Will a Tesla X (SUV) tow a loaded 2014 Stratos VLO?

[tcbass]

 I have a 2014 Stratos 186 VLO has a trailered/loaded weight around 2,720lbs. (estimate -  I don't know if this is the correct weight). If anyone knows the correct weight it would be nice. 

 

 I was told that car companies sort of lie about tow limits and if a car says it can tow 5,000lbs. that 5,000lbs. actually also includes the weight of the passengers and luggage in the car too so if you have 4 people that could be arond 760lbs. right there.

 

 

 Can a Tesla X (SUV) safety tow it? 

 

 

The Tesla X has a towing capacity limit of 5,000lbs. 

[bassguytom]

It looks like you provided both the question and the answer to your question. I’m not familiar with the Tesla X but 5000 is higher than 2720. I’m sure the dealer can also help you out. Good luck.

[Fishing Rhino]

It may be able to tow it.  But, will it be able to stop it.

[WRB]

The boat trailer should have brakes when towed with smaller vehicles.

Tesla being a all electric vehicle the issue becomes mileage or distance you can tow is based on terrian like hills increase energy use, on flat land the energy should be about 50% increase of energy loss over not towing. Round trip distance or distance to charging station becomes critical.

Tom

[Way2slow]

That's one of those questions that's best asked at the dealer.  I don't know anyone that owns one and have never seen but a couple on the road.  I would definitely be leery of doing it because of the electric motors.  It does not take much of a load to make electric motors heat up. 

Even if it's only a few miles and not at highway speeds, you still have the strain on one to launch and retrieve the boat at the ramp.  Some ramps are rather steep.

For two years I used a VW Carman Gia to tow a 14' glass boat with a 65hp Merc, but the ramp was only five miles from my house and level road.  I still burnt out two clutches getting the boat back out of the water and up the hill at the ramp though.

I will say, my wife has a Toyota Highlander with the factory towing package and I think it's rated for well over 5,000 pounds but I know enough about automatic transmissions to know I would not tow my bass boat with it's 3,600 pound tow weight behind it for any distance at highway speeds.

[tcbass]

On 11/28/2018 at 8:18 AM, Way2slow said:

That's one of those questions that's best asked at the dealer.  I don't know anyone that owns one and have never seen but a couple on the road.  I would definitely be leery of doing it because of the electric motors.  It does not take much of a load to make electric motors heat up. 

Even if it's only a few miles and not at highway speeds, you still have the strain on one to launch and retrieve the boat at the ramp.  Some ramps are rather steep.

For two years I used a VW Carman Gia to tow a 14' glass boat with a 65hp Merc, but the ramp was only five miles from my house and level road.  I still burnt out two clutches getting the boat back out of the water and up the hill at the ramp though.

I will say, my wife has a Toyota Highlander with the factory towing package and I think it's rated for well over 5,000 pounds but I know enough about automatic transmissions to know I would not tow my bass boat with it's 3,600 pound tow weight behind it for any distance at highway speeds.

 

 

Dang, good to know.

 

 

Thanks guys!

[fishnkamp]

What does the owner's manual say about towing?  They can not lie there or the liability lawsuit would be enormous!

 

I would be very leery to tow with an electric vehicle myself.  I have been a professional mechanic my whole career and have worked on all types of equipment and vehicles. I am not sure the electric vehicles have been developed to that level yet. I did work on highway vehicles with hydrostatic drives in the past. They were horrible when they were first produced ( FMC street sweepers to be exact).  It took a while till they got their pumps and motors to be reliable at highway speed. I am not sure these electric vehicles have been developed and debugged to the point they are reliable with the stress of towing. I would read my manual and talk to the manufacturer about it. Let us know what they say.

 

[JLBBass]

not sure, but dang! the looks you'll get at the ramp!!!

[MickD]

WRB has it right.

 

Here is a test article.  https://electrek.co/2016/04/08/tesla-model-x-tow-test/

 

It is my opinion that there is some misinformation in some of the other posts.  The good info is what Tom said and the advice to get your info from your dealer.