Uncle Paul
Well-Known Member
Many RV parks are family owned. Each will have their own policy (or no policy) on charging your EV while staying with them.
Best to simply ask...
Best to simply ask...
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It will requiring switching to a traditional hitch at a minimum. Below are links to an article and discussion on towing at 27' AS with a Model 3. Note that the author has significant experience with custom towing fabrication.
I swapped the OEM hitch receiver for a fixed Draw-Tite receiver when I started towing, on @ohmman wise advice. My specific questions:
1) What do folks think the extra range hit would be? The 23’ would be as wide as my 22’ so extra drag should be non existent. However, it’s a 1000# heavier. Likely not a huge hit on flat roads, bigger driving up mountains. Dual axle, so more rolling resistance.
2) Tongue will likely be lighter than my current 500 but I estimate I’ll be going over the max towing weight by 100 to 200#. How big a problem is this? I get you shouldn’t but this wouldn’t be by a 1000#.
All input appreciated.
I worry about people towing large trailers (especially with 3 or Y). Not good to exceed max towing capacity or even come close to it. It's too easy to have everything go south in a hurry.
Yes, I was referring to the RV Lifestyle guy who uses a 3Yes, of course. Security is paramount. That being said, I think there is a difference between towing a larger trailer with a Model 3 or Y and with a Model X. The latter is much heavier. Even if I towed the larger trailer described above, it would still be lighter than my Model X.
Case and point. Most German high end SUVs can tow over 7000 pounds, including the X5 and the Cayenne. Yet, they are lighter and have less torque than the Model X. I would argue that the Model X is a better tow vehicle then they are. It’s heavier, has a lower centre of gravity and again, is more powerful.
I wonder if the Model X’s limitations from a towing standpoint are not simply dictated by the removable OEM hitch (which they annoyingly retained in the refresh) versus the vehicles’ actual capacity to tow a higher load safely based on all other specs.
I wonder if the Model X’s limitations from a towing standpoint are not simply dictated by the removable OEM hitch (which they annoyingly retained in the refresh) versus the vehicles’ actual capacity to tow a higher load safely based on all other specs.
With the X, it's pretty similar to about 700 lbs of cargo/passenger weight allowed when you subtract the 500# tongue weight of a camper, FYI. Not to say we wouldn't all want more, especially with an upgrade, but it's worth considering that. Also, with a 25' or 27', you'll have a lot more capacity in the coach for storing all those goodies.Now that Rivian's payload has been said to be about 1700# (unclear if that's for the long range version, could be lower), I'm questioning how feasible it'll be towing a 25' or 27' Airstream with it. Both of these risk being over 1000# of tongue weight loaded. With folks and cargo in the truck, there won't a lot of room to manoeuvre from a payload standpoint.
What year is your 22' Sport? I thought you got yours before they widened the model. If it's 2019 or prior, the 22' Sport would be 9" narrower than the 23'. If the coach does indeed have the same frontal area as your 22' Sport, I think you've got it right. Towing an extra 1000# uphill 1000', in pure terms in a vacuum, etc., requires about 0.38kWh, which doesn't sound like much. But obviously there are other inefficiencies that will impact that number.1) What do folks think the extra range hit would be? The 23’ would be as wide as my 22’ so extra drag should be non existent. However, it’s a 1000# heavier. Likely not a huge hit on flat roads, bigger driving up mountains. Dual axle, so more rolling resistance.
I'm curious how tongue weight will be less than your existing rig. I know the published number for the 23' FB is under 500#, but with a trailer weighing 1000# more than your existing one, you still want to put 10-15% of the total trailer weight on the tongue for balance. You'd have to travel empty to get close to that number. Maybe I'm missing something without having the full specs of the coach.2) Tongue will likely be lighter than my current 500 but I estimate I’ll be going over the max towing weight by 100 to 200#. How big a problem is this? I get you shouldn’t but this wouldn’t be by a 1000#.
Overall, I believe it's probably doable. I'm with @idoco on this one - the X seems to be a surprisingly capable tow vehicle with a lot of stability and plenty of power. I towed our Airstream up Hurricane Ridge (pic somewhere back in this thread) and our 90D X handled it fine. That's a pretty stout climb.
What year is your 22' Sport? I thought you got yours before they widened the model. If it's 2019 or prior, the 22' Sport would be 9" narrower than the 23'. If the coach does indeed have the same frontal area as your 22' Sport, I think you've got it right. Towing an extra 1000# uphill 1000', in pure terms in a vacuum, etc., requires about 0.38kWh, which doesn't sound like much. But obviously there are other inefficiencies that will impact that number.
I'm curious how tongue weight will be less than your existing rig. I know the published number for the 23' FB is under 500#, but with a trailer weighing 1000# more than your existing one, you still want to put 10-15% of the total trailer weight on the tongue for balance. You'd have to travel empty to get close to that number. Maybe I'm missing something without having the full specs of the coach.
Say TT loaded is at 5100
Water tanks and propane alone will put you at 5100 pounds. Reading the experiences on Airforums figure that your weight will be empty weight plus 50%-150% of the trailer carry capacity.
Jumping on @idoco's recommendation, I just checked Outdoorsy and there's a 23' International for rent not far from me. Maybe you can find one, or a variant, close to you. Renting might make sense for a trip or two.Yes, I realize there’s much fuss around the discrepancy between published and real world weights. They were pretty precise close on my Bambi though. Perhaps the discrepancy is larger on bigger units.
Do note that Airstream published weights have batteries and propane calculated in. Water tanks are calculated empty though.
Or better yet on testing it, ask a dealer with the 23’ AS to allow me to try it. Not sure a big box trailer would be close enough to the aerodynamics of the AS to provide a comparable test.
That being said, given current AS delays, I'd likely wouldn't get a new AS 23' delivered to me before August at best. That means I'd towing with it for 2-3 months max before Winter. And then, if there are no more delays, I'd have my R1T come Spring and the car's specs would be more than sufficient.
'You must be really done with that 22' to be putting so much consideration into the extra 1'.
Have you folks considered going lightweight?
World's Lightest Teardrop Trailer Is Made of Chicken Feathers
@steilkurve What if I told you that you could pull a 31', double axle AS with an MX and essentially stay within MX specs?
The beginning of Another Airstream Adventure!