FRUNK on the Cybertruck?

[JBee]

It could be possible for the front end to actually tilt forward like a semi does. I’ve seen pics where the top edge of frunk area meets really close to the BAW. So, makes me think it’s opposite of the Ford lightning.

I think this is unlikely as it would be hard to access the frunk storage from the sides of the CT.

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[JBee]

Personal unsubstantiated is that grille lifts with hood. Release slides hood and grill forward prior to hinge at A pillar. Of course completely powered with multiple powered latches.

That is possible, but the hood need not slide first.
The CT hood could open with just the middle grille, or both side pieces including the lights. This would be determined by how much space is available in front of the front well wells, so I'd expect to only get a middle opening grill, and the lights and side sections remain in place, which also means it's a bit more structural in those areas without to much to span. Hood would be actuated either way.

 

[Ogre]

I feel like people are dreaming up totally impractical features to create disappointment and resentment when the final design is actually revealed.

I dream up completely impractical features because it’s interesting.

I love the idea of the drawer front. Probably won’t happen, but it’s interesting. So long as you don’t fall in love with your idea there is no harm in it.

 

[Dids]

I dream up completely impractical features because it’s interesting.

I love the idea of the drawer front. Probably won’t happen, but it’s interesting. So long as you don’t fall in love with your idea there is no harm in it.

What happens if something falls behind drawer when you open it?

 

[RVAC]

The lifting front grill will work just as well as the side impact protection the the opening side doors that get you inside the vehicle. On impact the grill is compressed into the frame, just like the the doors are compressed into the cabin frame. In fact the MY does the exact same thing with the front cast, they leave the middle "soft" intentionally, with minimal sections across it to protect ingress.

Exactly, I'm not seeing why it wouldn't be possible from a crash-worthiness perspective for the hood and grille to open up like on the Lightning. Whether they'll do it is a different matter.

It would be ideal place for an outside camp kitchen [...] With that the bed would be free to be used for materials, or toys.

This would be the ideal solution, frunk opens up like the Lightning and camp kitchen slides out like on the Rivian. That leaves the bed free to be used unlike the original camp kitchen concept renderings Tesla published.

 

[charliemagpie]

What happens if something falls behind drawer when you open it?

No problem, we just call a kangaroo to retrieve it

 

[HaulingAss]

Lol hilarious buddy! Your reality is obviously not the same one engineers live in.

It seems you still haven't changed you ideas in over a year of what to expect in the frunk, but at least you didn't mention how "little" the frunk will have to be this time because there is "no way" it could have one the size of the Lightning. BTW I'm not lifting expectations, just showing what is possible, to answer the question posed by the OP with some more details because I can using CAD and actual dimensions.

The lifting front grill will work just as well as the side impact protection the the opening side doors that get you inside the vehicle. On impact the grill is compressed into the frame, just like the the doors are compressed into the cabin frame. In fact the MY does the exact same thing with the front cast, they leave the middle "soft" intentionally, with minimal sections across it to protect ingress.

As for the bumper height, which is the floor loading height on the Lightning, they are about the same between the Lightning and the CT:

Yes the top of the grill is lower on the CT, but the CT is still some 8-10" higher than the Lightning loading height without a opening grill. Note the interior of the CT is generally lower as it only has a structural pack and not a ladder frame etc.

Oh, no. I didn't say it was not possible to design Cybertruck so the front grill area would open with the hood, I said Tesla would not design it that way because it involves too many compromises. It's all about strength to weight ratio, safety and cost to produce. If an item is too heavy for an elderly owner to lift into the frunk, they will wheel it into the bed.

Yes, the Cybertruck frunk will have a slighly higher lift-over height than the F-150 and this is a good design trade-off for the structural inegrity in the event of impact. I see you compared the Cybertruck front structure to the front structure of the Model 3 and Model Y but this is a very poor comparison because they are such different vehicles with different construction and capacities. The Model 3&Y do not need to protect the occupants with up to a 3500 lb. load in the bed and cabin. And niether does the F-150 Lightning. It has only 2000 lbs. max payload and that's on the standard range model, the 300-mile version is only 1800 lbs.

It's important to realize that increasing the payload of a vehicle increases the need for impact strength. It needs to manage that much more energy in the event of frontal impact. Having the 3mm stainless sheet in the "grill" area not welded in a cohesive manner to the side panels would require an excessive amount of extra structure in the front casting increasing the cost and weight of the vehicle and reducing its off-road capability (as well as on road handling and efficiency/range). The trade-offs are not worth a frunk that loads from the front instead of from the top.

 

[HaulingAss]

Exactly, I'm not seeing why it wouldn't be possible from a crash-worthiness perspective for the hood and grille to open up like on the Lightning. Whether they'll do it is a different matter.

Nobody said it was not possible, the trade-offs are not logical.

Mark my words, the Cybertruck frunk will not be front-loading, it will be top-loading like every other Tesla to date. And for that I'm thankful. If you don't believe me, we can revisit it right here once these details have been revealed.

 

[RVAC]

Nobody said it was not possible, the trade-offs are not logical.

Mark my words, the Cybertruck frunk will not be front-loading, it will be top-loading like every other Tesla to date. And for that I'm thankful. If you don't believe me, we can revisit it right here once these details have been revealed.

That's not much of a prediction, chances are it will ship as was shown. However there's a difference between it not being done because of cost and not being done because it would be unsafe which is what you initially stated:

This should be obvious to anyone familiar with the design constraints of crash safety. This is a critical part of the front crumple zone and giving up the strength of that 3mm cold-rolled stainless steel to a hinged hood or drawer would be a stupid design decision if Tesla wants to make the vehicle as safe as possible. And Tesla always puts safety first. That is why so few people die in a Tesla. Safety matters. That's how we know it will open conventionally.

 

[HaulingAss]

That's not much of a prediction, chances are it will ship as was shown. However there's a difference between it not being done because of cost and not being done because it would be unsafe which is what you initially stated:

Vehicle design needs to be viewed holistically. If you give up safety, you can get it back by adding more weight. But then efficiency suffers. And probably cost too. Everything is related. I was simply saying Tesla is not willing to substitute a minor convenience for safety but that could also be extended to cost, efficiency, range, and capabilities, amongst other things. It's all connected.

 

[Jhodgesatmb]

I haven't seen the 'try' idea yet either and if could solve several problems if implemented properly. What would be challenging would be providing power access in a tray since cables would have to move with the tray. Also, if someone wanted to mount a winch or plow the tray idea would make that impossible. The way the front of the CT is designed it would be possible to have a 'Lightning' style frunk, with the headlights integral to the section that moves. Given the weight of that amount of SS it would have to implement some serious lifts. Sadly there has been no information on the frunk since the unveiling.

 

[Jhodgesatmb]

Let's remain grounded in reality, folks.

The Cybertruck hood is much lower than the Rivian or Lightning hoods. That means frunk access won't be a problem even if the hood simply opens conventionally, like all other Tesla to date. The load height will be even lower with the suspension in the low position in the event that a strength-challenged person wants to put a heavy watermelon in the Frunk without straining a muscle. The important dimension for ease of loading the frunk is the horizontal distance from the forward most point of the vehicle to the frunk recess because that will determine how far loaded items must be held away from your body to place them in the frunk. We won't know that until we see the first pictures of the open hood.

The low height of the hood means the flat front panel below the hood will not lift with the hood, nor will it pull out like a drawer. This should be obvious to anyone familiar with the design constraints of crash safety. This is a critical part of the front crumple zone and giving up the strength of that 3mm cold-rolled stainless steel to a hinged hood or drawer would be a stupid design decision if Tesla wants to make the vehicle as safe as possible. And Tesla always puts safety first. That is why so few people die in a Tesla. Safety matters. That's how we know it will open conventionally.

I feel like people are dreaming up totally impractical features to create disappointment and resentment when the final design is actually revealed. That would be shameful, and the considerate interpretation would simply be that there are a lot of people that don't understand vehicle design. That could explain this irrational fixation on having a non-structural front grill area. I sincerely hope it is not the former, but I am well aware of how many people spend hours of their time trying to discredit Tesla and throwing shade their way.

You don't really believe that anyone here would be disappointed with whatever frunk comes out do you? It is more likely the case that, in our frustration over the almost complete lack of information from Tesla, people are inventing ways to stay sane in the vacuum. I would use the recent delivery of heavy components to the stamping and die-casting areas, and the photograph of the BIW area, and how much discussion resulted from them, as proof positive of the general need to talk about all things Cybertruck. I will not be disappointed as long as there is any frunk, and I think you are right about the angle of the hood, but having just visited Prototype 1 at the Petersen I think there is still plenty of height for a frunk. Maybe not so much depth as other vehicles. More importantly, to me, would be functionality of the frunk; access to power, mounting a winch, or a plow, than storage volume. Those attributes would be [much] less affected by how the frunk opens.

 

[Jhodgesatmb]

My initial reaction to the drawer-as-frunk idea was, "Awesome", but less than 30 seconds later practicality pissed on that wet dream. Not being able to open it when properly parked up against a signpost, or bollard, or wall is strike one. How things naturally and magically end up exceeding the height of any drawer and jamming the ability to open the drawer is strike 2. Second strike could be mitigated somewhat by proper top trim panel, either in the recess itself or mounted to the drawer so that it auto closes as the drawer retracts. Canoo's front opening is probably the best thought out that I've seen, though. That design doesn't perfectly mitigate strike 1, but should clear most center-only objects, and can't have any problems with strike 2 that I can see.

Will be curious to see what CT ends up with. Bring on the final design reveal!!!

I entirely forgot that the frunk is our way to add fluids, 12 v battery, and filters. It isn't 'just' a storage area. These things, and all the other points raised, kill the tray idea. The Canoo 'is' looking good. I am pleased with the BEVs coming out.

 

[Cybr on]

I think this is unlikely as it would be hard to access the frunk storage from the sides of the CT.

Ummm I would have to agree. When I read that again, I thought, ?‍? sorry guys. A little too much eggnog ?

 

[Ogre]

What happens if something falls behind drawer when you open it?

You have to drive around with the drawer stuck open until it falls out.


PS I did say it was impractical!

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