Of course, I could buy a second MX, using one to pull and one to push the Alto, for the price of the Bowlus.
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If teardrop trailer designers would actually test their designs in real wind tunnels, I think they would be shocked. Because based on real world data, a Bowlus Road Chief requires significantly less energy to tow than a Safari Condo R1723
Alto trailer is 83" high by 83" wide, length 168", dry weight 1,592 lbs
Bowlus Road Chief trailer is 93" high by 80" wide, length 285", dry weight 2,300 lbs
Tesla Model X tow test achieves 70% of EPA range with trailer [Video]
Quote: "The company achieved about 70% of the Model X P90D 250-mile EPA-rated range while towing the trailer at a moderate highway cruising speed of 50 to 55 mph."
In contrast, Model X owner @fortytwo reports a 50% or more range decrease when towing his Alto R1723.
Below is a photo of @jackbowers towing his Bowlus Road Chief.
There are some pull-through Superchargers that are amenable to trailering. In other cases, owners have parallel parked and blocked a few chargers when the location is relatively empty. But the honest answer is that you should unhitch. I made a bunch of modifications to my hitch setup so that this can be done in under 3 minutes. It's not ideal, but it's also not the end of the world.The discussion about reduced range got me thinking (yes, a dangerous thing to do) so this may be a silly question, but how does one navigate a SuperCharger to plug in while towing a trailer?
The Bowlus Quote: "The company achieved about 70% of the Model X P90D 250-mile EPA-rated range while towing the trailer at a moderate highway cruising speed of 50 to 55 mph."Careful about the comparisons. The Bowlus quote was comparing to rated range (achievable at ? MPH, I haven't tried doing that) and as low as 50 MPH while towing. I assume the Alto report was comparing actual consumption at the same speed with or without the trailer.
For what it's worth, their quote was based on the single road test done in ideal conditions by Jack Bowers himself. It still seems to hold, given what Jack has reported here, but the last time he updated us he had given up on 50-55mph and was traveling at 65mph.The Bowlus Quote: "The company achieved about 70% of the Model X P90D 250-mile EPA-rated range while towing the trailer at a moderate highway cruising speed of 50 to 55 mph."
The way I interpret that statement is that an XP90D was able to tow a Bowlus Road Chief 175 real world miles at 50-55mph. I find that pretty impressive.
The data I have seen for an XP90D towing an Alto R1723 is a range of a maximum of 150 miles at similar speeds on flat roads with no headwinds or rain.
I think a tear drop is a misnomer. I'm not sure why exactly, but my guess is that people associated rain drops as being maximally aerodynamic instead of maximally aerodynamic given the surface tension of water, but not really that aerodynamic.It's that optical trick, making us believe teardrops are actually more aerodynamic. Too bad we can't see airflow. We'd probably make vastly different design and purchase decisions.
And I don't blame him, since he was getting such remarkably low energy usage at 55, why not go faster? I hope he doesn't get ticketed while towing at 65!For what it's worth, their quote was based on the single road test done in ideal conditions by Jack Bowers himself. It still seems to hold, given what Jack has reported here, but the last time he updated us he had given up on 50-55mph and was traveling at 65mph.
I hope he doesn't get ticketed while towing at 65!
Yes. Legally speaking, no one in California is allowed to tow above 55 MPH using a passenger car, and the lowest allowable speed is 45 MPH on highways and freeways. Somehow, my younger Brother was unaware of this, and was ticketed while towing at a much higher speed and in the diamond (HOV) lane. He ended up getting the citation overturned both because there were no signs in the area noting the speed limit while towing, and the law does not specifically state you cannot tow in the diamond lane. But, I'm fairly certain the provision of towing at 55 MPH maximum has been on the books, at least the DMV handbook, for well over thirty years. Of course, I'm probably one of few who ever actually read the thing.Must be a California thing. Here in Texas, there are no laws reducing speed while towing a trailer. I can still legally drive 75 MPH with a trailer in some areas. (can... not should)
A cursory search online says that there is a towing speed limit in Texas, but it's 70. That's close to the highest speed limit anyway, so effectively @Craig-Tx is correct.By the way... I do remember that East Texas used to have signs that limited towing speed to 55 MPH at night along I-20. But those have been gone for quite a few years.
Wow, the losses pulling a T@B trailer are more than I expected.
GMC Terrain: 30 down to 15.6 mpg, 48% loss (+1037 Wh/mi)
2013 Subaru Outback: 29 down to 17 mpg, 41% loss (+820 Wh/mi)
2012 Ford Escape: 26 down to 14 mpg, 46% loss (+1111 Wh/mi)
2013 Nissan Murano: 25 down to 15.5 mpg, 38% loss (+826 Wh/mi)
2011 Jeep Wrangler: 18 down to 14 mpg, 22% loss (+535 Wh/mi)
GMC Sierra: 17.4 down to 12.9 mpg, 26% loss (+676 Wh/mi)
2008 Ford Explorer: 16 down to 10 mpg, 38% loss (+1264 Wh/mi)
Do you mean you are hoping for a "range improvement" compared to what you achieve towing your T@B with your X?When we upgrade to the Alto 1723 next year (pick up date end of May, avoiding winter temps), I'm hoping for a small range improvement due to the decreased height. Anything around 50% (~100 mi) is acceptable
Yes, that's what I'm hopeful for.Do you mean you are hoping for a "range improvement" compared to what you achieve towing your T@B with your X?
I'll need to gather that on our next camping trip.Can you share your Wh/mi energy usage numbers when towing your T@B? Would love to know what you get at about 55mph on a level dry road with no headwind.
It's a 2014 S Maxx, which is the first or second year of the wet bath model. Ordered it through a Little Guy dealer in PA (built next door in OH), it took maybe 2 months. It's pretty similar to the one pictured earlier, though they did tweak the design slightly.What T@B model do you have?
Likewise, we delayed pick up until temps are more favorable for towing electrically, and no chance of surprise snowfall. Already did that once..You and I will be taking delivery on our Altos at about the same time. I have been told mine could be available by February but I'm going to postpone my pick up until springtime. Don't want to be driving in the winter in Canada with a trailer.
Sorry for the delay. For shorter trips the Model 3 that I'm expecting in October (if Model 3 Delivery Estimator is near accurate). For longer trips to Yosemite and beyond, I'm stuck with an '03 GMC Yukon.Looks like a fair price for all those features! What do you plan to tow it with?
There are superchargers near Yosemite.For longer trips to Yosemite and beyond, I'm stuck with an '03 GMC Yukon.
There are some pull-through Superchargers that are amenable to trailering. In other cases, owners have parallel parked and blocked a few chargers when the location is relatively empty. But the honest answer is that you should unhitch. I made a bunch of modifications to my hitch setup so that this can be done in under 3 minutes. It's not ideal, but it's also not the end of the world.