Why only 11,000 lbs towing?

[flyinglow]

Here's a question: From what I understand, 11,000 lbs towing requires a class 5 hitch. Class 5 hitches (non-commercial) are rated up to 17,000 lbs towing, so why is the Cybertruck limited to 11,000 lbs towing. Given its 2,500 payload, it should be able to support a hitch load significantly higher than 1,100 pounds/higher towing capacity. Anyone know what factor is the limitation on towing capacity?

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[CyberBEASTrawr]

Here's a question: From what I understand, 11,000 lbs towing requires a class 5 hitch. Class 5 hitches (non-commercial) are rated up to 17,000 lbs towing, so why is the Cybertruck limited to 11,000 lbs towing. Given its 2,500 payload, it should be able to support a hitch load significantly higher than 1,100 pounds/higher towing capacity. Anyone know what factor is the limitation on towing capacity?

I believe it has to do with the brakes not being able to adequately stop loads over 11,000lbs.

 

[flyinglow]

I believe it has to do with the brakes not being able to adequately stop loads over 11,000lbs.

That seems like a reasonable explanation if the requirement was for the brakes to stop the vehicle without regen. If so, it is awfully tempting to exceed 11,000 lbs towing with regen operational.

I was thinking more along the lines of the rear megacasting limiting it due to also having to provide crash crush capability. Just a guess.

 

[Gigahorse]

That seems like a reasonable explanation if the requirement was for the brakes to stop the vehicle without regen. If so, it is awfully tempting to exceed 11,000 lbs towing with regen operational.

I was thinking more along the lines of the rear megacasting limiting it due to also having to provide crash crush capability. Just a guess.

Yea it can pull more than that, but it can't stop it, which is usually the towing limit.

 

[WheresMyCybertruck]

I don't have an exact answer but it could be several things. Usually I would guess it's because of the suspension setup, lack of solid rear axle, "unibody" vs a body on frame design, or something else along those lines since those are usually what affect towing on other trucks.

Maybe someone else has seen something from Tesla as for why it's only 11,000, but I don't recall seeing anything.

 

[Cyber Man]

Manufactures do different types of testing before coming up with those numbers. It’s not based on just engine torque/payload. Suspension, safe breaking distance, understeer/oversteer values based on skid plate testing, axle rating, tire strength, and a lot more come into play. We saw CT won the Sled pull towing 40,000 lbs, but that doesn’t mean we can do that on regular roads safely. So the final towing numbers are for safety regulations and liabilities based on all the testing they do. Another classic example is that Porsche has a Guinness world record for towing Boeing airplane, but the official tow rating is 8000 lbs with 500 lbs tongue weight!! They could have at least bumped up the hitch weight rating to 800 lbs (general number is 10% of towing rating), but they want play it very safe.

 

[Wraven]

Here's a question: From what I understand, 11,000 lbs towing requires a class 5 hitch. Class 5 hitches (non-commercial) are rated up to 17,000 lbs towing, so why is the Cybertruck limited to 11,000 lbs towing. Given its 2,500 payload, it should be able to support a hitch load significantly higher than 1,100 pounds/higher towing capacity. Anyone know what factor is the limitation on towing capacity?

A little research on the subject leads to some complex laws and "re-rating" to avoid some of those categories.

This isn't the entire answer, but start here and see how the thread pulls if you are really interested in your question and the winding labyrinthine of the answer:

https://www.worktruckonline.com/145897/re-rating-gvwr-why-and-how-its-done

 

[flyinglow]

A little research on the subject leads to some complex laws and "re-rating" to avoid some of those categories.

This isn't the entire answer, but start here and see how the thread pulls if you are really interested in your question and the winding labyrinthine of the answer:

https://www.worktruckonline.com/145897/re-rating-gvwr-why-and-how-its-done

Very interesting. As an aside, when I sold GM trucks in Latin America, hundreds of Isuzu dump trucks were instantly "uprated" by their owners by raising the sides of the dump beds. They ran them 6-8,000 lbs over their rated capacity with no issues.

 

[flyinglow]

Here's a question: From what I understand, 11,000 lbs towing requires a class 5 hitch. Class 5 hitches (non-commercial) are rated up to 17,000 lbs towing, so why is the Cybertruck limited to 11,000 lbs towing. Given its 2,500 payload, it should be able to support a hitch load significantly higher than 1,100 pounds/higher towing capacity. Anyone know what factor is the limitation on towing capacity?

Here's one possible contributing factor: the tires.

The CT tires are load range D with a maximum load of 3415 lbs or 6830 per axle. By my calculations, if you had a max trailer load of 11,000 lbs with a tongue weight of 10%/1,100 lbs and a maximum remaining payload in the bed of 1,400 lbs distributed evenly, the rear axle would see a load of roughly 5,570 lbs, giving a safety margin of less than 23% before overloading the tires. My never completed engineering studies suggested you always want a safety factor of at least 2. Of course, the tires have their own safety factor which I do not know.

So, even assuming the truck operator loads the truck and trailer correctly (not a good assumption especially given the CT doesn't give us that info like the Lightning does - hey Tesla, you probably have the data from the air suspension so give it to us so we can load properly), the D load range tires obviate against a higher towing capacity.

FYI, the E range tires on Tire Rack show load ratings of 3,750 and 3,860 lbs. If I regularly towed and carried heavy loads in my CT, I might be tempted to go with load range E tires for the peace of mind, although they cost more and are heavier. I doubt many CT owners fall into that category, though.

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