Little tool to make it easier to remove Trailer Hitch Cover (3D Print)

[CasaDelGato]

I got tired of crawling on the ground so that I could see the 3 little plastic screws to remove/install the trailer hitch cover.
So I made a little tool that makes it a lot easier. Set it on the screw, turn a little until it seats, then it's just a 90 degree twist.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7171352

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[L3it3R]

I’m gonna print and test this tomorrow!

 

[ELMUWA]

Good 3D print design!

Thanks for sharing

 

[Oden's Beast]

At first just reading your title I was like “It’s called a flat screw driver?”

Then seeing your actual post, I’m like… Genius!

Because I’ve been on my back in the dirt many times lining up my screw driver!

I didn’t know I needed this! Thanks!

 

[hemiarch]

Way cool! Anyone willing to print one of these for a few bucks? Some of us have still not entered into the 21st century with our printer tech yet.

 

[hemiarch]

Thank you @Oden's Beast

 

[CasaDelGato]

While I would be happy to print these for people, just the shipping via USPS is going to be significant.
And, of course, someone just pointed out a different way to get around the same problem.
https://cyberswag.us/products/cybertruck-tow-hitch-cover-fastener

 

[jf64k]

While I would be happy to print these for people, just the shipping via USPS is going to be significant.
And, of course, someone just pointed out a different way to get around the same problem.
https://cyberswag.us/products/cybertruck-tow-hitch-cover-fastener

Tesla should offer these ^ as a free retrofit, haha!!

 

[MrHayabusa]

Dude! Thanks so much! I printed out 2 yesterday and tried it out, and it is great! I feel dumb that I didn't think of this sooner It is definitely easier than using a screwdriver, can do it by feel no problem now. I may make a v2 sometime that changes the shape a bit... will post if I do. But thanks, this is great!

 

[jf64k]

I tried the Cyberswag replacement fasteners.

Pros:
- Easy to install
- Seem to lock the cover securely

Cons:
- They don‘t stay in when you loosen them

For me, the con is too much. I don’t want to lose the fasteners when I have the cover off.

I reinstalled the OEM and stuck an old stub screwdriver in the rear tie-down.

 

[hemiarch]

A friend on the forum made and shipped me the OP’s design. They work amazingly well. Everyone should have at least one of these somewhere in the car

 

[hemiarch]

Think I may order another set too. Sounds like a nice improvement.

 

[CybertruckInPA]

My story goes like this: I used our bike rack a handful of times this summer. The last time I took off the rack for the season and was reattaching the hitch cover, I forgot I needed a flathead screwdriver (stupid design, IMO), but before I could go back to the toolbox, I got interrupted. Hours passed and then I had to go out and pick something up. Realizing about 3 miles down the road that I forgot to tighten the locking fasteners, I turned around and found my crushed hitch cover at an intersection. I felt like a total idiot.

Thankfully, Tesla now makes it super easy to order replacement parts, so I reordered the hitch cover without issue, but for some reason that I still don't understand, I absolutely cannot order the turn-lock fasteners. Here is the link to them:
https://parts.tesla.com/en-US/catal...ac0-94d2-c6f4dbfa275c?partNumber=1868648-00-A

Please let me know if you can figure out what I'm doing wrong, but every attempt at ordering these things (quantity 1, quantity 3, quantity 27, etc.) fails with a "Max quantity reached" with no ability to get them in the cart let alone checkout. I'm guessing if I drove to my local SC they'd probably be able to source them for me, but why waste an hour driving to/from a SC when I can spend 4 hours playing with TinkerCAD and my 3D printer?

I used the photos from this thread of the original fasteners and the aftermarket one to try and come up with something that worked for me. I wanted something that would be secure (hence the little nipples that click into place), something that didn't require any tools (went with sort of knurled design that of course is triangular), something that didn't hang down as far as the aftermarket ones, and something I could reliably produce on my midgrade 3D printer.

Feel free to give it a whirl (.stl attached) or improve upon it if you desire. I printed up 2 extras that I'll now keep in the glovebox. I used PETG for mine, which should handle the cold and the heat, though if I break or lose them, I can now print a replacement rather than trying to source the unobtanium Tesla OEM turn lock fasteners.

 

[mongo]

Thankfully, Tesla now makes it super easy to order replacement parts, so I reordered the hitch cover without issue, but for some reason that I still don't understand, I absolutely cannot order the turn-lock fasteners. Here is the link to them:
https://parts.tesla.com/en-US/catal...ac0-94d2-c6f4dbfa275c?partNumber=1868648-00-A

Please let me know if you can figure out what I'm doing wrong, but every attempt at ordering these things (quantity 1, quantity 3, quantity 27, etc.) fails with a "Max quantity reached" with no ability to get them in the cart let alone checkout. I'm guessing if I drove to my local SC they'd probably be able to source them for me, but why waste an hour driving to/from a SC when I can spend 4 hours playing with TinkerCAD and my 3D printer?

I get the same error with other fasteners...

 

[CybertruckInPA]

I get the same error with other fasteners...

Interesting. I also see that this particular fastener is also used on the new Model Y (quantity 2, in that case).

My WAGs are that these little things are too expensive and time-consuming to ship individually, so Tesla opts to only ship them in bulk to the SCs or they're trying to prevent an industry of scalpers who order 1000 fasteners at $0.50 /each and then put them up on eBay for $1.00 /each for folks who can't or don't realize they can order from Tesla directly.

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