with very little traffic on the road so it was safe.

[@hedleypepper1838]

Honestly it's not about towing weight ots about towing aerodynamics. There's a guy getting good results towing a 6000lb airstream with a model three dual motor long range. He has modified the already aerodynamic airstream to be even slipper. The next thing that needs to happen is the common (European 🇪🇺 ) lightweight caravans need to become more aerodynamic

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Indeed

[@TravisMorris77]

Thanks for the detailed breakdown, love your videos! I'm glad you solidified my choice to get a Y as our daily, and stick with the ICE for towing. Also jealous you still have Arby's they've been closing down near us.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Arby’s is where it’s at!

[@ledgerdc]

Any new experience with using a MY to tow? How much tongue weight did you have in the car? I'm looking to haul a boat, but am concerned about putting 300lbs of weight on the hitch.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

It’s rated up to 350 lbs tongue weight so you should be ok from that perspective

[@rantingcullinarian]

Goodness, I haven't had Arby's in years. Cool video! Definitely not a long-haul tower, but cool to have the option to pull relatively large trailers short distances.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Arby’s is where it’s at!

[@katelynhill6187]

I have so many questions about the tongue weight. The Tesla y tongue weight limit is 350lbs. Your trailer is 485 lbs. how does this work? There are so many trailers out there that I love but the tongue weight kills me every time.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

This older model was not that heavy up front. This particular unit weighed in at 343 lbs tongue which is right on the edge.

[@ken12269]

Love the video, one question though, couldn’t you have plugged directly into that 50 amp connection at the campsite? Isn’t that a 14-50?

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

I did. I was just showing y’all what you have to do if you only have a 30 amp service because you can’t just use a TT-30 to 14-50 adapter. Requires special adapter.

[@ken12269]

@@BeardedTeslaGuy Ahhh gotcha. Thanks, I asked because we are RVers and soon to be potential Model 3 owners. Interesting to see those two worlds collide in your videos! Had no idea Tesla’s could tow anything frankly. We might just bring ours along on local camping trips since our camper is bigger, but it’s nice to know we could charge at the campsite.

[@phuquetwo]

Not sure the trucks coming out are going to cut it even with 200kw batteries, double that of the teslas. People are going to find out the hard way I guess. They may have to lower the speed limits of highways soon when more people have electric cars. I like em, but the battery tech just doesn't seem to be there yet when it comes to hauling heavy loads, especially in a new truck. That 40 foot 5th wheel won't make it 100 miles on a charge. Even with a 200 battery. Especially in the winter.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Yea, it’s something that needs to be addressed if we really are going to have a completely electric future

[@ALifeMoreLight]

We can’t wait to pull our Alto with the Cybertuck! Great info! Thanks!

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Cheers!

[@tonycreed48]

Keep in mind that towing capacity ALWAYS includes camper/trailer, people and gear. So my guess id that you were way over the rated towing capacity of the car.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

The towing capacity is clearly listed with 4 passengers at 3500 with Gemini wheels

[@domg7359]

Great video! I was wondering about towing efficiency on the Y. It's actually not really bad, the same kind of efficiency losses are present for ICE vehicles which can see half the range or less. But you're paying a whole lot less for 'fuel'. The time to fill/supercharger gaps (~150 miles often) is still a hindrance for long towing trips but the Cybertruck should fix that. If the 3-motor gets 500+ miles I bet it will get around 200 miles of range pulling an RV like this. Which is plenty to get you between superchargers. And the new cells should be able to supercharge at 250kW longer so quicker stop.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

That is really the question, will the Cybertruck be able to make towing reasonable for long distance

[@PassionatelyOffroad]

My range for my “ICE” is nearly 700 miles pulling 13k lbs!! My F150 pulling 7000 lbs is good for 300+. It’s not half or less on either of my trucks, where are you getting this info? Also, the amount of times at chargers would be stupid ridiculous considering I can spend 5 mins and go with ICE. Electric just isn’t made to tow currently. This is one area where IcE is more efficient even if you refuse to say it is!

[@billmcdonald2436]

@@PassionatelyOffroad yeah I agree. I got 14 mpg pulling my big fifth wheel camper with my duramax. It has a 30 gallon tank I believe so range would be way better as would rapid refill times. I have nothing against a Tesla. I want one really bad but I will keep my truck for work like this.

[@redst9364]

What kind of dream world are you living in I could triple that range with my truck with double the weight and I won't have to unhook my camper to fill up .... charge lol plus the the twenty thousand dollar price diffrence would more than pay for gas , priced a Ford lighting the other day and it's twenty thousand dollars more than my ICE equivalent all you hear is how much your going to save on gas but if your paying twenty thousand dollars more for an electric vehicle and it takes me two days to get there we'll you know what they say time is money 💰

[@viadharmawheel]

More like 150 miles towing range if you scale out 330 mile range to CT 500 mile.

[@matthewp1682]

What type of long term abuse does this do to the batteries and motors?

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Probably a lot of abuse

[@matthewp1682]

@@BeardedTeslaGuy it would be cool to see a long term test of this on your channel if you tow a lot with this model y. I think it would be super informative and maybe even some tips you can give to other owners! Great content!

[@michaelsmithers4900]

I tend to go slow to start when I leave the SC and then go faster as I see that I have a nice cushion at the next SC

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Yea, it’s a good strategy

[@freetrailer4poor]

Look at jayco 174bh, looks same inside. 7 feet wide 3050 lbs.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Yep it’s basically the same floor plan

[@KMasters2015]

My worry is that campgrounds are going to come up with some “rule” to ban charging electric vehicles. Hopefully governments get proactive on this and ban the campgrounds from enacting such rules. That’s my rant Thanks again for the great video

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Cheers

[@michaelsmithers4900]

Why would they Ban it? RVs plug in and draw juice around the clock, granted this may be more. Also Commercial rates are much lower than residential so it's not like they are losing. If they pay 10c per KWH and he got 50KWH(it looked like less) it's 5.00$ I am sure he paid more than 5bucks for that spot. BTW, it's 7c/KWH for commercial charging where I live in SE GA that would be 3.50$

[@KMasters2015]

@@michaelsmithers4900 I totally agree but as we know some people behind a desk don’t think rationally.

[@JamesJAllen-sx5vn]

That would be a detriment to them ...who thinks like that?

[@hobby_dude_]

Yeah I've told people if they buy an EV and tow a windsail, not to expect more than one third a rated Tesla range. This is the major reason I'm waiting for the cyber truck and their 500+ mile range rating. I want to be able to go tofrom camping area without having to rely on charger.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Will be interesting to see how it turns out. I’m anxious

[@hobby_dude_]

@@BeardedTeslaGuy I've also noticed going from Brown county back up to Indy seems to be less efficient. I'm not sure if it's uphill or just generally a southern head wind...

[@joeziskend8463]

Thanks again for the great videos! Do you know where I can get the brake controller pigtail connector? The local Tesla service center tells me they cant sell me one. I’m getting the “only the model X comes with that” answer.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

It’s because it’s the only part number that exists. Mine says model X on it. I don’t know how to get them to agree to sell it to you, I insisted and they provided at no charge.

[@joeziskend8463]

Good news! After leaving two sets of unreturned messages with both local Tesla parts departs (because neither answers the phone), I drove there today and was able to purchase the pigtail wiring harness for $4.00 without any issues. Now a brake controller and then a trailer!

[@iautoheart5151]

Hi, how is the camp trailer holding now. Did you use multiple times ? Where can we buy the similar trailer. I got model Y and trying to buy all parts and trailer . Thanks in advance .

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

I tried 2 more times and it just wasn’t worth it unfortunately

[@phuquetwo]

Campsites are going to catch on soon and start charging more for plug in sites.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

They need to get with the program one way or the other

[@digi63]

I imagine that soon all sites will be available with power and that power will be metered so they can charge per KW used not a flat rate.

[@chowner]

Stinks that Tesla seems to have killed off the Seymour charger. That's the one I really wanted for trips to Kentucky and would have worked for you here

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Yea, that would have been clutch

[@3dw3dw]

I really appreciate that you documented your experience for us.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Cheers

[@-Jethro-]

Just an fyi, most travel trailer tires are only rated for 60 or 65 mph max. You really don’t want a blowout at 72 mph. Better to just chill at 60 in the slow lane.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Yea, these tires were rated for 80 mph somehow

[@mikesevgarage]

I love Han’s dice hanging from your rear view 👍😁. I have them too!

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Saw them, had to have them!

[@mikesevgarage]

@@BeardedTeslaGuy Yes! 😁. I see you all are in NE Indy. Small world. We live in Michigan, but I picked up my Model 3 SR+ at the Castleton location because we have family in Terre Haute and we combined a family visit with the pick up 👍

[@bradpitt2967]

So let me ask you... All of this tension of loosing charge and charging overnight and all of this amps reduction to get more charge time... Why not buy a diesel and call it a day? Don't get me wrong I'm all for tesla in fact I can't wait to get mine... But I start to wonder do I need all this tension and frequent visits to the charging station?

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Not a towing car, that’s for sure

[@prashanthnatarajan89]

Used to live in Indy and love watching your road trip videos. Brings back tons of memories driving on i65 north to West Lafayette and south to Columbus and a pothole ridden i465 every winter.. Waiting on our Model X to start our road trips with the fam

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Lol, those are the roads!

[@mindia48]

Planning to install a tow hitch. Did you purchase a Tesla tow hitch or got one from 3rd party. If it is 3rd party did the Trailer Mode enabled on the Tesla?

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Tesla hitch added after. I wanted to make sure tow mode was available, so I went with Tesla

[@Roddy451]

It would be interesting to find out how the gearbox (gearboxes for the dual-motor like yours) is handling the extra load and temperature. The weight plus the resistance by the additional area, the latter amplified by your speed, makes a huge difference.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Yea would be interesting to see how much more heat we are generating.

[@tedferkin]

Nice that the campsite allows you to charge the car. Do you get charged for the energy you use. In the UK, you just get a charge for hook-up on a per day basis. I cannot see them allowing people to charge their eVs on them.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

never had an issue.

[@relativityboy]

Long trips, popup tents!

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Yep, no doubt

[@Mrsmack79]

Are you towing with long range or performance? Do you think performance is capable?

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Long range. The only thing to keep in mind with performance is that suspension is lower and May sag quite a bit

[@markmeridian3360]

Very useful video. It might be helpful to compare with a gas vehicle. I've towed a 5,000 lb trailer with my old Silverado over 10,000 miles. It averages 10 mpg while towing at 65 mph, has a 25 gallon tank so I can go about 200 miles with no range anxiety, it takes about 5 minutes to refuel, and there are pull-through gas pumps everywhere, so I was able to easily do 500 mile days. The truck has an 8,000 lb towing capacity so, while you can feel the trailer, the trailer isn't anywhere near challenging the truck's towing capacity, and since the truck is worth less than $4,000 I was never worried about using the truck up. Seems like if you want to pull a trailer, a $50,000 Tesla doesn't make much sense.

[@andrewseamans1419]

It would make more sense to compare to a smaller SUV. At 3200lbs plus luggage and the weight of people he's most likely a few hundred lbs overweight. Electric is a tough sell for me. If I had a Y model I think Id be looking at a Popup or small hybrid. A large popup would pretty much max that out.

[@pwdrhrn]

And today, with $5 gas (or more) that 500 miles at 10mpg is $250 per day in fuel or 50c / mile . The Tesla used 709wh/mile and superchargers (per Google) is 28c/kwh for a total cost of 20c / mile. If there are enough chargers, or you can charge at night cost will be less. Interesting video.

[@rodelolesco1]

If Elon Musk can invent the most efficient solar cell that can charge Tesla vehicles during the drive, it will solve the issue of the range problem. Tesla's stock will shoot to the moon.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

That is a big leap yet to be figured out. It’s nowhere close with today’s tech

[@Next_Steps_Home]

Could you use the 50 amp to charge the Y and the 30 amp to run the trailer power at the same time?

[@gessner17]

Yea, or you could use the 50a for your car and 30a for camper, you rarely need 50a with that size camper. If you get a gen1 tesla charger, you can pull full 40a.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

We used the 30 amp for the trailer and the 50 for the Tesla. I was just showing how you would charge the car if you only had 30 amp service at your campsite.

[@Next_Steps_Home]

@@BeardedTeslaGuy perfect thank you. I have a small utility trailer and a side by side that I'm looking to tow with my and camp in. So all this info was super helpful.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Yea, no problem! There is not a plethora of information out there on towing yet. Hope to provide a deep level of detail for those who plan to tow. I also have a utility trailer that I use for hardware store runs.

[@fb510m]

I have y money but think x better towing machine i only tow at 2000 flat bed x bugger battery and 5000 load rating id buy the x if i could but wonder how the y feels towing my 2000# any comments?

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

This trailer was easy peasy to pull, just rough on range. X would possibly be better for towing than the Y for the reasons you listed. For a flat trailer though, I’d venture to say the impact would be similar between the two.

[@BlackhawkPilot]

Did you check your trailer tires? DOT speeds are 55 to 60 mph for most SP tires.

[@TedKidd]

17:00 bicycling destination! 20:00 the savings of 5 mph! Lol. Range of our old Smart ED. If Cybr does 200, that works for me!

[@jamienixon5213]

Isn't this car only designed to tow 3,500 lbs? Be careful and get an airstream.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Yes, 3,500 lbs towing capacity

[@itsajeepthing82]

Great video , very interesting. Not sure if you’re new to RV’s but just something to keep in mind is to make sure at least once a year you’re inspecting all your roof seals and resealing as needed . Just wanted to make sure that great looking rig serves you well for years to come

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Yea, thanks for the tip

[@joshuabeaudoin8538]

Im thinking about getting a model Y, what are your thoughts on towing a small trailer with 1 or 2 ATVs on it!?

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Perfect for that

[@arash3250]

Hi there, I'm wondering what is the model of your camper? Great video, I can't wait to get a camper for our Y, hopefully later this year.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

It’s a Springdale 1800BH

[@arash3250]

@@BeardedTeslaGuy That's a really nice trailer. Looks like that model has a hitch weight of 485lb, before the addition of the battery, LP, and hitch equipment (sway bar, weight distribution system, ball mount, etc). How did the ride feel with that hitch weight? We're looking at buying a camper for our AWD LR Y with about 350 - 400 lb of tongue weight. We won't be able to put a weight distribution system on, but will be putting on a sway bar. We're hoping our Y can handle that.

[@TheSkeewiz]

Q: What kind of mirrors and where did you get them? Is the a rear camera you can get that can integrate with the Tesla system?

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

You can’t get an integrated camera system, but you can turn the cameras on on the screen full time. Don’t bother with the mirrors

[@danstockdale3099]

Thanks for the video! Not too many towing with EV videos out there. From what I gathered, if you're running low on battery, slowing down will dramatically help in getting you to your next stop/charger. Which is true for towing or not. Anyways, I enjoy your videos! I'm waiting for when the come out with the new batteries in the Y.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

I’m glad you enjoyed. There really aren’t a lot of towing videos out there. Lots of useful info to know about.

[@EarlBalentine]

If you find you won't make your next charging station, drop the trailer ASAP and then go get charged and come back for trailer. Better than having 2 vehicles on the side of the road.