Rear view mirror - visibility?

[jerhenderson]

I’m hearing a few people mention that the rear view mirror is useless because you can’t see nothing through the rear window.

I’m gonna be a first time truck owner with this thing so I’m concerned about this.

People who already got the CT and are first time truck owners: how’s it feel to drive to drive a vehicle this size without the visibility through the back?

With the vault closed you won't see anything. I look forward when I drive.

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[agordon117]

Any visibility issues the CT has could almost certainly be vanquished with cameras and a viewing screen be it the center screen or a separate screen/rear view. Any excuse making for this issue in a 100K vehicle is sphincter smooching period!

Okay well hold on, there IS a permanent display of the rear camera view on the center screen when the tonneau is closed. The issue being discussed here is the lack of a washer on that rear camera, so if the road is mildly wet, the rear camera becomes obscured due to road spray.

I believe they should have put a washer, but I want to make sure we're being accurate about what is and isn't there.

 

[Celiboy]

I understand your point, but, "all drivers should be capable of driving safely with no rear view mirror" and "some drivers will have an obstructed rear view some of the time"... does not excuse the fact that this should have existed.

If there was ever a chance of tesla fixing some of these shortcomings, it's not going to happen if half of us go around saying why things aren't an issue, when they are. This isn't directed at you in particular, Celiboy. Just something I've been thinking about since this happens pretty widely anywhere the truck is talked about. If we all would say, "you know what, yeah, this should have been different. I'll be okay without this feature, but it really would have been nice if they would have done this." Well, then tesla would probably pay attention. Instead, half of us say something is a shortcoming, and the other half argue that it's not (rather than saying oh it just doesn't bother me). Tesla will see that and think that they don't really have an issue.

I agree that collective agreement towards deficiencies could potentially lead to Tesla making changes, but when it comes to this truck, any changes to the fundamental design aren’t likely going to happen anytime soon whether we like it or not. This is their first attempt and right now they have a supply problem, not a demand problem. There really is no incentive for them to consider making any adjustments that aren’t software based.

 

[agordon117]

I agree that collective agreement towards deficiencies could potentially lead to Tesla making changes, but when it comes to this truck, any changes to the fundamental design aren’t likely going to happen anytime soon whether we like it or not. This is their first attempt and right now they have a supply problem, not a demand problem. There really is no incentive for them to consider making any adjustments that aren’t software based.

Definitely agree changes are not likely.

 

[Cybertruck26]

I’ve driven box trucks and vans with no rear view options and did not have any problems relating to not being able to see behind me from that view. That’s where side mirrors come into play. Truck drivers are putting millions of miles hauling 80,000 pound loads back and forth across the country without a rear view mirror without any issues, including those delivering CT’s to service centers.

No vehicle manufacturer that I’m aware of has a rear view camera with a sprayer and until Tesla added one to the front, I’m not sure most people considered it a need. I understand that during the rainy season my rear view camera will get dirty and adjust accordingly until I can wipe it off.

Going from ICE vehicles to a Tesla takes a lot of adjusting generally and if you’ve owned one, you’ve made the adjustment. The CT will be no different.

Personally, I think the biggest hurdles for a non Tesla driver will be
-getting used to regen
-no stalks (including gear shifter)
-using a centralized screen as a dash cluster
- getting acquainted with that instant "hold onto your butts" torque

This is what I recall from back when I got my Model Y. It's painless, but- will take some adjusting.

We will all have to adjust to certain things like steer by wire, however I think in the end we won't even look back (no pun intended for mirror convo).

 

[Longranger]

The arrogant inability of Tesla to accomodate customers wants and needs has been present from day one. They could get away with it with it when they were the runaway Ev leader. They now have real competition. They will adapt or lose market share . Like a ramp it may take a long time but their resistance to public feedback is not attractive.

 

[BeleeEV]

Of course you could drive “safely” without a rear view. But no way in hell are you able to be as safe or aware without it. If everyone else drove properly you get a lot closer. But how often do you watch a car fly up behind you on the highway and swerve passed last minute? And often on the right side. You would never see it coming in your side mirrors and if you started to make a move at that moment it could be disaster. How about while your slowing in expectedly on the highway and you notice the person behind you is late to respond, you can react accordingly. Those are just some specifics to add to just generally being able to be more aware of your surroundings that makes you inherently safer. Look Tesla addressed it with a camera, great, Tesla put a sprayer on the front, awesome, then they chose for whatever reason not to have a T and run one more hose to nozzle the back cam so your rear view is only useful when roads are clean. That’s the deal.

 

[Bill W.]

To me, this type of issue is a chance for the forum to shine. We can share different "fixes" and/or modifications for others to copy or improve upon.

For example, if Tesla is not likely to add a washer to the back camera, could we figure out how to do it ourselves?

Could a simple coating of Rain-X or Aquapel on the rear camera lens improve the ability to shed water/dirt?

 

[Longranger]

To me, this type of issue is a chance for the forum to shine. We can share different "fixes" and/or modifications for others to copy or improve upon.

For example, if Tesla is not likely to add a washer to the back camera, could we figure out how to do it ourselves?

Could a simple coating of Rain-X or Aquapel on the rear camera lens improve the ability to shed water/dirt?

Totally agree with you about the forum and fixes but why would we not expect Tesla to correct these issues if they are significant?

 

[HaulingAss]

From the videos I’ve seen so far, I’m more concerned from the fact that the rear camera is virtually useless in the rain/snow when the camera lens becomes dirty. The rear camera does not have a way to be cleaned.

It's easy to clean the rear camera if it's like our Model 3s, I just give the lens a quick swipe with the microfiber towel I keep in the driver's door pocket. Even in inclement weather it generally maintains good enough vision for the duration of the drive.

My second observation has been the fact that the front headlights become useless in slushy weather. Slush and snow become compacted in the narrow slit where the headlights are located. The LED lights don’t produce enough heat to melt the snow. I hope there is some sort of fix before my Beast is built.

That's a problem with all LED headlights, they run pretty cool so slushy snow can build up on the lens and block the view. If it's snowing that hard, the snow causing the dimmed light output takes quite a while to build up to a level that is problematic. I did have to pull off the road in my Model 3 once a few years back to swipe the headlights with my microfiber towel though.

If you find this troubling, how about the whackos that put a 50% tint over their headlight lenses to "black out" the car and cut light output in half? ? Makes it dimmer every night, all night long!

 

[agordon117]

It's easy to clean the rear camera if it's like our Model 3s, I just give the lens a quick swipe with the microfiber towel I keep in the driver's door pocket. Even in inclement weather it generally maintains good enough vision for the duration of the drive.

On my model Y, the camera is basically useless in about 6 minutes of highway driving for ~20% of the year. I clean it off at home, and by the time I get to work I can't use it to back into my spot. Would be a bigger issue with no rear view mirror.

 

[Bill W.]

Totally agree with you about the forum and fixes but why would we not expect Tesla to correct these issues if they are significant?

Of course, there is an expectation that Tesla can and should review customer complaints, warranty claims, feedback, etc, for opportunities to improve their products. For example, if something as simple as a coating on the rear camera lens fixes 95% of the problem, they would work with their camera vendor to implement a running change to their production.

 

[Strykerwsu]

I’ve driven box trucks and vans with no rear view options and did not have any problems relating to not being able to see behind me from that view. That’s where side mirrors come into play. Truck drivers are putting millions of miles hauling 80,000 pound loads back and forth across the country without a rear view mirror without any issues, including those delivering CT’s to service centers.

No vehicle manufacturer that I’m aware of has a rear view camera with a sprayer and until Tesla added one to the front, I’m not sure most people considered it a need. I understand that during the rainy season my rear view camera will get dirty and adjust accordingly until I can wipe it off.

Going from ICE vehicles to a Tesla takes a lot of adjusting generally and if you’ve owned one, you’ve made the adjustment. The CT will be no different.

What the hell is a rainy season Lol? It happens every couple of days here. As a lot of vehicles get designed in Cali now, such over looked items with new technology fixes seem more and more to be an issue.

Ford has had front sprayers for a while but needs rear as well

 

[Celiboy]

What the hell is a rainy season Lol? It happens every couple of days here. As a lot of vehicles get designed in Cali now, such over looked items with new technology fixes seem more and more to be an issue.

Ford has had front sprayers for a while but needs rear as well

Yeah I’m in Cali and outside of winter we hardly ever get any rain so it’s only a few months out of the year where it’s even a possibility.

 

[SentinelOne]

On my model Y, the camera is basically useless in about 6 minutes of highway driving for ~20% of the year. I clean it off at home, and by the time I get to work I can't use it to back into my spot. Would be a bigger issue with no rear view mirror.

Same with my M3P, but while we can assume it, is this really a prob on the CT? eg different heigh/flat rear, fender flares, etc?

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