[FOTOGUZZI]

If on a trip and using navigation to schedule supercharger stops. Does the car adjust for mileage if I were to tow a trailer? So can I count on the navigation to know I’m getting lower mileage than normal?
I want to tow a small aluminum (light weight) motorcycle trailer with a 500 pound motorcycle. What kind of reduction should I expect? What about on the trip out with the empty trailer?

 

[JerryDuke]

What Model do you have?
I have a 3 and will pull a 650 trailer with a 500 pound motorcycle once I get a hitch. So I'll be following this for info. Thanks.

 

[FOTOGUZZI]

2022 model 3 RWD..
here's the hitch I'm looking at and this wiring harness is almost plug and play. once I get it mounted I'll pass on what I know. I'll be ordering next week.

CURT 13449 Class 3 Trailer Hitch, 2-Inch Receiver, Fits Select Tesla Model 3, GLOSS BLACK POWDER COAT

Buy CURT 13449 Class 3 Trailer Hitch, 2-Inch Receiver, Fits Select Tesla Model 3, GLOSS BLACK POWDER COAT at Amazon. Customer reviews and photos may be available to help you make the right purchase decision!

www.amazon.com

Tekonsha 118869, T-One Tow Connector Harness Assembly 4-Way Flat, w/Circut Protected Modulite HD Module, Black, Compatible with 2020-2022 Tesla 3

Buy Tekonsha 118869, T-One Tow Connector Harness Assembly 4-Way Flat, w/Circut Protected Modulite HD Module, Black, Compatible with 2020-2022 Tesla 3 at Amazon. Customer reviews and photos may be available to help you make the right purchase decision!

www.amazon.com

there are some videos on YT that have me convinced i can mount it myself.

 

[Ed Woodrick]

The answer is effectively no. It does slowly start changing, but takes a long time.
The energy graph is your only friend. It WILL be correct. But if you haven't used it much, it takes a little practice.
I would recommend hitching up and taking it out for a sample run of at least 50 miles to get an idea of what your range is going to be. Watch the Wh/mile and compare that to the average for an idea of your range.
Going 70 mph isn't going to be your friend. Also be ready to unhitch to charge your car. That of course requires that the bike is balanced with the trailer

 

[FOTOGUZZI]

Unhitching is a snap so no worries there. I will do some test runs. I could be wrong but I don’t think it will be a huge difference, at least it’s not with my ICE cars.

 

[FRC]

I don’t think it will be a huge difference

I'll be surprised if you don't lose at least 40% of your range.

 

[Klaus-rf]

I'll be surprised if you don't lose at least 40% of your range.

I would expect to lose 40-50% of range.

 

[JerryDuke]

I pulled my trailer and bike with a Chevy Bolt and it hit the range by 30%. But I kept the speed under 62.

 

[kpanda17]

Battery Management, BMS, will have to learn how the trailer and towing affects the battery use. It will probably take a few trips of 100% down to 10%, LFP, to begin arrurately reporting on range.
Good luck as a fellow RWD owner. Love this vehicle.

 

[FOTOGUZZI]

Well if it’s 40% I’ll take my Subaru. In fact maybe I won’t even bother with getting a hitch.

 

[JerryDuke]

Here's an article about a 3 towing 750 pounds.

Tesla Model 3 takes on World War II-era trailer in range efficiency towing test

A video showing a Tesla Model 3 towing a 550-pound trailer recently provided a glimpse at how real world range is affected when the all-electric sedan pulls heavy items. The real-world Model 3 towing test was conducted by Ben Sullins of the Teslanomics YouTube channel. Ben’s channel is known for...

www.teslarati.com

Sullins noted that his total energy usage during the test was 12 kilowatt-hours (kWh), and his vehicle showed an average consumption of 448 Watt-hours per mile (Wh/mile). This energy output differs from his normal driving efficiency, as his car showed an average consumption of 320 Wh/mi when it traversed the same route without a trailer.

 

[kpanda17]

there are no free rides in live, so work smart, enjoy the tow

 

[garsh]

Well if it’s 40% I’ll take my Subaru. In fact maybe I won’t even bother with getting a hitch.

Yes, the range hit is going to be in that ballpark.

This is entirely due to Teslas (and EVs in general) being a lot more efficient than combustion vehicles. You don't tend to notice the effects of trailering on the performance of a combustion vehicle because 75% of the energy used is doing nothing more than creating a bunch of heat. So what shows up as a 40% decrease in efficiency to an electric car appears as a 40% difference on the remaining 25% for a combustion vehicle, which means a 10% decrease in mileage. The inefficiency of a combustion engine "hides" these differences from you.

 

[FOTOGUZZI]

Very interesting way to look at it.
So garsh, what are your thoughts on taking a trip with trailer? I guess I’d be stopping to charge about every 140 miles or so and the time consumed much greater.
these trips are not often but say I want to pick up a motorcycle that’s 1000 miles away..to have it shipped would cost me about $700 and won’t be an instant delivery like it would be driving down there to get it.

 

[kpanda17]

Fotoguzzi, if you end up doing this, do a new post "M3 Towing," and give us the log..how it went
its amazing that an M3 would trailer, also photos ...wow

 

[garsh]

So garsh, what are your thoughts on taking a trip with trailer? I guess I’d be stopping to charge about every 140 miles or so and the time consumed much greater.

Yep, and you'll probably want to use something like abetterrouteplanner to make sure there are well-placed superchargers available on your chosen route. Also note that driving at a slower speed makes a noticeable difference in EV efficiency, so if you're ever worried about whether you would make it, just slow down a little.

As for whether you should attempt it, that's up to you. Are you curious at all about how it would go? If so, give it a shot. Others here have pulled trailers with their EVs (@bwilson4web, IIRC).

But if you don't want that bother, then you'll probably be happier taking your Subaru.

 

[FOTOGUZZI]

Well to install the hitch myself will be about $500 with the wiring harness. Not sure I want to spend that since the other car is ready to go.

 

[FRC]

Well to install the hitch myself will be about $500 with the wiring harness. Not sure I want to spend that since the other car is ready to go.

Oh, come on! Enquiring minds want to know.

 

[Ed Woodrick]

Very interesting way to look at it.
So garsh, what are your thoughts on taking a trip with trailer? I guess I’d be stopping to charge about every 140 miles or so and the time consumed much greater.
these trips are not often but say I want to pick up a motorcycle that’s 1000 miles away..to have it shipped would cost me about $700 and won’t be an instant delivery like it would be driving down there to get it.

Definitely should be able to beat $700, but the real question is what is the Supercharger spacing along the route.
With a 3000lb high wind resistance boat behind me, i
I only got about 75 miles per battery, meaning that I was stopping by Superchargers every 50 miles. Luckily the route from Atlanta to Tampa had enough chargers, but 3 years ago it didn't.
If the bike has wind fairings on it that can be removed, it may make sense to do.
My boat has a Bimini that when stowed represents a 3ft tall barricade to the wind. I'm quite sure that sucked up a lot of battery.. My first hint to the range was when I passed my "home" charger 40 miles away, I was already needing to stop. Hence the recommendation to test before you go. I had to quickly look at my route to see if it was possible.
After about 7 charges on the way and 7 more on the way back, well even though I hadn't had range anxiety in years, I definitely don't have it anymore.

 

[android04]

The 40% increased use of energy has been my experience as well. Driving 55-60 MPH vs 70 MPH will make a huge difference if it's safe to do so because the biggest drag on your energy consumption is wind drag. Depending on the design of the trailer, there might not be much or any difference in drag between empty and loaded because the weight doesn't matter as much as aerodynamics.

The biggest drawback to towing will be having to charge more often and having to unhook the trailer a lot of the time (depending on where you are). I always carry extra ratchet straps with me and manually maneuver my trailer to an empty parking spot by a light pole where I can strap it around it. That keeps it from rolling away by itself.

In addition to the $500 for the hitch, don't forget about the trailer light converter you will have to buy as well. I've tried a few and even direct wiring the lights to my Model 3 tail lights, but the best option is this converter that does not require splicing and costs $177 (https://www.summitracing.com/parts/tkh-119251).