Can the Hitch Cover Be Raised/Removed…

[mrbulk]

…to steepen CT’s departure angle? (title amended because it was pointedly made clear that it is specifically NOT the drain tub but the hitch cover).

Reason is I just watched the Denniscw YT clip where they drove a CT and a Rivian up the steeply angled concrete wall of a drainage wash. The starting angle of the wall is very abrupt and it appeared the rear of CT hung too low to clear it (before they adjusted the suspension to full height - extract mode?) and only then did the rear clear it.

Although I’m thinking at worst they would just scrape off some of the bottom of the resin drainage tub?

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[mrbulk]

Forgot to add, the front of CT had no issue clearing the wall when it was at the original lower air suspension setting, just the rear with that black plastic box hanging down so low like that.

 

[Gigahorse]

The technical term is aero diaper
Not sure about removal but there are a couple videos of guys looking under/in and it appears to be hollow plastic, so other than having to watch out for wires it looks like it should be removable to help departure angle. Will cost some range though based on the wind tunnel pics.

 

[Pops]

The aftermarket bumper "CYBERTRUCK UP INVINCIBLE® HD REAR BUMPER" claims to improve departure angle.

 

[mrbulk]

The aftermarket bumper "CYBERTRUCK UP INVINCIBLE® HD REAR BUMPER" claims to improve departure angle.

Yikes the only price I could find was with it sold together with trailer hitch.

How about just a flat metal plate for maximum clearance and minimal storage? I can already hear the off-road purists paraphrasing Mel Brooks’ “Blazing Saddles”:

“Storage been? We dawn NEE’ no steenkin’ storage been!”

 

[SolarWizard]

The aftermarket bumper "CYBERTRUCK UP INVINCIBLE® HD REAR BUMPER" claims to improve departure angle.

Definitely gonna sound like a broken record here but truly reputable off road aftermarket isnt gonna put stuff out that saves just 2* of departure

 

[Cybertruck 1974]

Glad these guys were able to figure out how to drive the CT. LMAO Let's do a comparative video when we don't know anything about the vehicle. LMAO. I thought the LA River was off limits? Either way, yes the tub is removable but it does not hang lower than the battery pack nor the rear bumper so not needed to remove.

 

[Woodrick]

…to steepen CT’s departure angle?

Reason is I just watched the Denniscw YT clip where they drove a CT and a Rivian up the steeply angled concrete wall of a drainage wash. The starting angle of the wall is very abrupt and it appeared the rear of CT hung too low to clear it (before they adjusted the suspension to full height - extract mode?) and only then did the rear clear it.

Although I’m thinking at worst they would just scrape off some of the bottom of the resin drainage tub?

What do you mean by "rear drain tub"?

 

[XCeilidhX]

Definitely gonna sound like a broken record here but truly reputable off road aftermarket isnt gonna put stuff out that saves just 2* of departure

This company is actually ultra-reputable. The departure angle
improvement is more of a side effect for that rear bumper and trailer hitch combo than the advertised purpose, so to speak. This company’s racing moda on the Model S pretty much take first place in nearly all if not all the races it enters, if I’m remembering correctly. I wouldn’t be too hasty to jump to conclusions about the “reputableness” of a company based on an out of context aspect of the advertising of a product as if what that one phote showed were the purpose of the product. It isn’t. The improved departure angle is a bonus rather than the main event. Just FYI so people don’t walk away from this discussion with the impression you have from what appears to be a rather snap judgment. FWIW.

 

[mrbulk]

What do you mean by "rear drain tub"?

The bottom of the storage compartment at the rear of the bed has a removable drain plug so you can drain out the water and ice from tailgating beer sessions.

 

[cvalue13]

given the location of the hitch receiver, I’m not sure removing the diaper alone gains you much clearance at all

pretty sure it jacks your aero, though

 

[Crissa]

The bottom of the storage compartment at the rear of the bed has a removable drain plug so you can drain out the water and ice from tailgating beer sessions.

That's not the part that sticks down into the departure angle, is it?

-Crissa

 

[mrbulk]

That's not the part that sticks down into the departure angle, is it?

-Crissa

I am unsure because I have not yet seen a CT in person - although tomorrow at noon I will.

I am going by what can be seen in the video, that if the very back edge of the black protrusion underneath was angled/rounded off the CT would have made it up on the first try.

 

[Crissa]

I am unsure because I have not yet seen a CT in person - although tomorrow at noon I will.

I am going by what can be seen in the video, that if the very back edge of the black protrusion underneath was angled/rounded off the CT would have made it up on the first try.

Right, but that covers the hitch and isn't the smuggler's cavity.

-Crissa

 

[mrbulk]

Right, but that covers the hitch and isn't the smuggler's cavity.

-Crissa

Well then I guess the title should be amended to can the hitch cover be eliminated or somehow raised up slightly out of the way. But I could not make such a specific reference as I was talking about the video as I stated.

My point was not to specifically say it was the drainage tub but instead the actual departure angle clearance, although again I will see one in person tomorrow and will report something on here if applicable.

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