Quote:
Originally Posted by slowmover
On Airstream Trailer & Motorhome Owners Community are some long-runnng threads about using a TESLA auto to pull an Airstream trailer.
IMO, long-distance trailering is the wrong application, same as electric pickup in general. A pickup “ought” to be quasi-military in functionality. A rancher getting to the back of a difficult property, a high tension powerline or rail crew going far off-road, etc. Batteries offer too little by comparison to liquid fuels.
A van with electric makes far more sense. Lower load height and very little rear overhang (body past rear axle center). . That SHORT rear overhang is hugely advantageous for safe trailer towing. And the van roof height can be quite tall as we see with some van models.
This would work VERY well with a 9’6” high trailer (typical for travel trailer; but let’s imagine a SHORT length, but tall tandem axle trailer with a very low floor to maximize storage in a combined vehicle with relatively short OAL) that could be a metro area service vehicle. Mobile workshop. (“Tall” is a problem primarily with adverse winds. Natural or man-made. Metro only avoids open road wind problems).
A van that is able to seat passengers with minimal changes for family outings and then earns it keep generating income during the week would be the ONLY way I’d venture down the path of an owning an electric vehicle.
A high roof SPRINTER or TRANSIT with an Aerohead/Aerostealth trailer matched to it would be the bees knees (100-mph semi tractor-trailer trucks).
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I don't know any Tesla or Rivian product development people.My guess is that,95% of pickups sold are completely under utilized,and only serve some psychological,perceived need.The electric pickup could easily satisfy that itch,and do it with zero-carbon.
Since a pickup uses the energy of three homes,an EV pickup could cut that to only one home.Still obscene,but only a third as much.
With the same size and weight,there's no reason they couldn't tow whatever an F-150,RAM,or Silverado do now.
I like your idea of the van,and with the skateboard chassis,both Tesla and Rivian could do a follow-on van and full-size SUV as well,and at very little cost,as they'd be 'body-on-frame.' The air-cooled Volkswagens were basically designed for that.