Tesla model 3 trailer
 

HI, I am buying a Tesla model 3 and I would like to get a trailer to use for picking up larger items like drywall and garbage runs to the dump. Ideally the trailer would be able to handle a 4x8 sheet of plywood. I would also like to tow it from Toronto to Florida when we go south on vacation. I am currently building what I call a "truck cap boat" which is a truck cap that can be flipped ove and used as a boat. The idea is that it would go on the back of my pick-up truck, but now that we are getting a Tesla I am wondering if it would be possible to get a utility trailer with 18"- 24" sides and place the boat on top.

Of course the big question is how much will it kill my range? Will it be impracticle to tow it to Florida?

Any ideas on the % hit I will take on range? What would be a good candiate trailer? Im thinking something with larger tires that will not have a problem dealing with highway speeds. One axle or two?

It's impractical to drive a Tesla with no trailer that distance, let alone with a trailer. I wouldn't bother with that exercise in driving strategy and fortitude, especially if there are other passengers along whose time is also worthy of consideration.

That said, you'd probably be better off designing a tapered boattail for a single axle trailer than just tossing that on top. Of course, the top of the cover does need to be covered.

I barely notice a decrease in FE on my empty trailer with the sides off, but notice a huge drop in FE with an empty trailer with sides up, but no cover.

Can you get away with something like this instead:

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/03/1a...dbd555b6ff.jpg

Aerodynamics are huge. As long as the trailer fits in the car's wind shadow and you streamline it, added drag will be minimal. Here are some sketches I made when designing a trailer for my Insight:

https://i.imgur.com/TwCIUra.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/XPXlH3d.jpg


My trailer needed to be 40" wide so as not to poke out into the wind and add very significant drag. Your car is wider so I bet you could get away with a 48" wide trailer. I'd say if it's well designed, you might see a ~15-25% decrease in range. If it has sharp edges or creates a lot of turbulence, you could see half of your range disappear.

Im suprised you say that. When I go to evtripplanner .com and map out the trip, the first stop to charge is further than where we normally stop, and the charge time is 13 minutes. We usually stop and have breakfast and fuel up which takes at least 1/2 hr. I actually think that we will make the trip in two days in the Tesla instead of 3 in our truck. The truck is a one ton chevy diesel and it is rather loud and uncomfortable. After 8 hours driving im done. I think with a quiet ev that is hopefully more comfortable and with a softer ride I would do two days with 12 hours or driving (plus a fews hours of charging/ breaks)

Ecky, that looks great. I need to do exactly that drawing with a Tesla. Did you build it? Im thinking the "truck cap boat" goes on top of the utility trailer, in the same orientation it would go on my truck, and make a round dome structure that would fill the gap like on your trailer. I would like it to be big enough to transport 4 bicycles plus other assorted stuff like the boat motor, beach chairs, etc.

I certainly wish you good fortune in this endeavor.

The Tesla won't recharge in 13 minutes, however. It's certainly the best EV to do such a trip, but even superchargers are slow. Please come back and post a trip report as it's usually the eventful trips that people share rather than the mundane.

Since I've never had much vacation, my time has always been very valuable, so I doubt many people would drive at the pace I do. I generally go 500 miles between refueling, with perhaps 2 bathroom stops lasting about 2 minutes.

Stopping to eat for me is where I spend the 5 minutes it takes to fill my gas tank. Visit the bathroom, grab a sandwich, and take off. I'm good for about 1,200 miles in a single push.

My record for one day was 1231 miles. Missoula MT to Lincoln NE and I got a huge detour because of flooding in Livingston MT that put me through Yellowstone Park and then across the backroads of Wyoming. I would be dead somewhere with a grizzly eating my tasty legs if I had an electric on that trip. Without that detour the plan was to make Kansas City which would have been 1361 miles but at a faster pace. About 19 hours just driving, one hour for 4, 15 min stops, 3 am to 11 pm but also losing 1 hour to time for a midnight finish.

I did, check out my car's build thread, stuff about the trailer is on this page and the next:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...-29288-27.html

It also has its own thread somewhere.

HI, I am buying a Tesla model 3 Arcimoto FUV and I would like to get a use my trailer to use for picking up larger items llike drywall and garbage runs to the dump.

I apologize for the excessive use of strike-though. All the other kids are doing it.

My first question about the [now] FUV was the towing capacity. It had one and it is 1/4-ton. My trailer is a Westphalia utility box like this one (but not as nice, yet):

http://ecomodder.com/forum/member-fr...9-p1010027.jpg

I've been thinking about an aero-cap for it. It would be based on the 1947 Roswell:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/member-fr...llmystery1.jpg

http://ecomodder.com/forum/member-fr...llmystery2.jpg

Except that the construction would be fiberglass rods and fabric. Like a moutaineering tent.

TESLA/trailer
 

I test drove a Model-S last week.A fella had driven one in to Kansas City,Missouri from Florida,on 4-stops.
In the 1980s,I constructed a fairly streamlined 'top' for a utility trailer for my Honda CRX.
On a round trip from Texas to California,hauling a 1/4-ton of batteries on the return leg,I only lost 2-mpg,compared to 'naked.'(50-mpg vs 52mpg)
If you pay as much attention to the lower part of the trailer as the top,I suspect that you can pull the trailer with no loss to range at all.:)

I own a Model 3. Tesla currently has no hitch for it and I don't know if any third party hitches have been built yet. We recently did a 4000 mile road trip w/o problem. Superchargers are well spaced on major routes, so that won't be a problem and the 3 has plenty of power for a smaller car, but brake were probably not engineered for towing, so be cautious.
Would be curious to hear about your hitch plans.

Is it not possible that, if well designed, the trailer might increase the aerodynamics, at least when empty?

Model 3 Hitch
 

https://torkliftcentral.com/x7373-2

Torklift is the best, but they only build them one way, and that is HEAVY, though this M3 hitch has far less material than was needed to mount the i-MiEV. I drilled 10 lbs out of my i-MiEV hitch and then subjected it to heavier duty than most sane individuals would consider for such a car. No problems.

Thanks. Only issue for me would be reduced clearance in back. My driveway has a dip and high spot that I barely clear now. Maybe I should rent a concrete grinder.

increase
 

It won't be until 2020,but the plan for DARKO is to simulate a 1-wheel trailer behind Spirit.
The research done by Jaray,Lay,Kamm,Fachsenfeld,etc. all imply that a 'trailer' could complete the ideal fineness ratio of a fully-boat-tailed vehicle.

Sure thing Jim, but you’ll only lose clearance when towing. The receiver tube disconnects from the frame when not in use, which makes it invisible and lighter too.

Here is what I have come up with.

I found this used trailer. It is 8 feet by 52" so its perfect for moving 4x8 sheets. It has 15" rims with real highway rated (75 mph) tires on it. It is also fairly light. I can move it easily by hand on flat ground. The only drawback is that it is fairly high. I bought a 10 foot boat and the plan is to transport the boat like this, upside down. I will enclose the sides of the trailer to make it weather resistant and more aerodynamic, and I want to build a fairing on the front of the trailer to direct the air around it.

This is just a mock up with the straps holding it in place, I will figure out some way to mount it from the inside.

Its probably more aerodynamic with the boat turned around.

Normally, I'd agree; it's the conventional wisdom.

But looking at the attachment, I see an opportunity to add a V-shaped shield on top of the hitch. Or maybe blades, as in Vortex Trap below:

https://ecomodder.com/forum/member-f...dynamics-c.jpg

There's probably some taper in the hull anyway.

I got my hitch installed. Heres what it looks like so far.

Having the top of the trailer open will kill the range. Might get better range by turning the boat around the other way. It would be worth testing.

I closed in the sides of the trailer

Are you going to do anything between the tongue and the bow of the boat?

I put a small forklift battery on my trailer and towed it home with my leaf on tuesday. I thought the leaf did superb. By far the most I have towed with the leaf.