The incentives reeled me in - delivery day is Friday

[cyberhunter]

I've been a big proponent that the CT needs a 30% increase in kWhr to be ideal for my use cases. I've been wanting to hold out a couple years in hopes of some improvements on that end plus minor updates, but the ending of the EV tax credit coupled with a ton of incentives offered by Tesla and a nice trade-in for my 2024 Model 3 LR AWD finally set the hook. I ordered on Saturday and I'm taking delivery of an in-stock AWD CT on Friday. With the current battery, the main thing it won't do is get me from the house to the hunting property with a trailer (180 miles and nothing conveniently located in between for charging). Even with that, all the financial incentives stacked up made it too enticing. 1k loyalty incentive, free FSD transfer, 1 yr premium connectivity, 1 yr free supercharging, EV tax credit, 0% financing, and an aggressive trade-in offer made it to where I really wasn't taking much of a hit to make the move.

I really like the model 3, but the trade in offer was good, so I'm keeping my Diesel Ram 2500 Mega Cab and becoming a 2 truck household. The Ram will hedge bets on tasks where the CT will make it inconvenient due to lack of towing range or a smaller cabin.

I'll be taking the CT on an immediate road trip with some friends. I'll get to learn its consumption for how I drive and learn the nuances of FSD in the CT until v14 gets here. I have a few minor upgrades I'd like to do to the CT, but nothing big. If anyone knows of a capable air compressor setup attached to the molle panels on the inside of the bed, let me know. I want to do the Twin ARB compressor and bring the rooftop 48V to the bed, but the limit is ~500 watts and the ARB pulls 600W.

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[L3it3R]

I get similar range in my CT as I do in my M3P on long drives

you’ll be fine

 

[REM]

With the current battery, the main thing it won't do is get me from the house to the hunting property with a trailer (180 miles and nothing conveniently located in between for charging).

You're going to love the truck!

Can you drop the address of a nearby public place for both starting point and destination so I can check the route and help you find charging? Without showing your private address, of course. Something like a fast food restaurant.

 

[CyberGus]

Can you drop the address of a nearby public place for both starting point and destination so I can check the route and help you find charging?

Right, there are many more options if you include 3rd-party chargers. But they can't match the reliability of Tesla Superchargers, so I'd suggest visiting such chargers to verify you can charge there before you roll up with a trailer at 2% SoC lol.

I'm planning a fall trip to White Sands, and charge stations start to get pretty thin out in the desert, so I've planned to use some 3rd-party chargers. I've mapped the route such that if I cannot charge there, I can still reach a Tesla SC, it will just cost me time.

A Better Route Planner is pretty clever at this: https://abetterrouteplanner.com/

 

[Cybermo]

Those are wild incentives! I only got the rebate and 0%! Enjoy!

 

[cyberhunter]

You're going to love the truck!

Can you drop the address of a nearby public place for both starting point and destination so I can check the route and help you find charging? Without showing your private address, of course. Something like a fast food restaurant.

No need although I appreciate it. I know where public charging is. I’ve owned a model 3 for a little over a year and I don’t get range anxiety. The reality is that with towing a dual axle trailer with any wind resistance the range is reduced quite a bit. Without trailer I estimate to use about 70% of charge one way going from my house to hunting property. I have electric there so no issues. The issue is towing a trailer would need a charge and it would be so much more convenient to just make it with trailer without having to charge up. My buddies already think the ct is a joke and having to stop with a trailer and wait for extended charge when our diesels don’t have to stop to fuel up even for the round trip in most cases would just add to their bias. If the ct had its original range spec from launch day, it would easily have made the one way trip with trailer. It is one of the reasons I was holding out hoping for an improved range version. Like my original post states, the financial incentives were just too good right now and I don’t anticipate them being this good again for at least a couple years.

 

[RedneckRedcoat]

Congrats! Picking mine up today

 

[REM]

No need although I appreciate it. I know where public charging is. I’ve owned a model 3 for a little over a year and I don’t get range anxiety. The reality is that with towing a dual axle trailer with any wind resistance the range is reduced quite a bit. Without trailer I estimate to use about 70% of charge one way going from my house to hunting property. I have electric there so no issues. The issue is towing a trailer would need a charge and it would be so much more convenient to just make it with trailer without having to charge up. My buddies already think the ct is a joke and having to stop with a trailer and wait for extended charge when our diesels don’t have to stop to fuel up even for the round trip in most cases would just add to their bias. If the ct had its original range spec from launch day, it would easily have made the one way trip with trailer. It is one of the reasons I was holding out. Hoping for an improved range version but like my original post states. The financial incentives were just too good right now and I don’t anticipate them being this good again for at least a couple years.

The only electric vehicle that is currently capable of delivering such a feat would be the Tesla Semi. You friends are going to act foolish regardless, since they are already married to the idea of electric vehicles being nonsense. I have a friend of mine who refuses to even test drive my truck in the parking lot. He has all kinds of lame excuses, but the real reason is he would have to admit he likes it, and doesn't want to embarrass himself and walk back years of trash talking it.

But anyway, no consumer long distance towing EV is coming, so everyone might as well get used to that idea. The CT does perform well enough to tow heavy in edge cases, but reasonable person should be attempting to replace a diesel long haul route for routine drives. you can make it happen, but you have to be savvy and understand the specific use case.

in any case, don't waste your time or energy trying to drag them along. they are going cling to their fart boxes until the bitter end. Let the eat cake.

 

[cyberhunter]

The only electric vehicle that is currently capable of delivering such a feat would be the Tesla Semi. You friends are going to act foolish regardless, since they are already married to the idea of electric vehicles being nonsense. I have a friend of mine who refuses to even test drive my truck in the parking lot. He has all kinds of lame excuses, but the real reason is he would have to admit he likes it, and doesn't want to embarrass himself and walk back years of trash talking it.

But anyway, no consumer long distance towing EV is coming, so everyone might as well get used to that idea. The CT does perform well enough to tow heavy in edge cases, but reasonable person should be attempting to replace a diesel long haul route for routine drives. you can make it happen, but you have to be savvy and understand the specific use case.

in any case, don't waste your time or energy trying to drag them along. they are going cling to their fart boxes until the bitter end. Let the eat cake.

Yeah, I am mostly in agreement with you. I'm from Texas, so I don't see what I'm talking about as long-haul towing. Long haul, to me, is when you start getting over 200 miles. I disagree that only the Semi could make my specific routine trip without charging. The Silverado and Sierra EV could make the 180-mile trek with a 2-axle utility trailer and a lower-profile load, like I would typically take. However, the software and off-road capability of those vehicles are just too far below the CT for me to even consider them, especially not at their MSRP.

I'll be sure to test the truck efficiency with my trailer and typical load. I might be surprised and be able to squeak out the distance. I don't think so, but that extra 30% capacity would have made it at least possible. For now, I'll be sure to enjoy all the other things it can do. I think my buddies will be surprised at how much cargo it will hold in that bed and how well it drives, regardless of payload.

By the way, I'm a pragmatist. Having the right tool for the right job is how I think. I kept my diesel because it has certain advantages over electric trucks. Electric trucks have certain advantages over diesel trucks. Some of my buddies just don't realize it yet. I don't think we should be denigrating one or the other, as it just further alienates people.

 

[TexasRaider]

Fanttik X9 Ultra Portable Tire... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQK4SRD8?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
This is what I carry with me on road trips. It’ll air up all 4 tires on a single charge.

 

[cyberhunter]

Fanttik X9 Ultra Portable Tire... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQK4SRD8?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
This is what I carry with me on road trips. It’ll air up all 4 tires on a single charge.

From what pressure to what pressure? If it will do from very low to 60psi, then that is the ticket.

 

[REM]

Yeah, I am mostly in agreement with you. I'm from Texas, so I don't see what I'm talking about as long-haul towing. Long haul, to me, is when you start getting over 200 miles. I disagree that only the Semi could make my specific routine trip without charging. The Silverado and Sierra EV could make the 180-mile trek with a 2-axle utility trailer and a lower-profile load, like I would typically take. However, the software and off-road capability of those vehicles are just too far below the CT for me to even consider them, especially not at their MSRP.

I'll be sure to test the truck efficiency with my trailer and typical load. I might be surprised and be able to squeak out the distance. I don't think so, but that extra 30% capacity would have made it at least possible. For now, I'll be sure to enjoy all the other things it can do. I think my buddies will be surprised at how much cargo it will hold in that bed and how well it drives, regardless of payload.

By the way, I'm a pragmatist. Having the right tool for the right job is how I think. I kept my diesel because it has certain advantages over electric trucks. Electric trucks have certain advantages over diesel trucks. Some of my buddies just don't realize it yet. I don't think we should be denigrating one or the other, as it just further alienates people.

Sure, the Silverado has an absurdly large battery pack, but it's laughably inefficient which directly translates to cost of ownership over time. Also, they don't even pretend that they can source enough of those batteries to serve the market. Either way, yeah, right tool right job.

First time I saw a Silverado EV was at a Tesla supercharger, and his truck was utterly refusing to start charging even though the stall was reporting as ready lmao. utter joke.

 

[EWELON]

can you install a wall charger at the hunting property? then you wont have a problem, youll always have a full tank of electrons

for the trailer issue, Lightship and Pebble are warp speeding trailer tech - both are powered assist so that the towing vehicle (diesel, gas, or ev) effectively pulls a trailer that weighs 0 lbs.

the Pebble is basically a 25’ long RC car - it can hook itself up autonomously to any trailer ball. You can also “drive it” into a parking spot unhitched using an ipad.

its a brave new world, brotha

 

[TexasRaider]

From what pressure to what pressure? If it will do from very low to 60psi, then that is the ticket.

From 20 PSI to 50 PSI x4 on a single charge.

 

[EWELON]

dont forget that you’re now driving with outlets all over the place so you dont need a wireless or 12v lighter plug for your compressor! an offroading thread recommended this compressor:

https://a.co/d/0meBgxU

along with a bunch of other things for 4 tire simultaneous air up/down

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