CT towing information - List of trailers and range

[BornToFly]

I've been trying to find information on range with different trailer models. It's piecemeal all over the internet. I would like to bring it all into one place. Please post you trailer (pics would be helpful) and the range you get at different speeds (particular 65mph since that is usually the speed limit on trailer tires). Personally, I'm trying to figure out what I would get with an Aliner Evolution LG....

I also wonder if mounting a home made wind deflector to crossbars over the tonneau area would significantly increase range.

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[Cyberskunk]

Stay away from flat front enclosed trailers and don't get anything taller or wider than you need.

ABRP allows you to input trailer details (weight, dimensions for frontal area, and estimated drag coefficient) alongside Cybertruck specs (e.g., Dual Motor or Tri Motor variant). It calculates energy consumption increases due to aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance, then estimates range reduction for your route.

 

[Lasttoy]

7500 lbs. Hauling a S. Other cars over 10k miles

 

[mongo]

Round trip towing numbers at 40 F with 274RKW (~8200 pounds, 32ft, 11'3" tall). Sub 10 MPH wind.

1650Wh/mile on the freeway at 65-70
1080 Wh/mile on surface streets 38 MPH average

Part highway outbound:
95% used going 79 miles in 1:34
All two lane return:
62% used going 72 miles in 1:51 (110 mile range)

Slow route is faster overall when including the addional 33% top end recharge requirement

Arrival SOC started dropping at the end, went from 10 to 5 in the last 20 miles. Adjusted speed accordingly.

 

[BornToFly]

Round trip towing numbers at 40 F with 274RKW (~8200 pounds, 32ft, 11'3" tall). Sub 10 MPH wind.

1650Wh/mile on the freeway at 65-70
1080 Wh/mile on surface streets 38 MPH average

Part highway outbound:
95% used going 79 miles in 1:34
All two lane return:
62% used going 72 miles in 1:51 (110 mile range)

Slow route is faster overall when including the addional 33% top end recharge requirement

Arrival SOC started dropping at the end, went from 10 to 5 in the last 20 miles. Adjusted speed accordingly.

WOW. Thank you for the data. Towing a large box shaped TT is definitely not ideal.

 

[mongo]

WOW. Thank you for the data. Towing a large box shaped TT is definitely not ideal.

Nor is towing anything smaller that is currently available...
Seriously considering a range extender so we can get around the country in reasonable time and have the Cybertruck at the destinations. Potentially with a PTO driven generator and DC fast charging.

 

[Pops]

1322Wh/mile @~60mph. Its tall and boxy, like pulling a parachute.

 

[Gaximus]

I also wonder if mounting a home made wind deflector to crossbars over the tonneau area would significantly increase range.

The equation for wind resistance is mostly velocity. But the other three factors are cross sectional area times the aerodynamic coefficient. Its really hard to get the shape to change enough make a big difference. Cybertruck has a coefficient of about 0.3, a box trailer has 1.0, and an airstream trailer about 0.5. So you would need to have a wind deflector better than an airstream to get half the drag. Or just a shorter trailer. So you wont be getting significant increase of range with even a really good home made deflector, and it‘ll probably look…homemade. Just let the truck look bad ass hauling a trailer, at the expense of a little bit of range.

 

[CyberRout66]

I've been trying to find information on range with different trailer models. It's piecemeal all over the internet. I would like to bring it all into one place. Please post you trailer (pics would be helpful) and the range you get at different speeds (particular 65mph since that is usually the speed limit on trailer tires). Personally, I'm trying to figure out what I would get with an Aliner Evolution LG....

I also wonder if mounting a home made wind deflector to crossbars over the tonneau area would significantly increase range.

Excellent idea - thank you! I tow a 6000# cargo trailer every weekend during March/April (Dance competitions). I got approximately 110 miles of range on a full charge (AWD); however, I was generally going 70 MPH. The last trip, I went 65 and did get better range, but I didn't document it. I will this year and send you the results - with pictures.

 

[Nice2CTu]

I've put about 4,000 miles towing a Casita we purchased new in 2025, my average is is 625 kWh/mile, i drive 60-65mph on freeways mostly. Non freeway is sometimes better sometimes not, but we get close to 200 miles per charge. Tried posting a pic but typing this on samsung android tablet and not sure the pic posts correctly.

Casita is a 17 foot, 3,500 lb., wet bath, have Equal-i-zer weight dist sway bar hitch (12k capacity overkill).

 

[mongo]

The equation for wind resistance is mostly velocity. But the other three factors are cross sectional area times the aerodynamic coefficient. Its really hard to get the shape to change enough make a big difference. Cybertruck has a coefficient of about 0.3, a box trailer has 1.0, and an airstream trailer about 0.5. So you would need to have a wind deflector better than an airstream to get half the drag. Or just a shorter trailer. So you wont be getting significant increase of range with even a really good home made deflector, and it‘ll probably look…homemade. Just let the truck look bad ass hauling a trailer, at the expense of a little bit of range.

Improves efficiency about 10% with newer Airstream.

Test Complete!!!! Big Thanks to Airstream of Utah for letting me do the test.

I did a 17 mile (total) out and back (4 times total) with cruise control set for 60 and 65. Temp around 50. Flag along the highway basically limp (very little wind). Climate control off to minimize any weather related battery usage. A little bit of altitude loss heading West, which I gained back heading East. I hit trip reset at the start and took a picture of the energy usage when I passed the same spot coming back.

It did not go perfectly, in that the front of my wind deflector was fluttering like crazy with the trailer behind it. This is in contrast to no flutter without the trailer. I tried to stop the flutter by duck taping the front edge down to the top of the windshield. It would only hold for about 7 miles. It would flutter badly for about a mile with masking tape everywhere until I got to my U-turn spot, at which point I would get out, tape it again, and then do the leg back. Once again, it would flutter about a mile from the end. Without the flutter, I think the range would have been even better. After the test was complete, it pulled off the front completely on the way home. Luckily I was able to limp home.

Altitude about 4,500 above sea level, which gives me better range than anyone at sea level. In the summer, the density altitude is over 7,000, so towing range will be even better in the summer.

Results towing Airstream Basecamp 20X with (stupid) off-road tires at 4,500 MSL:
No Deflector 60 mph - 620 Wh/mi = 198 mile range
No Deflector 65 mph - 688 Wh/mi = 178 mile range

Deflector 60 mph - 546 Wh/mi = 225 mile range
Defector 65 mph - 601 Wh/mi = 204 mile range

So with the Defector, range is at least 10% better. If I had had access to the trailer earlier, I would have made the side panels longer to bridge more of the gap, probably increasing range even more. Vortex Generators on the sides would also probably increase range.

Tires on the trailer are RIDICULOUSLY knobby. I can probably get another 10% improvement with road tires.

This wind screen was a rough prototype. If I would built it again, I would use 1 inch Aluminum square tubing, and a metal flat section for the front roof just above the windshield to prevent flapping.

I was originally going to make this for my son, who is getting a Basecamp, but the design got so long and tall that he has no place to store it. So I think the project dies here for now.....

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