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Any bed cap vs. no cap range/efficiency data?

hemiarch

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I think it might partially block the camera, but any aftermarket rear view camera could solve that. V14.2 will still work even with the tailgate down.
I have a roof camera and digital rearview. I’m just trusting autonomy more and more and it doesn’t make sense to me to take away one of its eyes. Have you heard of anyone attaching a spare to the OEM crossbars somehow? I was kind of thinking strap it to a molle panel or something.
is there a better approach than that?
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Based on TeslaFi data tracking over 5601.37 miles of mixed driving on the freeway, in the mountains and around the city (+3587 in FSD) at an average temperature of 49.73 degrees is 89 Wh.

I’m running a Space Campers cap with load bar, the rear faring and a Naturenest 270 plus awning installed.

Space Campers cap alone without load bars and the awning will be less but I haven’t measured it yet and don’t have an immediate plan to do that.

IMG_1480.webp
I have 5600 miles of experience and 3 months of use and camping. Space Campers is not vaporware. It’s well made with high quality materials. We are very happy with ours. I’m happy you are having commercial success - good for you.
Your commercial success does not impact or minimize my experience.
Adding some data to keep the thread going.

Our bed cap adds only 3 inches to the peak of the Cybertruck, with 8 crossbars hidden behind the wind deflector under that added height, keeping it sleek and efficient. Spacecamper adds 5 inches to the peak, and their crossbars sit at least 1 extra inch above the L-track without a wind deflector. Technically, our bed cap should be more efficient than the Spacecamper version.
Tesla Cybertruck Any bed cap vs. no cap range/efficiency data? 1771460680216-h5
Tesla Cybertruck Any bed cap vs. no cap range/efficiency data? Screenshot 2026-02-18 at 16.40.51
 
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Urander

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I have a roof camera and digital rearview. I’m just trusting autonomy more and more and it doesn’t make sense to me to take away one of its eyes. Have you heard of anyone attaching a spare to the OEM crossbars somehow? I was kind of thinking strap it to a molle panel or something.
is there a better approach than that?
Tesla Cybertruck Any bed cap vs. no cap range/efficiency data? IMG_2260

Our personal preference is to mount it vertically, which saves a lot more floor space compared to a horizontal setup.

One of our Gen 1 rack owners moved his camera to the top of the rack, though that can take a bit of extra work.
 

HickoryGoose

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I would 100% still buy one of those if someone was wiling to make it for me. Just don’t have that skillset unfortunately.
Very very nice. How’s your FSD experience? Any issues?
It’s hard to say. 14.2.2.3 and 14.2.2.4 have been weird on CT, some annoying new behaviors. It knows it bings and bongs when in reverse, it can see the tire and doesn’t know what it is. I thought some of the lane change hesitancy could be from the tire, but I’m still experiencing it since removing the tire on 14.2.2.4.
 

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Based on TeslaFi data tracking over 5601.37 miles of mixed driving on the freeway, in the mountains and around the city (+3587 in FSD) at an average temperature of 49.73 degrees is 89 Wh.

I’m running a Space Campers cap with load bar, the rear faring and a Naturenest 270 plus awning installed.

Space Campers cap alone without load bars and the awning will be less but I haven’t measured it yet and don’t have an immediate plan to do that.

IMG_1480.webp

Would you mind sharing some total average Wh/mi numbers too? 😊 Here’s what we got on our test at 70 mph: 51.2 miles in 45 minutes, averaging 68.26 mph since it took a minute or two to get up to speed on the freeway.

We saw 455 Wh/mi with:
  • Starlink Mini
  • 20-inch CyberWheels
  • Starlink and fridge on
  • Terrestrial Armor Package (without rear wheel fairing)
  • 7-inch tall tent on the rack
  • 8.2-ft 270 Awning
  • CyberBeast light bar
On flat California desert roads, it came out to 455 Wh/mi.

Just a heads-up, this is our second CyberTruck, the CyberBeast, which is a bit less efficient than the AWD version.
 
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HickoryGoose

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Would you mind sharing some total average Wh/mi numbers too? 😊 Here’s what we got on our test at 70 mph: 51.2 miles in 45 minutes, averaging 68.26 mph since it took a minute or two to get up to speed on the freeway.

We saw 455 Wh/mi with:
  • Starlink Mini
  • 20-inch CyberWheels
  • Starlink and fridge on
  • Terrestrial Armor Package (without rear wheel fairing)
  • 7-inch tall tent on the rack
  • 8.2-ft 270 Awning
  • CyberBeast light bar
On flat California desert roads, it came out to 455 Wh/mi.

Just a heads-up, this is our second CyberTruck, the CyberBeast, which is a bit less efficient than the AWD version.
Just do the math, I provided for an estimate based on how you drive. Take your average Wh/m for your set up with your tonneau closed + 89 = estimate. No video required, I provided TeslaFi data over thousands of miles.

Does that cover it for you?
 

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Just do the math, I provided for an estimate based on how you drive. Take your average Wh/m for your set up with your tonneau closed + 89 = estimate. No video required, I provided TeslaFi data over thousands of miles.

Does that cover it for you?
The goal was to get better context around that 89 Wh/mi figure, because on its own it doesn’t tell the whole story. 89 extra Wh/mi at 80 mph is a very different situation than 89 extra Wh/mi at 60 mph, so the comparison isn’t apples to apples.

For the discussion to be meaningful, we’d want to control for average speed, and at minimum know whether that 89 Wh/mi is on top of a 400 Wh/mi baseline or a 500 Wh/mi baseline. Percentage is just a lot more informative than a raw Wh/mi number.
 

HickoryGoose

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I would 100% still buy one of those if someone was wiling to make it for me. Just don’t have that skillset unfortunately.
Very very nice. How’s your FSD experience? Any issues?
I have a super talented neighbor and Bobo put his full set of plans up for everyone to use, good combo.
 

HickoryGoose

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The goal was to get better context around that 89 Wh/mi figure, because on its own it doesn’t tell the whole story. 89 extra Wh/mi at 80 mph is a very different situation than 89 extra Wh/mi at 60 mph, so the comparison isn’t apples to apples.

For the discussion to be meaningful, we’d want to control for average speed, and at minimum know whether that 89 Wh/mi is on top of a 400 Wh/mi baseline or a 500 Wh/mi baseline. Percentage is just a lot more informative than a raw Wh/mi number.
Reading comprehension seems to be a problem. I’m not discussing. I’m providing. my experience over serve thousand miles based on TeslaFi data. You are not discussing, you are badgering.
 

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Reading comprehension seems to be a problem. I’m not discussing. I’m providing. my experience over serve thousand miles based on TeslaFi data. You are not discussing, you are badgering.
Percentage instead of extra wh/mi would be much more helpful, thanks!
 


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I have a roof camera and digital rearview. I’m just trusting autonomy more and more and it doesn’t make sense to me to take away one of its eyes. Have you heard of anyone attaching a spare to the OEM crossbars somehow? I was kind of thinking strap it to a molle panel or something.
is there a better approach than that?
Can also go lower with stock cable, but that might not work with the Rigid hitch?
Here's the camera location and rack system I built. Canopies are about 1/3 extended as I don't have enought room to open all the way. I also have telescoping poles to support the canopies when I put my solar panels on top of them and anchor down in high winds.

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20251123_114247.webp


109217-b871633910c1ad66820b9221b25c0671.webp
 

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I haven’t done any A vs B comparisons, but an interesting way to measure your efficiency maybe to use the ABRP app. It’ll calibrate for your vehicle’s efficiency at 65mph to make more accurate trip planning.

This is what I’m showing after a couple thousand highway miles with my cap, cold temps, Michelin defender tires:
Tesla Cybertruck Any bed cap vs. no cap range/efficiency data? IMG_2855
 

hemiarch

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I haven’t done any A vs B comparisons, but an interesting way to measure your efficiency maybe to use the ABRP app. It’ll calibrate for your vehicle’s efficiency at 65mph to make more accurate trip planning.

This is what I’m showing after a couple thousand highway miles with my cap, cold temps, Michelin defender tires:
IMG_2855.webp
Man. ABRP rear bumper looks way better than the real thing.
 
 








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