Electric vehicles are revolutionizing the automotive industry, but concerns about range, especially when towing and in cold climates, persist. A recent test by a popular YouTuber put the Rivian Truck Towing Capacity to the test under challenging winter conditions, revealing some eye-opening results for prospective EV truck owners.
Zack Nelson, known for his JerryRigEverything channel and his affinity for electric vehicles, decided to conduct a real-world experiment using his Rivian R1T. The test aimed to determine the impact of towing a substantial load in freezing temperatures on the truck’s driving range. Nelson didn’t just hook up any trailer; he decided to tow his own electric conversion Hummer H1, compounding the challenge and providing a compelling scenario for assessing the Rivian truck towing capacity.
The combined weight of the electromod Hummer H1 and the trailer was already a hefty 9,300 pounds. To further push the limits, Nelson added approximately 1,000 pounds of scrap weight, pushing the total towed weight over 10,000 pounds (4,535 kg). While this is within the R1T’s advertised towing capacity of 11,000 pounds (4,989 kg), it represents a significant load, especially considering the environmental factors. Under normal conditions, Nelson mentioned achieving up to 280 miles (450 km) of range in his Rivian R1T, setting a baseline for comparison against the towing test.
Rivian R1T towing in snow, highlighting cold weather impact on electric truck range.
An intriguing observation before the test even began was the Rivian’s initial range calculation after the trailer was hitched. The truck’s system surprisingly displayed a projected range of 635 miles. This wildly inaccurate figure immediately signaled potential discrepancies in the range estimations when towing, a crucial point for drivers relying on onboard systems for trip planning. This initial miscalculation foreshadowed a series of unreliable range predictions throughout the towing journey.
During Nelson’s approximately 100-mile (160 km) test drive, the Rivian R1T consistently provided fluctuating and often inflated range estimates. These estimations frequently overstated the actual achievable range by significant margins, sometimes by hundreds of miles. Fortunately, Nelson diligently tracked his mileage independently, realizing around 70 miles into the trip that his remaining range was only about 40 miles. This stark contrast between the predicted and actual range highlighted the unreliability of the vehicle’s range calculator under heavy towing conditions in cold weather.
After completing his towing experiment, which included necessary charging stops, Nelson reached a significant conclusion regarding Rivian truck towing capacity and range. He determined that towing a heavy load like this in freezing temperatures resulted in a range reduction of roughly two-thirds. This substantial decrease in range has significant implications for EV owners considering towing, particularly over long distances or in colder climates.
For those planning frequent long-haul towing, electric vehicles like the Rivian R1T may not yet be the ideal solution due to this significant range reduction. However, the test also confirmed that for occasional towing tasks, even under challenging conditions, the Rivian R1T remains a capable truck. This real-world test provides valuable insights into the Rivian truck towing capacity and the crucial impact of cold weather and heavy loads on the range of electric vehicles. It underscores the importance of understanding these limitations for anyone considering using an EV truck for towing purposes.
