Cybertruck to 'Kick Butt' at Baja ?

charliemagpie

Well-known member
First Name
Charlie
Joined
Jul 6, 2021
Threads
42
Messages
2,886
Reaction score
5,133
Location
Australia
Vehicles
CybrBEAST
Occupation
retired
Country flag

Tinker71

Well-known member
First Name
Ray
Joined
Aug 8, 2020
Threads
82
Messages
1,484
Reaction score
1,967
Location
Utah
Vehicles
1976 electric conversion bus
Occupation
Project Manager
Country flag
We know the CT will be fast. The off-road performance can be demonstrated in shorter test and controlled YouTube releases. The CT could make and appearance just don't race it.

The race costs a lot and the chance of a failure causing bad PR is not worth it. Ask Nikola.

I say no.
 

Friday

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 26, 2020
Threads
8
Messages
300
Reaction score
629
Location
Grover's Mill, NJ
Vehicles
Cybertruck
Baja is a great, tough test track for any style of vehicle. Takes a lot of confidence, real "money where your mouth is" place.

But Lordstown didn't do so well there, if you recall.
 

Friday

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 26, 2020
Threads
8
Messages
300
Reaction score
629
Location
Grover's Mill, NJ
Vehicles
Cybertruck
Not Baja, but Moab. Not CT, but Rivian.
Shows the need for *much* beefier suspension due to "instant torque" power over rocks.
(btw trail mater is a great channel to follow for back country vehicle situations)

 
Last edited:

CyberGus

Well-known member
First Name
Gus
Joined
May 22, 2021
Threads
67
Messages
5,807
Reaction score
19,080
Location
Austin, TX
Website
www.timeanddate.com
Vehicles
1981 DeLorean, 2024 Cybertruck
Occupation
IT Specialist
Country flag
We know the CT will be fast. The off-road performance can be demonstrated in shorter test and controlled YouTube releases. The CT could make and appearance just don't race it.

The race costs a lot and the chance of a failure causing bad PR is not worth it. Ask Nikola.

I say no.
Tesla Cybertruck Cybertruck to 'Kick Butt' at Baja ? smash


There's no such thing as bad publicity.
 


SSonnentag

Well-known member
First Name
Shawn
Joined
Feb 24, 2020
Threads
5
Messages
391
Reaction score
861
Location
Yuma, Arizona
Vehicles
2018 X100D and 2023 YP
Occupation
IT Specialist
Country flag
Not Baja, but Moab. Not CT, but Rivian.
Shows the need for *much* beefier suspension due to "instant torque" power over rocks.
(btw trail mater is a great channel to follow for back country vehicle situations)
I've been subscribed to TRAILMATER's channel for a while now and love the shows. What did NOT impress me about the Rivian in this episode is how much wheel spin is allowed before sending more power to the non-spinning wheels. With four independent motors, the Rivian should have a "full lockers" mode that replicates its mechanical counterparts.
 

rr6013

Well-known member
First Name
Rex
Joined
Apr 22, 2020
Threads
54
Messages
1,680
Reaction score
1,620
Location
Coronado Bay Panama
Website
shorttakes.substack.com
Vehicles
1997 Tahoe 2 door 4x4
Occupation
Retired software developer and heavy commercial design builder
Country flag
Cybertruck Gen1 is an F-150+ killer — not a Trophy Truck.

I know dynamic suspension jolts the brain with “winning” vibes. But the reality is that Baja don’t care. Its Baja, its Mexico and gringos can have all the fancy big words, latest technology, go-fast juice and still drag themselves and their GOAT truck home in pieces.

Tesla might re-orient its dynamics 90° once it has more experience with wishbones on all four corners. I’m figuring Gen3 CT at soonest before Tesla builds swing arms at rear. ONLY competition beating Tesla to line honors in Baja could change that.
 

Rutrow

Well-known member
First Name
Dan
Joined
May 25, 2021
Threads
8
Messages
1,031
Reaction score
2,429
Location
Little Rock, Arkansas
Vehicles
Model S, Model 3, CyberTruck Tri-motor reservation
Occupation
Firefighter
Country flag
I've been subscribed to TRAILMATER's channel for a while now and love the shows. What did NOT impress me about the Rivian in this episode is how much wheel spin is allowed before sending more power to the non-spinning wheels. With four independent motors, the Rivian should have a "full lockers" mode that replicates its mechanical counterparts.
With four motors there's no "sending more power to the non-spinning wheels". The Rivian has ~800hp total, meaning each wheel has ~200 hp available to make it turn, and that power isn't affected by other wheels spinning. It isn't like the traditional one motor 4X4 ICE vehicle where all the horsepower of the engine can be shunted to one tire that's spinning in the air. A Rivian could have one tire off the ground, spinning at 100 mph (the computer wouldn't allow this to happen probably), but each other tire with traction will still have all ~200 hp of it's capability pushing that tire along. It may seem like a waste not to be able to shunt that power to the two (one?) tires with traction, but is there really any situation where one tire needs more than ~225 ft/lbs of torque? That's more than enough power to overcome the friction of the tire/surface.

Next year Rivian is promising to release a dual motor version. That will benefit from locking differentials. I REALLY hope they don't do a brake application version of traction control. Brakes can steal power in many cases.
 
Last edited:

SSonnentag

Well-known member
First Name
Shawn
Joined
Feb 24, 2020
Threads
5
Messages
391
Reaction score
861
Location
Yuma, Arizona
Vehicles
2018 X100D and 2023 YP
Occupation
IT Specialist
Country flag
With four motors there's no "sending more power to the non-spinning wheels" Each wheel has ~200 hp available to make it turn, and that power isn't affected by other wheels spinning. It isn't like the traditional one motor 4X4 ICE vehicle where all the horsepower of the engine can be shunted to one tire that's spinning in the air. A tire off the ground could be spinning at 100 mph (the computer wouldn't allow this to happen probably), but each tire with traction will still have all ~200 hp of it's capability pushing that tire along. It may seem like a waste not to be able to shunt that power to the two (one?) tires with traction, but is there really any situation where one tire needs more than ~500 ft/lbs of torque? That's more than enough power to overcome the friction of the tire/surface.

Next year Rivian is promising to release a dual motor version. That will benefit from locking differentials. I REALLY hope they don't do a brake application version of traction control. Brakes can steal power in many cases.
I understand all that, but I can't quite believe that all four tires could be on sandstone with the truck not moving, and yet only one tire is spinning if the power modulation software is working efficiently. Rivian could easily reduce power to the spinning wheel. Furthermore, I can't believe that the other 3 unmoving tires each had 200 hp applied to them without being able to move the truck. Bottom line, their software needs work.
 

Rutrow

Well-known member
First Name
Dan
Joined
May 25, 2021
Threads
8
Messages
1,031
Reaction score
2,429
Location
Little Rock, Arkansas
Vehicles
Model S, Model 3, CyberTruck Tri-motor reservation
Occupation
Firefighter
Country flag
Not Baja, but Moab. Not CT, but Rivian.
Shows the need for *much* beefier suspension due to "instant torque" power over rocks.
(btw trail mater is a great channel to follow for back country vehicle situations)

A broken tie rod isn't likely due to too much torque to the wheels, but rather too much force from the steering rack. Tie rods usually break when the driver tries to turn the steering wheel when the tire is up against something (like a rock) that won't let it rotate on it's vertical axis. It's such a common mistake even amongst experienced rock crawlers that many carry a spare tie rod with them, just in case.

My question for Rivian is: Can your onboard power outlets run a welder?!? 🤔 It'd be kind of nice to haul a welder along when you go 4 wheelin' 😃
 


CyberGus

Well-known member
First Name
Gus
Joined
May 22, 2021
Threads
67
Messages
5,807
Reaction score
19,080
Location
Austin, TX
Website
www.timeanddate.com
Vehicles
1981 DeLorean, 2024 Cybertruck
Occupation
IT Specialist
Country flag
With four motors there's no "sending more power to the non-spinning wheels".
Theoretically I can get more torque if I'm not wasting power. But the real problem with the "spinning tire" is from it digging a deeper and deeper hole.

The computer should limit a "spinning" or non-productive wheel.
 

Rutrow

Well-known member
First Name
Dan
Joined
May 25, 2021
Threads
8
Messages
1,031
Reaction score
2,429
Location
Little Rock, Arkansas
Vehicles
Model S, Model 3, CyberTruck Tri-motor reservation
Occupation
Firefighter
Country flag
Theoretically I can get more torque if I'm not wasting power. But the real problem with the "spinning tire" is from it digging a deeper and deeper hole.

The computer should limit a "spinning" or non-productive wheel.
😬 If it's digging, it's producing forward (or backwards) force.
Yeah... there's a limit to how deep you want to dig, but holding (the equivalent of 1200 rpms ICE) in mud or snow is desirable.
 

Quicksilver

Well-known member
First Name
Charles
Joined
Feb 24, 2020
Threads
10
Messages
538
Reaction score
644
Location
Alabama
Vehicles
Nissan van
Occupation
Retired military
Country flag
"Win on Sunday, sell on Monday." Old NASCAR slogan.
Sponsored

 
 




Top