Cybertruck Power Liftgate Patent Published -- operated by smart phone or wireless key fob

[Greshnab]

If that were true, we wouldn't have automated windows. Doors. Liftgates. C'mon, man.

-Crissa

you don't on a normal basis drive around with something poking out your powered window .. and if you do that is most certainly not an anticipated use... on a reach through, however, driving around with something extended into the bed is the EXACT use case it is designed for. I can almost promise you someone is going to have something glass extended through that and forget about it when they power up the cover to ensure nothing flies into the bed.

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[cvalue13]

Regardless of a midgate, the tonneau has safety stop mechanisms for if things are in the way of its path over the bed. Wouldn’t be any different at the midgate.

that said, the biggest evidence for there being no midgate is…

… that there’s no midgate there

 

[Crissa]

...you don't on a normal basis drive around with something poking out your powered window...

Well, I don't normally run around with stuff sticking out the back of the truck, either. But I do stick bits of pipe through the window and cradle them on the mirror on the way home from the hardware store a few times a year.

But if the windows are down, I often stick my hands through them.

I don't think I'd ever crawl through a midgate when the truck was in motion.

I'm not sure what you're referring to. They'd have to make all the things not crush hands.

-Crissa

 

[scottf200]

Someone pointed out the multi-function Ridgeline. Wow. Opens two ways and has a large in-bed opening.

 

[Throwcomputer]

peered gate is likely to still have the cable stop

I’m not sure it’s a functional step anymore, in any event - aside from the cable, it appears to be only 2-3” deep, which is at best a toe-hold

not really a practical alternative to just stepping on the tailgate itself, which is only a few inches higher

It was never a step. The cutout on the sides of the tailgate are a physical necessity for having the tailgate close flush mount with the sides, given the side walls and tailgate are so chunky, one or both of them has to give up some space where they meet in order for flush corners on the outside. As you can see, the walls have an angle inward at the tailgate end, and the tailgate has the cutout at the same width of the bed walls. Just enough removed from both for that outside corner to sit perfectly flush!

 

[BernieK]

So um....

I know people are talking abut the ramp and personally I think the ramp will end up being present. But it makes me wonder about the cable in this patent image that is stabilizing the tailgate. If the ramp is a thing, how does the tailgate get lowered to the right angle for the ramp given that there is a static cable that is maxed out when the tailgate is horizontal?

Seems like either the cable can't be in the production version, or if the cable is there and works like we see in this illustration, then in order to get the ramp to be angled, the CT would need to be squatting in the back using the air suspension.

Thing about the squatting though is that then the whole bed of the truck will be at an angle. Might work well for loading some things but could really suck for using the ramp during a home move where everyone is walking up and down the ramp to load boxes but also lamps and other tall skinny things that will tip over or roll.

In this picture, the tailgate is horizontal, yet their remains slack in the cable, suggesting it can go more than 90 degrees when lowering a ramp?

 

[FutureBoy]

In this picture, the tailgate is horizontal, yet their remains slack in the cable, suggesting it can go more than 90 degrees when lowering a ramp?

Yes, I saw that too.

 

[SparkChaser]

It has the common clip at the top so it can be removed there. This would allow the gate to be lowered further and or removed?
The cable acts as a stop on most trucks so the slack is really only there because it is a little longer than the stop on the actuator.

 

[Barb]

I’m thinking they’ll offer up some add on, extra cost modular ramp that’s Tesla/Cybertruck branded but I wasn’t holding my breath that the ramp built into the tailgate was making it to production. If it does though and they can pull it off, I won’t be complaining.

That and the tonneau cover were the reasons I wanted this truck. That might be a deal-breaker.

 

[scottf200]

I want the ramp. Walk up loading is soo much better. -Crissa

It looks pretty steep and I'd like to see people walk up it with their arms loaded.

 

[Crissa]

It looks pretty steep and I'd like to see people walk up it with their arms loaded.

So you think the only thing it could be is the prototype, never better? I'd be satisfied with that, but it could be better.

Now those look like tripping hazards.

-Crissa

 

[Ogre]

It looks pretty steep and I'd like to see people walk up it with their arms loaded.

Tailgate on the Cybertruck is much lower than the other 2.

 

[swengl]

If you are using the ramp to drive equipment up into the vault area, that shouldn't be too steep. The prototype appears to have enough grip pads to keep slippage to a minimum. If they do include the ramp, the top lip of the tailgate will also need to be strong enough to take the pressure of equipment being driven over it. I'm on the tailgate (er fence) about including the ramp: if it is user friendly and doesn't have a major impact on the range of the CT, I'm for it. I rent aerators every year and the CT squat + ramp would be handy to allow me to load/unload the equipment in the back and not have to use a separate trailer.

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