A Rivian R1S Towed a 4,000-Lb Airstream Through Mountains, and Speed Was the Villain
A Rivian R1S owner towed an Airstream Basecamp 20X (approx. 4,000 lbs loaded) 938.5 miles through California's Sierra Nevada and Yosemite, logging 1.3...
A Rivian R1S owner towed an Airstream Basecamp 20X (approx. 4,000 lbs loaded) 938.5 miles through California's Sierra Nevada and Yosemite, logging 1.38 mi/kWh average — a 31% drop from the 2 mi/kWh baseline without trailer. The key finding: the 179-mile theoretical full-pack range is misleading; the practical planning floor is 140 miles, based on worst-case legs with climbs and wind. California's 55 mph towing speed limit improved efficiency, and the Airstream's aerodynamic shape reduced drag compared to boxy trailers.