Hi guys,

I’m looking at getting an enclosed cargo trailer, primarily to act as a mobile garage/storage that I can pull with the Lightning. I know weight isn't the real issue for these trucks, but aerodynamic drag is the range killer.

I'm trying to decide on the dimensions and profile. I am heavily leaning towards a 6x12 with a V-Nose profile to try and cut through the air a bit better and save on battery drain.

Here is the exact profile and ride height of the model I'm considering: https://makemytrailer.com/6-x-12-enc...cargo-trailer/

For those of you already towing enclosed trailers with your Lightning:

1. Does the V-nose actually make a tangible difference in your mi/kWh efficiency compared to a flat front?
   
2. With a 6-foot width, does it sit cleanly behind the truck's slipstream, or are you still seeing massive range drops at highway speeds (65mph+)?
   

Trying to calculate my real-world range before I pull the trigger. Thanks for any input!

 

@makemytrailer

What a clever user name apropos to the purpose of your inquiry!

A horizontally tapered slant nose would be FAR more aerodynamically kind and battery power efficient than the V nose trailer in your photo above.

The only reason why one doesn't see many horizontally tapered slant nose trailers is due to the encroachment upon interior room.

A few enclosed tag trailer manufacturers, like TPD as an example, do make slant nose (instead of V nose) trailers.

Also, a bulbous NoseCone on the front af an otherwise flat wall trailer, with radiused corners, is also more aerodynamically efficient than the V nose trailer, with a hard point upper corner, and hard vertical edge sidewall corners, as shown in your photo above.

The most bang for your bucks will be in a slant nose, with a tapered rear spoiler.

The next most effective would be all radius cornered front edges, with a NoseCone.

One issue with V nose trailers, depending on the length of the V nose, is that the sides of the V can become sail panels for diagonal winds (such as semi trucks barreling past in the opposing direction) that like to push against the diagonal V nose panel... imposing a yaw force into the trailer.

A V nose trailer is still better than a flat nose trailer with hard corners all the way around.

A trailer with ultra wide 102" axles, that has an 84" or 72" box width, leaving the wheel wells entirely outside of the trailer, will pull nicer and pack easier than a full width 92", 96" or 98" trailer with wheel wells inside the trailer.

 

I have a 6x12 single axle V-Nose trailer I tow with my Platinum Lightning. Our trip between our cabin and house is 125 miles. I average 2.0 miles/kwh not towing and 1.3-1.5 towing.the trailer tracks straight and true with no sway.

 

1.3-1.5 towing is pretty good. I trip plan for 1.0 and if I get better than that, I'm happy.

Well, only sort of happy, I'm looking to pick up an older gas Super Duty for towing my TT down to the beach 6-10 times a year, and to relegate the Lightning for around town usage. I adore driving Lightning, and its super cheap to operate for daily use at our utility rate, but, the range is just not there for what I want to do towing. If money was no object I'd get a (gasp) Silverado EV RST Max Pack as the EPA is over 500 miles and can probably get 200 towing, that would be acceptable, but $$$$ to acquire.

The charging is still too slow also, you see all these Chinese EVs charging in less than 10 minutes, we need the domestic manufacturers to get off their (backsides) and get us this level of performance. Then I would have no reason for a gas truck. But for now, I'm looking for a Super Duty with the V10 for occasional use. The 5.4 is too anemic (I've had one), and I don't want the diesel. When I turn in my Lightning I'll probably get the cheap midsize EV Truck they're promising for '27.

 

1.3-1.5 is at 60-65 mph on flat land. I use 75% of battery driving those 125 miles. I start at 100% and end at 25%.

For our RV I bought brand new F-450s with X-Plan. Traded them in after 1 year and made a profit on them. I had 22 King Ranch, a 23 Platinum and another 24 Platinum. Before that I flipped several brand new F350 SRW’s with 6.7L diesels the same way. The 350s broke even but with the 450s I made a profit. We sold the 5th Wheel RV and traded the 24 450 in on a Lightning.

My friend has a 24 Silverado EV RST MAX and the range is amazing. He routinely does a 400 mile round trip without charging. I helped he buy it used for $60,000 with 10k mikes on it. Here is a screen shot fully charged before his 400 mile round trip.

 

no way I'd buy a shivrolet...I'd lease one that I could give back when the warranty is up, but there's no way I'd plan to own a garbage motors vehicle long term.

Speaking of, I know someone who just got their Sierra EV lemon lawed. He had nothing but issues with it.

My Lightning has had no issues whatsoever and has only gone back to the dealer for recalls.