Removing / venting rear window to cool/heat vault for DIY camp mode?

[SlegMD]

I want to remove the rear window on my Cybertruck so that there's a way to cool the vault from the cabin HVAC (Camping Mode). It would also provide a pass-through from the vault to the cabin that would be useful when sleeping in the vault. I examined the way Tesla mounted the glass panel and it looks like it can be removed from the vault side with not much trouble. It involves removing the plastic applique (photo) to expose the confinement elements. It also appears that the glass panel is not a structural component (it does not appear to be supporting the glass roof).

It looks to me like an aftermarket slider replacement window could easily be designed to replace the fixed glass panel. I'll follow up when I have more information on the removal.

I think the reason Tesla didn't design their own slider was to avoid the liability of someone getting injured. Although the tonneau cover will retract if it senses resistance while closing, a child's hand/fingers could be badly hurt if caught
in the path of the cover while being closed.

If anyone has experience removing the rear window I'd be interested in hearing from you.

Is stability of the temperature important to you before you do this? I’m curious if the vault has any insulating properties. Might check that first, run a heater with a remote thermostat?

If not, I am a fan of an opening back window myself, just not sure if it’s worth running the HVAC.

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[Green Gene]

I am interested too. I have more 4 large dogs too many for the cab and it would be easier to put them in the bed and closing the tonneau cover knowing I could provide AC. So contact me as well. I would also be interested if someone has something like a stiff mess that would attach on the outside of the bed to keep the dogs in, if it is out there.

 

[HaulingAss]

I want to remove the rear window on my Cybertruck so that there's a way to cool the vault from the cabin HVAC (Camping Mode). It would also provide a pass-through from the vault to the cabin that would be useful when sleeping in the vault. I examined the way Tesla mounted the glass panel and it looks like it can be removed from the vault side with not much trouble. It involves removing the plastic applique (photo) to expose the confinement elements. It also appears that the glass panel is not a structural component (it does not appear to be supporting the glass roof).

It looks to me like an aftermarket slider replacement window could easily be designed to replace the fixed glass panel. I'll follow up when I have more information on the removal.

I think the reason Tesla didn't design their own slider was to avoid the liability of someone getting injured. Although the tonneau cover will retract if it senses resistance while closing, a child's hand/fingers could be badly hurt if caught
in the path of the cover while being closed.

If anyone has experience removing the rear window I'd be interested in hearing from you.

I think you will find it's not very effective to heat or cool the vault much with the cabin climate controls, even if you remove the entire rear window. Sure, if you run the cabin climate controls on high, it will eventually change the temperature in the vault, it just won't work nearly as well as (for example) plumbing the rear seat vents directly into the vault.

You would also want to find out where the cabin air exits vent(s) are and devise a way to keep them closed when camping to force the cabin air to travel into the vault instead of exiting via the usual path.

I think an electric blanket for heat on cold nights would be more efficient and simple to implement. I've never liked camping inside vehicles, even when I had a VW van with a built-in bed. It had little to do with temperature control either. Maybe that's just because I have a lot of experience camping in tents, even in the mountains while ski touring at altitude.

If you know what you are doing, you can be comfortable over a wide range of temperatures although triple digit temperatures do pose a difficulty. My solution has been to pick camping locations and times of the year where high temperatures are not a problem. Like a migratory bird, you can camp further north or south, higher altitude or lower altitude, depending upon the seasons. Camping by a rushing creek during hot weather can provide a flow of cool air down the canyon, even on a windless day.

 

[Outdoors]

The slats on cover are made of metal that is coated. Might have some condensation issues if one is passing hot or cold air inside the cover along with persons inside breathing.

Would think a blanket cover might help on the top. Also would guess a full window remove to adequately cool or heat back. Don't think a slider window will move enough air.

A little much for work me. So I will pass on above. If the weather is nice an chilly. Then a back of the truck open with my favorite bedding. https://www.merlinshideout.com/shop/hides-robes-pelts/buffalo-hide/

If it is rainy I can set up a tent faster than anyone could get back of truck system tent up. That is my thing on the back of bed systems or truck toppers. Do it in the pouring rain. Tell me it's really faster than a free standing tent. Get all your stuff in, and then let me know how it ends up.

I understand why some may want what they want. Really in all the years. Never met anyone that liked it the same as the other person. Being outside of the truck it is one's preference on experience or setup. Some like their own. Some like punishment, as it looks good on paper, but setting it up more than once is a pain in the booty cheeks.

I think I have around 5 different tents in my gear cache, and pads that could make a head spin.
Love my Durston X Mid Pro2 on current basis for my non truck stuff. Prefer that to trying something that is a hard reach when I am out and about in no wheresville.

 

[Cybergirl]

I think you will find it's not very effective to heat or cool the vault much with the cabin climate controls, even if you remove the entire rear window. Sure, if you run the cabin climate controls on high, it will eventually change the temperature in the vault, it just won't work nearly as well as (for example) plumbing the rear seat vents directly into the vault.

You would also want to find out where the cabin air exits vent(s) are and devise a way to keep them closed when camping to force the cabin air to travel into the vault instead of exiting via the usual path.

I think an electric blanket for heat on cold nights would be more efficient and simple to implement. I've never liked camping inside vehicles, even when I had a VW van with a built-in bed. It had little to do with temperature control either. Maybe that's just because I have a lot of experience camping in tents, even in the mountains while ski touring at altitude.

If you know what you are doing, you can be comfortable over a wide range of temperatures although triple digit temperatures do pose a difficulty. My solution has been to pick camping locations and times of the year where high temperatures are not a problem. Like a migratory bird, you can camp further north or south, higher altitude or lower altitude, depending upon the seasons. Camping by a rushing creek during hot weather can provide a flow of cool air down the canyon, even on a windless day.

I don't disagree. Keeping warm in fall and spring is not a problem as much as keeping cool in summer. There's no easy way to cool the vault without a heat pump. There's also the matter of air circulation which become real important in controlling humidity.

 

[Cybergirl]

The slats on cover are made of metal that is coated. Might have some condensation issues if one is passing hot or cold air inside the cover along with persons inside breathing.

Would think a blanket cover might help on the top. Also would guess a full window remove to adequately cool or heat back. Don't think a slider window will move enough air.

A little much for work me. So I will pass on above. If the weather is nice an chilly. Then a back of the truck open with my favorite bedding. https://www.merlinshideout.com/shop/hides-robes-pelts/buffalo-hide/

If it is rainy I can set up a tent faster than anyone could get back of truck system tent up. That is my thing on the back of bed systems or truck toppers. Do it in the pouring rain. Tell me it's really faster than a free standing tent. Get all your stuff in, and then let me know how it ends up.

I understand why some may want what they want. Really in all the years. Never met anyone that liked it the same as the other person. Being outside of the truck it is one's preference on experience or setup. Some like their own. Some like punishment, as it looks good on paper, but setting it up more than once is a pain in the booty cheeks.

I think I have around 5 different tents in my gear cache, and pads that could make a head spin.
Love my Durston X Mid Pro2 on current basis for my non truck stuff. Prefer that to trying something that is a hard reach when I am out and about in no wheresville.

Yes, humidity can be a problem. The open window has to be supplemented with a 4" inline fan and duct to force cabin air to the foot of the vault. Colder vault air returns to the cabin.

When camping I like to set up a 10' x 10' canopy (with optional walls) for protection from rain, wind, and sun. At night I'll drive the back of the CT under the canopy to protect the tonneau cover from rain and help reduce heat loss from the vault. No need for a traditional tent for sleeping. Sleeping on an air mattress in the vault provides excellent personal safety from beasts and ne're-do-wells.

Setting up the canopy in the rain can be nasty, especially if there's strong wind. I prefer to chill out in the truck and watch Netflix movies till the rain lets up. Rain gear is a must, though

Tomorrow I'm going to attempt to remove the rear window.

 

[Cyber Man]

IMO, not having a pass through is a big miss on the design. Clear passage from second row to the bed will make the CT so versatile for camping/boon-docking/stealth camping.

I wonder why they didn’t make the tailgate panel the storage unit for the Vault cover! They removed the ramp that was shown in the prototype anyways. They could have made the Vault cover a bit more compact and stored it in the tailgate panel. This design would have freed up the space completely to make a retractable pass through. With the rear seats down, a family of two adults and two kids could have easily camped in there!

 

[BannedByTMC]

I wonder why they didn’t make the tailgate panel the storage unit for the Vault cover!

Lots of obvious reasons: It wouldn't fit, it would make the tailgate heavier, and you couldn't have the cover partially closed or closed with the tailgate down.

 

[Cyber Man]

Lots of obvious reasons: It wouldn't fit, it would make the tailgate heavier, and you couldn't have the cover partially closed or closed with the tailgate down.

Not everyone needs hard metal retractors. Originally they were planning to put a ramp in the tailgate. Lightweight cover can solve fit issue. Electric assisted tailgate can solve the heaviness issue
Partial cover or other issues - minor inconvenience for the pass through feature. They could have given this as an option.
In fact, in one of tweets Elon hinted that there could be a pass through. My guess is that they didn’t do that because of production challenges. I’ll not be surprised if they do this in version 2.0. I’ll definitely upgrade if that happens. Probably the only reason I’ll upgrade.

 

[Outdoors]

Yes, humidity can be a problem. The open window has to be supplemented with a 4" inline fan and duct to force cabin air to the foot of the vault. Colder vault air returns to the cabin.

When camping I like to set up a 10' x 10' canopy (with optional walls) for protection from rain, wind, and sun. At night I'll drive the back of the CT under the canopy to protect the tonneau cover from rain and help reduce heat loss from the vault. No need for a traditional tent for sleeping. Sleeping on an air mattress in the vault provides excellent personal safety from beasts and ne're-do-wells.

Setting up the canopy in the rain can be nasty, especially if there's strong wind. I prefer to chill out in the truck and watch Netflix movies till the rain lets up. Rain gear is a must, though

Tomorrow I'm going to attempt to remove the rear window.

So is one a hiker? This is quite a contraption. Early morning run. Breakfast. Maybe another run late evening for me. Requires kind of a stationary truck in my thoughts for something compared to moving each day.

Also on how one plans to gain range vs. lose.

I can do via my 2 ECO-Flow Detla's and Panels. In day in a half or so I can get a full charge no problem on any Tesla. My current favorite is hearing people putting propane tanks in the back to go into the backcountry. Those are the sitters. The people that say we made it. Then do nothing. That was the accomplishment.

 

[Cybergirl]

So is one a hiker? This is quite a contraption. Early morning run. Breakfast. Maybe another run late evening for me. Requires kind of a stationary truck in my thoughts for something compared to moving each day.

Also on how one plans to gain range vs. lose.

I can do via my 2 ECO-Flow Detla's and Panels. In day in a half or so I can get a full charge no problem on any Tesla. My current favorite is hearing people putting propane tanks in the back to go into the backcountry. Those are the sitters. The people that say we made it. Then do nothing. That was the accomplishment.

I'm not sure I understand your point. I'm talking about off-road travel and hiking during the day, not staying in one place. Everything is securely stowed in the truck bed. In late afternoon we find a campsite, set up camp, prepare dinner, wash the dishes, and relax around a campfire, if permitted, or watch a movie. At day's end we prepare the vault for sleeping with air mattress and bedding, climb into the vault, close the tonneau cover, and go to sleep.

 

[Outdoors]

I'm not sure I understand your point. I'm talking about off-road travel and hiking during the day, not staying in one place. Everything is securely stowed in the truck bed. In late afternoon we find a campsite, set up camp, prepare dinner, wash the dishes, and relax around a campfire, if permitted, or watch a movie. At day's end we prepare the vault for sleeping with air mattress and bedding, climb into the vault, close the tonneau cover, and go to sleep.

Ok. I must have blended the thread where you were taking a propane generator and propane tanks.

Good god what are beasts? Not sure of the other words. Honestly if it was the beast. A cover of a truck with people in it ain't really going to stop the beast one is worried about. Yet it may provide piece of mind.

 

[Cybergirl]

Ok. I must have blended the thread where you were taking a propane generator and propane tanks.

Good god what are beasts? Not sure of the other words. Honestly if it was the beast. A cover of a truck with people in it ain't really going to stop the beast one is worried about. Yet it may provide piece of mind.

Ever been visited by a bear while sleeping in a tent? I have. Not pleasant.

 

[Cybergirl]

Not everyone needs hard metal retractors. Originally they were planning to put a ramp in the tailgate. Lightweight cover can solve fit issue. Electric assisted tailgate can solve the heaviness issue
Partial cover or other issues - minor inconvenience for the pass through feature. They could have given this as an option.
In fact, in one of tweets Elon hinted that there could be a pass through. My guess is that they didn’t do that because of production challenges. I’ll not be surprised if they do this in version 2.0. I’ll definitely upgrade if that happens. Probably the only reason I’ll upgrade.

You could buy a Chevy Silverado EV. It has the mid gate you are longing for.

 

[Outdoors]

Yeah I get it. I could see how it was headed. Before I was 8 years old I had spent one year of my life in a tent. Bears all around. My family works in bears. I go to Kodiak every couple years. Sleep along bear trails. Stared down a bear as an 8 year old with a lady(stranger ) from Switzerland at Brooks Falls in the 80's. Yeah I know bears. Below are my babies. I have watched them grow in Kodiak. Sadly one isn't with us. One has become a mom however.

So it really is a mindset. My tents seen in my Avatar are in a high black bear and Grizz area. See them all the time. Never have a problem. Yet I do have a Karelian Bear Dog named Sky.

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