Hey gang... forum newbie here just posting an informational video re: towing with your Tesla Model Y LR.
When deciding whether or not to purchase a MY to tow our 4,100 lb. boat/trailer setup in Texas, it was tough to find reliable information online of other people exceeding the rated 3,500 lb. towing capacity of the vehicle and Tesla factory hitch. After talking with Tesla engineers who all said the car is overengineered in this regard, we pulled the trigger and haven't looked back.
We now frequently tow our 21 ft. boat + trailer (~4,100 lb. total) roughly 7 miles from dry storage to the lake and back, including a 1/2 mile-long 10% grade. I've also towed it around town 40-50 miles at a time. Previously, we towed our setup using a friend's old Dodge 2500 HD or newer Silverado Z71. The Tesla feels like the strongest, and can even accelerate up the aforementioned hill -- while the pickups struggled to maintain speed. We've been towing 1-2x/month for a year and a half, and haven't noticed any impacts on the vehicle except for possibly a bit more rear tire wear. The best part? Pickup owners looking at you shocked: "You can tow THAT with a Tesla!?"
We average around 750 Wh/mi when towing (instead of ~270 Wh/mi when not), so no doubt it cuts range down significantly... but it's better than using a half-tank of diesel! Here's our quick video demonstrating the setup:
Thanks for reading, and happy motoring!
When deciding whether or not to purchase a MY to tow our 4,100 lb. boat/trailer setup in Texas, it was tough to find reliable information online of other people exceeding the rated 3,500 lb. towing capacity of the vehicle and Tesla factory hitch. After talking with Tesla engineers who all said the car is overengineered in this regard, we pulled the trigger and haven't looked back.
We now frequently tow our 21 ft. boat + trailer (~4,100 lb. total) roughly 7 miles from dry storage to the lake and back, including a 1/2 mile-long 10% grade. I've also towed it around town 40-50 miles at a time. Previously, we towed our setup using a friend's old Dodge 2500 HD or newer Silverado Z71. The Tesla feels like the strongest, and can even accelerate up the aforementioned hill -- while the pickups struggled to maintain speed. We've been towing 1-2x/month for a year and a half, and haven't noticed any impacts on the vehicle except for possibly a bit more rear tire wear. The best part? Pickup owners looking at you shocked: "You can tow THAT with a Tesla!?"
We average around 750 Wh/mi when towing (instead of ~270 Wh/mi when not), so no doubt it cuts range down significantly... but it's better than using a half-tank of diesel! Here's our quick video demonstrating the setup:
Thanks for reading, and happy motoring!