First Experience pulling the Airstream Trade Wind with R1T

[ThatOneGuy]

Great to see a bunch of Airstreams being towed around here! Last year, I posted a couple of tow logs on the airforums:

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f463/rivian-towing-log-243992.html

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f42/another-rivian-towing-trip-246196.html

I really enjoy towing with the Riv, but we do need a little more range to make the trip more efficient. For us working stiffs, the added time to charge takes unnecessary time out of our already limited vacation time.

We made a big 17-night trip last fall from PHX>ALB for 4 nights>Durango for 4 nights>Moab for 9 nights>PHX, and the Defender was in the shop (surprise, surprise); it looked like we’d have to take the Rivian, but I simply couldn’t map a route that would get the trip done without a stretch of major range anxiety or having to add an overnight stop simply for charging. I looked at renting a truck for the trip, but thankfully we got the Defender back just in time.

Awesome picture!

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[Closedquestion]

Yeah, sometimes you have to get a little creative to avoid dropping the trailer when charging. We generally average 1.0 mi/kwh when towing our 28’ AS and that’s taking into account traversing the mountain West.

Yay! A fellow trailer towing Oregonian! I’m about 130 miles north of you in The Dalles. While I don’t have an Airstream, I have a 28’ Coleman which I know is not aerodynamic as yours. I started my buying process on a 2024 Green Quad with large pack and 21” road tires on Thursday, last step of insurance uploaded on Saturday, Saturday afternoon got the email and a text from guide that my truck will be ready on the 30th. I have a camping trip planned for Cape Kiwanda starting June 16th. Going to hook up trailer day after I get it and test tow to Troutdale and back about 70 miles one way. In my gas tow vehicles I usually get the worst mileage during my trips through the super windy gorge with trailer, should be a good indicator of what to expect. I’ve planned my route already. I also camp down and around Sunriver a lot so that will be the next camping destination if all goes well. Before getting the Rivian I was thinking of downsizing from my 28’ to a 21-23’. With Rivian in place now working on that.

 

[JamuJoe]

Enjoy your new rig! We have over 5000 miles towing our Flying Cloud 28 (8000 lbs). Don’t sweat charging, I have had to unhitch only once. Just pull into the charger bank perpendicularly or at an angle. RAN trailer lanes are generally too short for us. We occasionally block a lane at Walmart or other shopping center EA chargers, I just stand by and move if necessary, which is extremely rare. Our overall avg. is 1.1 mi/kWh, and the R1T is the best tow vehicle I’ve ever used.

The one en route charging stop while towing out of 39 thus far (we generally charge overnight on campground NEMA-50 outlets) where we had to unhitch was at a Sonic stall in Pecos, TX. With no other options, I dropped the trailer in a truck plaza nearby.

 

[rhumbliner]

@ImAI , that was an odd reaction. Care to elaborate?

 

[MotoBenelli]

Interesting. Thanks. I'm not sure we have tried the bed camera for towing since that has become available either.

No adapter as of yet, we used the Tesla charger in Moab with the built in adapter. Waiting on the Rivian one to be sent out.

 

[logan]

Great to see a bunch of Airstreams being towed around here! Last year, I posted a couple of tow logs on the airforums:

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f463/rivian-towing-log-243992.html

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f42/another-rivian-towing-trip-246196.html

I really enjoy towing with the Riv, but we do need a little more range to make the trip more efficient. For us working stiffs, the added time to charge takes unnecessary time out of our already limited vacation time.

We made a big 17-night trip last fall from PHX>ALB for 4 nights>Durango for 4 nights>Moab for 9 nights>PHX, and the Defender was in the shop (surprise, surprise); it looked like we’d have to take the Rivian, but I simply couldn’t map a route that would get the trip done without a stretch of major range anxiety or having to add an overnight stop simply for charging. I looked at renting a truck for the trip, but thankfully we got the Defender back just in time.

Great photo. I see hot air balloons from my deck overlooking the valley all the time but *never* so many at once. Very cool. Almost absurd. Where is that?

Definitely agree it makes it harder. We have a bit of flexibility and have been experimenting with traveling on the weekends and working during the week from pretty places using starlink, pepwave, and so on. Not something everyone can do in their jobs and not as convenient as home- our airstream is not so big for two people on zoom- but it gives us more range and maybe more range then we'd have with our diesel tow vehicle either without taking as much time off.

 

[ScottnAZ]

Great photo. I see hot air balloons from my deck overlooking the valley all the time but *never* so many at once. Very cool. Almost absurd. Where is that?

Definitely agree it makes it harder. We have a bit of flexibility and have been experimenting with traveling on the weekends and working during the week from pretty places using starlink, pepwave, and so on. Not something everyone can do in their jobs and not as convenient as home- our airstream is not so big for two people on zoom- but it gives us more range and maybe more range then we'd have with our diesel tow vehicle either without taking as much time off.

Sounds like you have a nice view of your deck! We spent 3 days at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta last year, and it was an amazing experience. So many balloons. Each morning we’d stroll through the launch field and watch how they got them set up and launched.

 

[DeafPug]

We made a big 17-night trip last fall from PHX>ALB for 4 nights>Durango for 4 nights>Moab for 9 nights>PHX, and the Defender was in the shop (surprise, surprise); it looked like we’d have to take the Rivian, but I simply couldn’t map a route that would get the trip done without a stretch of major range anxiety or having to add an overnight stop simply for charging. I looked at renting a truck for the trip, but thankfully we got the Defender back just in time.

Hopefully, the timing of your stay in Albuquerque on your trip last year included October 14, 2023, which is when the annular solar eclipse happened. It's cool that the timing of that celestial event happened during an already schedule terrestrial event and so many additional people were able to experience the solar eclipse without the extra hassle of specific travel plans to get into the path of the eclipse.

I was in San Antonio on that weekend with some relatives to watch the eclipse. At some point, I'll make it down to ABQ for the Balloon Fiesta.

 

[jeepfreakedc]

Yay! A fellow trailer towing Oregonian! I’m about 130 miles north of you in The Dalles. While I don’t have an Airstream, I have a 28’ Coleman which I know is not aerodynamic as yours. I started my buying process on a 2024 Green Quad with large pack and 21” road tires on Thursday, last step of insurance uploaded on Saturday, Saturday afternoon got the email and a text from guide that my truck will be ready on the 30th. I have a camping trip planned for Cape Kiwanda starting June 16th. Going to hook up trailer day after I get it and test tow to Troutdale and back about 70 miles one way. In my gas tow vehicles I usually get the worst mileage during my trips through the super windy gorge with trailer, should be a good indicator of what to expect. I’ve planned my route already. I also camp down and around Sunriver a lot so that will be the next camping destination if all goes well. Before getting the Rivian I was thinking of downsizing from my 28’ to a 21-23’. With Rivian in place now working on that.

I'm planning to get an R1T soon, how are you planning trips before getting your Rivian? Are you using Google Maps or something else?

 

[CharonPDX]

Yay! A fellow trailer towing Oregonian! I’m about 130 miles north of you in The Dalles. While I don’t have an Airstream, I have a 28’ Coleman which I know is not aerodynamic as yours. I started my buying process on a 2024 Green Quad with large pack and 21” road tires on Thursday, last step of insurance uploaded on Saturday, Saturday afternoon got the email and a text from guide that my truck will be ready on the 30th. I have a camping trip planned for Cape Kiwanda starting June 16th. Going to hook up trailer day after I get it and test tow to Troutdale and back about 70 miles one way. In my gas tow vehicles I usually get the worst mileage during my trips through the super windy gorge with trailer, should be a good indicator of what to expect. I’ve planned my route already. I also camp down and around Sunriver a lot so that will be the next camping destination if all goes well. Before getting the Rivian I was thinking of downsizing from my 28’ to a 21-23’. With Rivian in place now working on that.

There are a bunch of us! Mine's been to Bend towing my old or new trailer multiple times, the RAN in Madras is *PERFECTLY* placed for towing to Bend from Portland. Up and down the coast, too (thanks multiple RAN!)

When we first got our R1T, took it towing the older/bigger trailer the weekend immediately after to Silver Falls. Glad it didn't take an extra week to arrive, because the trip had already been planned for months, and when we got the "your truck is on its way" notice, we sold our old diesel pickup.

 

[Closedquestion]

I'm planning to get an R1T soon, how are you planning trips before getting your Rivian? Are you using Google Maps or something else?

I have been using A Better Route Planner ABRP both web and their app. It has been super helpful. I read somewhere that the ABRP was bought by Rivian and is what powers their navigation. Could be wrong though.

 

[Closedquestion]

There are a bunch of us! Mine's been to Bend towing my old or new trailer multiple times, the RAN in Madras is *PERFECTLY* placed for towing to Bend from Portland. Up and down the coast, too (thanks multiple RAN!)

When we first got our R1T, took it towing the older/bigger trailer the weekend immediately after to Silver Falls. Glad it didn't take an extra week to arrive, because the trip had already been planned for months, and when we got the "your truck is on its way" notice, we sold our old diesel pickup.

Thanks for your reply and pics! Your larger trailer looks about the same size as mine. What kind of range (kWh) do you get on average when towing the big guy? I sold my 22’ Tundra back to my local dealer, they offered me what my payoff was, all other options including Rivians were around $5k less than what I owed. Downside, I’m now sharing a car with my mom until the pickup on the 30th. A hassle but well worth the extra $5K I got selling over trading in. I’m just hoping my pickup date holds. I’ll have the day after pickup on the 30th and my normal Thursday/Friday off the week after to test. Then work 7 straight until my vacation. Hoping I don’t have to cancel. I went through the same thing while waiting for my 22’ Tundra. Put a $1K deposit in Feb. 22, was suppose to be 2 months, did not get it until Iuly of 22’ had to cancel 2 trips.

 

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

I read somewhere that the ABRP was bought by Rivian and is what powers their navigation. Could be wrong though.

Correct: https://rivian.com/newsroom/article/rivian-acquires-a-better-routeplanner

 

[CharonPDX]

Thanks for your reply and pics! Your larger trailer looks about the same size as mine. What kind of range (kWh) do you get on average when towing the big guy?

The big guy? At interstate freeway speeds, about 0.8 mi/kWh, so less than 100 miles from 100% to "turtle mode." At 55 MPH, maybe 120 miles. At 45 MPH, 150-160 miles.

That's also with a quad on inefficient 20" wheels with off-road tires. A dual Large pack with 21s should get a good 30% more.

 

[Closedquestion]

The big guy? At interstate freeway speeds, about 0.8 mi/kWh, so less than 100 miles from 100% to "turtle mode." At 55 MPH, maybe 120 miles. At 45 MPH, 150-160 miles.

That's also with a quad on inefficient 20" wheels with off-road tires. A dual Large pack with 21s should get a good 30% more.

Thanks for that info! I’ve been using .9 as a factor in my route plannning via ABRP so not too far off. I Will have the quad but the large pack a 21” road tires hopefully help a bit. I’m also a slow tower. Even in my gasser I tow at 65 max.

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