Tesla Model Y Towing

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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

[@thefish5861]

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

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Good idea lol

[@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!

[@3dw3dw]

I really appreciate that you documented your experience for us.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Cheers

[@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

[@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

[@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.

[@thomasruwart1722]

Love the video! Here's my take on towing: Someone on another YT Channel posted a video a couple days ago where he towed a 2,480 pound pop-up camper trailer and got about 519 W/mile. Turns out I just towed a 1,240 pound U-Haul open 5×9 utility trailer with a ramp (ramp is important here) for 170 miles at freeway speeds. I managed to get an average of 577 W/mile. Compare to the camper that was twice the weight of my utility trailer yet got significantly better energy usage. The culprit was that ramp on the back of the U-Haul trailer that stood 5 feet straight up and caught a lot of wind hence creating significant drag. My conclusion is that wind resistance has a larger [negative] impact on energy usage than does the weight of the trailer.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

100%. aerodynamic drag is the biggest and almost only factor with EV towing. Doesn't matter if the trailer is 3k lbs or 2k lbs, its all about drag.

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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!

[@michaelmendes6855]

Great Video! I pull a A-Liner camper a ton on my model 3. I see similar usage on a 1500# camper. I cut my range in half. I’ve done a few 1000 plus mile trips. The hardest part is the frequency of stopping. Instead of every 4 hours I’m stopping every 2 hours. That adds up! Thanks for the video!!! But let’s get onto the cyber truck. Also I have no issue educating someone when they pull into the charger right next to me. Or if I pull in with the trailer and someone is at the pull in spot, I kindly ask them to move. Most people are so curious about pulling something they kindly accommodate!

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

I'm with you. I couldn't possible do 1k miles pulling this, staying at a supercharger for the full hour every 100 miles or so would absolutely suck for that long of a drive. Cybertruck, sure hope it tows better from a range perspective.

[@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.

[@dr.marshallblue7730]

I really enjoy our videos. Thanks for your time and effort.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Cheers

[@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!

[@dahveed284]

I was rewatching this and I'm glad I did. I had the wrong TT30 to 14-50 adapter in the cart. So I would have gotten to where I was going and then would have had to upgrade to an 50amp campsite. Which I still might so I can get a full charge overnight instead of a 100 mile charge.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Yea, there are soooo many outlet types. Just make sure the 30 amp adapter you get is specifically made for a Tesla charger. The standard 30 to 14-50 will not work due to grounding

[@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.

[@cesardelcid7301]

Awesome video thank you I was thinking of getting a trailer I did opt for the tow hitch on my model Y and I am now a bit more re-assured.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Cheers

[@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.

[@terrypetersen4039]

Great and interesting video. I wouldn't pull an RV faster then 65..mph. The wind can really whip a pull behind.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

It was pretty stable with the hookup we had. But we won’t be going this fast in the furure

[@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!

[@eaglerising3800]

Just got my Y a couple of weeks ago. Love the 🚘 and autopilot. I also bought the dice when I was in Disney for it. Good info for anyone who wants to tow/camp with the Y.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

The dice are the real deal!

[@patrickdavey9692]

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

[@MarathonMindy]

So helpful!!! I was scared to get a 1400 ( dry weight) trailer and but not after your video! Thank you for the plug recommendation as well!!!

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

lol, glad it was helpful

[@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.

[@renatobarros729]

Thanks for sharing your experience - great video! I have a camper the size of yours that I pull with an SUV (gas), rated at 3500 pounds. This video shows me that the Model Y can do the job, but may not be suitable for me in Western Canada, as I often have to cover more than 100 miles through the Rockies with no charging options (and mountains to climb). Might have to wait a little longer until our highway charging infrastructure catches up... I've also seen campgrounds with power that restricts EV charging, as they can't cope with the extra load on their electrical system... P..S.: 55 mph FTW! 😉

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

yea, its really not practical. I tried 2 additional times even at slower speeds and it didn't do much to help range. Its just not practical right now. When a 500 mile Cybertruck is available, then it'll be right on

[@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.

[@Hildepedia]

Great video. Watched it back when it came out. I’m Planning to drive our model Y from Orlando FL to Washington DC area pulling a 6x12 u-haul enclosed trailer. I’ve found very little on that as far as consumption. There’s a great video by ehermes pulling a 5x8 U-Haul to and from florida and Ohio. I’m feeling a little better re watching your video. I’m Plugging in 600 wh/mi and driving 65mph to abetterrouteplanner to see what I’m dealing with. I don’t think I would do this regularly, but this is a rare event…. It should add roughly 3.5 hours to my trip. Which I have no problem with whatsoever in this case. I’m not a KZbinr, but I plan to post my results for others to see on Reddit or the likes. Wish there was a database showing different trailers, mph, vehicles to help more accurately plan trips. Thanks again

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Yea, I have pulled a few uHaul trailers and 600 wh/mi is about right.

[@Hildepedia]

@@BeardedTeslaGuy Great, thanks for the response. Puts me more at ease!

[@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 👍

[@mattfierstein9211]

I just drove across the country in a motor home and was wondering the whole way how it would work if I towed a trailer with my Y and this was so great to see that it worked just they way I thought it would! Much less efficient in driving than I thought though

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Yea, it’s too bad too because it tows great! Just super impractical if you are going far.

[@mattfierstein9211]

@@BeardedTeslaGuy I wonder what the wh/mi is at 60 not 65

[@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

[@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

[@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!

[@The1Catman]

I will be towing my BMW R9T and a Zero FS on my trailer. This video makes me feel at ease that I can get from Rochester to the Adirondacks. If you can tow a home I can tow a couple of motorcycles. Cheers man, and ROCK ON!

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Haha, it’ll be no problem for that

[@ALifeMoreLight]

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

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Cheers!

[@themadjock1977]

Look on the bright side 142kWh is only the equivalent of 16 L of gas, 4.2 US gallons one litre equals 8.9 kWh of energy. Great towing video thanks

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Well when you look at it like that...damn good!

[@guringai]

I guess 4.2 gallons wouldn't get a car far?

[@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?

[@mikecoleman7097]

I have been watching towing videos for the model Y since I have one now and I am looking to rent a camper. Imagine my surprise when I saw brown county! I'm an Indy resident as well. I look forward to getting tips from you and seeing you out at a campsite one day.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Camping is a blast, just not efficient in an EV towing lol

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@robandrews4925]

attempted to tow a double enclosed snowmobile trailer to the cottage (a 250km/155 miles) using my model Y performance last weekend. Clear roads but very cold (-20C/-4F). Car was using about 780 KW/H per Kilometer. I had to stop 4 times to charge and ended up calling a friend to come with his pick up truck to save me. Barrie Ontario to next Supercharger (Parry Sound is only 137kms/85 miles) I was not able to make it with 99% charge. Estimating that at most I could go 65kms (40 miles) on almost a full charge. Moral of the story, that's the last time I'm towing. If it's cold and you have a bulky trailer do not use a model Y to tow.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

That’s the reality unfortunately

[@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

[@CampMymy]

Just ordered the hitch for my Model Y. Hoping a smaller trailer (2000 lbs) will give me a little more range. Thanks for the great info!

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

It's all about aerodynamics. Weight will have only limited impact, the drag is the real killer

[@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.

[@mike866]

Great information on the adapters. I just assumed Tesla made an adapter for the 30 amp campsite plug, but they don't. I'm going to add this 30 amp adapter to my collection. Thanks! 🙌

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Yea, I assumed too, so glad I looked into it a while back

[@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.

[@1JohnnyCruiser]

It was interesting to see how you could charge with the trailer on unhitching looks like a major pain

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Yea unhooking would be a pain for sure!

[@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.

[@whattheschmidt]

Man, that would be funny to see, Model Y towing a big camper. As a kid, my dad had a pop-out camper (smaller than this by a lot), that would have used probably 1/4 of the extra energy you had to use towing. Good info here.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

We got quite a few looks lol

[@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.

[@Amra415]

Bro, I had range anxiety with you just watching the video! Great vid!

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Haha, yea, believe me when I say I did too!

[@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

[@Jethr001]

FUN!! we are big campers and can’t wait until some cool battery powered accessories come out like a mini microwave, coffee maker, hot plate, electric cooler etc. BTW, A trailer docking feature for the auto pilot would be a great option… And would save Many marriages

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Hahaha good call!

[@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

[@jeffmckie7300]

At 72 yrs of age my wife and I are considering a motorcycle camping trailer to tow behind my model three long range. Camping at campgrounds with electric hook up, we can charge the car and run an electric heater as needed. I suspect there wont be a whole lot of range loss with this setup. Only problem i see is trips to bathroom at night. Some of these fold out trailers even have two queen size beds.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

It’s all about drag. I have found drag matters, weight doesn’t really matter, at least in this type of setup

[@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.

[@EvanMooreZ]

You are my hero. Awesome video. I pick up my first tesla (model y) on March 9. I got the trailer hitch and I'm ready to tow!!

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Woohoo, congrats!

[@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.

[@TeslaBlaine]

Someday I might get a camper... but for now I enjoy hotels! Keep up the great family time you are having!

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Cheers

[@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.

[@0my]

Nice family. Family, you have a great dad.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Thanks so much

[@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!

[@russcayse3054]

Great video, wondering if you are still towing much? Would like to see you try a couple things to help with range. 1. Limit peak power output. I found with my EVs that peak power output was a big influence on battery capacity. If I took a 20 mile trip and used cruise control the car would hit very high Kwh peaks going up hills to maintain speed, and I would arrive with X% of battery left. Next day take same trip and manually control speed, allowing it to decrease a little climbing hills, greatly reducing peak power, but still make the trip in the same total time by going faster downhill, and arrive with much higher % of battery left. Watch peak power and make it a game to see how low you can keep the peak while still maintaining speed. 2. Reduce max speeds. Saw in this video you were towing at 65 and 70 mph, think that is WAY too fast, should be 55-60 max. 3. Make sure vehicle and trailer tires are at max pressure to reduce rolling resistance.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

I don’t tow anymore. I tried 2 more times and it was the same results even at slower speeds.

[@russcayse3054]

@@BeardedTeslaGuy Thanks for quick response. Towing is tough for EVs, I think higher power levels are substantially less efficient. Was most of your towing with the vehicle on cruise control?

[@bikeholy]

Thanks for sharing Tesla Semi truck review 😂 Take care !

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

haha

[@rjgallman4916]

Lol golden comment!

[@billymcfarlane1387]

looking forward 2 c your tow hitch set up. not a tesla owner but the camping option has now peaked my interest thanks for the gr8t vid.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

mucho gusto!

[@homeloans2611]

You definitely need a cybertruck dual or tri-motor

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Tri motor on order!

[@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.

[@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.

[@kellyheath8547]

rolling drag about doubles with that trailer and aero drag goes to the moon, slowing down is good but being lighter is also important. A teardrop trailer might be the best Tesla camper, or a tent.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

No doubt. Trailer is not practical for towing with a Y.

[@trevorleung8426]

Man, I was worried for you lol 😂

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Lol, I was worried for me too!

[@Itsjrob_]

This is the absolute dream man ! God bless you and your family

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Cheers

[@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

[@someguyonaguitar]

Great work. Thanks for testing the limits and info about Charging at camp sites

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Cheers

[@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.

[@gessner17]

Fyi for anyone, evadapters makes a TT30 adapter that plugs right into umc charger so you don't have to get a clunky adapter. Pretty handy if you use that a lot.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

thanks for sharing

[@BlackhawkPilot]

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

[@10mikecole]

Great video. I have heard that a German trailer manufacturer is trying to develop trailer with a auxiliary battery pack to extend the range of the towing vehicle. Of course there are problems, the weight of the pack being one of them. However if feasible it could double the range. Something to look out for.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

That would be a heavy trailer. That’s the only problem with it, otherwise, that would be pretty slick to have a trailer on top of a battery pack

[@10mikecole]

There is some more info on line about this. See ‘The Dethleffs E.Home Coco’ This features an 80-kWh lithium battery and roof-mounted solar panels. It also has a couple of 40Kw motors driving the wheels of the trailer so that that apparent weight declines to about 220 pounds, thus enabling the tow car to drive its normal range. Looks too small for the US market. Perhaps an American trailer maker will take up the idea.

[@relativityboy]

Long trips, popup tents!

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Yep, no doubt

[@RussellFineArt]

Nice vid, thanks. I own a Model Y and fortunately, only camp at Marriott hotels these days, but good to know range pulling a large trailer. Cute kiddos, headless horseman story sounds scary! :)

[@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.

[@Porkonfork]

Range anxiety is one thing, seeing the light on the charge port turn green when at 1% would feel even better l bet. Cheers and thanks

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Lol, I wasn’t too worried about that part, but if it wouldn’t have worked, we’d have been in big trouble lol

[@MrDantam1]

At least you'd have somewhere to sleep :)

[@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

[@chucka187]

Tesla’s are underrated for towing vehicles. Properly setup they can haul quit a bit. Only suggestion would be to buy a better aero dynamic trailer. Like a airstream or Oliver. Nice setup though and great share.

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Cheers

[@erehwon7729]

something you need to check: the speed rating on your trailer tires. most trailer tires are only rated for 60mph max. if you go faster the load rating drops dramatically. this is especially hazardous in hot weather. also you will have less wind resistance below 60. you need to weigh everything including your hitch, to get the actual weight of your tow vehicle. you will be surprised at how much you have actually added to your load. happy camping.

[@stevedowler2366]

Very nice camp trailer. We'll be using a smaller one, not purchased yet, probably a r-Pod with just the queen and table conversion which we'll not use but makes room for the dog. Hey! Maybe the dog gets the table conversion bed? ;)

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

haha, nice!