Sonoran sunrise to Holbrook

Common questions about Day 03

Why is the Rivian Adventure Network free for you on this trip?

We received a Rivian referral perk right before the trip, which translated into a chunk of free RAN charging credit that we are spending mile by mile. Day 3 alone routed 367.6 kWh through four RAN sites (Gila Bend, Phoenix Biltmore, Sedona, Flagstaff), gross $211.62 at the published rates, net $0.00. If you are ordering a Rivian anyway, the same perk flows back to us when you use wattreach.com/rivian. Costs you nothing extra; lands the Rivian-side credit on the rig that runs this site.

How much does Gila Bend RAN charging actually cost when it is not free?

Gila Bend RAN bills at $0.65/kWh at the pedestal. Our 139.79 kWh fill on May 16 had a gross subtotal of $90.86 before the referral perk discounted it to zero. Charger US-CMK-NVL-1A sits at 942 East Pima Street behind the Love travel plaza and is powered by 100 percent renewable energy per Rivian. At 216.54 kW peak it is one of the faster Sonoran-corridor stops.

Where can I charge a Rivian R1T between El Centro CA and Phoenix AZ?

Two stops worked for us on a heavily-loaded morning. The Dateland Tesla Supercharger at 1737 Avenue 64 E (250 kW V4 pedestal, accessed with the Rivian NACS adapter, $0.43 per kWh, co-located with an Electrify America site) is a clean short top-up at the I-8 and Avenue 64 E exit. The Gila Bend Rivian Adventure Network at 942 East Pima Street is the bigger top-up before the climb to Phoenix. Yuma also has Tesla and Electrify America options if you need a closer stop.

What is real-world towing efficiency for a Rivian R1T pulling a 23 ft Airstream International?

Across the Day 3 morning we ran 1.22 mi/kWh on a flat 45.5 mi pre-dawn pull, 1.11 mi/kWh on the 50.5 mi climb from Dateland to Gila Bend, and 1.26 mi/kWh on the 48 mi run up AZ-85 to Estrella. Cumulative for the day so far, 144 mi at 1.20 mi/kWh, 120 kWh used. Speeds were 44 to 50 mph average. The Imperial Valley descent on Day 2 hit 2.35 mi/kWh, and mountain climbs drop into the 0.95 to 1.0 range. Plan range as 180 mi between charges.

Why was the Phoenix to Sedona leg only 1.06 mi/kWh towing?

Pace, more than grade or heat. We held 70+ mph up I-17 from Phoenix to the Mogollon Rim, then took the AZ-179 stop-and-go into Sedona. Aerodynamic drag on a 23 ft Airstream scales with the square of speed, so a sustained 70+ mph tow drinks roughly 30 percent more energy per mile than a 60 mph tow on the same road. Add ~3,500 ft of elevation gain, 91°F ambient pulling the battery thermal management hard (it hit 156°F by Sedona), and the result is 1.06 mi/kWh. Same rig at a 60 mph cruise on a less steep grade runs 1.3 mi/kWh easily; the descent into El Centro on Day 2 hit 2.35 mi/kWh. Worth the tradeoff for the daylight at the red rocks.

Why swap Saguaro National Park West for Estrella Mountain Regional Park on this route?

Saguaro NP West is south of Tucson on I-19, a 130 mile round-trip detour off the Gila Bend to Phoenix corridor. Estrella Mountain Regional Park sits right at the AZ-85 and I-10 junction in Goodyear, basically zero detour. It has a visitor center, paved loop roads that fit a 23 ft trailer, dog-friendly paved trails (Mission walked on leash), and saguaro hills above the Sonoran grassland. Same desert character, no time tax.