Why rolling vault cover should be replaced by rigid sliding vault cover. Optionally made of cold-rolled 30x stainless steel.

[Tinker71]

Most rolling covers work by pushing/pulling the cover from the spool.
The motor is spinning the spool.

The tracking sides of the cover must be continuous all the way to the spool even if there is a windowed section in the cover.

If the rolling cover is underneath the Cybertruck the cover ( or cover base structure) will need to be 12 ft long. Also, just like with a window in a building structural wall if you put and opening in rolling cover you will need a frame to transfer the pull/push forces around the opening.


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Dec 12, 2018

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I wonder if it is possible to just have some sort of push rod on rollers in the track on both sides so you don't need anymore than 6.8 feet of actual slats. If there is anywhere near 12 feet of door it would cover the rear window when the tonneau is closed.

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[Klaxon]

Actually the guillotine was invented a long time ago.
Do I need the sharp sensations?

 

[John Forde]

There are 2 brands of aftermarket rolling tonneau covers.
Retrax rolls into a canister 11" in diameter.
Roll 'n' Lock fit's inside a 7" canister.
Could a 7" canister fit just behind the rear window? (yellow in drawing)
This would make the Mid Gate much easier.
Retrax also has a motorized version.
I have not researched L x W dimensions.

 

[John Forde]

Retrax roller side view. (11" diameter)

 

[Eye of Elon]

I never trusted the rolling cover, too many moving parts rolled into a can that's probably really hard to access. Then it blocks a passthrough, no thanks.

The sliding roof seems perfect and 10 years from now when the motors stop working we could probably still operate it manually. Also, no other truck could do a sliding roof because of their old fashioned shapes.

 

[Deleted member 3316]

Wow... It looks like you put a lot of thought and effort into making a list and fleshing out your thoughts.

But, Tesla has rooms full of engineers and automobile designers. All making top-of-their-field pay and working on this for literally YEARS. After considering and discussing the tonneau, and using a first principle design strategy, they decided on using a rolling tonneau cover.

My reply might come off as pretty snarky, don't take it that way. I get what you're saying. But rolling tonneau covers on pickups aren't new or overly complicated by any stretch, and are proven. For this part of the CT I trust the process.

As Elon regularly says “the best part, is no part” and question something if you think it’s wrong. Smart people are most susceptible to reasoning by analogy.
A solid cover that stores on the rear glass roof may indeed be a cheaper and more reliable option… not as cool, but quite possibly better.

 

[Deleted member 3316]

The single piece slider ends up sticking out about 18” and is about 8 inches too wide. Only way this works is if you make the opening to the vault smaller. I’d be ok with a smaller vault, but not with a vault which has overhanging sides and a huge lip in the front. The current lip is limiting enough.

This is a great image, the cover would likely need to be in two parts.

Aftermarket solutions and YouTube videos will be made so there’ll be countless opportunities for the peanut gallery to disparage other people’s use cases as irrelevant.

Canopy market for Cybertruck is going to be epic.

 

[Ogre]

This is a great image, the cover would likely need to be in two parts.

Aftermarket solutions and YouTube videos will be made so there’ll be countless opportunities for the peanut gallery to disparage other people’s use cases as irrelevant.

Canopy market for Cybertruck is going to be epic.

I think I mentioned some time ago that the best way to deal with the alternative concepts for this is to give people the option to delete the cover from their build. Then they can attempt to violate the laws of physics on their own dime.

It would be very nice to know if the existing bed wall is structural though before people start attacking it with an angle grinder.

One alternative I’ve seen floated is to skip the vault wall entirely and simply remove the sloped rear glass panel. Then you build your RV/ cabin/ tent thing *up* from the roof and retain the vault as storage.

 

[John Forde]

I think I mentioned some time ago that the best way to deal with the alternative concepts for this is to give people the option to delete the cover from their build. Then they can attempt to violate the laws of physics on their own dime.

It would be very nice to know if the existing bed wall is structural though before people start attacking it with an angle grinder.

One alternative I’ve seen floated is to skip the vault wall entirely and simply remove the sloped rear glass panel. Then you build your RV/ cabin/ tent thing *up* from the roof and retain the vault as storage.

I have wondered if an RV version could work with the rear glass roof removed. But then you may just as well remove the wall too. The mid gate idea has been around forever and I would be surprised if the back wall was designed as essential structure.

 

[Ogre]

I have wondered if an RV version could work with the rear glass roof removed. But then you may just as well remove the wall too. The mid gate idea has been around forever and I would be surprised if the back wall was designed as essential structure.

If it isn’t structural, I could see people doing their own DIY mid-gates. Just a little time with the angle grinder.

 

[Tinker71]

There are 2 brands of aftermarket rolling tonneau covers.
Retrax rolls into a canister 11" in diameter.
Roll 'n' Lock fit's inside a 7" canister.
Could a 7" canister fit just behind the rear window? (yellow in drawing)
This would make the Mid Gate much easier.
Retrax also has a motorized version.
I have not researched L x W dimensions.

If you went with a high tech fabric design you might be able to get the roll down to 3" or so, which would allow it to tuck in the corner more. You would still get the aerodynamic properties, security is mostly covered by hiding your cargo. Tesla cameras certainly help. A stainless steel kevlar weave (made that one up) would slow criminals down. This could use the existing tracks and be fully automated. Either way we lose visibly with a tonneau closed, but we could still have a short roll down window for that 20' stick of moulding from HD or for the dog to get some lovin.

All that space saved would make a great water bladder storage. (might not even freeze being close to the battery)

I am upping my guesstimate to 250 lbs. for the tonneau. Which is not insignificant if you won't use it.

Tesla, please provide 3 options.
1.) The rolling SS cover with solar.
2.) A rolling fabric cover with 3rd party solar interface and trim out the void with a hatch.
3.) No cover. With 3rd party solar interface and trim out the void with a hatch.

This is an end of line change, very doable. Let's avoid the effect on our reservation price for just a minute, knowing that the total manufactured cost for the options are probably $2500, $600, and $200 (WAG) and it has to get paid for somewhere.

 

[Bill906]

I never trusted the rolling cover, too many moving parts rolled into a can that's probably really hard to access. Then it blocks a passthrough, no thanks.

The sliding roof seems perfect and 10 years from now when the motors stop working we could probably still operate it manually. Also, no other truck could do a sliding roof because of their old fashioned shapes.

If you expect electric motors to stop working after 10 years you’re gonna have much greater problems with the CT than the tonneau cover not opening/closing.

 

[Tinker71]

If you expect electric motors to stop working after 10 years you’re gonna have much greater problems with the CT than the tonneau cover not opening/closing.

I don't want the tonneau or tailgate to be an expensive or annoying repair to deal with in the next 10 years. I would just assume everything last as long as the drivetrain and body. KIS.

 

[John Forde]

Two panel tonneau looks like it could fit in the ceiling above the rear seat. The new rear roof lip lines up with the front of the wheel fender. Front blue line is forward limit of width for the panels.
I'm hoping this is why they extended the roof lip - to facilitate a mid gate.

 

[John Forde]

This is a great image, the cover would likely need to be in two parts.

Aftermarket solutions and YouTube videos will be made so there’ll be countless opportunities for the peanut gallery to disparage other people’s use cases as irrelevant.

Canopy market for Cybertruck is going to be epic.

EPIC!
6'11" (just fits in garage & car wash)
Perfect aerodynamics.
Inexpensive (It's a topper)
Lotsa glass with a moonroof & 6" tall back window.
Works great with a Mid Gate!

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