Sponsored

Do you really need a tailgate ladder?

Stuck4ger

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 6, 2019
Threads
54
Messages
1,372
Reaction score
2,546
Location
Cape Canaveral, FL
Vehicles
Cyberbeast
Occupation
Aerospace
Country flag
I did my first overnight camping trip, electric fridge/freezer, griddle, etc. Transitioned the backseat from remote office to bed and fell asleep after watching Netflix and some YouTube TV (using Starlink as a test). I almost packed a small step ladder but realized the flip up roof rack opening made a good hand hold and there were multiple ways to step up.

Sponsored

 

tingmo13

Well-known member
First Name
tashi
Joined
Apr 10, 2024
Threads
0
Messages
531
Reaction score
1,005
Location
Colorado
Vehicles
tesla model Y
Occupation
teacher
Country flag
contended Man is a Happy fella.
 

Tdang75

Active member
Joined
Jun 19, 2020
Threads
2
Messages
25
Reaction score
61
Location
Oregon
Vehicles
X5
Country flag
Having a small ladder is pretty convenient to get in and out of the bed. Don’t need to watch your foot placement or having to pull yourself up. Also, your hands are free to carry items with a step ladder.
Tesla Cybertruck Do you really need a tailgate ladder? IMG_1636
 

Mattkalin

Well-known member
First Name
Matt
Joined
Jan 25, 2022
Threads
9
Messages
308
Reaction score
671
Location
SW Michigan
Vehicles
2023 F350 Superduty , 2023 Model Y AWD
Country flag
I use a large Yeti for a step stool and Keeps the beer cold!
 


Jack27

Well-known member
First Name
Randy
Joined
Aug 13, 2024
Threads
16
Messages
1,283
Reaction score
1,462
Location
Los Angeles
Vehicles
BMX Mongoose/tony hawk skate board/ roller blades
Occupation
None
Country flag
“Ladder” No but the smart move would have been to have a better side step in the bumper like many trucks have stock these days. Someone like me who is in and out of the bed 20 times a day to pull tools out it can get annoying
 
Last edited:

jonesw67

Well-known member
First Name
Warren
Joined
Jul 9, 2024
Threads
20
Messages
288
Reaction score
378
Location
AR
Vehicles
FS Cyberbeast
Country flag
I did my first overnight camping trip, electric fridge/freezer, griddle, etc. Transitioned the backseat from remote office to bed and fell asleep after watching Netflix and some YouTube TV (using Starlink as a test). I almost packed a small step ladder but realized the flip up roof rack opening made a good hand hold and there were multiple ways to step up.

I think it depends on how you are camping.
If you have a cybertent then you can not do it that way and a step ladder would be more convenient.
 

Cybertruck2024

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 4, 2024
Threads
11
Messages
765
Reaction score
1,240
Location
Buffalo
Vehicles
Ford Lightning and Model 3
Country flag
This is one of those areas where Tesla looks bad, "is this a real truck?"

Every other truck maker has a step option, which almost every buyer elects to add. I have a much more difficult time using the bed in this truck that my F-150 or my father's Ram. I hope in the next refresh Tesla considers adding some sort of step.
 

HaulingAss

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 3, 2020
Threads
28
Messages
10,298
Reaction score
20,707
Location
Western Washington, USA
Vehicles
Cybertruck DM, 2010 F-150, 2018 Performance Model 3, 2024 Performance Model 3
Country flag
I did my first overnight camping trip, electric fridge/freezer, griddle, etc. Transitioned the backseat from remote office to bed and fell asleep after watching Netflix and some YouTube TV (using Starlink as a test). I almost packed a small step ladder but realized the flip up roof rack opening made a good hand hold and there were multiple ways to step up.

Nice!

I noticed your profile doesn't show you own a Cybertruck yet. A friendly reminder to all members with recent deliveries to add your new truck to your profile so we can have some context for your comments.
 

HaulingAss

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 3, 2020
Threads
28
Messages
10,298
Reaction score
20,707
Location
Western Washington, USA
Vehicles
Cybertruck DM, 2010 F-150, 2018 Performance Model 3, 2024 Performance Model 3
Country flag
This is one of those areas where Tesla looks bad, "is this a real truck?"

Every other truck maker has a step option, which almost every buyer elects to add. I have a much more difficult time using the bed in this truck that my F-150 or my father's Ram. I hope in the next refresh Tesla considers adding some sort of step.
Well, I have a long list of places where my legacy truck looks bad compared to the Cybertruck and they aren't little minor things like "no man step".

I guess I've been climbing in/out of pickups my whole life without steps so I just do what @Stuck4ger demonstrated. My 2010 F-150 is before they started adding steps to the tailgate, or maybe they had them when I ordered it and I just smirked at the idea, I don't remember.

I've never carried cargo into the bed by climbing steps while carrying the cargo, I just set it on the tailgate and push it in. If I have a lot, I might climb in the bed two or three times between staging the cargo on the tailgate, but it's not a problem. Unloading is the reverse of loading. This takes far less energy than carrying each armload of cargo up the stairs because you don't have to lift your body weight each armload. Your body probably weighs multiple times more than whatever you can carry up the steps so you are expending a lot more energy climbing steps than you would if you staged the cargo on the tailgate in batches.

I will tell you this: My Cybertruck has easier bed access than my stock 2010 F-150 XLT 4x4 (and putting a man-step on the Ford isn't going to change that). Not only does the cargo bed go lower with the Cybertruck, the cargo doesn't hang up on the wheel wells as I push it forward.

If I'm unloading, the Cybertruck is easier too. I just step where @Stuck4ger demonstrated, but with my opposite foot (so I'm facing forward) and lean forward and grab whatever box or other item I need to get and slide it towards the tailgate. For really heavy items I do the same thing I did on my F-150, I climb into the bed and move it out to the tailgate.

The sloping sides of the Cybertruck don't change how I load and unload trucks, contrary to all the fake noise out there that its not workable. Because my F-150 was too tall anyway to meaningfully access the bed from the side (and I'm 6'-04" tall) Also, my F-150 has no step right behind the rear wheel like the Cybertruck does (so the Ford actually caused me to get in/out of the bed more times when loading/unloading).
 
Last edited:


Nice2CTu

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 15, 2024
Threads
2
Messages
110
Reaction score
154
Location
Florida
Vehicles
Cybertruck Beast
Country flag
I noticed your profile doesn't show you own a Cybertruck yet. A friendly reminder to all members with recent deliveries to add your new truck to your profile so we can have some context for your comments.
[/QUOTE]

I just added mine based on this comment, wasn't aware of the efficacy. Thanks for posting.
 

GatorCyber

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 14, 2024
Threads
13
Messages
599
Reaction score
714
Location
Florida
Vehicles
2024 Cybertruck FS; 2023 Model X (w/FSD)
Occupation
Real Estate Developer
Country flag
I guess the bumper top cover could come in handy
Sponsored

 
 








Top