Towing AWD All the Time?

[tcbrady23]

Had my first experience towing with my new to me, R1T - dual performance. I was pulling an extremely lightweight aluminum trailer, likely less than 1,000 pounds loaded.

I noticed that it strictly utilized both motors all the time? Is there a way to disable this?

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[VandalSibs]

There isn't. I'm sure it's to help with anti-sway...

 

[2kwik4u]

There isn't. I'm sure it's to help with anti-sway...

I suspect it's to keep the disconnect from "reconnecting" while under load. Since it can't run RWD only, they just lock that coupler and move on.

Considering they don't let you use adaptive cruise while towing, I doubt they've spent much time tuning for sway control. AWD will help with stability on it's own, but it's not that big of a game changer.

 

[FraserC]

I haven't towed anything that light, so I can see why someone might not want the AWD default. But when I tow my 16 foot trailer, with up to 9,000 pounds of gross weight, I can appreciate the already mentioned stability, but also the regen braking. It's obvious that towing this kind of weight will hammer the mileage and thus battery, but on the better side it gets much higher regen replenishment power on the downhills, two generators are better than one!

 

[Zoidz]

You said 1,000 miles loaded, I think you meant 1,000 pounds loaded? There's another consideration.
Even though it's light as trailering goes, 1,000 pounds would cause more rapid front tire wear, both accelerating and regen braking, if only the front drive was engaged.

 

[CharonPDX]

Nope, AWD whenever a trailer is connected to the plug.

Most of the efficiency loss when towing is the aerodynamics of the trailer, the slight efficiency loss of AWD over FWD is negligible by comparison.

(My Gen 1 Quad accidentally let me keep Conserve mode on when towing early on a few times - I noticed no real efficiency gain. Towing an 8000 lb brick still got me an average 0.9 mi/kWh on the freeway.)

 

[SadHill]

If you have a quad you can select ‘accessory’ instead of trailer and then you can go to conserve mode. When I tow my light boat in the summer I do this and I get an extra 30 or so miles. Doesn’t sound like a lot of extra range but it is the difference of stopping to quick charge or making it home and charging there. So for me it works great.
but only in the summer. When I tow my snowmobiles i see no difference in the winter between conserve or all purpose.

 

[2kwik4u]

If you have a quad you can select ‘accessory’ instead of trailer and then you can go to conserve mode. When I tow my light boat in the summer I do this and I get an extra 30 or so miles. Doesn’t sound like a lot of extra range but it is the difference of stopping to quick charge or making it home and charging there. So for me it works great.
but only in the summer. When I tow my snowmobiles i see no difference in the winter between conserve or all purpose.

Two questions with this.

Do the trailer lights still work?
Does it let you use adaptive cruise?

 

[SadHill]

Two questions with this.

Do the trailer lights still work?
Does it let you use adaptive cruise?

Yes and yes. The accessory mode is if you have a bike rack or hitch rack with lights on it. That way you can plug it in and get the lights to work without the truck thinking you are towing.
so everything works as if you are not towing but the lights work as well.
but remember. You will be in 2WD so I wouldn’t use it to tow something heavy or in bad weather.

 

[2kwik4u]

Yes and yes. The accessory mode is if you have a bike rack or hitch rack with lights on it. That way you can plug it in and get the lights to work without the truck thinking you are towing.
so everything works as if you are not towing but the lights work as well.
but remember. You will be in 2WD so I wouldn’t use it to tow something heavy or in bad weather.

Great feedback. Thank you.

I'm in a dual motor truck, it's in FWD mode most of the time anyway. No different than any plethora of other 2WD vehicles I've towed with. Appreciate the warning though!

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