Anyone towing 6,500 lbs or more with any regularity?

[Flyedouglas]

If there is anyone towing anything 6,500 lbs or more with any regularly I’d love to get any feedback you can offer on handling, range, etc. I’m shopping for travel trailers and trying to determine what I can realistically and comfortably tow with my R1S.

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[Carscott]

I’ll keep an eye on this. I’m interested in a dump trailer so I can keep the R1S nice and clean.

But wondering how large of one I should get.

 

[Dave Cundiff]

DISCLAIMER: I don't tow. I just read the posts of those who do.

I haven't seen anyone complaining of not getting the rated tow. Range is an issue, but people generally report that the vehicle seems rock solid with any tow load (and tongue weight) within their vehicle's rating.

Best wishes!

 

[Donald Stanfield]

I’ve towed more than 6500 for local trips and the R1T is the best tow vehicle I’ve ever had for power and handling safety. From what I’ve seen here you’ll be getting 150ish miles out of if from 100-0 towing with aero being a bigger factor than weight.

 

[CharonPDX]

My prior travel trailer was an ~8000 lb (loaded) one.

As you can see, it's a bit of a brick. Tall and wide. Those are what kill efficiency (combined with speed.) At 65 MPH, I was getting 0.7-0.8 mi/kWh. Which meant less than 100 miles 100%-0%. (This pictured stop was my very first public charge session with my Rivian - this towing trip was taken 3 days after delivery of the R1T in 2022. I thought I would be able to make it to an EA 30 miles further along my path - nope. Had to stop at this municipal 62.5kW guy. And that was even slowing to 50 MPH and turning off all AC on a hot day. Google Maps says this was 127 miles driven my house, where I started at 100%. IIRC, I was at ~5% when I pulled in.)

As for how it handles? Like the trailer wasn't even there. An R1S will be slightly worse with a longer trailer, simply because of the shorter wheelbase of the R1S, but I can't imagine any 6500 lb trailer would be as bad on an R1S as this trailer was on my R1T.

Aero is by *FAR* the biggest contributor to bad efficiency. A trailer no wider than 7.5' (so it's no wider than the Rivian) and with a roof-while-traveling shorter than the roof height of the vehicle will barely impact your range. So a popup or short teardrop will be your best bet if maximum range is your goal.

That said, in the sparsely populated Western US, I've had no problems towing a slightly smaller but still not great for aero trailer.

 

[SadHill]

Agreed to what he said above.
I towed for 2 years a 6500 lb 25’ long camper that was prob closer to 7000 with gear.
towing it was a dream. It was straight as an arrow, no issues with hills or a tractor trailer passing.
as far as efficiency. I would normally get around 150 miles 100-0%. Depending on head winds and hills of course.
we have since sold that camper and just boat to islands to camp. But I still tow my 4 place snowmobile trailer. Fully loaded in the winter it is about 5000 lbs. I can get about 175 100-0% and that is the winter.
you won’t have any trouble towing. It is just the charging part that stinks.

 

[Osyras]

I tow 2400l of water on a regular basis with a DM r1s about 10kmkm from the fill station to home and it pulls better than my f150 xlt ever did!

 

[perkinskit]

We use our R1T to tow a 26ft camper with a dry weight of 5600lbs, so we're often towing between 6500-7000 lbs actual weight.

It tows quite well with a WDH and suspension set to FIRM. Acceleration is never an issue. Crosswinds aren't super fun but aren't super scary either.

BUT I'd be nervous doing it with our R1S. In the R1T, tongue weight is pushing the payload limit (even without any people or stuff in the truck), but obviously well below the 11k tow limit. In the R1S, you'd be pushing the payload limit and the tow limit. I bet you'd really feel like the tail is wagging the dog if there's a bumpy turn or crosswind.

We rented a longer camper (32 vs 26') that weighed about the same for one weekend nearby. Even the 45 minute drive was pretty scary, though it was a pretty rough crosswind. That might be how a 26' feels to the R1S if that makes sense.

This reddit comment shares similar:

 

[perkinskit]

Oh sorry, meant to mention that range is pretty reliably cut in half by the camper.

 

[R1T Preds Fan]

We tow a 6500lb boat when it’s fully loaded and fueled; the truck doesn’t even know it’s there and range is cut almost exactly in half with aero as mentioned being the biggest hit… 150-160 miles QMG1

 

[PhatDaddy]

I’m also travel trailer shopping and leaning heavily toward the Pebble Flow (5800 dry / 6800 GVWR loaded with 680 tongue weight). I’m planning on using it to live in 2 mo. a year instead of buying a vacation house, otherwise I wouldn’t even consider it as it ain’t cheap. But the Flow has its own battery for electric assist while towing which might make the range workable with my R1T.

Hmm… buying an early release electric vehicle with lots of cutting edge tech from a startup company… what could possibly go wrong?! Some of us never learn I guess.

CNET did a article on the results of pulling the Flow with an R1S if you want to check that out.
CNET Link

(Correction: the CNET test was with a Pebble Flow engineering prototype at only 6200 lbs)

 

[MikeWilliams_R1T]

My R1T is both the best and worst tow vehicle I have ever owned or driven.

It handles great. I have to look in the mirror sometimes to make sure the trailer is still there.

The range hit is the problem. I can tell you it’s mostly a drag and wind resistance thing than weight. I just hate only having an effective range of 100 miles.

I regularly pull a 24 or 32 ft box trailer that comes in between 7500 and 8500 pounds. Under 45mph, I avg 1.3 miles/kwh. Over 60, it’s closer to .8 or .9.

When I pull my boat, I get better mileage but it’s more aerodynamic but it’s around 6000 lbs on the trailer.

 

[Bcross]

I tow 2400l of water on a regular basis with a DM r1s about 10kmkm from the fill station to home and it pulls better than my f150 xlt ever did!

Same here. I tow 650 gallons from a fill station that is 11 miles from home. Towing is effortless - easier than my previous 3 Ram pickups (two Hemi's & one diesel). I get approximately the same efficiency both ways - about 1.5 mi/kWh.

It's also amusing how many times I'm asked if "that electric truck can really tow that". ;-)

 

[wolfsbane]

handling: great

range: not so far, my friend

 

[Strobe]

I have a 2024 R1T that pulls my 8' x 14' dump trailer that I use for firewood mostly. Last load this fall I took it across a scale just for curiosity and gross trailer weight (trailer and wood) was 10,000lb. Pulls that load like a dream. My only concern aside from the above mentioned impact on range is how fast the Regen gives up going downhill. Trailer has trailer brakes but with no Regen (so no engine brake), I am forced use friction brakes going down long hills which is not great. The truck is 7000lb and with a 10000lb trailer, we now have 17000lb coming down a hill with friction brakes only. I have definitely chosen alternate routes to avoid mountain passes with a big load like that...

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