Cybertruck hitch analysis by Engineering Explained

[cybercricket]

I think the physics there is a lot more complicated than what was presented.

For example, assuming a 3,000lb trailer, is there a difference in [downward] forces during braking between an 8,000lb steel plate versus a 10ft tall 8,000lb concrete ring ?
Is there a difference between the forces when the pivot point is 10ft away from the hitch versus 15ft away ?
And finally, what is the impact of the trailer brakes slowing down the trailer more than the towing vehicle ?

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[Treynor]

tl;dr: The design meets SAE specifications, but the hitch could theoretically exceed the 10K vertical load if you're pulling max-load with a high center-of-gravity on a single-axle trailer while braking at 1G downhill while hitting a pothole

I was thinking this same thing. I’m glad you typed it out for everyone.

 

[RadoRage]

Great video, I've seen many of his and he does a great job of breaking down the engineering.

I'm curious to see how the aftermarket might address this. There are already companies starting to come out with different bumpers and receivers, and perhaps one will directly try and tackle this "toughness" issue/concern.

Also interesting, I did a quick search on the Cybertruck's receiver design (just to see how it physically mounts to the aluminum casting) and I found already two different designs out there. These two used parts came off of 2024 Cybertruck, but are slightly different in design even had different parts numbers (1780915-00-H and Unknown). Maybe an earlier design?

 

[Cyber Man]

Great video, I've seen many of his and he does a great job of breaking down the engineering.

But please be cautious before blindly accepting the facts in the video. He says when you Brake hard, the entire weight of the Trailer is on the hitch. That’s simply not true. Vertical load transfer is different from horizontal load transfer, and nobody with sane mind will tow single axle 11,000 lbs trailer that doesn’t have a brake controller. You can’t even buy a trailer like this unless you custom make it. OEMs do skip plate testing with towing before publishing towing/axle limits, and these numbers are generally very conservative, and the testing does include Dynamic load on the hitch. A 11,000 lbs weight on rear axle will cause sever under/over steering. The tow vehicle would lose control way before hitch snaps.

He talks about aluminum but misses the point that it’s an alloy. Aluminum alloys are used in Rockets and airplanes. When it comes to material science, I would trust a company that builds vehicles that can withstand heat from reentry to bring astronauts back.

What Wes said is the most accurate information on this matter!

 

[Cyber Man]

A 11,000 lbs weight on rear axle will cause sever under/over steering. The tow vehicle would lose control way before

Just for comparison, a fully grown African elephant, which is the largest land mammal on the planet, weighs 12,000 lbs. Now just imagine what will happen to your vehicle when you are driving on the road, hit a bump, and suddenly an elephant completely steps on the Hitch with all its weight. Your vehicle will nose up and lose traction completely. Dynamic load on the hitch cannot reach vertical load of 11,000 lbs under “normal” driving conditions. Whoever convinces you otherwise has either never towed or only talks about theoretical physics.

In short, the Truck is a Beast. Apparently it’ll take a fully grown elephant to stand on the hitch with all its four legs to snap it.

 

[CyberGus]

Whoever convinces you otherwise has either never towed or only talks about theoretical physics.

In theory, theory is the same as practice. In practice, it rarely is.

 

[Jager]

I think EE did a good job of pointing out the perhaps questionable choice by Tesla to use aluminum - with its well-known fatigue degradation over time characteristic, vis-a-vis steel - as the hitch's primary support structure.

I think EE did a less good job at concocting a "test" scenario, in advance of that aluminum casting becoming overly fatigued, whereupon that casting would detach. The JerryRigEverything video was just stupid.

I was pulling a trailer last week. And will again in a few days.

 

[Reasy]

As pointed out earlier in the elephant analogy post. The Cybertrucks front wheels will lift off the ground before any separation may occur. There's your sign you have exceeded design specs.

 

[BannedByTMC]

For example, assuming a 3,000lb trailer, is there a difference in [downward] forces during braking between an 8,000lb steel plate versus a 10ft tall 8,000lb concrete ring ?

He directly talked about center of gravity in the video. Yes there is a large difference with a higher center of gravity.

 

[BannedByTMC]

When it comes to material science, I would trust a company that builds vehicles that can withstand heat from reentry to bring astronauts back.

Completely unrelated use profiles and materials.

 

[TickTock]

His point #3 - Long time fatigue - has been my #1 concern with the design since before it was released. The real world catastrophic scenario I see is very real (pulling an airstream over washboard for 1000's of miles over time). It is basically a 5000lb jackhammer on the hitch. It will eventually fail - possibly after you left the dirt road and are cruising at 70mph.

 

[Gigahorse]

His point #3 - Long time fatigue - has been my #1 concern with the design since before it was released. The real world catastrophic scenario I see is very real (pulling an airstream over washboard for 1000's of miles over time). It is basically a 5000lb jackhammer on the hitch. It will eventually fail - possibly after you left the dirt road and are cruising at 70mph.

Yup, the fatigue is the primary concern.
I think if you tow within limits and don't get unlucky with a big pothole at speed towing will likely be fine.
I am a little concerned about when I hit the 10k+ mile mark towing heavy trailers.

 

[Gaximus]

I am fairly sure most states, if not all states require trailer brakes over typically 3500 lbs gvwr on the trailer. So getting the 11k on the trailer hitch would ONLY be possible from towing INCORRECTLY and, at that point, illegally. At least, from the braking discussion.

That’s why he designed the example with the weight directly over the wheels. It would pivot on the wheels when the brakes are applied, and stopping at 1G would cause full weight on hitch. But for this to happen 100% of the weight would have to be 3 feet up, as in the trailer would have to be zero. So 100% weight on hitch could only happen when hitting pot holes and the downhill example.

 

[tingmo13]

all I want to see/looking forward is Cybertruck haters & deniers Fatique-those wishing Price to tank further & further are part of the Grinch.

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