Range Test Towing a nuCamp Tab400

[Foobar]

so this tiny tear drop camper is consuming more energy than a 30’ Airstream? All electric family got 1.1 m/kWh with their loaded up R1S and Airstream over 500 miles. This is disappointing.

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[AaronInColorado]

Apples to apples is tough in this situation given the huge number of variables. Please correct me if I am wrong since it’s been a hot minute since I saw their videos, but on their long trips I believe they are going significantly slower than 65. Usually 55 and… according to them… 10 miles an hour can make as much as a 20% difference in range.

For me, I work while on the road. I want to get to my destination as soon as I can to minimize vacation time. 65 would be my minimum.

But these are range tests. I can do anything. What would you like to see next? A 55 mph test? A mountain test? A shorter trailer?

 

[Thedude]

At 65-70mph I average 1mi/kWh towing a 7000lb trailer.

 

[AaronInColorado]

At 65-70mph I average 1mi/kWh towing a 7000lb trailer.

Thats what I am seeing as well when looking at the results from others. Basically towing with anything that blocks the wind independent of weight gets you about 1mi/kWh. Weight may make little difference. Length may make little difference.

Key variables:
- how much wind do you block
- speed
- external conditions (Wind, temp, precip)

‘’That what you’re seeing?

 

[Dark-Fx]

But these are range tests. I can do anything. What would you like to see next? A 55 mph test? A mountain test? A shorter trailer?

Anything huh? Range at top speed? ?

 

[AaronInColorado]

Anything huh? Range at top speed? ?

”Can do” != “Will do”

 

[Foobar]

Apples to apples is tough in this situation given the huge number of variables. Please correct me if I am wrong since it’s been a hot minute since I saw their videos, but on their long trips I believe they are going significantly slower than 65. Usually 55 and… according to them… 10 miles an hour can make as much as a 20% difference in range.

For me, I work while on the road. I want to get to my destination as soon as I can to minimize vacation time. 65 would be my minimum.

But these are range tests. I can do anything. What would you like to see next? A 55 mph test? A mountain test? A shorter trailer?

I hope you didn't interpret my disappointment as directed towards you or your video - I appreciate the effort very much and I enjoyed watching it. My disappointment stems from an expectation that the T@B with its lighter weight and better aerodynamics still performed as a barn shaped trailer twice its size, and now it seems that even utility trailers that are empty are performing with similar results.

Bottom line is either the computer is doing a lousy job with estimating range and is just automatically saying "Oh, you're in Tow mode? Range = Range / 2" regardless of what it's towing.

To that end, what I would ask for is longer range tests to the point of battery depletion, or at least very close to it, to see if the calculation starts to change towards the bottom.

Another test that might be worth looking into is trying other trailers of different weights and aerodynamic profiles. Would a shorter trailer (height-wise) perform any better given the same trip? Logic says it should, but if it doesn't, then it confirms what others have already been showing above - it almost doesn't matter what you're towing, you're gonna get half of the normal range.

A final test might be to just connect an accessory light to the trailer cable to put the truck in tow mode and drive around with nothing in tow but it thinks there's something there. Will it still be Range / 2?

Anyway, thanks for the video - I'm still interested in purchasing a NuCamp T@B 400 and will likely move forward regardless of the range. If I have to charge up every 100 miles, so be it - I'm in no hurry when I'm just out camping.

 

[Thedude]

Key variables:
- how much wind do you block
- speed
- external conditions (Wind, temp, precip)

‘’That what you’re seeing?

Seems right.

Bottom line is either the computer is doing a lousy job with estimating range and is just automatically saying "Oh, you're in Tow mode? Range = Range / 2" regardless of what it's towing.

To that end, what I would ask for is longer range tests to the point of battery depletion, or at least very close to it, to see if the calculation starts to change towards the bottom.

A final test might be to just connect an accessory light to the trailer cable to put the truck in tow mode and drive around with nothing in tow but it thinks there's something there. Will it still be Range / 2?

The range estimator is completely wrong when towing and hasn’t been anywhere close to accurate since whatever software we were on back in October. It’s quite literally a made up number that has no bearing on actually efficiency. I have depleted 50% of the battery in 50 miles and the estimator still shows a range of 120 miles to empty.

The only way to tow with any confidence on range is to use your energy usage as a guide for distance remaining. Both the last 15 minute cluster display and the trip meter seem accurate for energy usage based on what I put back in when charging after towing.

 

[AaronInColorado]

I hope you didn't interpret my disappointment as directed towards you or your video - I appreciate the effort very much and I enjoyed watching it. My disappointment stems from an expectation that the T@B with its lighter weight and better aerodynamics still performed as a barn shaped trailer twice its size, and now it seems that even utility trailers that are empty are performing with similar results.

Bottom line is either the computer is doing a lousy job with estimating range and is just automatically saying "Oh, you're in Tow mode? Range = Range / 2" regardless of what it's towing.

To that end, what I would ask for is longer range tests to the point of battery depletion, or at least very close to it, to see if the calculation starts to change towards the bottom.

Another test that might be worth looking into is trying other trailers of different weights and aerodynamic profiles. Would a shorter trailer (height-wise) perform any better given the same trip? Logic says it should, but if it doesn't, then it confirms what others have already been showing above - it almost doesn't matter what you're towing, you're gonna get half of the normal range.

A final test might be to just connect an accessory light to the trailer cable to put the truck in tow mode and drive around with nothing in tow but it thinks there's something there. Will it still be Range / 2?

Anyway, thanks for the video - I'm still interested in purchasing a NuCamp T@B 400 and will likely move forward regardless of the range. If I have to charge up every 100 miles, so be it - I'm in no hurry when I'm just out camping.

Oh no. I hope I didn’t come off as upset. I love the questions. Especially the ones that make me think.

And agree. But note that our calculation showed that the mi/kWh was largely correct. The calculations for how far you could go was WILDLY incorrect as it pretty much stuck with 2 mi/kWh. The Navi was about the same distance off.

I like your suggestions. I’d like to do a test at 60 and 55 and see what happens. I’d also like to get my hands on a tab320 and a tagXL and see what happens when the drag is less…

‘’We love our Tab. It’s our second one and it is amazing. You’ll love it too.

 

[AaronInColorado]

Seems right.




The range estimator is completely wrong when towing and hasn’t been anywhere close to accurate since whatever software we were on back in October. It’s quite literally a made up number that has no bearing on actually efficiency. I have depleted 50% of the battery in 50 miles and the estimator still shows a range of 120 miles to empty.

The only way to tow with any confidence on range is to use your energy usage as a guide for distance remaining. Both the last 15 minute cluster display and the trip meter seem accurate for energy usage based on what I put back in when charging after towing.

‘Agreed it was useless. And so was the estimate on nav. Off of the video I told Andy that the polish on the software is much more android and much less iPhone.

 

[AaronInColorado]

Seems right.




The range estimator is completely wrong when towing and hasn’t been anywhere close to accurate since whatever software we were on back in October. It’s quite literally a made up number that has no bearing on actually efficiency. I have depleted 50% of the battery in 50 miles and the estimator still shows a range of 120 miles to empty.

The only way to tow with any confidence on range is to use your energy usage as a guide for distance remaining. Both the last 15 minute cluster display and the trip meter seem accurate for energy usage based on what I put back in when charging after towing.

Actually it’s worse than useless. It’s damaging. Any non-geek who just wants to hop in their truck and go camping and trusts what the truck is telling them is going to end up stranded and be featured in a Fox News hit piece on why EVs suck. I can see the headline now… 100k EV truck strands a family of 5 in Death Valley

 

[Riviot]

10 miles an hour can make as much as a 20% difference in range.

SPEED KILLS

How are there no good Speed Kills gifs @COdogman ?

 

[COdogman]

SPEED KILLS

How are there no good Speed Kills gifs @COdogman ?

It won’t get any better than this one:

 

[av8or]

I’m surprised it didn’t do a little better. I think what you said about frontal area is right on, length, shape, and weight of trailer matter, but not as much as frontal area and roundness of corners.

In my experience I only slow down if I need to stretch to the charger. If I can make it at 65-70 I’ll use the extra juice and just get there.

I always start of after charging with more miles left to go than battery percentage, but as I go this number gets closer and eventually changes to more percentage left than miles left, that’s when I feel good about the range and the speed tends to come up.

 

[AbhorViolence]

I would love to see the difference at 60mph.
Also I wonder if the inefficiency from AT tires could some how be made even worse when towing? A test with AS tires would be great too.

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