Took my Cybertruck on Sedona's Outlaw Trail for Offroading and Camping -- Photos & Lessons Learned

[Cybergirl]

How did you feel about the amount of space/headroom sleeping in the vault?

(Thanks for writing up your experience)

Good question. Several people have asked about that, and a few have expressed concerns about claustrophobia.

There's a maximum of 29" of headroom minus the thickness of the air mattress, but I found it more than enough for sleeping. It seems roomier than I expected.

The lights in the vault help a lot, and they can be turned on, dimmed, or turned off using the app as long as you have cellphone service or wifi (I use Starlink when necessary). Alternatively, you can set the vault lights to "Auto" so that when the tonneau cover is completely closed, the lights will automatically extinguish.

I leave the tonneau cover open about an inch or two to allow for ventilation so that the CO2 level stays below 1500 ppm. We use an electric blanket to stay warm all night rather than try to heat the interior of the vault, which would be futile with the tonneau open part way.

If one of us needs to get up in the middle of the night, or come morning, I open the tonneau cover using the app (it relies on Bluetooth, not cellular), lower the gate, and, sitting on the gate, slip on my shoes.

Since the vault opens to the sky, if there's rain in the forecast, I park the CT under a 10' x 10' canopy which also serves as our daytime shelter.

All in all it works out quite nicely.

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[cybercoffee]

I use Starlink when necessary

I may have missed it--could you please let us know what your starlink setup looks like and consists of? I have a dishy at home but I'm trying to figure out what I want to do for starlink on the go. I have a bit of sticker shock when I look at the high performance version...and how are you routing your cables from the dish to a more secluded area like the vault or cabin?

 

[Cybergirl]

I may have missed it--could you please let us know what your starlink setup looks like and consists of? I have a dishy at home but I'm trying to figure out what I want to do for starlink on the go. I have a bit of sticker shock when I look at the high performance version...and how are you routing your cables from the dish to a more secluded area like the vault or cabin?

Sure thing.

I converted my regular Starlink subscription to Starlink Mobile. It costs $150/month but can be paused when not in use. When I unpause service, it remains active until the end of the 30 days. If I won't be needing it after that I pause it to avoid being charged for another month's service.

I mount my Dishy on the roof of the CT when in camp. I modified the tripod base adding suction cups to secure it to the glass roof.

I shortened the 75' cable to 20' to make it easier to handle. I placed the router and power module inside the cab. The dish cable is routed into the cab at the top of the rear door window. I found that putting these modules in the vault would interfere with using the vault for sleeping, and putting them in the sub-vault complicated the cable and power cord routing.

 

[cybercoffee]

very informative, thanks! with this setup, can you use it while driving (even if unsanctioned by starlink)? I'm thinking no, because they can tell when you're driving above a certain speed, right?

 

[Cybergirl]

very informative, thanks! with this setup, can you use it while driving (even if unsanctioned by starlink)? I'm thinking no, because they can tell when you're driving above a certain speed, right?

Less than 10 mph for Starlink Mobile. You'll need Mobile Priority for faster travel.

 

[Crissa]

The vault lights don't work through bluetooth?

-Crissa

 

[Coagulation]

What PSI did you run at?

 

[Cybergirl]

The vault lights don't work through bluetooth?

-Crissa

Apparently not. If you turn on Airplane Mode on your phone, then turn on Bluetooth, you can check which functions require cell phone service.

 

[Speedr]

I simply placed a sheet of cardboard on the bed pushed up tight to the gate, thus blocking the gap where dust can enter. The cargo in the bed holds the cardboard in place. I cover the vault floor with cardboard when camping to smooth the bed floor and keep the air mattresses clean.

Sorry to be obtuse, but I'm not getting it. Did you ever take a picture? Really appreciate it BTW.

 

[Cybergirl]

Sorry to be obtuse, but I'm not getting it. Did you ever take a picture? Really appreciate it BTW.

No problem. I cut a piece of cardboard the width of the gate. The edge needs to be very straight in order to seal the gap. I lay the cardboard on the bed tight against the gate. The cargo holds the cardboard in place. This, of course, is temporary. I only place the cardboard this way when driving on gravel roads.

 

[Speedr]

No problem. I cut a piece of cardboard the width of the gate. The edge needs to be very straight in order to seal the gap. I lay the cardboard on the bed tight against the gate. The cargo holds the cardboard in place. This, of course, is temporary. I only place the cardboard this way when driving on gravel roads.

Ah, I see. I was thinking it was coming in from the top where the tonneau cover meets the tailgate. It's the bottom of the bed where it lets dirt in. Gotcha! Would some kind of mat work too, as long as it fit snugly?

Thanks for the picture and reply!!!!

 

[SentinelOne]

No problem. I cut a piece of cardboard the width of the gate. The edge needs to be very straight in order to seal the gap. I lay the cardboard on the bed tight against the gate. The cargo holds the cardboard in place. This, of course, is temporary. I only place the cardboard this way when driving on gravel roads.

Hopefully someone will make something that can cover this gap and not have to be setup every time...eg rubber seal of some sort...cardboard works, a piece of rubber trim could work, but personally I prefer it's just there and works and still allows a bit of drainage which is what I assume the gap is there for.

 

[Cybergirl]

Ah, I see. I was thinking it was coming in from the top where the tonneau cover meets the tailgate. It's the bottom of the bed where it lets dirt in. Gotcha! Would some kind of mat work too, as long as it fit snugly?

Thanks for the picture and reply!!!!

Yes, a rubber mat would work nicely, better than cardboard.

 

[Cybergirl]

Hopefully someone will make something that can cover this gap and not have to be setup every time...eg rubber seal of some sort...cardboard works, a piece of rubber trim could work, but personally I prefer it's just there and works and still allows a bit of drainage which is what I assume the gap is there for.

Hopefully. I examined the gap closely and didn't see a way to attach a seal or gasket to the gate such that it wouldn't be exposed to damage in normal daily use.

 

[Crissa]

Hopefully. I examined the gap closely and didn't see a way to attach a seal or gasket to the gate such that it wouldn't be exposed to damage in normal daily use.

TIme for a door snake, Cybertruck edition.

-Crissa

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