Tesla model 3 trailer

[heynow9991]

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?

[redpoint5]

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:

[Ecky]

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:






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.

[heynow9991]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

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

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.

[redpoint5]

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.

[Hersbird]

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.

[Ecky]

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.

[freebeard]

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):



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





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

[aerohead]

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.

[jims]

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.