Tesla

Yes, I am and would do all those things. (I already own the previous generation Rav HV) But that doesn't change the fact that I want to understand better what, if any, technical towing differences there are.

 

We are moving back to the L48 states this summer and are going to have to purchase a second vehicle.

Our primary tow vehicle is a Nissan Pathfinder (tows 6k) which handles our 560 without a sweat.

I'm considering a Ford Escape Hybrid, which is rated to tow 1500 pounds. That's probably not enough to reliably tow the 560 for a camping trip with a load in the CI plus the family in the TV.

But, my idea is less about the ability to tow the 560 to a campsite and more about the added flexibility of having a second vehicle that can tow a mostly-empty 560 to and from our storage location. That way, we aren't playing the musical vehicle game when I need to quick run out and snag the camper from the storage location after work in order to prep it for the next day's camp excursion.

 

I’m not worried about weight, the RAV demos show 2000lbs up mountains. I might make it to Colorado, but the worst I’ll see 99.44% of the time is going through Virginia....and that is likely only once every year. We’re pretty much flatlanders in Indiana....

I need to probably go test drive....it’s going t9 come down to what I like for the 99% of the time it’s just a car...and not a tow rig.

im sold on Toyota’s. I’ve owned several...and they just go. Not like some of the travel nightmares I’ve had with other brands....my 06 Camry with 170,000 miles that looks like it just cam from Beirut, but it drives like new...

 

I have no doubt the new Rav will do just fine. The current one has 219 HP combined and the prior generation (the one I own) has 194 HP combined. And both are rated for the same 1750 towing capacity.

 

Totally agree, our first family car was a bomb proof Corolla we only got rid of b/c we had too many kids for it to be a functional family car. Now I drive an 07 Camry with 145k miles. The paint looks like hell and the dashboard is a mess, but other than the need for new spark plug wires (stutters on the acceleration in warm weather), the thing runs like a champ. I did replace a dead alternator last week, but those are parts that wear out.

 

and you can buy them cheap . Spark plugs are next on mine. Nothing serious, no codes even....just a little roughness in idle.

probably will even tow with it .... nice part about beaters A door ding is just as inconvenient as droppping a quarter in the parking lot

 

Walking this back a bit as I’m doing some digging and it seems that getting a 7 pin connector onto an Escape Hybrid isn’t a very easy chore.

 

It shouldn’t be a problem adding a 7 pin to any vehicle. I just added a hitch and 7 pin to my Rav. The 7 pin had to be added to the 4 pin though.

 

Have you checked with eTrailer? They seem to have what would be required for most vehicles, along with many good "how to do it" videos. It's been a few years since I've needed to get anything from them, but my past experience with them has been good, and they have provided good customer service as well. Here is link to their 7 pin connector offerings: https://www.etrailer.com/s.aspx?qry=7+Pin+Trailer+Wiring+Harness&paging=2

 

Thanks -- to be fair, I haven't done much of a dive into what would be needed. Some late night googling was making my head hurt which caused me to walk back the idea a little bit.

It helps that our 560 has the autow-brake controller on board the camper, so I won't need a brake controller in any tow vehicle. Just a 2 inch hitch and a 7 pin...and the necessary hauling capacity.

Long time between now and when I'll be buying anything, so lots of time to do homework.

 

Got my RAV4. Snazzy vehicle

Lots more features that I thought there would be….now to get something to pull . Come on campinn!!!

 

Which model and trim?

 

XLE. Hybrid. I do wish it were a little heavier, but for a teardrop I think it will do just fine.

the video on YouTube of a guy pulling a 2000lb trailer around sold me. I’m well below the max gross, and the low profile of the campinn reduces wind resistance even more.

My only disappointment after a few days is the lane centering with fortunately can be disabled. That feature stinks!!! But at least it’s software. Maybe they will fix it…

 

The new F150 might be interesting. It'll be inexpensive.

-Al

 

I'm still not sold on battery electrics. 40k isn't bad if hold squeeze your wallet really hard. Thats an average years salary for something that will realistically probably last 6-10 years of use. Granted, its better than $90k...

300 mile range is on the optimistic side...and thats the big battery. Towing -- probably 1/2 that? The Teslas doing their tow tests don't do so well. I can't see a truck being better...Mass goes up --- so does the energy it takes to move it. Put 8000 pounds on the bumper, it might have power to move it --- but will it have the stamina to keep it moving.

We'll see about charging...I have to admit, I don't have all the details -- but then again no one else does eitehr. The Ford web site is pretty vague.

I sincerely hope Toytoa Murai pans out. It really does check all the boxes:

1] Hydrogen is abundant...and thats an understatement.
2] Safe - remember, the hindenburg -- that was the paint not the hydrogen that combusted. Seen an 18650 damaged? Now put a couple hundred of them next to each other.
3] Fast refuels --- 10 minutes as opposed to 45 minutes to an hour --- or longer.

Distribution is the only place its weak --- but just a decade ago, you had the same problem with electric and that has been helped. Still not solved. If every car on the road were electric, the charging lines would look like 1978 and ... California can't keep their lights on in the summer as it is. Imagine millions of cars plugged in too.

 

But no one wants hydrogen cars.
Folks who buy electric cars for “green” reasons aren’t likely buyers of hydrogen cars, I don’t think. Takes too much energy to make the fuel, so it doesn’t help re climate change.
But, yes, might be good for towing, though the hydrogen infrastructure is nonexistent compared to electricity.

-Al

 

I think that is because they havn't really seen one yet....Marai is still concept avaialble only in parts of Cali. I think if anyone can pull it off, its Toyota. They produce quality and reliability.

As for "not green enough" --- they said the same thing about lithium batteries...

 

but the Lithium battery mining issue is disinformation. Batteries (and the specialty metals in them) are recycled. Gasoline isn’t. That won’t change. And most humans are and will continue to be happy to sacrifice enviro quality at a mine to save the planet from Climate Change. The hydrogen vehicles have no enviro benefit other than decreased local air emissions. They don’t help re climate.

 

I’m not worried about climate change. That is a topic which is politically charged and not for this forum, besides that I know you will not change my mind, nor I yours.

I just want an economical car to travel in safely, efficiently, and not having to stop for 45 minutes every couple hundred miles….or less if towing….if capable of towing at all.

 

I'm tempted to get a hitch for my Model3, just as an academic exercise to see what the range really is with a 560 behind. It certainly has the power to pull it, but the energy consumption is the big question. We tow with our Xterra because that is the vehicle we want to use when the 560 is at a campsite. The Tesla actually works quite well for long trips, but towing the 560 might make it unbearable, but I would like to just try it one day, though the low ground clearance makes it inappropriate for the places we camp.