Why the Cybertruck is in Nevada = SAE J2807 Towing Test

[cvalue13]

Earlier today the “RC” wrapped CT was seen being trailered into and around Nevada. It was also seen at a charge station with a hitch.

“Why’s it in Vegas?,” many wondered.

But now that it’s been sighted near Laughlin, Nevada, it seems obvious why it’s in Nevada

The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J2807 “Performance Requirements for Determining Tow-Vehicle Gross Combination Weight Rating and Trailer Weight Rating” fordetermining a given truck’s trailering ability.

The J2807 has been discussed at length elsewhere on forum, but one of its dozens of standardized tests isthe J2807 “Highway Gradeability” tests takes place on a well-known stretch of Arizona highway, the 11.4-mile-long Davis Dam Grade. A minimum temperature of 100 degrees required at the base of the grade.

The Davis Dam Grade Arizona State Route 68 is a stretch of road that starts in the Davis Dam area of the Colorado River, close to Laughlin, Nevada, and Bullhead City, Arizona, with an elevation of just about 550 feet. This stretch of highway travels through the Black Mountains and climbs to Highway 93 near Kingman, Arizona. The section used for the SAE J2807 Highway Gradeability Test starts just past the intersection of SR 68 and Highway 95 outside of Laughlin and climbs to more than 3,500 feet in just 11.4 miles.

According to the above-linked xweet (and FB post it came from), the truck was seen near Laughlin - unclear if those are the trailered photos, or the trailering photo.

In any event, the required >100° temps were met each of the last and next few days.

Notably, it is possible to satisfy the J2807 grade test in simulated conditions, so Tesla need not have sent the CT there to test.

But where there’s smoke(ing trailer brakes)…



UPDATED with sighting info / photos / video from @SKUUT (see post)

I've been a lurker on the board for a while but had to post when I saw cvalue13's post. I saw the truck heading towards Union Pass yesterday. I'm assuming that they had just turned around and headed back to the starting point, or they possibly headed into Kingman and charged there (not sure if there were any sightings reported at the Kingman superchargers). The truck was Cruising at about 55 mph and was being followed by an F250 support vehicle, there were probably three to four guys in each truck. I did a quadruple take when I first saw it, and had to be a stalker following it all the way down the hill to where they pulled over in a truck lot next to the river. I overheard one of the passengers mention 37% on the battery. This could be what was left over after heading up and coming back down; I'm not sure. If someone wants to bother doing the math on what this could mean for pack size. Attached is my upside-down video haha... I followed the truck to see if they were going to head towards Needles, CA or up the opposing mountain range and into Boulder City so that I could guess the size of the pack. But, they apparently loaded it onto that truck after I left. Enjoy!

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[Deleted member 17810]

98 degrees feels like 245 on skin

 

[fritter63]

98 degrees feels like 245 on skin

But it's a dry heat!........

 

[Macgreiner]

At least those kind of temperatures will prevent people from leaving finger prints.

 

[Gurule92]

I'm surprised to only see 1 there if that is the case.

 

[hridge2020]

At least those kind of temperatures will prevent people from leaving finger prints.

But might leave some burnt skin behind when touching the hot stainless steel.

 

[cvalue13]

I'm surprised to only see 1 there if that is the case.

like I said, SAE doesn’t require any units do it physically - the Dam conditions test can be replicated in special tunnels that are temp controlled, etc. (can’t always get >100° temps there)

so, if Tesla felt the need for multiple tests, it could still have them elsewhere, with only one unit sent to do the physical … for whatever reason.

that said, the SAE tests aren’t a requirement - they’re an objective standard manufacturers have opted into so that consumers can have 1-for-1 comparisons of towing capabilities. The majors have all opted in.

Only requires one successful completion of the run, for SAE validation

 

[Gurule92]

like I said, SAE doesn’t require any units do it physically - the Dam conditions test can be replicated in special tunnels that are temp controlled, etc. (can’t always get >100° temps there)

so, if Tesla felt the need for multiple tests, it could still have them elsewhere, with only one unit sent to do the physical … for whatever reason.

that said, the SAE tests aren’t a requirement - they’re an objective standard manufacturers have opted into so that consumers can have 1-for-1 comparisons of towing capabilities. The majors have all opted in.

Only requires one successful completion of the run, for SAE validation

Makes sense. I just can't imagine not having backups. Lol

 

[cvalue13]

Makes sense. I just can't imagine not having backups. Lol

it’s possible there are/were two “RC” wrapped units there

notice that some of the NV photos show the unit with or without the tape and wires

could be the same unit with it on/off, or two units one with one without?

 

[cvalue13]

it’s possible there are/were two “RC” wrapped units there

notice that some of the NV photos show the unit with or without the tape and wires

could be the same unit with it on/off, or two units one with one without?

BTW, you’d need results for both a dual and tri-motor build ??‍

 

[TyPope]

Is that wiring testing for flex while towing the SAE route?

 

[cvalue13]

Is that wiring testing for flex while towing the SAE route?

I don’t know, but I did see some folks in xwitter stating with some apparent familiarity that those EKG-like paddles on the driver’s side would be for some sort of detection along those lines. But they used big words I don’t remember

I wonder if those paddles and/or wires are roughly located where the rear casting segments are bonded to one-another and/or the cab body? Could also possibly be the locations where ss panels attach to casting?

 

[Almost Mars]

Earlier today the “RC” wrapped CT was seen being trailered into and around Nevada. It was also seen at a charge station with a hitch.

“Why’s it in Vegas?,” many wondered.

But now that it’s been sighted near Laughlin, Nevada, it seems obvious why it’s in Nevada

The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J2807 “Performance Requirements for Determining Tow-Vehicle Gross Combination Weight Rating and Trailer Weight Rating” fordetermining a given truck’s trailering ability.

The J2807 has been discussed at length elsewhere on forum, but one of its dozens of standardized tests isthe J2807 “Highway Gradeability” tests takes place on a well-known stretch of Arizona highway, the 11.4-mile-long Davis Dam Grade. A minimum temperature of 100 degrees required at the base of the grade.

The Davis Dam Grade Arizona State Route 68 is a stretch of road that starts in the Davis Dam area of the Colorado River, close to Laughlin, Nevada, and Bullhead City, Arizona, with an elevation of just about 550 feet. This stretch of highway travels through the Black Mountains and climbs to Highway 93 near Kingman, Arizona. The section used for the SAE J2807 Highway Gradeability Test starts just past the intersection of SR 68 and Highway 95 outside of Laughlin and climbs to more than 3,500 feet in just 11.4 miles.

According to the above-linked xweet (and FB post it came from), the truck was seen near Laughlin - unclear if those are the trailered photos, or the trailering photo.

In any event, the required >100° temps were met each of the last and next few days.

Notably, it is possible to satisfy the J2807 grade test in simulated conditions, so Tesla need not have sent the CT there to test.

But where there’s smoke(ing trailer brakes)…

This was our daily commute a couple of years ago, and why we bought our first Tesla Model 3. The gas going up that hill added up. The M3 saved us $300 a month in fuel costs.

We saw camo trucks all time with trailers. I also counted over 15 car fires on that stretch in one year. It’s a brutal hill as hills go.

 

[greggertruck]

98 degrees feels like 245 on skin

Everyday here ,my dude. It’s very hot still and will be upwards of 112 this weekend in Phoenix..

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