How many current / near future CT owners have never owned a truck before?

[Sleipnir]

Seems like most of the early deliveries have been to people that have never owned a full size truck much less a truly off-road capable vehicle. Guys like DennisCW seem to enjoy filming their CT more than they enjoy driving it. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but his ilk is not exactly what I'm looking for in a valuable opinion. Nothing but influencer tripe.

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[Woodrick]

If you are judging things by Social Media personalities, just don't. They ae nowhere involved with reality.

 

[bwhntr78]

Based on the thread title, I came in to ask how "near future" is defined. Because while I still plan on being an owner, how soon will depend greatly on how soon they can offer a long range version that meets my ~150 mile towing needs. i.e. ~500 EPA rating. I have owned a truck for all but about 5 years of my 30 years of driving, and use it regularly for towing toys (snowmobiles, utv, etc) 150+ miles to get to decent trails.

But I do find the "never owned a full size truck much less a truly off-road capable vehicle" somewhat interesting. Other than having 4wd decent ground clearance, the majority of full size trucks are actually not that great off road.

What tesla is offering the with the current versions of the CT I think is a good compromise for a large percentage of people that have never owned a truck before and most current 1/2 ton truck owners. I'd also guess that a large percentage of current 1/2 ton owners could pretty easily get by without a truck at all, but buy them because they are comfortable, roomy, etc.

The problem with compromises is that while they do a lot of things fairly well, they often aren't great at anything. And people that want/need something that excels in a certain category are going to be left wanting more.
If you are looking for a great off-roader, the current CT isn't it. If you are looking for something to tow more than 100 miles at a time (like me), the current CT isn't it. If you are looking for something unique, somewhat capable off-road, with a bunch of new tech, and don't care that a better version of it will be available for way less $ in a year or two, it's probably the best truck you can buy right now!

 

[cyberme207]

I have owned a Honda Ridgeline, 2022 (new gen) Tundra, and 2 Jeep Wranglers built for offroading with a lot of offroading experience.

I can tell you right now the cybertruck is not going to be good offroad. It's simply too heavy and long (breakover angle). I don't consider these well graded dirt paths the influencers do demos on to be "offroading". It will not go where a trail jeep goes. It won't fit or it will be too heavy to have tire traction on the terrain. It will sink to its axles in mud like an anchor.

IMO the cybertruck is a large fun vehicle with a truck bed that adds some utility. You get it because it makes the kid inside you excited. It's like buying a supercar. If you want or need a truck for real truck things like towing your boat or camper, you are much better off with an ICE truck. If you want a fun large SUV with a truck bed that is an EV that looks crazy, then get a CT.

FWIW I view the hummer and rivian the same way. The truck aspect is very casual, like buying furniture, picking up mulch. Taking stuff to the dump. Getting materials at home depot. Not suitable for long-distance towing or hauling.

That said, I'm still excited for my CT because I don't do any serious long distance towing or hauling and I just want a sweet vehicle. The max I need to tow our 7,500lb boat is ~75 miles in the summer during optimal condition a few times a year to the boat yard.

 

[scottyah]

I've never owned a truck myself, but grew up with them. My car (and the cybertruck) can haul pretty much all that I need in my suburban life, but I'm not seeing the ability for it to tow a trailer any reasonable distance.

Honestly, at this point I would have preferred a van or suv form factor for this vehicle.

 

[Cyber Man]

I’m one of those guys who do lots of things that a truck can do but with an SUV (Porsche Cayenne). Yeah seriously! Towing RV trailer, boats, dump trailer, boon docking, light off roading, etc. I reserved CT within an hour of unveiling because it was a no brainer for my scenario. IMO, other than long towing trips where you have to drive nonstop for several hours, there is no reason at all to buy conventional trucks.

Anybody who has done extensive towing knows that you need at least 20 mins break every 2-3 hours. In few years, pull through Tesla supercharges will catch up. I don’t see any reason to go back to traditional trucks.

CT has everything and a lot more that I would need from a traditional truck - superior driving, metal body, amazing torque, secured storage, airbag suspension, power outlet, good payload/towing, independent torque vectoring, great sound system, self-leveling suspension, the list goes on. Based on what some new owners are reporting, range is also not a problem for me. 300+ miles of combined range is more than enough. All I need is to have more pull through chargers in the areas I tow in west coast. I’m sure Tesla will do the right thing and expand the network of pull through chargers in next 3-4 years. I can wait. I’m surprised they didn’t foresee this while building regular ones.

 

[Crissa]

I don't consider these well graded dirt paths the influencers do demos on to be "offroading".

Off highway is off highway. It's what trucks have been doing since the beginning. The TransAmerica Trail is still going to be graded dirt paths. Why? Because people have been in North America for tens of thousands of years; it's just highly unlikely someone hasn't built a road where you're going before.

It'll be a great off-roader for me, which is just carting my camp deep into the mountains on forestry roads. I already do this with a front-wheel-drive Mazda 3. Not being hemmed in by ruts or wash will be great. I was on one recently where the grading of one road created a berm I couldn't go over. I ended up driving ten miles around the other side. I made it, but it was annoying.

It will not go where a trail jeep goes.

...And that's totally true. It's not a little thing. But it'll do all the truck things expected. It'll get to nearly of the mines I'm allowed to drive to, and that's all that matters.

There's just very few places left you can't take a bigger truck that you also wouldn't just be banned from bringing a motor vehicle in the first place.

??‍

-Crissa

 

[Jabman]

Off highway is off highway. It's what trucks have been doing since the beginning. The TransAmerica Trail is still going to be graded dirt paths. Why? Because people have been in North America for tens of thousands of years; it's just highly unlikely someone hasn't built a road where you're going before.

It'll be a great off-roader for me, which is just carting my camp deep into the mountains on forestry roads. I already do this with a front-wheel-drive Mazda 3. Not being hemmed in by ruts or wash will be great. I was on one recently where the grading of one road created a berm I couldn't go over. I ended up driving ten miles around the other side. I made it, but it was annoying.


...And that's totally true. It's not a little thing. But it'll do all the truck things expected. It'll get to nearly of the mines I'm allowed to drive to, and that's all that matters.

There's just very few places left you can't take a bigger truck that you also wouldn't just be banned from bringing a motor vehicle in the first place.

??‍

-Crissa

Agreed. There are specific tools for specific jobs. You don’t bring a wheel barrow to move tons of dirt, just like you don’t use a garden shovel to dig a house foundation.
The cybertruck is like a utility knife or a multitool. It’s not great at one specific thing, but in a pinch, it does just fine.
I drive a Ram 1500. I’ve used it to tow a 32 foot trailer for camping, haul pavers for landscape architecture, carry plywood and Sheetrock and 80lb bags of concrete, traverse dirt country roads, help friends move, haul furniture, plow snow, and crush apocalyptic zombies.
Ok, maybe not the last one. But I expect the cybertruck to do most, if not all, of the things I normally do, albeit with some limitation.
And I live in a suburban area. And most of my days are spent commuting to and from work.
If I can do these things in a vehicle that looks like it stepped out of a sci-fi movie and enjoy every moment of it, then why would I complain it can’t compete with a Wrangler on the most rigorous of off-road trails or tow like a Ford F-350?
I’m buying a Swiss Army Knife. Not a hammer.

 

[Mattsplat]

Seems like most of the early deliveries have been to people that have never owned a full size truck much less a truly off-road capable vehicle. Guys like DennisCW seem to enjoy filling their CT more than they enjoy driving it. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but his ilk is not exactly what I'm looking for in a valuable opinion. Nothing but influencer tripe.

This will be my first truck. Awaiting VIN

 

[Celiboy]

I started fishing as my self care when I was 16 years old. As soon as I had my fist car, a 1985 Ford Escort lol, I’d be off fishing as often as I could go. I bought my first bass boat around age 25 and have been using Ford and Chevy trucks to tow the 10+ boats I’ve owned over the years since then. I wasn’t able to afford that first boat and had to let it go (young father with kids).

In 2017 my wife and I reserved our M3 which we finally received in 2018. It didn’t take long for either of us to realize we were never going back to ICE vehicles. We fell in love with the instant torque, the agility, the convenience of charging at home and really enjoying driving again. About three months after buying the M3, we bought a 2014 MS (George) cause I had to have my own.

When Tesla announced they were building a truck, it was a no brainer for me to plop down my $100 and wait in line. Buying a Cybertruck to pull my boat is my life coming full circle. Since most of the lakes I fish are well within the towing range of the CT, it’s perfect for what I need.

As an almost 5 year Tesla owner who has a wife and son that need a break every couple of hours, having to stop and stretch, use the restroom, or get lunch while we charge on longer trips will be par for the course. We’re used to it and factory it into our drive time.

I’m so looking forward to never having to pump gas into anything for the rest of my life.

 

[CyberTruckeeTheOne]

I’m one of those guys who do lots of things that a truck can do but with an SUV (Porsche Cayenne). Yeah seriously! Towing RV trailer, boats, dump trailer, boon docking, light off roading, etc. I reserved CT within an hour of unveiling because it was a no brainer for my scenario. IMO, other than long towing trips where you have to drive nonstop for several hours, there is no reason at all to buy conventional trucks.

Anybody who has done extensive towing knows that you need at least 20 mins break every 2-3 hours. In few years, pull through Tesla supercharges will catch up. I don’t see any reason to go back to traditional trucks.

CT has everything and a lot more that I would need from a traditional truck - superior driving, metal body, amazing torque, secured storage, airbag suspension, power outlet, good payload/towing, independent torque vectoring, great sound system, self-leveling suspension, the list goes on. Based on what some new owners are reporting, range is also not a problem for me. 300+ miles of combined range is more than enough. All I need is to have more pull through chargers in the areas I tow in west coast. I’m sure Tesla will do the right thing and expand the network of pull through chargers in next 3-4 years. I can wait. I’m surprised they didn’t foresee see this while building regular ones.

My use case too!

I'll be pulling a 2,500 lbs RV more than enough for a couple like us and we don't want anymore upgrade.

Maybe if a lighter Lance truck camper comes along with features similar to theur 650z

We enjoy the journey in casual driving as much as the destination.

 

[Cyber Man]

I started fishing as my self care when I was 16 years old. As soon as I had my fist car, a 1985 Ford Escort lol, I’d be off fishing as often as I could go. I bought my first bass boat around age 25 and have been using Ford and Chevy trucks to tow the 10+ boats I’ve owned over the years since then. I wasn’t able to afford that first boat and had to let it go (young father with kids).

In 2017 my wife and I reserved our M3 which we finally received in 2018. It didn’t take long for either of us to realize we were never going back to ICE vehicles. We fell in love with the instant torque, the agility, the convenience of charging at home and really enjoying driving again. About three months after buying the M3, we bought a 2014 MS (George) cause I had to have my own.

When Tesla announced they were building a truck, it was a no brainer for me to plop down my $100 and wait in line. Buying a Cybertruck to pull my boat is my life coming full circle. Since most of the lakes I fish are well within the towing range of the CT, it’s perfect for what I need.

As an almost 5 year Tesla owner who has a wife and son that need a break every couple of hours, having to stop and stretch, use the restroom, or get lunch while we charge on longer trips will be par for the course. We’re used to it and factory it into our drive time.

I’m so looking forward to never having to pump gas into anything for the rest of my life.

Very nice! Once you start towing, it’ll open a whole new world.

My biggest complaint towing with ICE vehicles is when I stop at the rest area, I can’t do anything much in the trailer except take a nap (temperature permitted). I have to use a generator to run any appliance. With pull through Tesla chargers, you can connect trailer to CT outlet and fully run all appliances while it’s charging. It’ll save me time, energy, and money (as I don’t have to go around looking for a restaurant). These little things make a huge difference. Every couple of hours, eat/rest/relax, and ready to go!

I’m excited for the future of CT, including towing. It’s only going to get better from here.

 

[Cyber Man]

My use case too!

I'll be pulling a 2,500 lbs RV more than enough for a couple like us and we don't want anymore upgrade.

Maybe if a lighter Lance truck camper comes along with features similar to theur 650z

We enjoy the journey in casual driving as much as the destination.

CT will tow 2500 lbs like a breeze. I hope traditional truck campers will create CT version truck camper. I like https://cyberlandr.com/, but it’s a bit expensive IMO.

 

[Celiboy]

Very nice! Once you start towing, it’ll open a whole new world.

My biggest complaint towing with ICE vehicles is when I stop at the rest area, I can’t do anything much in the trailer except take a nap (temperature permitted). I have to use a generator to run any appliance. With pull through Tesla chargers, you can connect trailer to CT outlet and fully run all appliances while it’s charging. It’ll save me time, energy, and money (as I don’t have to go around looking for a restaurant). These little things make a huge difference. Every couple of hours, eat/rest/relax, and ready to go!

I’m excited for the future of CT, including towing. It’s only going to get better from here.

Nice! I agree. I currently have a 2006 Tundra and towing with it works but is in no way enjoyable. The great think about Tesla vehicles is they are constantly being improved. You’re exactly right, it’s only gonna get better.

 

[Sleipnir]

FWIW…my order is placed, waiting on VIN and I’m fully aware of what I’m buying. I have two vehicles that are ridiculous offroad machines because where I live it’s just what you do. The CT will be getting street oriented tires asap and will serve the daily driver role so I can stop burning through 40” MT’s.

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