Towing a 19’ Escape Trailer and using Pro Power

Last Week I borrowed my parents’ 2014 Escape 19 travel trailer for a shakedown trip up to Hearts San Simeon State Campground to test the feasibility of taking the rig on a West Coast Or even cross country trip next Spring. I knew range would get walloped but I didn’t know by how much. The drive is 54 miles, the temperature was 66 degrees and largely flat all the way. I drove 65 MPH on US 101 and 55 on Highway 1 (speed limits for both). Trailer comes in around 4000 lbs loaded. It was pretty much ideal circumstances for this test.

We used 30% battery to get there, 5% battery overnight using Pro Power for AC power (that was awesome)and 30% to get back home the next day. Our driving consumption was 1.4 miles/kwh. This was disappointing as I’d hoped for real world range of 150 miles between charging (I’d need to see consumption at @ 1.65 to accomplish this). Since we will likely DC charge to 80% and seek chargers at 10% that would give me about 92 Kw of battery to use for mobility. 92 x 1.4 miles = @129 miles between charges. Add in a head wind, drop the temperature or any form of hill and real world range would be less than 100 Miles.

I love the idea of taking the Lightning because it tows incredibly but stopping every 90 minutes for 45 minutes would make any trip over 3 days of travel time a total hassle. Once we get access to SuperChargers we may take it for a 3 day trip to Gold Country but otherwise I think towing isn’t going to happen Except local getaways. Still want to make the trip but it may be with a tent, sleeping bags, coolers and a porta potty instead…..

Thanks for this review and writeup.

I had ordered a Lightning with the optimistic plan to tow our Escape 19. Glad to see someone gave it a shot.

I ultimately chickened out last week after considering our personal situation and bought a Tundra HV.

We do about two camping weekends a month during the peak season and maybe once a month during the shoulder seasons. Since we’re in Washington most of the campgrounds are within 170 miles, so totally doable range-wise.

But only being weekenders, having to use what little time we have charging and also having to book campsites 9 months out to ensure we get hookup sites I just decided the idea was a bit too optimistic. Especially since we configured our Escape 19 specifically to not have to rely on hookup sites. Going against that philosophy just for the truck ultimately felt silly.

I’m hoping that in three years from now, the infrastructure will look a bit different with pull through chargers and obviously the expansion of access to the supercharger network. But right now it would have just been burdensome enough for our specific situation to not be worth it….yet.

Speed limit with a trailer is 55 anywhere in California. You'll net a decent range increase staying at 55 while towing (compared to 65)... Just physics.

Wsh68 said:

Last Week I borrowed my parents’ 2014 Escape 19 travel trailer for a shakedown trip up to Hearts San Simeon State Campground to test the feasibility of taking the rig on a West Coast Or even cross country trip next Spring. I knew range would get walloped but I didn’t know by how much. The drive is 54 miles, the temperature was 66 degrees and largely flat all the way. I drove 65 MPH on US 101 and 55 on Highway 1 (speed limits for both). Trailer comes in around 4000 lbs loaded. it was pretty much ideal circumstances for this test. We used 30% battery to get there, 5% battery overnight using Pro Power for AC power (that was awesome)and 30% to get back home the next day. Our driving consumption was 1.4 miles/kwh. This was disappointing as I’d hoped for real world range of 150 miles between charging (I’d need to see consumption at @ 1.65 to accomplish this). Since we will likely DC charge to 80% and seek chargers at 10% that would give me about 92 Kw of battery to use for mobility. 92 x 1.4 miles = @129 miles between charges. Add in a head wind, drop the temperature or any form of hill and real world range would be less than 100 Miles. I love the idea of taking the Lightning because it tows incredibly but stopping every 90 minutes for 45 minutes would make any trip over 3 days of travel time a total hassle. Once we get access to SuperChargers we may take it for a 3 day trip to Gold Country but otherwise I think towing isn’t going to happen Except local getaways. Still want to make the trip but it may be with a tent, sleeping bags, coolers and a porta potty instead…..

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Nice looking outfit.

Pro Power is amazing with a trailer. A 30A trailer really doesn't use that much battery over say 2-3 days of significant use.

Nice report!!

Whammy Bar said:

Speed limit with a trailer is 55 anywhere in California. You'll net a decent range increase staying at 55 while towing (compared to 65)... Just physics.

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True. Going 55 Mph would definitely add to my range assuming someone doesn’t throw a tire wrench through my windshield for following the law. . When I head down to LA if I’m doing anything less than 80 in the 405 HOV lane I get flashed to get over.

Wsh68 said:

True. Going 55 Mph would definitely add to my range assuming someone doesn’t throw a tire wrench through my windshield for following the law. . When I head down to LA if I’m doing anything less than 80 in the 405 HOV lane I get flashed to get over.

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One of many reasons I don't live in California...

with over 36,000 miles and towing our ~3,000 lb camper over 1/2 of those miles, I can attest to the 'average' we expect when towing, at least during GOOD weather and terrain and speeds... 1.5m/kwh.

SPEED is everything. Slow down if in doubt. Period.
The AERO conditions of the type of 'camper' you are towing is making a big difference versus the weight... weight when in motion is not the biggest issue, AERO is ALWAYS in play, especially if you have headwinds.

TERRAIN is an obvious negative if going NORTH, as far as 'feet above sea level' is concerned... such as leaving from 500' elevation and going 300 miles 'up' to an elevation of 2,500 over that span of miles. Short terrain changes are not as big a deal, you'll make up range on the other 'side', but over the long-term, the terrain change is certainly part of the larger equation.

We love campgrounds, especially those with 50amp 240v NEMA 14-50 'RV' outlets. This gets your vehicle fully charged while you are sleeping.
On the other hand, we've certainly had our moments of stopping overnight in a parking lot and using ProPower to give us all we needed, even AIR CONDITIONING from the roof-top 120v 20amp unit. Making a bagel in the toaster and coffee in the coffee maker or nuking lunch in the microwave are bonuses.
Parking next to the beach, or at a beach State Park parking lot nearby, is a great usage of this great machine - you have your own bathroom, your own kitchen, your own bed, you own SHOWER, when your LIGHTNING is towing your camper : )

I type this as I sit, with my camper in tow, at a level 2 free charger near FSU in Tallahassee while waiting on my wife's college class to end. She is in a 'specialist degree' class for Visually-impaired students, to go with her Masters in Education and other 'certificates'... she's only 55. She's been teaching for 25 years already. Fun. Glad I can assist her in this 'second' season of her career : )

The LIGHTNING and the camper have made this much more possible, and much easier to pull off. It's 140 miles from our home. We'll get all the way back with just a whisper of power still in the tank.

COE Landing campground, outside of Tallahassee...part of LEON County parks... with Full Power

...just returned today again from this same campground... roughly 136 miles one-way with the camper, up hill from Florida : )... arrived home on a wing and a prayer, but made it with several 'miles' still left... whewww.

SPEED is everything. The wind was against me all day. This was not as 'easy' as last trip, with no wind, but successful none-the-less due to driving slowly. Yes, you could 'stop and charge', or you can drive slower and NOT have to stop and charge. I had either option, but chose the path less traveled, maybe just to prove a point to myself, as much as anything.

One thing to consider, too, is the 'guessometer'. It is designed to give you some guidance, but in these 'thin' situations where you know you are going to be close, you have to put more effort into looking at the MILES PER KWH average, not the truck estimate of miles.
For instance, today about 1/2 way, the range was showing as 60 miles 'left'. But, the miles p/kwh average since leaving Tallahassee was at 1.5, and the battery percentage was at 50%. This calculates out to more like 75 miles. I'm not sure 'why' the guessometer is not using those same calculations, since it is already calculating the 'average' m/p/kwh, and it knows the battery percentage... but, regardless, I calculate it myself to make sure.
When I arrived home, my calculations became more and more evident as correct. The guessometer is fine for 'general' usage, but it seems to be a little too conservative in many situations, maybe so that stopping the charge along the way better protects drivers and their travels.
If I had traveled the bulk of the trip much faster, yes, the guessometer might have been more correct, but driving slower, knowing that I was on a thin level, made the difference.

brtnstrns said:

Thanks for this review and writeup.

I had ordered a Lightning with the optimistic plan to tow our Escape 19. Glad to see someone gave it a shot.

I ultimately chickened out last week after considering our personal situation and bought a Tundra HV.

We do about two camping weekends a month during the peak season and maybe once a month during the shoulder seasons. Since we’re in Washington most of the campgrounds are within 170 miles, so totally doable range-wise.

But only being weekenders, having to use what little time we have charging and also having to book campsites 9 months out to ensure we get hookup sites I just decided the idea was a bit too optimistic. Especially since we configured our Escape 19 specifically to not have to rely on hookup sites. Going against that philosophy just for the truck ultimately felt silly.

I’m hoping that in three years from now, the infrastructure will look a bit different with pull through chargers and obviously the expansion of access to the supercharger network. But right now it would have just been burdensome enough for our specific situation to not be worth it….yet.

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I wouldn’t sweat the Tundra. In another couple years, charging will be way better with everyone using NACS plugs in new trucks w much better range. Tesla Superchargers will be open to all, and a lot more chargers out there. And your Tundra will have great resale value, because Toyota build great trucks. So you’ll be missing out on the quiet sweet ride for a couple years, but missing out on the teething pains of the charging network, too.

hikinbengal said:

Pro Power is amazing with a trailer. A 30A trailer really doesn't use that much battery over say 2-3 days of significant use.

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Hi there! I have been searching like crazy before posting this and hoping someone who follows this thread can answer. I am 3-weeks in as a Lightning owner. Loving it and plan on doing some towing with a 20ft ish camper (to be bought next year). However, I cannot find any discussion on this forum that talks about how to plug a 30amp 3 prong cord common to most trailers into the pro-power onboard of the Lightning? I am likely missing something easy and stupid I am sure, but am a noobie on camper trailers.

I promise I searched and read before posting. The truck comes with the twist-lock to Nema 14-50 adapter, which is great if I had to charge another EV. But after searching here and at Amazon I could not anyone who discussed how they connected the 3 prong 30 amp connector common on most trailers to the Pro Power Onboard.

I am have never owned a trailer before as I mentioned and been trying to research and stuck on the best way to power a camper with the Pro Power onboard via the 30amp 240v or one of the normal 120v outlets?

Any pointers or links to adapters would be most kind and welcome.

EDIT:
Ok, after posting I kept at it on amazon with different search words...is this what one would use for instance?

https://www.amazon.com/Camco-55333-30A-Generat-Adapter/dp/B0011FLODA/ref=sr_1_25?crid=36QPFX0FM1XSG&keywords=camper+power+adaptors&qid=1700374217&s=automotive&sprefix=camper+power+adaptors,automotive,138&sr=1-25

Here’s what I bought. It converts our 240v to 120v which is what my travel trailer needs. Worked perfectly and great quality. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084PZSSDZ?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

Mache_Enrique said:

Hi there! I have been searching like crazy before posting this and hoping someone who follows this thread can answer. I am 3-weeks in as a Lightning owner. Loving it and plan on doing some towing with a 20ft ish camper (to be bought next year). However, I cannot find any discussion on this forum that talks about how to plug a 30amp 3 prong cord common to most trailers into the pro-power onboard of the Lightning? I am likely missing something easy and stupid I am sure, but am a noobie on camper trailers.

I promise I searched and read before posting. The truck comes with the twist-lock to Nema 14-50 adapter, which is great if I had to charge another EV. But after searching here and at Amazon I could not anyone who discussed how they connected the 3 prong 30 amp connector common on most trailers to the Pro Power Onboard.

I am have never owned a trailer before as I mentioned and been trying to research and stuck on the best way to power a camper with the Pro Power onboard via the 30amp 240v or one of the normal 120v outlets?

Any pointers or links to adapters would be most kind and welcome.

EDIT:
Ok, after posting I kept at it on amazon with different search words...is this what one would use for instance?

https://www.amazon.com/Camco-55333-30A-Generat-Adapter/dp/B0011FLODA/ref=sr_1_25?crid=36QPFX0FM1XSG&keywords=camper+power+adaptors&qid=1700374217&s=automotive&sprefix=camper+power+adaptors,automotive,138&sr=1-25

Click to expand...

This what I bought. Camco 55382 12" 30Amp Locking 4-Prong Male / 30Amp Standard Female PowerGrip Generator Adapter https://a.co/d/c0n89xI