First real Cybertruck Off Road footage?

[greggertruck]

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[TexasRaider]

Of course, after I leave Sedona, AZ ha

 

[scottf200]

You have to like that they a using testing equipment for analyzing still ... yeah for OTAs.

 

[Cybergirl]

I purchased a CT for travel and off-road adventuring, so these reports interest me. I think CT will be a good off-road, overland vehicle. I'm not particularly interested in extreme rock crawling, but need a vehicle to get through a few tight spots here and there. My main concern is the range driving off road. With tires aired-down and rough terrain efficiency will be cut drastically.

The AWD Foundation Series Cybertruck has an EPA range of 318 miles. The range will be significantly reduced when traveling off road in rocky and hilly terrain with deflated tires. Adding the Range Extender increases the range by 120 miles in ideal conditions, but takes up a third of the bed, weighs ~600 lbs, and costs $16,000.

My solution is to bring along a 100 lb dual-fuel generator and 50 lbs of propane weighing another 100 lbs including tank weight. 50lbs of propane will convert to 50 kWh of charge to the Cybertruck’s battery using the generator accounting for inefficiencies, extending the off-road range by 40%.

I paid $860 for a Westinghouse 4500 dual-fuel generator and $110 for a 30 lb propane cylinder at Tractor Supply. I already have a 20 lb cylinder for a total of 50 lbs of propane. These items can be transported in the vault and taken out at night to charge the battery, freeing up the bed for sleeping. With the generator located 20 feet away, the noise level is about 57 DB at 3.3kW load which is about the same as a Honda EU2200i at 1.8kW load. At 24A @ 120VAC = 2880 watts using the mobile charger, I can add 23 kWh of charge to the battery in 8 hours. That's about 28 miles at 0.800 kWh/mi.

Being dual fuel, one can resort to running the generator on gasoline if the need arises. I’ll avoid doing doing so to eliminate the smell and having to deal with the maintenance of the generator, but it’s a good backup provision if I get stranded on the trail.

When it comes to getting stranded on the trail, I will also have a Starlink antenna and VOIP phone to contact someone for help if the need arises. Starlink Mobile costs $150/month, but can be paused when not being used. Having an internet connection is great for downloading map/trail information, researching points of interest, and keeping loved ones informed about our whereabouts.

 

[CyberClydesdaleBeast]

Very well thought out dual-fuel generator plan! Impressive!

 

[Cybergirl]

Very well thought out dual-fuel generator plan! Impressive!

Hey, thanks!

 

[Outdoors]

I purchased a CT for travel and off-road adventuring, so these reports interest me. I think CT will be a good off-road, overland vehicle. I'm not particularly interested in extreme rock crawling, but need a vehicle to get through a few tight spots here and there. My main concern is the range driving off road. With tires aired-down and rough terrain efficiency will be cut drastically.

The AWD Foundation Series Cybertruck has an EPA range of 318 miles. The range will be significantly reduced when traveling off road in rocky and hilly terrain with deflated tires. Adding the Range Extender increases the range by 120 miles in ideal conditions, but takes up a third of the bed, weighs ~600 lbs, and costs $16,000.

My solution is to bring along a 100 lb dual-fuel generator and 50 lbs of propane weighing another 100 lbs including tank weight. 50lbs of propane will convert to 50 kWh of charge to the Cybertruck’s battery using the generator accounting for inefficiencies, extending the off-road range by 40%.

I paid $860 for a Westinghouse 4500 dual-fuel generator and $110 for a 30 lb propane cylinder at Tractor Supply. I already have a 20 lb cylinder for a total of 50 lbs of propane. These items can be transported in the vault and taken out at night to charge the battery, freeing up the bed for sleeping. With the generator located 20 feet away, the noise level is about 57 DB at 3.3kW load which is about the same as a Honda EU2200i at 1.8kW load. At 24A @ 120VAC = 2880 watts using the mobile charger, I can add 23 kWh of charge to the battery in 8 hours. That's about 28 miles at 0.800 kWh/mi.

Being dual fuel, one can resort to running the generator on gasoline if the need arises. I’ll avoid doing doing so to eliminate the smell and having to deal with the maintenance of the generator, but it’s a good backup provision if I get stranded on the trail.

When it comes to getting stranded on the trail, I will also have a Starlink antenna and VOIP phone to contact someone for help if the need arises. Starlink Mobile costs $150/month, but can be paused when not being used. Having an internet connection is great for downloading map/trail information, researching points of interest, and keeping loved ones informed about our whereabouts.

Interesting approach. May I ask what the other items you plan on taking in case one gets "stranded" on the trail? Would be very interested in the total weight of your setup.

 

[Cybergirl]

Interesting approach. May I ask what the other items you plan on taking in case one gets "stranded" on the trail? Would be very interested in the total weight of your setup.

We don't do technical stuff. Mainly easy to moderate trails on established trails in the west and southwest. The Cybertruck has a 2500 lb payload capacity, so there's generally no danger of overloading it. I avoid pulling a trailer due to range limitations of an EV. Everything has to be stowed inside the truck to minimize aerodynamic drag. Net weight is about 1500 lbs. Passengers 300 lbs. The dual-fuel generator/propane 200 - 300 lbs depending on range extension need. A spare tire, jack, and air pump 170 lbs. 10' x 10' canopy 50 lbs. Food, water, small AC fridge, and cooking equipment 400 lbs. We sleep in the vault on a Luno air mattress, so no tent. I bring along some 300 - 500 pounds of other gear like tools, charging cables, ceramic heater, cameras, self defense weapon, telescope/binoculars, camp chairs, Starlink antenna and router, Ooma Telo VoIP phone, a portable toilet, emergency gas can (empty), a small 120 Vac winch if needed. Of course, bedding, clothes, jackets, rain gear, hiking boots, personal supplies, tarps, rope, etc. Most is stored in the cab on shelves installed behind the front seats (back seat removed). Big things will be carried in the vault and taken out when setting up camp for the night.

 

[Cold.Truth]

It looks like you have some adventures ahead of you and you certainly did the math. I look forward to your posts and your commentary on how everything worked out. Buona fortuna!

 

[Cybergirl]

I hadn't considered the Hummer. I watched video of it both on road and off. It didn't appeal to me at first glance, but looking into it further, I can say that it's not what I want. From an engineering standpoint, it's unimpressive. The Hummer's efficiency is awful. That big battery doesn't extend the range much more than the CT AWD. It weighs 9000 lbs! The coefficient of drag is 0.56 compared to CT's 0.355. It has a 5' bed, and no spare. But even if none of these disadvantages bothered me, what really dissuades me from buying a Hummer EV is that it's made by GM, a company that is in the last years of its century long life.

 

[SolarWizard]

I hadn't considered the Hummer. I watched video of it both on road and off. It didn't appeal to me at first glance, but looking into it further, I can say that it's not what I want. From an engineering standpoint, it's unimpressive. The Hummer's efficiency is awful. That big battery doesn't extend the range much more than the CT AWD. It weighs 9000 lbs! The coefficient of drag is 0.56 compared to CT's 0.355. It has a 5' bed, and no spare. But even if none of these disadvantages bothered me, what really dissuades me from buying a Hummer EV is that it's made by GM, a company that is in the last years of its century long life.

You do realize there is no spare in the cybertruck either, right?

 

[Rutrow]

I purchased a CT for travel and off-road adventuring, so these reports interest me. I think CT will be a good off-road, overland vehicle. I'm not particularly interested in extreme rock crawling, but need a vehicle to get through a few tight spots here and there. My main concern is the range driving off road. With tires aired-down and rough terrain efficiency will be cut drastically.

The AWD Foundation Series Cybertruck has an EPA range of 318 miles. The range will be significantly reduced when traveling off road in rocky and hilly terrain with deflated tires. Adding the Range Extender increases the range by 120 miles in ideal conditions, but takes up a third of the bed, weighs ~600 lbs, and costs $16,000.

My solution is to bring along a 100 lb dual-fuel generator and 50 lbs of propane weighing another 100 lbs including tank weight. 50lbs of propane will convert to 50 kWh of charge to the Cybertruck’s battery using the generator accounting for inefficiencies, extending the off-road range by 40%.

I paid $860 for a Westinghouse 4500 dual-fuel generator and $110 for a 30 lb propane cylinder at Tractor Supply. I already have a 20 lb cylinder for a total of 50 lbs of propane. These items can be transported in the vault and taken out at night to charge the battery, freeing up the bed for sleeping. With the generator located 20 feet away, the noise level is about 57 DB at 3.3kW load which is about the same as a Honda EU2200i at 1.8kW load. At 24A @ 120VAC = 2880 watts using the mobile charger, I can add 23 kWh of charge to the battery in 8 hours. That's about 28 miles at 0.800 kWh/mi.

Being dual fuel, one can resort to running the generator on gasoline if the need arises. I’ll avoid doing doing so to eliminate the smell and having to deal with the maintenance of the generator, but it’s a good backup provision if I get stranded on the trail.

When it comes to getting stranded on the trail, I will also have a Starlink antenna and VOIP phone to contact someone for help if the need arises. Starlink Mobile costs $150/month, but can be paused when not being used. Having an internet connection is great for downloading map/trail information, researching points of interest, and keeping loved ones informed about our whereabouts.

Test it before you head out for the first time. I don't remember what the grounding situation was that prevented the TFL crew, or was it Ben Sullins? ? but they couldn't just plug in a mobile connector and get a Tesla to charge from a generator. I think it needs a cord that has a grounded neutral wire?

You sound like me, wanting a vehicle capable of getting into the back country via the easiest route, not looking to find the toughest path to challenge your ride. If you watch most rock crawling videos, you'll see a fully kitted out 4X4 beast, barely making it thru an obstacle, and there'll be a Subaru sitting at the end of the path, presumably, having driven there along the easy route. ?

4X4ers are just TRYIN' to break something.

 

[Cybergirl]

No, no, no, the Hummer EV won't get that kind of range in proper range test. The 'Out of Spec Reviews" channel tested the Hummer's range at 70 mph at 70 deg F. It went 318 miles on a full charge to empty with an efficiency of only 1.4 miles/kWh. They did the same test for the Cybertruck AWD FS and got 253.7 miles on a full charge to shutdown at 70 mph with outside temperature of 45 deg F. The lower temperature reduced the range by 20% based on 4680 temperature/capacity data. At 70 deg the CT would have gone 300 miles or more with an efficiency of 2.4 miles/kWh. CT doesn't need a larger battery unless you do a lot of distance towing. Then add 130 miles of range with the Range Extender to get 470 miles of range.

The Earth Cruiser camper is very impressive and nicely integrated with the Hummer. Only one modification to the vehicle is needed (roof top hatch). It has its own 6 kWh 12v house battery and 600 watts of solar power. It's obvious very well built and functional.

Would I buy a Hummer EV to get this add-on? No, for several reasons:

1) The price of the camper will be as much or more than the price of the Hummer.
2) The payload capacity of the Hummer is only 1300 lbs. There will be very little load carrying capacity left with the camper installed.
3) The highway range of the Hummer will suffer with greater weight and aerodynamic drag.
4) Although the camper can be removed, doing so is not trivial. The combination effectively makes the Hummer an RV, serving neither a car nor a truck for practical purposes.

I'm holding out for the Cyberlandr which stows in the CT's vault under the tonneau cover. With the Cyberlandr stowed, the CT can fit inside my standard size garage and will not limit where I can go off-road due to increased width and height. There's no added aerodynamic drag when traveling at highway speeds. The CT has 2500 lbs payload capacity, more than enough to carry the Cyberlandr two people and 500 lbs of equipment and supplies. The CL can be removed from the vault with relative ease so that I still have the use of a pickup.

All things considered, I think the Cybertruck is better overall fit for me.

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