Alternate tailgate ramp design

[Tinker71]

Personally I think Tesla is going to fight like hell to keep the CT close to performance and prices at reveal. That said some of the features are proving to be challenge at the price point. The tonneau, wiper, and tailgate, got just a little more complicated in the real world.

The telescoping tailgate will have some of the same problems as the tonneau with dirt, ice, and maybe just heavy. If you dent anything on the telescoping mechanism it will probably need to be replaced. You have to worry about dirt and moisture accumulating in the bottom of the tailgate if you close the ramp wet or muddy.

Basically what I propose is to make the tailgate like a waffle slab. Then have removable ramps nestled in the voids. Use the hand holds with a latching mechanism to remove them from the tailgate and place them on bar with the width of your quad or whatever.

This would be lighter, cheaper, stronger (more depth to work with) less prone to gumming, if you damage a ramp you simply order a new one. Everything is sealed with the only moving part being the latch in the handholds. KISS

Elon, I will take one quad motor CT for my napkin brainfart engineering services.

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[rharl]

I like the concept

 

[CyberGus]

Dodge patented an integrated-ramp system back in 2015:

The Cybertruck should do something similar (although not infringing, lol):

• Use a single piece, full-width ramp
• Stow it under the bed, not on it (and thru the tailgate, not over it)
• Make it motorized

This would make the tailgate lighter, since it would only act as a pass-thru. But it would add overall weight.

 

[Ogre]

i like this because I can pull them off and stash them in the vault basement and don’t have to lift them every time I open or close the vault.

 

[John K]

Electrify opening and closing tailgate and deploying/retracting ramp? Would you then want the current design? (standard, no price increase and a free pen Tesla!)

 

[Ogre]

Electrify opening and closing tailgate and deploying/retracting ramp? Would you then want the current design? (standard, no price increase and a free pen Tesla!)

Keep it up… I know for a fact that Elon reads these boards and posts as @Bill906

You are going to end up with a truck vault filled with pens and paying $10 each for them… because Tesla pens will definitely be at least $10 if a belt buckle is $150.

 

[HaulingAss]

The best ramp solution will leverage the adjustable suspension and the fact that it will be able to "kneel" (drop the rear, raise the front). Don't underestimate how much this will ease loading of heavy items and reduce the required weight and length of the ramp (because it can be so much shorter).

 

[ReynSupreme]

Dodge patented an integrated-ramp system back in 2015:

The Cybertruck should do something similar (although not infringing, lol):

• Use a single piece, full-width ramp
• Stow it under the bed, not on it (and thru the tailgate, not over it)
• Make it motorized

This would make the tailgate lighter, since it would only act as a pass-thru. But it would add overall weight.

If instead of two strips, you made the whole floor move you'd have a very convenient shelf (when you're not using it as a ramp) to access stuff in the rear (front?) of the bed. You could even add modular shelves on it for tools etc that can be accessed when the ramp was pulled out.

 

[firsttruck]

The best ramp solution will leverage the adjustable suspension and the fact that it will be able to "kneel" (drop the rear, raise the front). Don't underestimate how much this will ease loading of heavy items and reduce the required weight and length of the ramp (because it can be so much shorter).

Be careful. The tilted kneeling will not be good for all loads. If load is tall like refrigerator it could topple on loading personnel while trying to secure it in position. In some cases a longer, less angled ramp to level bed is safer.

 

[HaulingAss]

Be careful. The kneeling will not be good for all loads. If load is tall like refrigerator it could topple on loading personnel while trying to secure it in position. In some cases a longer, less angled ramp to level bed is safer.

Moving appliances like refrigerators requires managing the balance point of the hand truck. Anyone who knows how to move appliances knows how to manage that balance point whether the surface is level or inclined. You can adjust the Cybertruck to any any angle you feel most comfortable with but, in most cases, the lower bed height of a fully kneeled Cybertruck will be easier than loading the same fridge into a higher bed with a sketchier ramp.

 

[CyberGus]

Moving appliances like refrigerators requires managing the balance point of the hand truck…

This is why I drive a Delorean. “Gee I’d love to help you move your couch, but…”

 

[John K]

What inspires CT owners to sleep in their trucks and move refrigerators?

 

[CyberGus]

What inspires CT owners to sleep in their trucks and move refrigerators?

 

[John K]

Same CGI software used to render the CT.

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