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If you're that wrapped around the need for a strong bumper, perhaps you could insert one of these Bully Steps or equivalent in the hitch receiver.
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Ever heard of a roo bar / bull bar?Why? Most cars and trucks got rid of bumpers that actually did something years ago. Everything now is meant to crush and not protect anything except the driver/passenger area. Metal bumpers weight too much and the only ones using them are using them for an unintended vehicle use. Cops cars put extended roll-cage like bumpers, they don't change the original one.
Yes, it is. Well, one of the functions.Ahh, no they don’t. That’s not the function...
Good eye man.The hard plastic bumper is attached beneath the truck bed at the tailgate hinge area. I noticed this last night when watching footage of the CT at the Austin construction site.
My initial thought was, hmm... thats gotta probably cause some long-term durability issues if you are loading gravel and similar loose material into the bed, especially when opening and closing. My second thought was.. where is the additional tailgate support cable? Some truck tailgates have a cable that attaches the end of the tailgate top to the side walls for added weight support. This tailgate as shown in the prototype has no visible support other than the hinge itself.
Very likely, goes right along with nothing being painted. It's likely the black strip along the base where a running board would be is plastic too. Maybe covering something else up.BTW, you can also tell from other videos of the CT online that show closeups of the prototype wheel well.. all of the black is hard plastic. In fact, some of the wheel well hard plastic has already started to break off on the front right wheel well. No different than the hard plastic wheel well covers on my Ridgeline that have had pieces break off. Nothing revolutionary about these bumpers.
They are most likely gaining a sense of durability from this prototype and how much abuse it can take.
Again, Wrong. Bumpers and skid plates are 2 different things. Plastic on a bumper is fine and I saind nothing about bumpers. Maybe you have never owned a off-road truck. I have attached an image of many SKID PLATES for a good example of what they are. None are plastic, all are metal. If you hit a bolder while off-roading with a plastic skid plate, you are screwed. Thats why they dont use them in plastic form. The Telsa Cybertruck front plastic bumper that extents under the truck is a cover, not a skid plate. It will not be whats on the final version at least the part under the truck. Hope you now understand what a skid plate really is.Yes, it is. Well, one of the functions.
Both are functions of a skid plate. If you use the wrong plastic, or a thin steel, it will bend or catch on the surface or brush you're colliding with which would be bad and not protect the things inside.
-Crissa
Sorry, but you're wrong. Guys like metal because they're guys.Again, Wrong.
Yep, your correct. I should have specified on trucks meant to go off-road. And I guess you really do know what they are.Sorry, but you're wrong. Guys like metal because they're guys.
The skid plate on my car is plastic. It's only broken off once. And it was cheap. Tho to be honest, only the pins broke so I wired it up on a harness and the replacement plate is still in my parts box.
Metal and plastic both do different things; hard means harder to puncture, but if you're on a flat plain or gravel, you want to not dig in but slide off.
If you're doing rock climbing, you might want metal because the full weight of the vehicle may come down on the plate. Even so, you might prefer to slide off of rock instead of getting stuck on it.
Just because you personally want a metal skid plate doesn't mean the weight and lower friction aren't useful properties.
-Crissa
PS - only the approach and depart curves are plastic on the prototype; it's steel where the weight of the truck might come down or debris comes up and threaten the battery pack.
I agree that most skid plates on trucks and jeeps are metal, but for SxS the best skid plates are 3/8'' or 1/2'' UHMW (ultra high molecular weight) plastic. It's quieter and more durable thank aluminum. It definitely protects from boulders, etcj as mine has protected my ranger from countless impacts.Again, Wrong. Bumpers and skid plates are 2 different things. Plastic on a bumper is fine and I saind nothing about bumpers. Maybe you have never owned a off-road truck. I have attached an image of many SKID PLATES for a good example of what they are. None are plastic, all are metal. If you hit a bolder while off-roading with a plastic skid plate, you are screwed. Thats why they dont use them in plastic form. The Telsa Cybertruck front plastic bumper that extents under the truck is a cover, not a skid plate. It will not be whats on the final version at least the part under the truck. Hope you now understand what a skid plate really is.
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The materials choice is going to be an interesting one.Sorry, but you're wrong. Guys like metal because they're guys.
The skid plate on my car is plastic. It's only broken off once. And it was cheap. Tho to be honest, only the pins broke so I wired it up on a harness and the replacement plate is still in my parts box.
Metal and plastic both do different things; hard means harder to puncture, but if you're on a flat plain or gravel, you want to not dig in but slide off.
If you're doing rock climbing, you might want metal because the full weight of the vehicle may come down on the plate. Even so, you might prefer to slide off of rock instead of getting stuck on it.
Just because you personally want a metal skid plate doesn't mean the weight and lower friction aren't useful properties.
-Crissa
PS - only the approach and depart curves are plastic on the prototype; it's steel where the weight of the truck might come down or debris comes up and threaten the battery pack.
Most new trucks/SUVs/Jeeps come with bumpers designed for pedestrian and crash safety. They are also made for aerodynamic drag , to shield the tires from resistance.Why? Most cars and trucks got rid of bumpers that actually did something years ago. Everything now is meant to crush and not protect anything except the driver/passenger area. Metal bumpers weight too much and the only ones using them are using them for an unintended vehicle use. Cops cars put extended roll-cage like bumpers, they don't change the original one.