Hitchless towing
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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Miscellaneous / Off-topic
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15443
Printed Date: 03 May 2025 at 7:37am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Hitchless towing
Posted By: gpokluda
Subject: Hitchless towing
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2022 at 9:58am
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Article on Toyota's experiment with hitchless towing. Several years ago, Honda debuted a concept motorcycle that would follow its owner, or at the least the person that had the magic fob, in their pocket. The bike would remain upright without use of side stand or the rider having to put leg down at stops thanks to gyros and sensors. https://www.foxnews.com/auto/tractor-beam-toyota-developing-hitchless-towing - https://www.foxnews.com/auto/tractor-beam-toyota-developing-hitchless-towing ------------- Gpokluda 2017 Rpod 179(sold 2023) 2022 Escape 5.0TA 2022 Ford F150 4X4 3.5EB Kawasaki KLR650 |
Replies:
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2022 at 10:17am
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What could possibly go wrong? ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2022 at 2:40pm
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It's the same legal questions with self driving vehicles who's responsible in some accidents the manufacturer or the driver.
------------- 2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018- 2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2022 at 3:02pm
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Okay. I see it as a remotely piloted tow vehicle. Beyond the obvious safety questions, I'm sure the states (and Federal government) will view this as another motor vehicle that needs to be taxed, registered, licensed, and insured. I don't see any upside to having to pay all of these on a specialized vehicle with no other use. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2022 at 3:30pm
Why not just program a self-driving motor home to go to your desired camping spot. Drive your Tesla to the destination to meet it already parked, awning out, slide outs extended, sewer line attached, water hooked up, cell phone signal booster antenna raised, and the 50 amp plug connected. Heck, you could have a robot aboard to prepare a margarita and nachos for when you arrive. Like GlueGuy says, what could possibly go wrong? 
------------- Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2022 at 4:54am
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There are lots of parks round the country that have been doing that for many decades now.
I think they call them.... rental cabins. And many are in spectacular private spots that you couldn't dream of getting a campsite at. No safety hazards, RV maintenance or depreciation, fossil fuel burn, or setup headaches. Just show up in your Tesla or whatever, transfer your food from your cooler to the cabin fridge, and voila. But it ain't RVing. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2022 at 9:37am
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So, it's an autonomous tow vehicle that has to have hitch so you can attache a trailer. To be of any use with an RPod it needs to have about a 5000 lb tow capacity and be able to pull the trailer over mountain passes. So it's going to have to have some horsepower. In other words, you can spend, say $600 adding a hitch to your car or truck or you can spend, what? $20,000 or more on one of these things to accomplish the same purpose. If your "tow vehicle" is a Smart Car or a Tesla, this might make sense in some ways, I suppose. Going over that mountain pass there will have to be some way to force the passenger vehicle to slow down down on the way up and some considerable braking and/or way to gear down the towing robot thing. And some way to prevent the care and the trailer from ever getting more than about 10 feet apart. Otherwise some idiot will absolutely try to change lanes by going between the lead car and the robot. Interesting challenges. It's going to have to be an EV. so put the price at probably around $40.000. I'll take two. TT
------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: gpokluda
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2022 at 3:34pm
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I believe there is limited practicality for the use case as presented by Toyota, however, I think there are some real advantages to having a power assisted RV trailer that communicates with the TV. Here are two examples that come to mind: 1. You pull up to your back-in campsite, you place your TV in neutral and allow the RV to back into the site pulling your TV along. Or better, you unhitch your TV and the RV pulls into the site by itself (I can only imagine how many marriages this would save) 2. You're ready to hook up, you place your RV and TV in hook-up mode and they hook up autonomously. Add Bluetooth-like communication between the TV and RV and no need to hookup electrical for turn signals, brakes and lights. (This would still save some marriages but not as many as #1)
------------- Gpokluda 2017 Rpod 179(sold 2023) 2022 Escape 5.0TA 2022 Ford F150 4X4 3.5EB Kawasaki KLR650 |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2022 at 4:24pm
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https://www.westmarine.com/trailer-valet-remote-controlled-rv-and-trailer-mover-with-9000-lbs.-tow-capacity-19953157.html - https://www.westmarine.com/trailer-valet-remote-controlled-rv-and-trailer-mover-with-9000-lbs.-tow-capacity-19953157.html
There is already a solution to #1. It ain't cheap though. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: gpokluda
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2022 at 6:48pm
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I can't even imagine hauling that thing around on a trip and unloading it. But, what if the RV had an electric assist motor at each side and allowed one motor to go in reverse, or lock ,while the other side could motor forward. That would be quite handy. ------------- Gpokluda 2017 Rpod 179(sold 2023) 2022 Escape 5.0TA 2022 Ford F150 4X4 3.5EB Kawasaki KLR650 |
Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2022 at 7:02pm
Is it street legal?  ------------- Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |