So I want to explore the US for a couple years with a small or mid-size trailer. I planned to buy a used Toyota pickup because "EVs suck for towing", but I'm intrigued by the idea of a Model S with free Supercharging. I'll add solar to the camper and it'd be fun to play around with projects like trickle charging the car from solar, using the car as a backup battery during cloudy stretches, etc.
- I know towing range sucks, but I'll only go 100-200 miles in a day and I'm not on a schedule
- I know even 2 kW of solar only adds ~10 miles of towing range on a sunny day
- I know Tesla doesn't recommend towing with Model S, but people install Ecohitch and do it
My question is reliability. I don't expect Toyota reliability, but I plan to visit some remote areas. Used FUSC cars are mostly out of warranty or soon will be, plus they'd probably void it for towing anyway. I'll have tools and I'll have an e-bike to get around. Getting stuck a week waiting on parts is no big deal. Getting stuck three months, on the other hand......
I'm guessing there's a 95% chance things will be fine over three years and 15-20k miles vs. a 5% chance of major failure, e.g. battery, drive unit, suspension. I can live with those odds. Am I a hopeless optimist? If it's more like 50/50 then I'll go back to looking at used Tundra ads Would love to hear from anyone who has real world experience with 2013-17 Model S. Thanks!
- I know towing range sucks, but I'll only go 100-200 miles in a day and I'm not on a schedule
- I know even 2 kW of solar only adds ~10 miles of towing range on a sunny day
- I know Tesla doesn't recommend towing with Model S, but people install Ecohitch and do it
My question is reliability. I don't expect Toyota reliability, but I plan to visit some remote areas. Used FUSC cars are mostly out of warranty or soon will be, plus they'd probably void it for towing anyway. I'll have tools and I'll have an e-bike to get around. Getting stuck a week waiting on parts is no big deal. Getting stuck three months, on the other hand......
I'm guessing there's a 95% chance things will be fine over three years and 15-20k miles vs. a 5% chance of major failure, e.g. battery, drive unit, suspension. I can live with those odds. Am I a hopeless optimist? If it's more like 50/50 then I'll go back to looking at used Tundra ads Would love to hear from anyone who has real world experience with 2013-17 Model S. Thanks!