1st Off-Road trip in my Cybertruck - Takeaways & Experience

1. It took 3 hr to dive 30 miles to the site. I drove slowly getting to the town site because the road was very rocky and rough. I drove quite a bit faster driving back having gained confidence from the experience, and talking to other off-roaders. I found that driving faster makes the ride less rough as long as I slowed down for large bumps and dips.
2. I attracted quite crowd of other off-road enthusiasts curious about the Cybertruck. The reactions were all positive.
3. Driving faster creates a lot of dust which gets into everything. The inside of the closed vault was blanketed with dust when I returned home, indicating that the vault is not well sealed. It was winding late in the day as well which probably contributed to the dust infiltration.
4. It’s easy to get lost on the trails. A reliable navigation system and a set of paper maps as a backup is very important, especially in an EV where every mile traveled is eating into the truck's range.
5. The Carlinkit T2C+ Samsung Note 9 combination didn’t work out well for getting GaiaGPS navigation maps to display on the CT display. It kept disconnecting from the Tesla display, and the battery drain on the Note 9 was excessive. I’m going to switch to an iPad Mini 5 for off-road navigation.
6. If I travel in a group, I will need a two-way radio. I was advised to get a GMRS radio (MXT 275 from Midland).
7. Removing the mud flaps is necessary to prevent from breaking them (I didn't take them off, but luckily didn't break them)
8. As rugged as the CT is, the plastic mirrors and wheel flares will get permanently scratched by stiff brush and branches protruding into a narrow trail. They left their mark on my side mirrors.

Cybergirl said:

Last weekend I took my new CT AWD on an off-road trip to the Swansea, AZ mining ghost town 30 miles west of Parker, AZ. The total mileage round trip from Lake Havasu City was 140 miles, 40 miles was rocky dirt roads/trails. I left with a 90% charge and returned home with 34% for a trip average of 492 Wh/mile driving between 50 - 65 mph on paved roads.

My takeaways from the trip were valuable. I'm new to off-road adventuring, but plan to do a lot more now that I have a Cybertruck.

1. It took 3 hr to dive 30 miles to the site. I drove slowly getting to the town site because the road was very rocky and rough. I drove quite a bit faster driving back having gained confidence from the experience, and talking to other off-roaders. I found that driving faster makes the ride less rough as long as I slowed down for large bumps and dips.
2. I attracted quite crowd of other off-road enthusiasts curious about the Cybertruck. The reactions were all positive.
3. Driving faster creates a lot of dust which gets into everything. The inside of the closed vault was blanketed with dust when I returned home, indicating that the vault is not well sealed. It was winding late in the day as well which probably contributed to the dust infiltration.
4. It’s easy to get lost on the trails. A reliable navigation system and a set of paper maps as a backup is very important, especially in an EV where every mile traveled is eating into the truck's range.
5. The Carlinkit T2C+ Samsung Note 9 combination didn’t work out well for getting GaiaGPS navigation maps to display on the CT display. It kept disconnecting from the Tesla display, and the battery drain on the Note 9 was excessive. I’m going to switch to an iPad Mini 5 for off-road navigation.
6. If I travel in a group, I will need a two-way radio. I was advised to get a GMRS radio (MXT 275 from Midland).
7. Removing the mud flaps is necessary to prevent from breaking them (I didn't take them off, but luckily didn't break them)
8. As rugged as the CT is, the plastic mirrors and wheel flares will get permanently scratched by stiff brush and branches protruding into a narrow trail. They left their mark on my side mirrors.

Click to expand...

Jabman said:

Looks like you had fun. Any scratches to the stainless steel? Even superficial ones that buff out with BKF? Wondering how sensitive this HFS really is.

Click to expand...

Cybergirl said:

It’s easy to get lost on the trails.

Click to expand...

Cybergirl said:

Last weekend I took my new CT AWD on an off-road trip to the Swansea, AZ mining ghost town 30 miles west of Parker, AZ. The total mileage round trip from Lake Havasu City was 140 miles, 40 miles was rocky dirt roads/trails. I left with a 90% charge and returned home with 34% for a trip average of 492 Wh/mile driving between 50 - 65 mph on paved roads.

My takeaways from the trip were valuable. I'm new to off-road adventuring, but plan to do a lot more now that I have a Cybertruck.

1. It took 3 hr to dive 30 miles to the site. I drove slowly getting to the town site because the road was very rocky and rough. I drove quite a bit faster driving back having gained confidence from the experience, and talking to other off-roaders. I found that driving faster makes the ride less rough as long as I slowed down for large bumps and dips.
2. I attracted quite crowd of other off-road enthusiasts curious about the Cybertruck. The reactions were all positive.
3. Driving faster creates a lot of dust which gets into everything. The inside of the closed vault was blanketed with dust when I returned home, indicating that the vault is not well sealed. It was winding late in the day as well which probably contributed to the dust infiltration.
4. It’s easy to get lost on the trails. A reliable navigation system and a set of paper maps as a backup is very important, especially in an EV where every mile traveled is eating into the truck's range.
5. The Carlinkit T2C+ Samsung Note 9 combination didn’t work out well for getting GaiaGPS navigation maps to display on the CT display. It kept disconnecting from the Tesla display, and the battery drain on the Note 9 was excessive. I’m going to switch to an iPad Mini 5 for off-road navigation.
6. If I travel in a group, I will need a two-way radio. I was advised to get a GMRS radio (MXT 275 from Midland).
7. Removing the mud flaps is necessary to prevent from breaking them (I didn't take them off, but luckily didn't break them)
8. As rugged as the CT is, the plastic mirrors and wheel flares will get permanently scratched by stiff brush and branches protruding into a narrow trail. They left their mark on my side mirrors.

Click to expand...

Cybergirl said:

It’s easy to get lost on the trails. A reliable navigation system and a set of paper maps as a backup is very important, especially in an EV where every mile traveled is eating into the truck's range.

Click to expand...

seadsmoney said:

when we set a route in a CT, Tesla needs to download base map advance. we shouldn't need google maps.

Anyway, I'm in AZ and this is exactly the type of trip I'm hoping to get back to doing. Thanks for the post @Cybergirl !

Click to expand...

Cybergirl said:

In other words, do what GaiaGPS, OnX, and other navigation apps that run on iOS and Android to, or have those apps run on TeslaOS.

Click to expand...

scottf200 said:

It is unclear what your experience was here. Did you have your Tesla (AT&T?) cellular connectity for your maps at all times?

I've been in SE Montana and left a small town but within 5 miles I lost my Tesla navigation. I was going to make a 1-2 hour loop that I had setup in my Nav. I was several turns in when I lost my Tesla navigation. Took me longer than that 1-2 hours to get back

I think they fixed phone BT connectivity tech now (diff BT tech??) because at some point I thought your phone needed cellular connectivity to unlock your car using your phone. Not great if you are on an adventure.

Not a great adventure vehicle if this happens in the Cybertruck. They should have thought of this. Things like Android phones and Google maps allow you to download a section of the map that you know that you will be at in case you don't have cellular. Seems like an oversight if Tesla does not have that.

Click to expand...

Cybergirl said:

When I drove off the AZ HWY 95 several miles, I lost my LTE connection.

Click to expand...

Cybergirl said:

At the edge of the previously downloaded Google map, I had no map information downloaded to help with navigation.

Click to expand...

Gigahorse said:

Very cool, did you camp in it at all on your trip?
Bummer about the dust in the vault, the cover on my Tundra is all but water and dustproof and other mfgs have them along with aftermarket that keep them sealed.
Would be kinda a big deal if you got to your campsite and your bedding in the back was wet and or dusty.

Any reason you left at 90% charge, would think offroading you might want that extra 10% buffer?

GREAT REPORT!

Click to expand...

• Spare tire/jack/shovel/tools
• Air compressor/hose
• Generator and propane
• 10' x 10' Canopy
• Camp kitchen, propane stove, utensils
• Two chairs
• Collapsible toilet/privacy tent
• Portable A/C unit (summer time)
• Starlink antenna
• Fire wood

• Refrigerator
• Air mattresses/ bedding
• Food
• Clothing
• Rain gear/boots
• First aid kit
• Camera gear
• Etc

scottf200 said:

a) Thanks. Just to be clear you lost all your Tesla navigation within the CT display screen, correct?

Yes. The GPS still showed my position, but without a map display, it's not useful.


b) Is this reference to Google map on your phone or the cache in your CT display?

On the CT display. Tesla uses Google maps for navigation display (says on the bottom right of the display.

Click to expand...

Cybergirl said:

scottf200 said:
a) Thanks. Just to be clear you lost all your Tesla navigation within the CT display screen, correct?
CG - Yes. The GPS still showed my position, but without a map display, it's not useful.

b) Is this reference to Google map on your phone or the cache in your CT display?
CG - On the CT display. Tesla uses Google maps for navigation display (says on the bottom right of the display.

Click to expand...

Cybergirl said:

1. As rugged as the CT is, the plastic mirrors and wheel flares will get permanently scratched by stiff brush and branches protruding into a narrow trail. They left their mark on my side mirrors.

Click to expand...