Smell when towing with hybrid

[oljackfrost]

Towed for the first time with hybrid and was getting a burning rubber/ plastic smell. Performance seemed fine, no crazy acceleration or deceleration. Weight is under 2000 lbs. Homebuilt pontoon boat is 8’ wide but small frontal area: two 2’ dia pontoon hulls and wood deck with pvc railings. Trailer hubs were cool so that is not the issue. Any experience or ideas? Could it be brakes?

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[Waterick]

Check exhaust area near rear bumper.
Edit: should have said "check rear bumper near exhaust area".

 

[Chops]

Check exhaust area near rear bumper.

Yep - some folks here on forum have shown pictures of their melted bumpers near the tailpipe exit

Edit…after towing

 

[icegradner]

Yep - some folks here on forum have shown pictures of their melted bumpers near the tailpipe exit

Edit…after towing

All EB with that issue, so far.

 

[icegradner]

Towed for the first time with hybrid and was getting a burning rubber/ plastic smell. Performance seemed fine, no crazy acceleration or deceleration. Weight is under 2000 lbs. Homebuilt pontoon boat is 8’ wide but small frontal area: two 2’ dia pontoon hulls and wood deck with pvc railings. Trailer hubs were cool so that is not the issue. Any experience or ideas? Could it be brakes?

Which driving mode did you use? Normal, or tow haul mode? If you were towing a heavy trailer, yeah it's likely running hotter than normal. Freeway driving at high speed for long periods of time? Flat, hills? Need more information.

If the breaks got overheated you'd notice if you look at the rotors, they might show some slight blue in areas where heat affected them, although unlikely. Heat soaked rotors usually just warp, which you'd have to take them off to check. You'd notice warped rotors, as the breaks would vibrate a little.

 

[Maverick123]

Mine did that too the 1st time I towed, it was close to 4k and a short distance, maybe 30 minutes. When I parked it there was a similar smell coming from the front grille.

I think it's the "new mechanical device coming up to temperature" smell, probably because it was the 1st time the transmission or the electric motor cooling system was really working. Production oils and sealants flash off the parts as they heat up for the 1st time. It hasn't smelled like that again, even after towing

 

[oljackfrost]

Tow/haul mode, flat terrain, 55 mph, 10 mile trip, load about 1200 lbs.

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