A GMC Sierra EV Towed a 30-Foot Camper 1,000 Miles, however a 100-Stall Tesla Site Had 2 Pull-Throughs

A GMC Sierra EV driver has accomplished one of many extra revealing electric-truck towing journeys but: greater than 1,000 miles from Orange County, California, to Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks whereas pulling a 30-foot Grand Design Imagine journey trailer.

The route mixed practically each situation able to punishing an EV’s vary. The driver encountered triple-digit temperatures, reported 117 levels Fahrenheit at Valley of Fire State Park, and climbed to roughly 8,000 toes on the best way to Bryce Canyon. Efficiency fell as little as 0.7 miles per kWh throughout the hardest leg and averaged roughly 0.8 miles per kWh throughout the journey.

Yet the motive force’s conclusion was largely optimistic. The Sierra EV was highly effective, steady and simple to manage. Super Cruise diminished the workload whereas towing, and steep grades didn’t seem to problem the truck’s skill to speed up.

The harder downside was discovering electrical energy in locations the place the truck and trailer might bodily match.

The Sierra EV Had Power to Spare, however Every Mile Became Expensive

The driver described the trailer as having a gross automobile weight ranking of roughly 7,500 kilos. That is its most permitted loaded weight, quite than a confirmed measurement of what it weighed throughout this journey. He believed the trailer’s aerodynamic drag broken effectivity extra severely than its weight.

He additionally stored his velocity round 62 mph. That restraint mattered as a result of the Sierra EV had sufficient torque to make speedy climbs really feel simple, however each extra demand on the accelerator consumed vitality that may later have to get replaced. 

For context, the 2025 Sierra EV Denali was provided with as much as 760 horsepower, 785 lb-ft of torque, and a most tow ranking of 10,500 kilos, relying on configuration. GMC also advertised charging charges of as much as 350 kW underneath appropriate circumstances. The proprietor didn’t determine the precise mannequin 12 months or battery configuration of his truck.

Those specs assist clarify why the towing itself felt easy. They can’t get rid of the vitality required to push a tall journey trailer by means of scorching air and up a number of thousand toes of elevation.

At the journey’s common of 0.8 miles per kWh, each 100 kWh of vitality represented roughly 80 miles of towing earlier than accounting for a security reserve. On the 0.7-mile-per-kWh climbing leg, that very same quantity represented roughly 70 miles.

The driver stated he usually sees about 1.1 miles per kWh whereas towing. During this journey, he reported that the truck was consuming roughly 5 kW whereas stationary within the warmth because it tried to chill itself. At Valley of Fire, the cooling fan reportedly continued working for roughly an hour after arrival.

He additionally believed the cabin air con had diminished its output to prioritize the battery. Another Sierra EV proprietor advised {that a} software program replace can typically return the local weather management to Eco mode, so the precise explanation for the diminished cabin cooling stays unsure.

A 100-Stall Charging Site Can Still Offer Two Useful Stalls

The first charging stops uncovered a unique kind of vary downside.

At Barstow, California, the motive force discovered a Tesla pull-through charging stall and will recharge with out disconnecting the trailer. In Jean, Nevada, he encountered a Tesla website that reportedly contained 100 chargers, however solely two pull-through stalls.

For an unhitched automobile, that is a gigantic charging station. For a driver arriving with an extended journey trailer, the sensible no-disconnection capability was two stalls.

At an Electrify America station close to Mesquite, the motive force parked behind the charging gear in order that the trailer wouldn’t block the standard stalls. That resolution labored as a result of the property’s structure occurred to offer sufficient house. It is just not a configuration a driver can safely assume will exist on the subsequent station.

This adjustments the that means of charging availability. An app might present a number of functioning chargers, however the related quantity for an hooked up trailer is the quantity that may be reached with out blocking visitors, occupying a number of areas, or unhitching.

The driver stated he would like to make extra frequent charging stops and depart round 80 %. That technique can scale back the time spent ready by means of the slower higher portion of the charging curve. His estimate was that including the ultimate 10 to fifteen % might value one other half-hour.

More trailer-compatible stations would enable him to make use of that technique. Sparse pull-through availability as an alternative encourages drivers to stay on the chargers they will entry and accumulate a bigger vitality buffer.

The RV Parks Functioned as an Unofficial Charging Network

The most consequential discovery got here after the driving stopped.

At Ruby’s Inn RV Park close to Bryce Canyon, the motive force acquired permission to make use of the campsite’s 50-amp receptacle for the truck. He related the trailer to the pedestal’s 30-amp receptacle as a result of the trailer solely wanted sufficient energy to run one air conditioner, leaving the 50-amp outlet obtainable for the Sierra EV.

He reported that the truck displayed roughly 13 miles of vary added per hour. Charging by means of the afternoon and in a single day supplied sufficient vitality for the following portion of the journey.

The association labored once more on the Oasis Las Vegas RV Resort and, on a later tenting journey, at Lake Arrowhead. According to the motive force, every property allowed him to cost from the campsite pedestal.

His expertise close to Zion was totally different. He stated Zion River Resort prohibited EV charging from its campsites, even after he provided to pay for the electrical energy. That left him going through a roughly 25-mile drive to the closest suitable Tesla charging location alongside Interstate 15. 

This is the place RV parks change into a part of the EV towing system, whether or not they meant to or not.

An RV park doesn’t want a 350-kW charger to offer significant worth. A correctly evaluated 240-volt connection can replenish a truck whereas its occupants sleep, eliminating a separate charging cease and permitting the motive force to start the next morning with a helpful buffer.

The reported 13 miles of vary added per hour requires some context. GMC’s NEMA 14-50 adapter is designed for a 32-amp draw and roughly 7.7 kW. At the journey’s 0.8-mile-per-kWh towing effectivity, 7.7 kW represents about 6.2 miles of precise towing vary per charging hour earlier than losses. The truck’s displayed 13 miles per hour ought to subsequently be handled as an estimated vary determine, quite than 13 assured miles with the trailer hooked up.

Over an extended afternoon and in a single day keep, even six towing miles per hour can change into precious. It merely must be understood utilizing the consumption anticipated after the trailer is reattached.

A 50-amp receptacle additionally doesn’t robotically make each campsite applicable for EV charging. GMC instructs customers to attach its transportable twine to an acceptable devoted circuit of a minimum of 40 amps, preserve the connections clear and dry, keep away from extension cords and wall adapters, and have the set up evaluated when its situation or capability is unsure. Campground authorization and electrical suitability each matter. 

His Safety Buffer Shows Why Better Planning Tools Are Needed

The driver averted working the battery into single digits whereas towing. He typically deliberate to succeed in a charger with about 60 miles of indicated vary remaining.

That buffer protected him from surprising headwinds, detours, closed chargers or additional losses brought on by warmth and elevation. It additionally diminished the portion of the battery he was keen to make use of between stops.

The journey planner reportedly struggled to foretell the mixed impact of the trailer, temperature and climb. That is a vital limitation as a result of a towing driver wants greater than the placement of the following charger. The helpful calculation contains trailer-accessible stalls, elevation, temperature, anticipated velocity, charging reliability and a practical arrival reserve.

The Sierra EV’s powertrain accomplished the project. The surrounding system decided how a lot planning the project required.

A single proprietor report can’t outline each Sierra EV towing expertise, and the put up didn’t embody a scale ticket or full charging log. The mileage, effectivity, and temperature figures stay owner-reported.

Still, the journey identifies the place the following enhancements have to happen. Charging networks want extra pull-through or end-position stalls. Route planners want a trailer-aware mode. RV parks want clear insurance policies, appropriate inspected circuits, and a simple technique to cost friends for extra electrical energy.

The surprising lesson from this 1,000-mile journey is {that a} campground might now be as essential to an electrical tow automobile as a freeway quick charger. The distinction is that drivers at the moment have to barter entry one property at a time.

I feel the helpful charger rely for EV towing is the variety of stalls a hitched rig can truly attain. If you tow with an electrical pickup, share your trailer size, loaded weight, mi/kWh, and the station that permits you to stay hitched.

Three footage by thaughtless from Reddit

About The Author

Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based mostly in Atlanta, Georgia, overlaying sports activities vehicles, luxurious autos, and efficiency tradition. His reporting focuses on explaining the engineering, design philosophy, and real-world possession expertise behind trendy autos.

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