What are your opinions about the Cybertruck's performance when off-roading? What places have you been to and what events have you participated in?

[RealWheelsEV Bean]

I haven't seen any threads specifically (apologizes if it does exist and I did not see it) about off-roading with the Cybertruck, so I was hoping to spark some conversations and get some opinions. I was recently presented with the opportunity to take the Cybertruck off-roading, but I have zero experience with that sort of thing.

Those of you who are off-road enthusiasts, where have you taken your Cybertruck and what is your opinion about its performance?

What are the must haves as far as off-roading accessories?

Do you have a pre-trip checklist?

Have you participated in any Cybertruck off-road events/meetups? If so, which ones? Looking at some opportunities to attend some this year, but I would really like to find events that are more Cybertruck-centric, rather than EVs in general.

Has anyone participated in the Smugglers Runs event? Thoughts? I've seen some footage of some Cybertrucks participating and it actually looks awesome. I was trying to do some googling, but it is also a video game I think, so it's tough to find a lot of information that doesn't come directly from the event coordinators, but, nonetheless, it still looks pretty cool. Here's the link to the website if you're not familiar: https://www.smugglersruns.com/

Thanks so much in advance for all the advice and insights!

-Bean

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[DaBagBoy]

It's pretty amazing fun!!!
https://www.cybertruckownersclub.co...-sand-dune-adventure-silver-lake-dunes.21266/

 

[RealWheelsEV Bean]

It's pretty amazing fun!!!
https://www.cybertruckownersclub.co...-sand-dune-adventure-silver-lake-dunes.21266/

That looks like a blast!! Do you find it easy to connect with other CT owners to meet up for stuff like this? Or do you usually go solo?

 

[Cybergirl]

I've done some backroads adventures in Arizona. Swansea Mine near Parker, Outlaw Trail near Sedona, and Four Peaks trail near Apache Jct. None were particularly challenging although there were some tricky sections that got my heart rate up. My Cybertruck had no problems handling the terrain. 16" ground clearance is wonderful. Watch your range, though, because efficiency plummets, and charging opportunities are few and far between. I'm planning some longer overland trips when the weather warms up.

 

[tmeyer3]

Hello!

I participated in the smuggler's run event that you're seeing on YouTube, attended with the CybertruckCO guys. I'm going to be brutally honest about it: if you don't like being asked to act by professional actors that won't break character, don't attend, it's really immersive. It's supposed to be discovery at your pace, but they clearly have a timeline that they don't tell anyone and it is really frustrating to drive 30-45 minutes somewhere to find out that you're too early/late. This happened OFTEN. Probably user error, but it got old fast. Overall I won't be going back, but I still had a good time; the price is not worth it imo.

The best CT events I've been to are the cybertruck odyssey events that have been amazing. Here is the current one being planned for president's day weekend in February.

As for off-roading accessories and threads, I maintain the Off-road accessories mega-thread. The first post is a VERY LARGE list of currently available and reputable off-road CT mods/accessories. Before you start requesting adds to the thread, be sure to read the requirements on the first post. That first post is updated regularly.

 

[DaBagBoy]

That trip I was with some friends in my truck alone.....
The Michigan crew did one later but I missed it
https://www.cybertruckownersclub.co...ilver-lake-cybertruck-dune-day-10-6-24.23557/

 

[MountainPassPerformance]

So... we have a fair bit of experience off-roading the CT, and pushing it to the limits. We'll let the video speak for itself ?



A word of caution: We did end up damaging a front upper control arm!
So be careful if you intend to send it as hard as we did. If you're just regular off-roading and not trying to see how high the Cybertruck can jump, you should be fine.

We're working on some solutions to the bent arm for everyone else to enjoy as much as we do, but that's all we can say for now ?

 

[HaulingAss]

We did end up damaging a front upper control arm!

Good video!

Did you document the damage (like a photo of the damaged control arm) and did it make it known exactly what event caused the damage to happen?

 

[tmeyer3]

Good video!

Did you document the damage (like a photo of the damaged control arm) and did it make it known exactly what event caused the damage to happen?

Also interested in the answer to this!

 

[HaulingAss]

I haven't seen any threads specifically (apologizes if it does exist and I did not see it) about off-roading with the Cybertruck, so I was hoping to spark some conversations and get some opinions. I was recently presented with the opportunity to take the Cybertruck off-roading, but I have zero experience with that sort of thing.

Those of you who are off-road enthusiasts, where have you taken your Cybertruck and what is your opinion about its performance?

I've been off-roading since I was 16 years old in a huge variety of vehicles, Jeeps, Toyota Landcruisers, K5 Chevy Blazers, Jeep Cherokee, Subaru Brats, Nissan Patrols, Dodge Power Wagons, F-150, etc. I've also taken non-off-road vehicles places they had no business being (which is a fun challenge itself).

Most often just to get away from people or to reach remote camping or trailheads for hiking or backcountry skiing, but also to challenge myself to see how much I could get away with without damaging my vehicle (only mostly successful there). Nothing too extreme overall, although many outtings contained isolated challenges that pushed driver and vehicle to the limit. Do much of that and it can get expensive and time-consuming really fast. I tried to push the limit and use my head to avoid damage or major loss. Most of it is driver skill and knowledge to know what the potential issues are and how to minimize or avoid them.

I've off-roaded the Cybertruck mostly in the North Cascades and taken it places that I think a Raptor would have trouble negotiating without damage to the driveline, even the version with 37" tires might have had issues. The Raptor would better better on soft surfaces due to it's lighter weight.

The Cybertruck is the easiest vehicle I've driven on challenging terrain. It has disadvantages compared to a short-wheelbase Jeep, but also advantages. Contrary to what you will read online, Cybertruck's biggest disadvantage is not approach or departure angles, it's the breakover angle (due to the relatively long wheelbase). I've been on Jeep trails that required me to use every ouce of what I knew to prevent high-centering on the high points. These are trails that only short-wheelbase vehicles like Jeeps, or highly modified off-road pickups with tall aftermarket tires can navigate. The Cybertrucks low center of gravity is a big advantage over a jacked pickup with a heavy V8 up high and two differentials hanging low (big tires notwithstanding).

The Cybertruck is very easy to drive off-road due to (in rough order of importance):

1) a high and unobstructed ground clearance and good approach and departure angles.
2) Steer-by-Wire (the high ratio of the steering makes it effortless to make fast direction changes at slow speeds making it more adept at following a tortuous path and avoid hazards.
3) Very well dialed throttle control and traction controls make it easy to always apply the right amount of power or regen for the situation.
4) Four-Wheel-Steering (at slow speeds the rear tires follow the front tires more closely when following a tortuous path) That makes it a lot more likely you can avoid running over the worst obstacles with the all four tires.
5) Dual mechanical lockers (for when you need maximum traction on uneven ground)
6) Front, rear and side cameras are very handy and easy to use (once you gain some experience reading them)
6) Off-road cruise control (or whatever Tesla calls it). This is great for very rugged trails that are not too technical.

The bottom line is the Cybertruck very easy to drive off-road, and very capable, if you can't get there in a Cybertruck you are probably going to need a pretty specialized, dedicated off-road rig. The Cybertruck is amazing in how far it can push off-road capabilities while remaining a no-compromise on-road vehicle at the same time. I've never experienced anything close to this level of versatility.

Use your head out there, and have fun!

 

[mongo]

Been to the Holly off road park twice and Silver Lake Dunes once. Had fun all three times, didn't get stuck (thanks extract mode!), did scuff rims and bust a rear aero flap though (have since found the removal procedure).
It's more capable than I am!

 

[HaulingAss]

Here's one example of where the 16" of ground clearance and smooth bottom came through in a pinch.

We were hitting some high trailheads in the North Cascades when we came across a giant Cedar that had fallen in a winter storm. I had a chainsaw with me but decided it would be quicker to strap it and jerk it off the road. That went well (the mass of the Cybertruck is useful in such situations). However, underneath where the tree and branches were was a solid block of ice at least two feet tall and having very steep entry and exit points. Further, the sharp jagged ends of the remains of the logs only left a narrow passageway over the block of ice. If the truck slipped sideways even a foot, the sharp ends of the jagged log remains threatened to damage the sides of the Cybertruck.

Getting past this point in my F-150, even with the center of log removed, would have been unthinkable without an hour or more of sculpting the ice with a pickaxe to ease the entry and exit points and ensure the truck didn't slide sideways into the hazard of the splintered log or, more likely, break the driveshaft on the hard ice. In the Cybertruck I was able to engage the front and rear lockers in Extract Mode and drive right over it.

I've posted these photos before, but for those who are new, I'll post them below.

This is what it looked like before I broke the log free and towed it to the uphill side of the road:

And this is what the ice dam looked like after I drove over the top of it:

The arrow points at an ICE 4x4 pickup that didn't stand a chance of making it over.

As we continued to climb to the trailhead, we encountered three feet of old water saturated snowpack. Unlike the hard ice dam, this was deep and slushy with a hard ice bottom, the Cybertruck left tracks over a foot deep. The tires cut through far enough that the 16" of ground clearance was reduced to 1"-2" (and the tires could not dig through to the dense bottom layer to the gravel and dirt below). It was like BB's made of ice balls so there was very little traction. I created two tracks through it by hitting it at about 25 mph to punch further uphill and backing down so I could repeat it again and again. Each time I would gain about eight or ten feet. Until I got to the switchback. The snow was even sloppier and deeper, and the snow had a concerning camber to the inside of the switchback. I did not want to end up in the ditch, it would be a difficult extraction. I engaged the rear locker and made it 1/3 of the way around the switchback (but not before backing all the way out of the snowpack multiple times and achieving ramming speed through my old tracks). I engaged the front locker and with three or four more full ramming speed runs I made it around the switchback where the snow was only about a foot deep, and I could continue climbing under the trucks power. It felt good to not need momentum. After a way the snow was mostly gone, due to better sun exposure, and we were able to climb all the way to the trailhead.

It probably goes without saying, we didn't encounter anyone on the trail on this particular day hike! My F-150 would have been even worse in the sloppy snow, regardless of its lighter weight (due to the two differentials acting like anchors in the old snowpack). It would have been a complete no-go in these conditions.

Old, deep, snowpack in the spring is so treacherous, most 4x4 drivers know enough to just turn around if there is more than a short straight section (like a short section where snowdrifts form). Continuous snowpack this deep and sloppy is an invitation to a long and difficult extraction. Even a buddy in another vehicle is of limited help because they are also traction limited, and directional control is nearly impossible with a load on the tow strap.

I should have taken pictures of the deep trenches I made around the snowed-in switchback, but I'm often so involved in the 'here and now' that I don't even think of it. I almost forgot to snap a couple of pics of the big log (I had the big log fully strapped before the idea of a photo even crossed my mind). In any case, the Cybertruck did better than I expected which is what encouraged me to do something I would normally never even attempt.

 

[MountainPassPerformance]

Good video!

Did you document the damage (like a photo of the damaged control arm) and did it make it known exactly what event caused the damage to happen?

Also interested in the answer to this!

We have documented it - just not publicly, yet. As much as we would like to be 100% open about our findings, research and development immediately as it happens, there have been a few cases of other companies knocking off our work when we've done that in the past.

What I can say is that it's a 7000 lb truck flying through the air, and it's not always landing perfectly even, so eventually one corner took the brunt of the force. Every suspension component has its breaking point. We're just very good at finding them ? Luckily, we're also very good at addressing them. That's all we can say for now, but we promise to keep you posted!

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