Towing Advice in SD/WY - And Would Gen2 Help?

[flybone89]

Finding pieces of the puzzle in the forums but need help putting it together. I need advice from anyone who has towed a trailer westbound through South Dakota / Wyoming with an R1T!

We will be at a crossroads in a year! We will be towing our Airstream trailer out west for the first time. And our Gen1 2023 R1T lease will end just before the trip…

I have towed a few years in the Midwest and Southeast with our Airstream with no range anxiety - I easily go 130-150 miles - but there has always been a reliable charger within 50 miles. In using ABRP and Rivian app to plan the trip out west - it gets dicey (ABRP keeps saying I can’t make it!)! Going westbound on I-90 stopping in the Badlands and Black Hills, then to Devils Tower on down to Rock Springs, there are a few long stretches that will increase anxiety!

Does anyone with experience towing in this area have advice on how to make this work - chargers you can count on, routes that are better than others, overnight stays that may help, etc.?

AND since my lease ends - would a Gen2 make it slightly easier? Does the Gen2’s improved range make any difference trailering? I know it’s EPA rated range is higher but does that translate in to real world improved towing range? I don’t need much - 5-10 miles or more of improvement may be all the boost we need in a few stretches! But has anyone who has owned and towed with both noticed an improvement in towing range?

Thanks,

Kevin

Sponsored

 

[flybone89]

Well apologies but AI may have just answered one of my questions .

“no, the Generation 2 (Gen2) Rivian R1T does not have inherently increased towing range or efficiency compared to the Generation 1 (Gen1) truck”

Seems like the efficiency gains don’t translate to any difference in towing range.

So definitely now more than ever need advice or tips on how to navigate this area while towing!

Thanks!

 

[antimatter]

Yeah, the charging desert between Chamberlain & Wall in SD is a real bummer. We used to vacation in the Black Hills which was doable with ICE is a challenge with the Rivian. The only current solution is either a bigger battery (Silverado/GMC Sierra EV) or going to gas/diesel. I could conceivably make it if I charged up to 100% in Chamberlain, but there'd better not be any sort of headwind - something SD is famous for.

 

[rhumbliner]

It would probably add a day (or two) to your trip but you could consider spending a night at an RV park with 50 amp service in between SuperChargers and charge up to 100% overnight.

 

[flybone89]

@antimatter Yep that was one of the legs that was going to be a challenge. I was stationed in Rapid City so know full well the plains winds which is why I need more buffer. If only there was an EV charging station in Murdo, SD! I am unfortunately starting to realize that for the places we want to venture out to we may need to go back to ICE.

@rhumbliner I actually plan that way as much as we can - 3-4 hours of driving then stay overnight. So that is an option. But also finding some campgrounds are now prohibiting charging so still have to put in some research on campgrounds where we can depend on the ability to charge. If you know of some campgrounds in SD/WY that are EV friendly let me know!

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[rhumbliner]

… some campgrounds are now prohibiting charging …

Wow, have not heard that yet. We frequent RV parks up and down the West Coast including Canada and have never had a problem. I did have a KOA manager express her concern over how much current I would draw because of the age of their infrastructure. After our discussion she admitted that the motor home next to me (with 3 A/C units and 2 water heaters) probably drew more current than charging my R!T.

 

[VandalSibs]

@antimatter Yep that was one of the legs that was going to be a challenge. I was stationed in Rapid City so know full well the plains winds which is why I need more buffer. If only there was an EV charging station in Murdo, SD! I am unfortunately starting to realize that for the places we want to venture out to we may need to go back to ICE.

@rhumbliner I actually plan that way as much as we can - 3-4 hours of driving then stay overnight. So that is an option. But also finding some campgrounds are now prohibiting charging so still have to put in some research on campgrounds where we can depend on the ability to charge. If you know of some campgrounds in SD/WY that are EV friendly let me know!

Thanks,
Kevin

You can also look into state park campgrounds - at least here in Washington and a few in Idaho, they've never once blinked at me charging using either a 50amp outlet or (with an adapter) the olde-schoole TT-30/RV outlet.

 

[Tenderfoot]

Finding pieces of the puzzle in the forums but need help putting it together. I need advice from anyone who has towed a trailer westbound through South Dakota / Wyoming with an R1T!

We will be at a crossroads in a year! We will be towing our Airstream trailer out west for the first time. And our Gen1 2023 R1T lease will end just before the trip…

I have towed a few years in the Midwest and Southeast with our Airstream with no range anxiety - I easily go 130-150 miles - but there has always been a reliable charger within 50 miles. In using ABRP and Rivian app to plan the trip out west - it gets dicey (ABRP keeps saying I can’t make it!)! Going westbound on I-90 stopping in the Badlands and Black Hills, then to Devils Tower on down to Rock Springs, there are a few long stretches that will increase anxiety!

Does anyone with experience towing in this area have advice on how to make this work - chargers you can count on, routes that are better than others, overnight stays that may help, etc.?

AND since my lease ends - would a Gen2 make it slightly easier? Does the Gen2’s improved range make any difference trailering? I know it’s EPA rated range is higher but does that translate in to real world improved towing range? I don’t need much - 5-10 miles or more of improvement may be all the boost we need in a few stretches! But has anyone who has owned and towed with both noticed an improvement in towing range?

Thanks,

Kevin

Hi Kevin: Yes, that stretch is very tricky. Even along Interstate 90 in South Dakota, there were no charging stations I could use while towing with my R1t - gen 2 between Wall, and Chamberlain. My only option (and thank goodness there was a south wind), was to triangulate by driving up to Pierre, charging there to 100% and then dropping back down to I-90. Was very stressful for me as it was first time towing. I’m hoping that some new option will become available soon. Wyoming was a little better. Best of luck.

 

[flybone89]

Wow, have not heard that yet. We frequent RV parks up and down the West Coast including Canada and have never had a problem. I did have a KOA manager express her concern over how much current I would draw because of the age of their infrastructure. After our discussion she admitted that the motor home next to me (with 3 A/C units and 2 water heaters) probably drew more current than charging my R!T.

You can also look into state park campgrounds - at least here in Washington and a few in Idaho, they've never once blinked at me charging using either a 50amp outlet or (with an adapter) the olde-schoole TT-30/RV outlet.

Seems to be more of an issue with some private campgrounds. We were just camping at an Ohio State Park and had no issue. KOA has officially said EV charging is prohibited except at select KOA campgrounds: https://koa.com/ev/. And I have seen some private RV resorts state no EV charging on their website. Some now charge a fee - Elkhorn Creek RV Park in KY charges an additional fee but I am ok if I can have the piece of mind knowing I can charge! I realize in some cases I am using less electricity than some big motor homes like you said, so it would be better if it was metered then for everyone!

There are KOAs in Kennebec and Belvidere. Could see if I can make those work but again I am hoping that the hosts at Kennebec or Belvidere are willing to let me charge. The Badlands / White River KOA allows charging - so could use that as destination but it's as much of a stretch as Wall.

Hi Kevin: Yes, that stretch is very tricky. Even along Interstate 90 in South Dakota, there were no charging stations I could use while towing with my R1t - gen 2 between Wall, and Chamberlain. My only option (and thank goodness there was a south wind), was to triangulate by driving up to Pierre, charging there to 100% and then dropping back down to I-90. Was very stressful for me as it was first time towing. I’m hoping that some new option will become available soon. Wyoming was a little better. Best of luck.

That's interesting - the route recommended to me by the Rivian app was just that - drive up to Pierre and charge then back down! I thought that was crazy! If Wyoming is a lot better I wonder if coming in from the south would work better? Go I-80 which seems to have better coverage then head north to Rapid City. Looks just as bad but maybe someone has tried it? I am trying to get to the Badlands - Cedar Pass Campground or the KOA - and I have 4 nights booked at Blue Bell Campground in Custer.

Thanks for the advice,
Kevin

 

[antimatter]

You could conceivable go across North Dakota and drop down. There's charging just about every 100 miles on I-94, and if you're disciplined with your speed you can make it. I did it when I bought my RV in Billings, and towed it back to Minnesota in February. You're obviously going out of your way, but if time isn't an issue that might be the way to go.

Sponsored