PowerBoost Towing Trip Log: 700 Miles w/ 25' Airstream

[turbopilot]

Lots of discussion about the relative merits of the PowerBoost F-150 versus other tow vehicle choices. I thought it might be helpful for those trying to make those decisions to post a actual, detailed experience with my PowerBoost towing a 25' Airstream.

This is an actual trip log of a 700 mile trip between Walsenburg, CO and Prescott, AZ with an F-150 PowerBoost towing a 25' Airstream. I made this trip with an average "door to door" speed of 57. 8 MPH and an in motion average speed of 59.2 MPH. I stopped three times for fuel with a total time not in motion of just 30 minutes putting fuel into the PowerBoost. For the trip I averaged 12.3 MPG for the F-150 PowerBoost and the PowerBoost was generating between 2 to 3 kWh of electricity during that time to run the Globetrotter air conditioners. Winds were light for the first part of the trip and a headwind for the last part of the trip. I targeted an in motion speed of 62 MPH.

Here is the detail.

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[jbrinker]

That's really impressive - I wonder how much the 2-3KW affected the total consumption.

 

[turbopilot]

That's really impressive - I wonder how much the 2-3KW affected the total consumption.

I have another thread trying to answer this question. The problem is so few people are using PPoB 7.2 in motion there is not a lot of experience. So far I cannot discern any measurable effect on fuel economy to run PPoB. I suspect most of the energy is coming from unused regenerative braking from the traction motor because the PB battery is so small.

 

[Snakebitten]

Such a nice rig and the requisite efforts to leverage the tech/utility available.

You aren't the only person tapping it for more than the novelty, but I don't think it's likely that anyone is has surpassed what you are doing. Just the modifications you did to the Airstream is rather rare air.

I'm not sure you know how much influence your documentation has had on me. I'm not really copying, but I have applied your concepts in more ways than one.

 

[turbopilot]

I'm not sure you know how much influence your documentation has had on me. I'm not really copying, but I have applied your concepts in more ways than one.

Copy away.

My surprise is that few of the other Airstream owners have followed. Even the ones with PowerBoosts. Somebody just posted a few days ago they are buying a $14,000 Onan generator that goes up into the spare tire wheel well, under the bed in an Airstream. I told the guy to just use the $14k to update his tow vehicle to the PowerBoost. I think he is still doing the generator. And it is only 2.5 kW, weighs 110 lbs and runs on propane.

 

[Snakebitten]

You can lead a horse to water

 

[Henfield]

Didn't know the PB functions while driving. Ford always shows it stationary. Makes it an even more attractive proposition. Do you have a power inlet plug ar rage front of the Airstream?

 

[turbopilot]

Didn't know the PB functions while driving. Ford always shows it stationary. Makes it an even more attractive proposition. Do you have a power inlet plug ar rage front of the Airstream?

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f37/electric-globetrotter-229144-7.html#post2573873

 

[Jmitchelltfo]

700 mile trip with a ton of data. Now I understand why you set up your MX+ display the way you did. Is collecting the data just as fun as the trip for you?

I took a 2400+ mile road trip to Colorado with my wife last month. I kept track of a couple individual tanks, but for the most part I just kept the receipts and added the total mileage to my total gallons consumed.

Awesome setup by the way.

 

[Davexxxx]

I believe one or 2 others have set things up to use PPOB while underway. If I felt the need, I would too but with 600AHs, 1200W on the roof and a Multiplus 3K, it just isn't necessary and the aircon cools things off quickly enough once at camp, don't see the need to run it while under way either.

 

[Snakebitten]

I believe one or 2 others have set things up to use PPOB while underway. If I felt the need, I would too but with 600AHs, 1200W on the roof and a Multiplus 3K, it just isn't necessary and the aircon cools things off quickly enough once at camp, don't see the need to run it while under way either.

So your fridge (freezer) is 100% while you aren't connected to ProPower?

I too don't mind the HVAC cool off time it takes for the various RVs I tow, after I arrive. But I might have food in the refrigerator/freezer in 2 or 3 different RV's and I now have 2 that have electric only (compressor) fridges. They are very efficient though. So even the solar generators can keep them going while in route.

 

[turbopilot]

So your fridge (freezer) is 100% while you aren't connected to ProPower?

I too don't mind the HVAC cool off time it takes for the various RVs I tow, after I arrive. But I might have food in the refrigerator/freezer in 2 or 3 different RV's and I now have 2 that have electric only (compressor) fridges. They are very efficient though. So even the solar generators can keep them going while in route.

Yes, for those of us in the Southwest/Southeast keeping the trailer internal temperature below 85F protects the refrigerator. Above 85F my NovaCool 12 volt refrigerator progressively runs out of capacity to cool and stay at set point. Above 95F internal temperature the refrigerator/freezer becomes dangerous.

 

[Davexxxx]

So your fridge (freezer) is 100% while you aren't connected to ProPower?

I too don't mind the HVAC cool off time it takes for the various RVs I tow, after I arrive. But I might have food in the refrigerator/freezer in 2 or 3 different RV's and I now have 2 that have electric only (compressor) fridges. They are very efficient though. So even the solar generators can keep them going while in route.

Yes. We have a 10+ft3 12V fridge and were gone 47 consecutive nights this spring.

We plugged in 3 times, total. Twice to the truck for a few hrs. each and once overnight, to a campground pedestal. All, only due to extended aircon needs. Mutli cloudy day events, a week in forest shade, no problems and using power at will, including enough aircon, or fireplace to at least take the edge off. More than a couple hrs. per day of aircon, did need supplement.

Having PPOB in your back pocket is a wonderful thing. The only thing better, is not needing it, most of the time.

 

[Malachai]

I've

Copy away.

My surprise is that few of the other Airstream owners have followed. Even the ones with PowerBoosts. Somebody just posted a few days ago they are buying a $14,000 Onan generator that goes up into the spare tire wheel well, under the bed in an Airstream. I told the guy to just use the $14k to update his tow vehicle to the PowerBoost. I think he is still doing the generator. And it is only 2.5 kW, weighs 110 lbs and runs on propane.

I've priced a 7kw onan rv for 7k??

 

[CiTY HuNTeR]

Lots of discussion about the relative merits of the PowerBoost F-150 versus other tow vehicle choices. I thought it might be helpful for those trying to make those decisions to post a actual, detailed experience with my PowerBoost towing a 25' Airstream.

This is an actual trip log of a 700 mile trip between Walsenburg, CO and Prescott, AZ with an F-150 PowerBoost towing a 25' Airstream. I made this trip with an average "door to door" speed of 57. 8 MPH and an in motion average speed of 59.2 MPH. I stopped three times for fuel with a total time not in motion of just 30 minutes putting fuel into the PowerBoost. For the trip I averaged 12.3 MPG for the F-150 PowerBoost and the PowerBoost was generating between 2 to 3 kWh of electricity during that time to run the Globetrotter air conditioners. Winds were light for the first part of the trip and a headwind for the last part of the trip. I targeted an in motion speed of 62 MPH.

Here is the detail.

Love it every time I see detailed numbers with 2 digits after the dot.

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