Metal roof rather than glass on the Cybertruck

[firsttruck]

it is armor glass so it should be just fine.

A seamless solid roof of the 3mm stainless steel is much stronger than armor glass.

Twice it could not make it through the Cybertruck demo!!!!
With that glass you seem to have to worry about the mounting holding firm even.

I am pretty sure armor glass is going to be much more expensive than regular windshield glass. I have had enough windshields replaced. Even if the insurance pays most of the cost it still requires my time (length) and cost time (lost income) for no value to me. Even the insurance cost is not free because the insurance company will raise rates (if not mine directly then everybody's rates).

I want to use the best more durable work truck.
Windows are needed for windshield & doors.
Windows in roof are waste-full luxury.

I would pay extra NOT to have a amour glass roof!!!

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[firsttruck]

I don't think it's a big worry unless you're getting a loader dumping into the back frequently.
-Crissa

Cybertruck is supposed to be the most durable work truck.

I expect the Cybertruck to handle frequent use with loader dumping stuff in the back.

Farmers and others do it all the time.

With the 3mm stainless steel exoskeleton body, why have weaker material glass ( even armor glass) where glass is not needed.

The use of glass in the roof lowers the ROI in business use. It increases cost without any business value.

 

[Jhodgesatmb]

A seamless solid roof of the 3mm stainless steel is much stronger than armor glass.

Twice it could not make it through the Cybertruck demo!!!!
With that glass you seem to have to worry about the mounting holding firm even.

I am pretty sure armor glass is going to be much more expensive than regular windshield glass. I have had enough windshields replaced. Even if the insurance pays most of the cost it still requires my time (length) and cost time (lost income) for no value to me. Even the insurance cost is not free because the insurance company will raise rates (if not mine directly then everybody's rates).

I want to use the best more durable work truck.
Windows are needed for windshield & doors.
Windows in roof are waste-full luxury.

I would pay extra NOT to have a amour glass roof!!!

I suspect your truck of choice will be a Rivian, EF-150, or Hummer; they will follow the traditional design patters. I think the chance of Tesla offering a different roof is very close to 0% and thus not worthy of a lot of discussion. I thought perhaps your concern was about strength but it isn’t.

 

[firsttruck]

I suspect your truck of choice will be a Rivian, EF-150, or Hummer; they will follow the traditional design patters. I think the chance of Tesla offering a different roof is very close to 0% and thus not worthy of a lot of discussion. I thought perhaps your concern was about strength but it isn’t.

Well you would be wrong. I instantly loved the Cybertruck style. I did not need time for it to grow on me. I have posted here before that I think there should be a CyberSUV, Cybertaxi and a CyberPU ( ranger size pickup). Especial the taxi as I plan to have several for the Tesla robotaxi network.

I do not understand why you suggest a Hummer when one of the big features GM touted was a GLASS roof!
Rivian has option for glass roof but it is not required.
None of those ( Rivian, EF-150, or Hummer) come close to a Cybertruck.
The Hummer is a joke.
I hope Rivian makes it but I do not think they will ever be really competitive to Tesla.
EF-150 is a Ford and I do not think Ford management is smart enough to pull it off.
Ford Mustang Mach-E & EF-150 will not ship more than Tesla.

 

[firsttruck]

Another thing is supposed poor quality by Tesla. There have been several reports of windows falling out. There are reports from other brands too. I do not bring this up to bash Tesla because I do not think their quality problems are that severe.

But I think someone high up in Tesla has a saying "Best part is no part"

glass roof needs
cutout of steel panel
waterproof seal
extra time for interior headliner
expensive glass
glass mounting framing
extra manufacturing cost and more manufacturing capital equipment.
extra time with labor & robots
more quality inspection time & things to go wrong

A really tough work & off-road truck should have no parts in roof except maybe a camera if you really need to look out for obstacles from above.

 

[Silentum]

I am looking forward to my cybertruck having glass roof so I can feel closer to our Florida thunderstorms.

 

[firsttruck]

* medium sized rock completely punctures metal car roof & even goes through seat.
Toyota van Build Quality Tested As Giant Rock Strikes Its Roof
Vehicles are not made to withstand such a natural calamity
By Shaheer Anwar
June 4, 2020
https://fossbytes.com/toyota-innova-crysta-build-quality-tested-as-giant-rock-strikes-its-roof/


*But you do not need to be driving in the mountains. Here is a natural disaster in the city (Bronx, New York!)
A huge piece of rock face broke off and fell onto a roadway in the Bronx, damaging multiple cars.
CBS TV News
7 sep. 2018
https://newyork.cbslocal.com/video/...m-cliff-face-in-the-bronx-hits-2-parked-cars/

Also the many incidents of people dropping stuff off bridges on to vehicles driving below.

 

[Crissa]

Farmers and others do it all the time.

...And they break windows all the time and if they do, add a protective screen.

-Crissa

 

[firsttruck]

...And they break windows all the time and if they do, add a protective screen.

-Crissa

But windshields and windows in doors are a necessity. Glass in roof is not. Glass roof is completely a luxury item in work truck that only results in more costs & downtime.
There are many cases where the glass can be damaged & cracked that were we would have to take the truck out of service but where a 3mm SS roof would only be dented and truck could continue to be used and dent never repaired.
Any serious cracking of glass roof must be repaired while with SS roof repair would be much less & repair optional.

Glass roof adds measurably cost to initial price of the Cybertruck and significant cost to long-term ownership.

My business partners and I have to pay more for the Cybertruck and see increased long-term cost (directly or through higher insurance) for nothing of value.
Our workers/drivers do not need a glass roof.

Glass roof goes completely against the goals of durability, lower fabriaction cost, and long-term maintenance costs that the stainless steel exoskeleton furthered.

 

[Jhodgesatmb]

Well you would be wrong. I instantly loved the Cybertruck style. I did not need time for it to grow on me. I have posted here before that I think there should be a CyberSUV, Cybertaxi and a CyberPU ( ranger size pickup). Especial the taxi as I plan to have several for the Tesla robotaxi network.

I do not understand why you suggest a Hummer when one of the big features GM touted was a GLASS roof!
Rivian has option for glass roof but it is not required.
None of those ( Rivian, EF-150, or Hummer) come close to a Cybertruck.
The Hummer is a joke.
I hope Rivian makes it but I do not think they will ever be really competitive to Tesla.
EF-150 is a Ford and I do not think Ford management is smart enough to pull it off.
Ford Mustang Mach-E & EF-150 will not ship more than Tesla.

Perhaps I am wrong, and it certainly isn’t the first time nor will it be the last, but everything in your tone says to me “this is what I want and it isn’t what was presented to me”. It doesn’t shout “I instantly loved the Cybertruck style”. I don’t think Tesla will provide you with a 3mm stainless roof, but if they did you would bake in it, protected from falling objects.

 

[Crissa]

But windshields and windows in doors are a necessity. ...

Then you also don't need a back window, yet all the other trucks come with them...

-Crissa

 

[firsttruck]

Then you also don't need a back window, yet all the other trucks come with them...

-Crissa

I have said nothing about traditional trucks being the ultimate solution.

If back window is not blocked it is very frequently used in back up driving.

I completely agree we do not need a back window if have a display in cab & camera at back of truck.

If the Cybertruck bed cover is closed you sure can not use the back window for backing up and would need display of rear camera info.

But historically & even today, back window can have use in driving situations.

Glass roof has almost none. Glass roof is only scenic not for operation of vehicle.

Since 1970s I have had several vehicles cars with glass sun roofs. Not once have I had occasion to use it for any driving maneuver. Never read about any truck driver asking for one. There is plenty of requests from work truck owners for no paint stainless steel body. Nowhere have I seen businesses asking for work trucks with glass roofs.

 

[Crissa]

I have said nothing about traditional trucks being the ultimate solution.

No, you only implied that other trucks do not have this problem. But they do. And it's easily solved by putting on a roof rack.

The 'roof' of the Cybertruck is the back window and part of the front window. And it appears to have mounts on the sides of it. So the solution isn't to redesign the Cybertruck to have no back window. It's just to plug in a protective rack over the window like you would on any other truck.

-Crissa

 

[firsttruck]

No, you only implied that other trucks do not have this problem. But they do.
-Crissa

"They do"??? Where do you see this.

Even most cars do not have a glass roof. Only a few new pickup trucks have an option for a glass roof and probably 99% of pickups on the road have solid metal roofs (no glass in roof).

The 'roof' of the Cybertruck is the back window and part of the front window. And it appears to have mounts on the sides of it. So the solution isn't to redesign the Cybertruck to have no back window. It's just to plug in a protective rack over the window like you would on any other truck.
-Crissa

Every image I can find of the back window of Cybertruck appears to indicate it is a separate window. There appears to be a stainless steel support beam between glass roof & top of back window.

If glass roof & back window were one piece that would make them even more hideously expensive.

 

[firsttruck]

Cybertruck is supposed to be the most durable work truck.
I expect the Cybertruck to handle frequent use with loader dumping stuff in the back.
Farmers and others do it all the time.

...And they break windows all the time and if they do, add a protective screen.
-Crissa

Yes, Farmers & other work truck owners have to add protection for the back window.

but this discussion thread is about the glass roof.
Hardly any pickup trucks have glass roofs.

Adding rack to protect the glass roof
1. adds cost for protective rack
2. increases aerodynamic drag
3. more weight
4. reduced range
on top of the other costs of the glass roof
1. added to initial price (armor glass is more expensive than metal)
2. increased manufacturing time, capital cost, labor cost
3. increased long-term maintenance & repair costs
4. extra weight - glass, frame support & seal
5. reduced range from extra weight

All this to gain zero value for business owners and directly partially defeats purpose of no paint dent resistant SS exoskeleton (lower TCO). One of the biggest TCO saving with Tesla Semi was reduction in service due to cracked windshields. But at least windshield is needed. Glass roof, even armored, is not wanted in a work truck.
Like a big burly prize fighter who loses because he has a glass jaw.