How flat towing should work in a perfect world....if Scout makes it a feature.

[tech-no-mad]

Scout should build the entire system for flat towing from the 2" receiver hitch back. I assume there is a chance that maybe the front and rear motors could be disconnected if there are mechanical lockers. Even if that's the case, or if it's not here is how flat towing should work. There should be inertial sensors in place that senses the Scout is being towed. The Scout should then provide supplemental power to its own drive terrain to assist the towing vehicle. Mapping could and should be built into the Scout app so that while towing you can have the app up on a phone or tablet mounted in your RV. The mapping would assist in making more intelligent decisions for when to regen, assist, and coast. Flat towing brake systems are essentially using inertia to sense when to break already so it should be feasible to do it in the vehicle itself without more hardware pushing the brake pedal. The last most important piece is that even if Scout doesn't use mapping for anything else, it should at least be aware of your final destination so that when you have arrived for the night the Scout has regen'd the last several miles to a reasonably usable level between 60 and 80 percent. I think this is all possible, but it comes down to how many people will use it. Right now Jeep is by far one of the most popular brands for flat towing and being able to achieve this to compete with them would be huge.

 

[cyure]

I'm new to this community, bought a new 1980 International Scout and loved it for 10 years. Would buy a new one in a heartbeat if it's flat towable. We currently tow a GMC Yukon and our RV can tow 20,000 lbs, so on weight concerns.

Welcome to the community!

 

[pwrofgrayskull]

I'm new to this community, bought a new 1980 International Scout and loved it for 10 years. Would buy a new one in a heartbeat if it's flat towable. We currently tow a GMC Yukon and our RV can tow 20,000 lbs, so on weight concerns.

Welcome!!

 

[Mousehunter]

As much as I would like flat tow capability - seeing a BEV being towed by an ICE is bad publicity. First assumption, they ran out of charge.

 

[J Alynn]

As much as I would like flat tow capability - seeing a BEV being towed by an ICE is bad publicity. First assumption, they ran out of charge.

Hadn’t thought about it from that angle. On an RV is one thing. On a truck-whole new bad image as you suggest. Interesting take on that!

 

[cyure]

Hadn’t thought about it from that angle. On an RV is one thing. On a truck-whole new bad image as you suggest. Interesting take on that!

But how often do you see a vehicle flat towed behind anything other than an RV?

 

[THil08]

 

[BeerParty]

Scout should build the entire system for flat towing from the 2" receiver hitch back. I assume there is a chance that maybe the front and rear motors could be disconnected if there are mechanical lockers. Even if that's the case, or if it's not here is how flat towing should work. There should be inertial sensors in place that senses the Scout is being towed. The Scout should then provide supplemental power to its own drive terrain to assist the towing vehicle. Mapping could and should be built into the Scout app so that while towing you can have the app up on a phone or tablet mounted in your RV. The mapping would assist in making more intelligent decisions for when to regen, assist, and coast. Flat towing brake systems are essentially using inertia to sense when to break already so it should be feasible to do it in the vehicle itself without more hardware pushing the brake pedal. The last most important piece is that even if Scout doesn't use mapping for anything else, it should at least be aware of your final destination so that when you have arrived for the night the Scout has regen'd the last several miles to a reasonably usable level between 60 and 80 percent. I think this is all possible, but it comes down to how many people will use it. Right now Jeep is by far one of the most popular brands for flat towing and being able to achieve this to compete with them would be huge.

You can't provide drive assist or regenerative braking in an EV if you are flat-towing the vehicle. In order to flat-tow you need to disconnect the electric motors to allow free-wheel operation. So that rules out any driving assist when towing. It also rules out regen since it is the electric motors that generate the electricity when using regen braking. Do a search for "what is regenerative braking" for the details.

 

[Mousehunter]

I do it occasionally. Once upon a time, I kayaked a LOT. River kayaking especially, you don't want to return to the same spot you put in, you want to go downstream. One guy I paddled with had the perfect solution - he would tow his recovery vehicle to the take out and drop it off - then go to the put in. We would paddle down to the recovery vehicle, load everything up - then drive back to the main vehicle. While entirely not necessary with a group - super convenient if you are paddling solo.

With my Jeep LJ, it is also nice to be able to tow it to the shop. Never have to plan service or repairs around my wife's busy schedule. While I don't use it for this much - also could be convent to move equipment around the ranch. I tend to work at 2 points about a mile from each other. Lots of long walks... Drive to tractor - move it to other side for a few days, but have to walk back to the truck. Makes me postpone projects a LOT when I don't feel like walking a mile. I have done a ton of things to fix this, but honestly none are convenient. E-Bike would be great - but it seems to ALWAYS have flats. 4 wheeler in bed of truck is my general best solution so far. But months can sometimes go by between the need to do it - and then the battery is dead. SxS works, but that takes time to strap down on the trailer.

 

[tech-no-mad]

You can't provide drive assist or regenerative braking in an EV if you are flat-towing the vehicle. In order to flat-tow you need to disconnect the electric motors to allow free-wheel operation. So that rules out any driving assist when towing. It also rules out regen since it is the electric motors that generate the electricity when using regen braking. Do a search for "what is regenerative braking" for the details.

I would assume de-coupling would be an essential part of the capability. Lightship and Pebble area already building campers that provide power assist. I don't think what I'm asking for is beyond reach, but it's definitely something that has to be planned for from the core design in order to achieve. Eventually someone will do it, it just comes down to priority vs cost. I'd be curious what percentage of Jeep buyers are buying primarily to flat tow?

 

[dreamweaver]

But how often do you see a vehicle flat towed behind anything other than an RV?

Thats a very good point. For me. Never!