ZERO PUBLIC ROAD TOWING TESTS

[John K]

Yes, in fact I’ve taken videos of Fords with manufacturer Michigan planes pulling trailers with heavily camouflaged SUV at flagstaff in 2017. That’s just one example. To not test how this thing reacts to towing, fine tuning the trailer mode, stressing weak spots in frame, motor heat thermal loading, etc, is not good.

I was unaware of Ford public tow testing their EV truck in 2017. Unless you have an extremely early reservation number, there will be plenty of public information by the time your reservation Number is ready.

For some unfathomable reason, the CT concept is bashed relentlessly without data backing up assertions. Worse than that, the CT is also constantly bashed for private ulterior motives.

if you are personally doing extensive, heavy load, daily distance towing, maybe an EV platform is an incorrect fit for your application.

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[John K]

I have seen videos of Rivian tow testing in hot climate uphill with Engineers inside looking at their laptops long before first R1T was sold.

These videos tend to be marketing induced. Where performance metrics presented or was the footage hours and hours of testing?

 

[John K]

Didn't the f150 lightning just hide inside the skin of a dead ICE f150?

We never woulda known

Same with rivian
https://www.carscoops.com/2019/03/rivian-testing-skateboard-architecture-bodies-ford-f-150s/amp/

exactly the point. Testing is typically done under company secret. Just because leaks did not occur does not mean the testing does not exist.

I do wonder the intention of the OP. Is the intention to lament the lack of public data on CT towing? Or, is the OP asserting testing did not occur at all due to no direct knowledge? Or, what other intention could there be?

 

[John K]

Ford took the f150 Lightning prototypes on the Ike. https://tfltruck.com/2022/02/spied-...-large-trailer-at-13f-wind-chill-in-colorado/
What's the rent on a rock these days?

Of note, the article was published in February 2022 and production started in April 2022.

I also find the article’s photos odd where the trailer’s wheels and suspension load compression is clipped away. I wonder on the article’s assumption 5,000 load on the trailer is present.

 

[cvalue13]

exactly the point. Testing is typically done under company secret. Just because leaks did not occur does not mean the testing does not exist.

Personally, I just take the point to be that the the CT and Tesla test facilities seems to have been watched more closely than other vehicles.

And we’ve spied multiple instances of just about every type of ‘real world’ testing imaginable

and unlike other vehicles, the CT has no ability to have dummy test mules, unlike other platform plays


so it is to some degree interesting to note that for a new platform, whose marketing to date has centered materially on truck functionality, we’ve not caught even one glimpse of anything like payload (in bed) or towing tests.


which isn’t to say it hasn’t or won’t happen

 

[Diehard]

These videos tend to be marketing induced. Where performance metrics presented or was the footage hours and hours of testing?

The video was short. Even though I have no idea how extensive, I tend to believe there was tow testing since they drove to South America to test other stuff and you can’t do that in a few minutes for a commercial (even though they definitely used the trip for advertisement). I just don’t see how any of these companies including Tesla, wouldn’t test the things they believe the vehicle will be used for prior to release. They all care about their reputation and wouldn’t want to deal with warranty repairs.

 

[JBee]

Personally, I just take the point to be that the the CT and Tesla test facilities seems to have been watched more closely than other vehicles.

And we’ve spied multiple instances of just about every type of ‘real world’ testing imaginable

and unlike other vehicles, the CT has no ability to have dummy test mules, unlike other platform plays


so it is to some degree interesting to note that for a new platform, whose marketing to date has centered materially on truck functionality, we’ve not caught even one glimpse of anything like payload (in bed) or towing tests.


which isn’t to say it hasn’t or won’t happen

Payload in the bed could just be some steel plate to simulate a full load, and wouldn't be visible with the vault closed.

But the lack of trailer testing is curious.
Lots of tuning required for that, in particular the 4WS for anti sway etc. You can do lots in simulation, but you'd still test in real life at some point.

 

[cvalue13]

You can do lots in simulation, but you'd still test in real life at some point.

yea I’d think that simulation data could be better than data from beta builds, but the RCs are a different matter

no longer a mock up, but cakes coming out the oven testing ingredients to be purchased in bulk

 

[DMC-81]

Tesla's Cybertruck Tug-of-War Stunt Was Pointless
Engineering Explained - 3.56M subscribers

This tug of war was not pointless. To me it:
1) served as a direct visual challenge to Ford and the rest of the ICE pickup truck market.
2) showed how mundane and stale the current style is.
3) after inital bluster by the Ford CEO, it was a wake up call that kicked both the Blue Oval and other legacy manufacturers forward to start, or increase the pace of development of BEV trucks.

 

[cvalue13]

This tug of war was not pointless. To me it:
1) served as a direct visual challenge to Ford and the rest of the ICE pickup truck market.
2) showed how mundane and stale the current style is.
3) after inital bluster by the Ford CEO, it was a wake up call that kicked both the Blue Oval and other legacy manufacturers forward to start, or increase the pace of development of BEV trucks.

regrettably, you’re just making the point

People who understand towing/trucks/pulling, we’re laughing at the Silicon Valley black-tees who cheered at this video

Not to suggest Ford and others don’t do their fair share of such stunts to impress people who don’t understand trucks

but except for people who don’t know better, these stunts are carnival tricks whose rhetorical power start and finish with misleading illusions

 

[scottf200]

This tug of war was not pointless. To me it:
1) served as a direct visual challenge to Ford and the rest of the ICE pickup truck market.
2) showed how mundane and stale the current style is.
3) after inital bluster by the Ford CEO, it was a wake up call that kicked both the Blue Oval and other legacy manufacturers forward to start, or increase the pace of development of BEV trucks.

Critical thinking shows it was a pointless gimmick.
A heavier 4x4 truck pulls a lighter 4x2 truck.

The other trucks have evolved to provide the functionality and features that truck buyers have said they wanted. Features+function vs non-mudane style. Cybertruck has the stainless-steel body going for it. Glass is TBD. V1+V2 Supercharger addl access is another plus. Efficiency is TBD. $ TBD. Electrical work plugs TBD.

It is unclear how many CTs will be sold to non-Tesla fans. I haven't seen evidence of it. Unclear how many Tesla non-truck people will buy and then regret having truck size and bed (feature).

Ford, GM, and others trucks have shown to have more functionally and interior "styling".

 

[scottf200]

Not to suggest Ford and others don’t do their fair share of such stunts to impress people who don’t understand trucks

but except for people who don’t know better, these stunts are carnival tricks whose rhetorical power start and finish with misleading illusions

Good point. To be fair:

No, Ford's Electric F-150 Can't Tow 1 Million Pounds (Realistically)
Engineering Explained 3.56M subscribers

 

[cvalue13]

Good point. To be fair:

yes, exactly

a significant difference here, though, is that this *is* showing just how incredibly powerful these vehicles are absent and excluding the physics of friction

here’s Tesla’s version:

and it just goes to show the point of how useless that tow battle stunt is/was

the CyberTruck has roughly twice the torque and 3-4X the horsepower, and likely better 4W traction control compared to the below F-650

Yet the above F650 would drag a CT around, it’s tires smoking, like a rag doll

why? The F650 merely weighs more and has more tire contact patch

these pulling stunts have essentially zero to do with power, exactly zero to do with payload, and everything to do with mere traction (and so weight)

that a CT with 2,000lb of extra weight, 4 wheel drive, and 36X11.5” tires could pull an F150 with 2 wheel drive and stock 30x10” tires around …

Is as interesting as an F650 pulling a CT around


And let me ask this, @DMC-81 - if Ford released a video of an F650 pulling a CT around, you think that would be a “wake-up call” to Musk and Tesla?

sure as hell hope not

 

[Hoosiers08]

exactly the point. Testing is typically done under company secret. Just because leaks did not occur does not mean the testing does not exist.

I do wonder the intention of the OP. Is the intention to lament the lack of public data on CT towing? Or, is the OP asserting testing did not occur at all due to no direct knowledge? Or, what other intention could there be?

Testing can be hidden by other manufacturers, sure. However, there is no way the cybertruck was out testing without anyone knowing. So you either believe extensive tow testing was done secretly, somewhere, on another planet or 2) You don’t believe it’s important to stress test such a new product.
Also, I’m an early reservation holder but have seen zero motivation this is a great product since the initial unveil. Only those with true dogma can excuse this. Hope I’m wrong.

 

[ldjessee]

I like how a series of vehicles with widely varied performance gets lumped together (F-Series)...
Not like they have common frames, power plants, suspensions...
That map must be older data, since it does not show the utter dominance of Model Y... (speculating) probably the best selling in California... maybe a few other states?

If something has an effect for marketing purposes, it is still an effect and most likely desired effect.
I know people think it was useless/pointless/gimmick, but you can reduce any feature advertised to be just that. Falcon wing doors? Stainless steel skin? more acceleration than you could use outside of a drag strip?
All gimmicks.
How about the Model X towing a airliner?


But, if it raises awareness, rising public interest, even public debate, then how pointless was it?

Seems well worth the money invested. YMMV

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