[evtinker]

Any chance of switching to a smaller lighter trailer? We had a simple 60s Appelby tent-top that weighed less than 600 pounds. It was about as basic as you could get, a steel frame and axle, aluminum box body, and a steel frame you assembled and pulled the canvas tent over. Nothing at all built in. We towed it with a Honda Civic from coast to coast. It wasn’t even enough drag to impact gas mileage

 

[jefro]

Maybe I am the worst one. I quit drinking, quit smoking and everything that's bad for me and I've been trying to work out eat right. A Union Stewart so half the time my job is related to safety.

 

[jmcbrew]

Come to think of it, a '63 Corvette would be a much better row vehicle than the Bolt. Body on frame construction, stout 327 small block, Muncie 4-speed, 4 wheel disc brakes, sophisticated (for the time) independent rear suspension, etc. If you added an extra leaf or two to the mono spring, installed air shocks, and upgraded the radiator, you could probably pull a twin axle Airstream up Pike's Peak with no problem.

I bet the Bolt actually puts more horsepower to the ground... and more torque at most RPMs. Plus, those old 'vettes couldn't handle worth a darn. When it comes to horsepower, don't forget that we changed the way horsepower is measured in cars/trucks around 1972. There are still people who believe that a 1971 [insert muscle car] is more desirable than a 1972 [same muscle car] because the 1972 has less horsepower, but that's only on paper.

 

[jmcbrew]

Before someone says it, I know that horsepower isn't everything when it comes to towing. Plenty of people towed big ol' travel trailers with sub-100 horsepower cars from the 1950s. Those cars were utter deathtraps compared to any modern car, though. At least if you have an accident because you were towing with a Bolt, you'll probably survive!

 

[Pvillerob]

Any chance of switching to a smaller lighter trailer? We had a simple 60s Appelby tent-top that weighed less than 600 pounds. It was about as basic as you could get, a steel frame and axle, aluminum box body, and a steel frame you assembled and pulled the canvas tent over. Nothing at all built in. We towed it with a Honda Civic from coast to coast. It wasn’t even enough drag to impact gas mileage

A tent trailer camper should be lighter than that scamp. But I'd STILL take it for a test drive up a good steep incline at speed, to make sure the car doesn't "complain". When I towed that heavy log splitter up the grade to my house, the Bolt bucked and jerked, like it really hated pulling that much weight. I wouldn't tow anything that weighs over 500lbs.

 

[jefro]

Wish I had a Scamp.

 

[Factoryhack]

I bet the Bolt actually puts more horsepower to the ground... and more torque at most RPMs. Plus, those old 'vettes couldn't handle worth a darn. When it comes to horsepower, don't forget that we changed the way horsepower is measured in cars/trucks around 1972. There are still people who believe that a 1971 [insert muscle car] is more desirable than a 1972 [same muscle car] because the 1972 has less horsepower, but that's only on paper.

You bring up a good point. Cars have gotten much faster over the years. Even our humble Bolt would run neck and neck with any base engine small block Corvette of the 60's. Still, I wouldn't mind a fuelie '63 with the close ratio Muncie. It would leave the Bolt in the dust, (at least in a straight line).

As for changing from gross to net HP ratings in '72, it was a double whammy of net measurement AND lower compression ratios that kinda put an end to the horsepower wars. A sad time for us young motor heads.

 

[jdunmyer]

Back to tongue weight and sway: I have a flat bed trailer that I took to an auction where I bought a few light weight racks. Had the guy with the forklift just slide 'em onto the rear of the trailer, as I wasn't going far, maybe 7 miles. When I got above about 35 Mph, the thing began swaying to the point of being scary. It was a slow trip home. OTOH:, I hauled some fairly heavy loads, a few tons, but loaded correctly, with no problem at 60 Mph. Towing with a p/u truck in both cases.

 

[Nyroc]

I would feel totally comfortable towing this behind the bolt.

Motorcycle/Car Pull Behind Trailer 59" X 30" X 28" Aluminum Diamond Plate Enclosed Motorcycle / Car Trailer

 

[Cruzincat50]

Does Tesla have tow ratings on any of their FWD cars? Reason I ask is, for some time now, before the Cyber Truck, they never built anything that gave them a reason to entice their customers to buy something more expensive (because it says it can tow in the manual?). I don't think a FWD Tesla would have any great advantage towing over a Bolt.

 

[jefro]

My Tesla with factory hitch is 3500#.
The model X may be more.

 

[Cruzincat50]

My Tesla with factory hitch is 3500#.
The model X may be more.

FWD?

 

[bigoilbob]

That scamp normal scale weight packed should be around 1600??

Just too may, IMO. How does the motor/drive train react to putting out more torque for longer periods than it was designed for? Yes, it has pickup and torque, but it is designed for short spurts. I'll bet it won't last long putting out 50-120 kw for many minutes/over an hour. Lots of amps, lots of heat. And what is it's real range?

I love my 2024 Bolt EUV, but I keep a Z71 CCLB diesel Colorado on a pad, under a cover, behind my house for these chores..

 

[jmcbrew]

Does Tesla have tow ratings on any of their FWD cars? Reason I ask is, for some time now, before the Cyber Truck, they never built anything that gave them a reason to entice their customers to buy something more expensive (because it says it can tow in the manual?). I don't think a FWD Tesla would have any great advantage towing over a Bolt.

Those super rare FWD Teslas, right?

 

[jmcbrew]

I would feel totally comfortable towing this behind the bolt.

Motorcycle/Car Pull Behind Trailer 59" X 30" X 28" Aluminum Diamond Plate Enclosed Motorcycle / Car Trailer View attachment 66694

You can’t tow that with a Bolt! You need something big and powerful like a motorcycle to pull that. Pulling with a Bolt will result in killing someone’s kids, a bus full of nuns, and the last Tasmanian tiger.

 

[jefro]

I've never heard of a Front Wheel Drive Tesla but I have heard of a Four Wheel Drive so I have to assume that.

My poor old F150 tow rating a bit over 8K and I needed it all one year going out west against the 40mph wind uphill. Sheeze. 5 mpg.

 

[jmcbrew]

I've never heard of a Front Wheel Drive Tesla but I have heard of a Four Wheel Drive so I have to assume that.

Well, if they meant ALL wheel drive, then yes — the RWD and AWD model Y both have a rating of 3,500 pounds, while the model X has a rating of 5,000 pounds.

 

[evtinker]

There is a Motor Trend article “How Much Can a Tesla Tow” at https://www.motortrend.com/news/tesla-towing-guide/

As usual, there are models not certified to tow in the US have towing options in Europe. In the US the X and most versions of the Y can tow, but not the S and 3. In Europe all models are apparently certified to have some towing capability.

A FWD Tesla that could be dollied would be an interesting option for an RV toad, but I doubt they will ever build one.

 

[Cruzincat50]

Those super rare FWD Teslas, right?

I never looked to see if they had FWD. I assume from your post, they don't? I wouldn't think that would matter as far as safety is concerned. Stopping would not be affected. Only starting and accelerating. You just have to start out slower.

 

[jefro]

I'd have bought the long range RWD version had I known.