Mexico Pics: Cybertrucks w/ roof rack accessories (Starlink & recovery boards) and bed vault haul (spare, air tank, recovery rope)

[IdahoRenegade]

It's a Co2 tank, likely for redundancy, and much quicker to air tires back up after finishing a run. They're probably taking these out into the middle of nowhere, and I don't think they'd want to abandon a truck or have to call for an offroad tow truck down in Baja. Hence, the spare in a Rough County mount, pansy-esque tire traction things, satellite (LOL), tow strap, and likely a jack in the covered bag. They clearly are minimizing risk as much as possible. I wouldn't assume too much from these photos...

Makes sense if they are inflating 4 aired down tires rather than one flat. Gets me thinking-compressors take a fair amount of power to run. Blowing up 4 might have a slight but noticeable impact on range. Not something you want when you're in the boonies in the first place.

I'm just hoping they kept "squat mode" and the ramp in the tailgate. Would be great for loading motorcycles/atvs/utvs/mowers, and a big differentiator from anything else on the market.

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[charliemagpie]

I wonder about the air tank as well-but the car is supposed to have an air suspension, which would mean a compressor somewhere. Can't believe they wouldn't put a port with a Schrader valve somewhere.

When asked , Cant remember exactly Elons words, but it was basically along the same lines. The compressor is already there. It's a possibility.

If there was a constraint as highlighted here, he would have said so then. The guy builds Rockets.

 

[PilotPete]

You can't deny that any "good" tyre business, also wants your "return business".

It might not apply to some, but it is fairly industry standard behaviour and far from a conspiracy. Besides haven't conspiracies of late been true?

I mean we have UFO's now right? Right? ?

Any good tire business (including Costco) wants my return business. This is very true. However, any GOOD tire business doesn't try to trap or lie to me about what I need. That's what makes them good. As an example, when I first got my current car, and the original tires were about ready to die, I suggested to the guy that the camber in the rear might need an adjustment. He looked at the wear on the rears and told me, nope, he wouldn't do it. I would be unhappy with the result, and since he could tell from the tires how much I was enjoying the way the car was currently balanced, he wouldn't touch the setup. THAT is a good business, and he has had my return business for over 10 years. I disagree it is "industry standard" behavior. Unless you're talking about the sleezy side of the car industry.

 

[PilotPete]

AAA is wrong about the thing they wrote in their article?!? ?

When I said there were valid reasons, and AAA was wrong on at least one of them, I never said it was that one. I never said which one with which I had an issue. If you don't know the subject of my reference, how can you characterize it as an edge case? Are you a mind reader? Do you have ESPN?

They're not... They're just trying to preserve a bit of Pilot Pete's dignity in pointing out the edge case where dry nitrogen in tires makes a difference.

Two problems there. First, AAA cares not at all about my dignity. And if you knew my ex, you might well come to the conclusion that I don't either. Second, FB was making a joke, but you saw it as a chance to take a shot. Ok, whatever. I know what I know and a good part of what I don't know. I stand behind my statement, and the science behind it. My dignity is not important. My integrity remains intact, and the most valuable thing I own.

 

[PilotPete]

If they're out on a remote air strip and need pressure in their tires, you betcha they'll put plain air if they don't have nitrogen or whatever.

Note: I'm referring to jets here, not single engine piston aircraft. Not homebuilts or experimental category planes.

There are shady people that do all sorts of stupid and illegal things in cars and planes both. However, no one who is at all reputable as a pilot will ask for that, and no mechanic who values his license would ever do it. And yes, a violation of the Aircraft Flight Manual is a violation of title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

The rules on plane tires and car tires are very different. We have an operable pressure range, From XXX to YYY psig depending on the plane and tire. And if the pressure goes below ZZZ, you can't just add pressure, you must replace BOTH the tire and wheel. The "replace" pressure isn't all that low. For the places I fly, it's still over 125 psig. If I'm somewhere and the tire is below the operating pressure range, regardless of how remote, I have never ask, been offered, or accepted any substitution. If that means I now have a 2 hour cab ride in a very smelly taxi in a third world country where I'm fearing for my life based on how the cab driver drives, just to get to a hotel, then so be it. And I've done that exact thing. And our tire pressures rarely go more than 4 or 5 landings without a gauge check, and they are visually inspected before EVERY departure, by both pilots.

Are there guys that cut corners, yes. But many of them have their names enshrined in NTSB accident reports or they soon will. And unfortunately they generally take someone with them. As the saying goes "There are old pilots, and there are bold pilots. There just aren't any old bold pilots."

You can take shots at me all day long. i'll call you out on them and brush it off. But I will take issue with false naive statements about the safety of the industry in which I have dedicated so many years. So I'll kindly ask you to not make statements about something you evidently know nothing about. Even worse, just to try and back up your point. That level of behavior is just sad.

 

[JBee]

Any good tire business (including Costco) wants my return business. This is very true. However, any GOOD tire business doesn't try to trap or lie to me about what I need. That's what makes them good. As an example, when I first got my current car, and the original tires were about ready to die, I suggested to the guy that the camber in the rear might need an adjustment. He looked at the wear on the rears and told me, nope, he wouldn't do it. I would be unhappy with the result, and since he could tell from the tires how much I was enjoying the way the car was currently balanced, he wouldn't touch the setup. THAT is a good business, and he has had my return business for over 10 years. I disagree it is "industry standard" behavior. Unless you're talking about the sleezy side of the car industry.

In my experience, there's a difference between the owner and an employee, and genuine service to keep the customer happy and taking pride in your job, or just doing your job.

The retail industry is just getting more and more cutthroat, sort of takes the joy out of it. But such is the nature progress and private enterprise. Many are under pressure nowadays to keep the doors open, so sometimes their situations are untenable, and it shows through.

I buy my tyres online, they get delivered by mail, I pick them up in the post office, and take them to my local tyre guy to fit. That way we are both happy, because he can't compete on tyre price or freight out here, but he still has work.

Change is hard.

 

[Crissa]

Note: I'm referring to jets here, not single engine piston aircraft. Not homebuilts or experimental category planes.

There are shady people that do all sorts of stupid and illegal things in cars and planes both. However, no one who is at all reputable as a pilot will ask for that, and no mechanic who values his license would ever do it. And yes, a violation of the Aircraft Flight Manual is a violation of title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

The rules on plane tires and car tires are very different. We have an operable pressure range, From XXX to YYY psig depending on the plane and tire. And if the pressure goes below ZZZ, you can't just add pressure, you must replace BOTH the tire and wheel. The "replace" pressure isn't all that low. For the places I fly, it's still over 125 psig. If I'm somewhere and the tire is below the operating pressure range, regardless of how remote, I have never ask, been offered, or accepted any substitution. If that means I now have a 2 hour cab ride in a very smelly taxi in a third world country where I'm fearing for my life based on how the cab driver drives, just to get to a hotel, then so be it. And I've done that exact thing. And our tire pressures rarely go more than 4 or 5 landings without a gauge check, and they are visually inspected before EVERY departure, by both pilots.

Are there guys that cut corners, yes. But many of them have their names enshrined in NTSB accident reports or they soon will. And unfortunately they generally take someone with them. As the saying goes "There are old pilots, and there are bold pilots. There just aren't any old bold pilots."

You can take shots at me all day long. i'll call you out on them and brush it off. But I will take issue with false naive statements about the safety of the industry in which I have dedicated so many years. So I'll kindly ask you to not make statements about something you evidently know nothing about. Even worse, just to try and back up your point. That level of behavior is just sad.

And your answer is completely talking around the point.

Why? Who knows.

The replacement pressure refers to the pressure when used from a flight, obviously not from being repaired, or getting back to their service location. And yeah, it's incredibly easy for an aircraft to fail and inspection and get stuck at some location and have to wait for help.

Have they created operational charts for runway temperatures over 125F yet? That's gonna be a much more common issue, than, how do you get a private plane home.

-Crissa

 

[Rutrow]

Have they created operational charts for runway temperatures over 125F yet? That's gonna be a much more common issue, than, how do you get a private plane home.

-Crissa

What'll happen to general aviation when climate change gets so bad that the density altitude exceeds your service ceiling while you're still sitting on the ramp?!? ?

 

[Crissa]

What'll happen to general aviation when climate change gets so bad that the density altitude exceeds your service ceiling while you're still sitting on the ramp?!? ?

That happens to helicopters in mountainous terrain but I don't see how it would happen to fixed-wing?

-Crissa

 

[PilotPete]

And your answer is completely talking around the point.

Why? Who knows.

The replacement pressure refers to the pressure when used from a flight, obviously not from being repaired, or getting back to their service location. And yeah, it's incredibly easy for an aircraft to fail and inspection and get stuck at some location and have to wait for help.

Have they created operational charts for runway temperatures over 125F yet? That's gonna be a much more common issue, than, how do you get a private plane home.

-Crissa

No, you’re not understanding what I’m saying. I’m not talking around anything, and just because you accuse someone of it, doesn’t make it true.

Correcting tire pressure at any time, even after a flight, IS A MAINTENANCE ACTION In this class of aircraft. It is a violation of the regulations. And every single maintenance action has to be logged and signed off by an individual with the proper licensing (an A&P at least) And a pilot who flies an aircraft knowing that there are unlogged maintenance actions is putting their license at risk as well. You appear to think that a pilot can just pull up to the pump and add some extra pressure to get the tires back in the right zone. In both posts, I’m trying to explain it don’t work that way. I’m not wasting everyones’ time by honestly trying to explain something you don’t want to understand.

I did notice that you seem perfectly fine with making a blatantly false and ignorant statement about a field in which you have zero knowledge and misinforming people about a critical issue of safety. Not a great reflection on your character and integrity. Appears that you either have fallen to, or always were, just another keyboard warrior. I used to have far more respect for you.

 

[PilotPete]

What'll happen to general aviation when climate change gets so bad that the density altitude exceeds your service ceiling while you're still sitting on the ramp?!? ?

Dan,

That happens now at some airports. There is an airport at Big Bear California up in the mountains. In the summer, the altitude plus the temperature combine to make it difficult to impossible for an aircraft to take-off and get away from the ground. Every few years, someone who didn’t do their pre-flight planning puts a plane into the lake located at the end of the runway. The smaller the aircraft, and the closer the plane is to max takeoff weight, the higher the odds this will be your last flight (one way or another). There are dozens of airports in the US and internationally that have this issue.

 

[Crissa]

Yes, 'in this class of aircraft' is avoiding the point by narrowing it to a smaller pool than your words referred to originally.

-Crissa

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