I started looking at camping trailers recently to tow with my Rivian. I quickly went off the idea when I realized that each time I’d need to charge en-route I’d have to find somewhere to park the camper, unhitch, go charge, then do it all in reverse. That’s going to add at least 20 mins to each charging session. None of this is necessary if I were filling with gas. For typical places I go camping here in CO that could be two or three times per journey direction.

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1-more 4 days ago | parent [-]

My in-laws tow a heavy, non-aero homemade camping trailer on their Rivian in Colorado. Two things make this work: they don't haul it long distance like you do, and they drive uphill to campsites, and then on the way home they're just charging the whole way back. I realize that there are no free lunches in energy conservation, but this diminishes range anxiety for them I think. Or I misinterpreted our convo and it's just a funny quirk of getting around the mountains.

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jebarker 2 days ago | parent [-]

That’s good to know actually. The distance I travel is certainly not necessary, there is closer camping, but I just tend to prefer areas that are all the way across the mountains from me. Do you know what sort of range they get while towing?

	▲	1-more 2 days ago \| parent [-]
		Yeah I asked when we went camping together and I remember them saying that it's a bit better than half the normal miles/kWh. The site we went to was about 22 miles and 3,600 feet of climbing from their driveway, so they were not at all worried about range. If you really want to make sure you make it home, load up your camper with rocks at the campsite so you are charging more on your way home, then dump them when you reach the lowest point on your drive home. The camper is a cabin with cedar shingles on top of a 5'x10' Harbor Freight trailer. Heavy and not at all aero haha.