Roller Bed Cover Might Be Leaving

[rr6013]

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• There's no reason the reservoir can't have clean-out access somehow.

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There's just so many ways to do this!

-Crissa

@Crissa good summation! Like4680 jellyroll, the “core” of this tonneau rolled up could house a cleaner. Fluid-filled compressed mechanism at the core that infuses the roll with cleaner under pressure which flushes dirt and debris into a catchment.

It could be manual labor-by-owner+garden hose or automatic. The slats could even be anti-static tefon-krptonite SuperSlats! OK that’s too optimistic. LOL

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[Deleted member 12457]

The roller cover was one of the many things I loved about the prototype. I really hope we don’t lose it. When I get anxious from not hearing any new news on the CT I start searching photos and videos on the internet. This is my favorite CT video:

Ok,

People were outraged when they added mirrors and a wiper, just think of the rioting if the vault cover is deleted

Until vehicle law says you don't have to have wipers and mirrors, Tesla is required to include them. Hopefully the law changes by the time the CT is released. All the rioting, especially against Tesla, is useless. If you want to riot, go after (I presume) the people at NHTSA.

"The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in early October (2019) distributed a notice soliciting industry and public input on whether to allow “camera monitoring systems” to replace rear- and sideview exterior mirrors mandated since 1968 in U.S. auto safety standards. The agency said in a notice in the online Federal Register that it is seeking outside research and data about the potential safety impacts of replacing conventional fixed mirrors with camera-based vision systems. The action is one step in the process to inform a potential proposal to alter the mirror requirement for future production vehicles sold in the U.S." The government takes forever to change things but hopefully will allow car manufacturers to remove outside mirrors. They can be just as safe as regular mirrors and aren't the subject of "baseball" players smacking them as they drive down the street (no matter what the ignorant cops say).

 

[Deleted member 12457]

Totally agree. The disappearing vault cover is one of the Cybertruck’s super-powers. Having a secure area which seems plenty big enough for my bikes was one of the big selling points for me.

The option to delete the cover and so you can use that storage and put a different cover on it would be cool for those who don’t like it. But for me it would be extremely hard to replace this.

Btw, my Diamondback tonneau cover has locks on it and I added an aftermarket lock to the tailgate. Probably not as secure as the CT bed cover but it keeps 99% of people from opening it. It can also support 1600 lbs, something I doubt Tesla is designing its cover for. Yes, an ATV can ride in the CT's bed but two ATVs can ride on a properly sized Diamondback cover while still allowing you to use the storage space inside.

This isn't a rendering, it's a real image. Yes, there's a lot of air drag but this vehicle gets the ATVs there.

Disclaimer: I'll never put an ATV on my Tacoma or the CT but this is one of the reasons people buy strong tonneau covers.

I'm just offering a different opinion. I'm not sure how Diamondback would design a cover for the CT but I have asked them (couldn't find email but thought I did and their response was we'll look at it once it's out).

 

[jhogan2424]

There is not going to be any engineering or debris problems with the cover. I have mentioned this before and mention it again. These covers are not new at all. I have had one nearly identical to the CT cover on my F350 for many years. There are no problems with it. It is not complicated although it is fairly expensive, at least as an added aftermarket version. Rain, dirt, sand, etc is absolutely no problem in any way. Of course a snow or ice storm could temporarily freeze it shut just as it could the doors but that’s not an issue for most. Occasionally I have accidentally closed it on something that doesn’t budge like lumber or large PVC pipes and all it does is stop on the object and the motor times out after a few seconds. These really are simple and there is no need to worry about possible problems with design because there won’t be any.

 

[Tinker71]

I started thinking about how many comments regarding the new footage of the Cybertruck on the test track have been about the change of looks, front-end, lights, curved glass etc. For me, I don't care about the looks. It's function over form. It is still, and will always be ugly. On that note, I am afraid that the Tesla team has become aware of the functional limitations of the roller bed cover. Hence the changes to the rear part of the roof. I am trying to fathom how the cover could deal with a covering of road grit, sand, silt and ice and still maintain functionality. At the least, I think the cover will need a very good power wash before being rolled up after being driven in a northern winter, on a dirt road or even left sitting at a job site or on a farm. I do like the idea of the cover, but I think there might be a reason why trucks haven't come with one before. It won't be that functional outside the city. A post-apocalyptic machine can't need car washes! I would love to hear good reasons why I'm wrong.

While we would all like the CT at the price and features presented at reveal and what we reserved we can only speculate if what will happen.

We can't deny that the tonneau cover is an expensive part of the CT especially if made idiot proof with self cleaning features and solar. I could easily see this costing $2000 or more. The wiper mechanism is also difficult and not completely accounted for at reveal.

I guess my question to the forum is: If Tesla made the tonneau cover with solar an add option for $2000 and provided a standard snap on fabric version AND held reservation pricing, would this be acceptable to most?

Personally I would like to make or buy a solid cover with solar that extends over the bed and up the roof, my ROCC concept. So the tonneau cover would be redundant most of the time for me. I would just assume not pay for it (either built in to the cost or as an option). It also probably weighs ~ 200 lbs or more, which is not insignificant over the life of the vehicle. The space for the coil might also be useful if accessible.

I suppose the same question might be asked about the telescoping tailgate and the 35" off raod tires.

If Tesla held pricing and deleted the telescoping tailgate and provided 33" highway leaning tires, would this be acceptable as well? Both of these items are end of line changes which shouldn't affect the production line too much.

 

[Ogre]

There is not going to be any engineering or debris problems with the cover. I have mentioned this before and mention it again. These covers are not new at all. I have had one nearly identical to the CT cover on my F350 for many years. There are no problems with it. It is not complicated although it is fairly expensive, at least as an added aftermarket version. Rain, dirt, sand, etc is absolutely no problem in any way. Of course a snow or ice storm could temporarily freeze it shut just as it could the doors but that’s not an issue for most. Occasionally I have accidentally closed it on something that doesn’t budge like lumber or large PVC pipes and all it does is stop on the object and the motor times out after a few seconds. These really are simple and there is no need to worry about possible problems with design because there won’t be any.

My buddy has that exact cover I think. Not exactly the sort of thing where you push a button and it disappears though. In fact his is still new and half the time takes 2 people to open/ close because the seals are so snug.

Setting aside the CG issues, It’s a good example of why the Cybertruck’s shape is a bit limiting. Though you could probably have a rack built where they are stair stepped up. Be a bit more engineering.

 

[Ogre]

We can't deny that the tonneau cover is an expensive part of the CT especially if made idiot proof with self cleaning features and solar. I could easily see this costing $2000 or more. The wiper mechanism is also difficult and not completely accounted for at reveal.

I guess my question to the forum is: If Tesla made the tonneau cover with solar an add option for $2000 and provided a standard snap on fabric version AND held reservation pricing, would this be acceptable to most?

I think the option to delete the cover would be great, but I certainly hope it is standard. If they make it a $$ option, a lot of people will opt out of it and that will raise the price on it. The vault cover might cost $2,000 (or more) retail, but certainly wouldn’t cost Tesla anything near that if they manufactured it in volume.

Having the rails and storage area built into the existing truck structure saves a ton of weight and cost versus having an optional/ after market one.

It also probably weighs ~ 200 lbs or more, which is not insignificant over the life of the vehicle. The space for the coil might also be useful if accessible.

Not sure about the weight, but the weight easily vanishes versus the aerodynamic drag of *not* having a cover. Particularly when the rails and storage would be built in as I suggested above.

If Tesla held pricing and deleted the telescoping tailgate and provided 33" highway leaning tires, would this be acceptable as well? Both of these items are end of line changes which shouldn't affect the production line too much.

I suspect the tires will be optional. It’s something easy to change and tweak with little impact to the rest of the truck. I really don’t need a tailgate ramp and I’d be concerned that it’s going to make for a super heavy tailgate. Personally, I‘d like a side-opening tailgate so the under vault storage is easier to get to. For me that would be nicer than the ramp.

Mostly, I’d be plenty happy if they shipped nearly exactly what they demoed though. We all paid the pre-order fee based on the expectations established in that presentation. Anything on top of that would be nice, but I do think they should ship everything they presented.

 

[Dusty]

...
Not sure about the weight, but the weight easily vanishes versus the aerodynamic drag of *not* having a cover. Particularly when the rails and storage would be built in as I suggested above.
...

Yep, I'm willing to bet the tonneau cover and adjustable ride height are going to provide highway range that'll impress. Especially with the sub-300 range of the top tier Lightning and GM's EPA-untested "promise" of 330 miles.

 

[Tinker71]

Having the rails and storage area built into the existing truck structure saves a ton of weight and cost versus having an optional/ after market one.

Tinker Re:

I would think the rails would be there regardless. The cover takes up 4-5 ? cf or so. If we were able to delete the tonneau this space might be accessible with an easily changeable concave cover to trim out the void. It might require a drain or something.

I am assuming maintenance is done from the bed side verses underneath. Someone may want to add the tonneau at a later date, which should not be that difficult.

Not sure about the weight, but the weight easily vanishes versus the aerodynamic drag of *not* having a cover. Particularly when the rails and storage would be built in as I suggested above.

Tinker Re:

My baseline assumption was that Tesla would provide a snap in fabric cover to achieve the efficiency. If you ordered the Tonneau or maybe Tesla's camper package they would not ship the fabric cover and this would be built into the price of the add option.

 

[Ogre]

Yep, I'm willing to bet the tonneau cover and adjustable ride height are going to provide highway range that'll impress. Especially with the sub-300 range of the top of the range Lightning and GM's EPA-untested "promise" of 330 miles.

I thought they said 400 miles.

 

[Dusty]

I thought they said 400 miles.

On their website the 1st Edition has a self-declared range of 329.

 

[Ogre]

On their website the 1st Edition has a self-declared range of 329.

Ah…. Already walking back on their original 400 mile promise. I wonder if it’ll drop again before it gets EPA official.

 

[Dusty]

Ah…. Already walking back on their original 400 mile promise. I wonder if it’ll drop again before it gets EPA official.

It's not getting a confirmed EPA rating. Conveniently, it weighs so much that it's a DOT Class 2B truck, and the EPA doesn’t have to, and won’t test the range. I can't wait until it is reviewed for-real, while not under the direct watchful eye of a GM employee.

 

[Ogre]

It's not getting a confirmed EPA rating. Conveniently, it weighs so much that it's a DOT Class 2B truck, and the EPA doesn’t have to, and won’t test the range. I can't wait until it is reviewed for-real, while not under the direct watchful eye of a GM employee.

Ah… I crossed my wires. The Silverado is supposed to have a 400 mile range. The Hummer is 329. Now I get it.

 

[Tinker71]

How many people are going to chime in that it can't be done because they can't imagine it being done?

• There's no reason the slats have to be tied together.
• There's no reason they couldn't run like individual cars on the track.
• There's no reason they couldn't have a break-step to catch or dump any debris before going into the roll.
• Use the on-board compressor to blow between the slats to clean them before they're stowed.
• There's no additional strength from the slats being wider like your steel cover - strength is from the thickness of each slat across the span.
• There's no reason they can't be made of stainless material.
• There's no reason the reservoir can't have clean-out access somehow.

I mean... I've seen all of these, if we're talking industrial machines. The patent seems to just be the upside-down roll inside the truck, and that's not so difficult - you just need to be able to pull on the slats to deploy them and pull on them to roll them up. You can do this at least three ways I can think of; having motors at both ends, a continuous loop of a lead, or motors spread along the track (like a roller coaster).

There's just so many ways to do this! And all have different complexities. Certainly keeping dirt out will be a challenge in the design. But people have been rolling windows down into reservoirs for decades without it being an issue.

-Crissa

I am playing the devils' advocate for Firsttruck.
1.) Yes everything possible with a ton of careful engineering and extra parts and higher tolerances to solve problems, which adds money and more potential for problems.
2.) Pushing the cover UP through an acute angle is very different than a gravity coil door or a horizontal transition. I bet the additional lip was installed to help ease that transition. Just a little gritty sand could foul the track and put binding pressure on the coil. The competition gets pulled into position which will tend to relieve the binding. The CT will push through almost the entire cycle until gravity starts to take over when almost closed. The return cycle is better but would probably be better to have some friction at the very end to keep things tight but this friction would need to be removed on the open cycle.
3.) The coil needs to stay tight and compact or it won't fit. The drive mechanism appears to be the coil itself. A little friction and it will tend to bunch up adding up at all the hinge points. It is sort of like a tape measure that gets dirty. Get it a little muddy and then you have to try to push it to retract. At that point you might as well toss it.
4.) I don't see an air blade cleaning system. I think we will get a stern warning in the owner's manual never to roll up a muddy tonneau cover and a big fat bill if we expect the dealer to clean out the chamber. We might get a 1/4" coil hose with a blow gun as an accessory to blow off the tracks.(and top off a tire). Yes I think they will make the chamber accessible for cleaning.
5.) The narrow slats are dependent on their neighbors. If Elon stepped parallels to the slats the pressure is vastly different than perpendicular. If you ever deform a single slat it is going to be a problem.
6.) I think everybody is assuming this is water resistant. So either they have carefully shaped hinges or a fabric backing. I should probably study some of the existing products before I spout off #6.

The idea of the tonneau is great and sexy when clean.

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