Cybertruck roof rack for work..... To carry long lumber on top or plumbing pipe

[Crissa]

It's certainly incompatible with a lot of the existing truck aftermarket. But it has an unusually high tow rating for what it is.

Is it? The standard of 'take bed out' is because the bed has no enclosed storage, and offers no structure. The Cybertruck already has that.

If Tesla doesn't have hardpoints for mounting the rack,

...the Cybertruck is bare, structural steel and easy to add mounting to.

Of course, towing a trailer has a number of disadvantages.

That is certainly true, though. You can almost double the bed space with a motorcycle-style low trailer and lose very little range. This behind a Bolt and you've lost basically no range (3.6 miles per kwh exceeding the towing limit by ten) https://www.timeouttrailers.org/XL-HD-p/xl_hd.htm

The amount of disturbed wake behind a Cybertruck is bound to be larger and allow more towing for nearly free.

Still, trailers require more space to store and manuever, and aren't great for 10-20' lengths to carry.

-Crissa

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[BTCyberTruck]

For a work horse cybertruck, can we ask Elon for a roof rack ready design for our cybertruck. It is so important to be able to have a roof rack for a work horse contractor cybertruck.

I have a Toyota Tacoma and an F150. I use my Tacoma more because it has a lumber rack and I use it to haul long, 21' steal beams. I'd hate using my Toyota because the Cybertruck lacks functionality.

 

[Luke42]

Is it? The standard of 'take bed out' is because the bed has no enclosed storage, and offers no structure. The Cybertruck already has that.

You seem to be unfamiliar with how working pickup trucks are outfitted.

One of the reasons pickup trucks can be so many things to so many people is that they can be customized to whatever it is you do by simply bolting stuff on.

Ladder racks, headache racks, caps, and so on are all common. It's incompatible with all of these bolt on accessories, because the its shape is unusual, and I don't see the usual kind of bedrails on it.

Toolboxes, and tonneau covers are also common, but the CT kinda designs the need for those out by including a built-in tonneau cover. Of course, if a tonneau were a replacement for toolboxes they wouldn't make toolboxes -- but the contractors in my family use open beds and toolboxes because it fits how they use their trucks better. Tools go in the toolboxes, materials go in the open bed.

Many of these bolt-on accessories could be redesigned for the CT -- but that costs time and money, and won't happen until the vendors are convinced a market for CT accessories exists. Finding the right contractor rack for a Honda Ridgeline is harder than it looks.

Have a stroll through the cargo-handling accessories on https://realtruck.com/c/exterior-accessories/racks-carriers/truck-racks/ and see how well that maps to the CT.

If your job requires this type of rack to get you through your day:
https://realtruck.com/p/vanguard-truck-racks/

Obvious questions:

• Will Vanguard Truck Racks be comping at the bit to re-engineer their product for the CT?
• Does the CT even have a place to mount those supports?

If the answer to either of those questions, is a "no", then it's likely that a conventional pickup truck will make your day easier.

It seems likely to me that the CT won't be all things to all people, especially at the beginning.

The CT just isn't a drop-in replacement for a standard pickup truck at this point. Maybe it will be in the future once all of these companies figure out how to sell accessories for it.

It will be a great fit for me personally, though.

 

[Crissa]

You seem to be unfamiliar with how working pickup trucks are outfitted.

Just because the products don't exist today, doesn't mean they won't exist tomorrow.

That's a terrible argument against the Cybertruck.

The price per unit will have to come down, certainly, but that applies to all electric trucks. Their operating cost is already way below traditional trucks.

When the Cybertruck gets down to its base price level, it will be difficult to not choose it over an F-150.

-Crissa

And that Vanguard rack is just welded steel without any fancy shaped pieces. Take a saw to the front two legs and suddenly it fits the Cybertruck.

Thule already has racks for the Model Y. They'll have a crazy number once the Cybertruck has been out for three months. There will be a version of their raised racks, mounts to put their racks in the bed, racks just for the cab, etc. It will happen.

 

[Luke42]

That's a terrible argument against the Cybertruck.

I'm not arguing against the Cybertruck.

I'm arguing against the assumption that the Cybertruck is an automatic drop-in replacement for the existing pickup truck tech stack.

The Cybertruck has a ways to go before it can become a proper work truck, because the bolt-on ecosystem which makes existing lockup trucks so useful does not (yet?) exist, and we need a whole lot of engineering details about the truck to see how well it's going to work.

The chassis is only part of what makes pickup trucks work. The whole business ecosystem around them ks part of the value.

How and why this works for so many people must be understood in order to build a competitive pick up truck. Tesla isn't the first car company to to try to break into the US pick up truck market -- Toyota and Nissan have both tried, and shown that it's a tough nut to crack.

I don't think Tesla quite gets it. What Tesla is building will be fine for my use-case (I just need the bed and the trailer hitch), but I don't think it will appeal across market segments the way the Silverado does. I have yet to see proof tat Tesla understands the problems those guys have.

But, the CT doesn't need to be all things to all people to be a success -- if all of the suburban cowboys buy them, that's a lot of trucks (and a lot of gasoline saved). It also proves the concept, so thst the traditional truck makers will make their own EV trucks, which will be a good thing too.

So, no, the Cybertruck won't be all things to all people, especially at first. So what? I'm going to buy one, and it will be great for me. But my brother-in-law-in-law who builds houses for a living probably won't buy one immediately (or ever?), and that's OK.

 

[CyberMoose]

I don't think Tesla quite gets it.

Not to be a Tesla fanboy, but I disagree with this statement. Tesla knows this truck won't be a replacement for everyone, they just don't care. To be more specific, Elon Musk doesn't care. This is basically a project that is just to build an awesome truck, this is going to be a fun truck that is badass and cool. Tesla isn't after any specific market, Elon even said they did no market research; some people might not believe them, but look at the truck. I completely believe them when they say they did no market research to see what people want. Musk and his team pulled ideas out of cool old movie vehicles and smushed them together, adjusted the design a bit and pulled out the Cybertruck.

Sure the Cybertruck will be help a lot of people as a work truck, but I believe above all else, Tesla is just making fun, badass cars that are nice to drive and will eventually drive themselves. Like we are going to have trucks that will play snakejazz on external speakers, play video games with the actual steering wheel, and make it sound like people are farting with a turn signal. Elon even said that we will still eventually have the goat sounds as a horn option.

I love Tesla as a company and I hope they do well. I just don't think the Cybertruck will ever outsell Ford trucks in the next 20 years.

 

[DrDefore]

Don’t know where I got this shot .. Tesla I think .. looks legit

 

[Ryan95738]

Don’t know where I got this shot .. Tesla I think .. looks legit

Yeah the guy who was talking about needing a toolbox I believe these two side compartments will fill some use cases but not all of them.

 

[davidngo44]

Not to be a Tesla fanboy, but I disagree with this statement. Tesla knows this truck won't be a replacement for everyone, they just don't care. To be more specific, Elon Musk doesn't care. This is basically a project that is just to build an awesome truck, this is going to be a fun truck that is badass and cool. Tesla isn't after any specific market, Elon even said they did no market research; some people might not believe them, but look at the truck. I completely believe them when they say they did no market research to see what people want. Musk and his team pulled ideas out of cool old movie vehicles and smushed them together, adjusted the design a bit and pulled out the Cybertruck.

Sure the Cybertruck will be help a lot of people as a work truck, but I believe above all else, Tesla is just making fun, badass cars that are nice to drive and will eventually drive themselves. Like we are going to have trucks that will play snakejazz on external speakers, play video games with the actual steering wheel, and make it sound like people are farting with a turn signal. Elon even said that we will still eventually have the goat sounds as a horn option.

I love Tesla as a company and I hope they do well. I just don't think the Cybertruck will ever outsell Ford trucks in the next 20 years.

Good points.... I guess, owning the CT is like taking a leaf of faith.... Hmm. I just have to find a way to use CT without the roof rack until some with come up with something for sure.....heck I forgot that regardless I still have the ICE truck on the side for a while . LOL.

 

[T3slaDad]

Great conversations guys!

While the CT may or may not be compatible with drop-in roof racks (it's all speculation right now, maybe we should tweet Elon asking about it?), you have to remember that it also has a TON of built-in features that would be beneficial to sooo many trades, and those features are not widely known to many. These alone help reduce the amount of aftermarket contractor packages that need to be fitted.

For example, these are all confirmed:
Built in toolboxes in the rear wings
Fold out ramp in the tailgate
Fold up lip in the tailgate (mini tailgate)
Fold down extensions with pass through in cab from bed
220v outlet with 30+A output
Air compressor
Adjustable air suspension
Bed entry mode (rear lowers)
Frunk for additional tool storage
Additional hidden compartment in underside of bed (similar to M3/Y) for even more tool storage!
Modular rack-style bed (great for bolt-ons)
Sealable tonneau cover (extremely durable)
Air conditioned bed

The list goes on and on, there's definitely more to CT than meets the eye. And if you don't believe this would meet the needs of so many GC's and SC's in the market, than just look at the reservation count (over 1mil!!!). They get it, because adding the options and configs to their existing work trucks costs $$$ and the CT gives it all to them for free.

So yeah, you may or may not be able to haul 21' wood from a roof rack right away, but you can do a heck of a lot more with it than any truck could offer off the lot.

 

[Sirfun]

Great conversations guys!

While the CT may or may not be compatible with drop-in roof racks (it's all speculation right now, maybe we should tweet Elon asking about it?), you have to remember that it also has a TON of built-in features that would be beneficial to sooo many trades, and those features are not widely known to many. These alone help reduce the amount of aftermarket contractor packages that need to be fitted.

For example, these are all confirmed:
Built in toolboxes in the rear wings
Fold out ramp in the tailgate
Fold up lip in the tailgate (mini tailgate)
Fold down extensions with pass through in cab from bed
220v outlet with 30+A output
Air compressor
Adjustable air suspension
Bed entry mode (rear lowers)
Frunk for additional tool storage
Additional hidden compartment in underside of bed (similar to M3/Y) for even more tool storage!
Modular rack-style bed (great for bolt-ons)
Sealable tonneau cover (extremely durable)
Air conditioned bed

The list goes on and on, there's definitely more to CT than meets the eye. And if you don't believe this would meet the needs of so many GC's and SC's in the market, than just look at the reservation count (over 1mil!!!). They get it, because adding the options and configs to their existing work trucks costs $$$ and the CT gives it all to them for free.

So yeah, you may or may not be able to haul 21' wood from a roof rack right away, but you can do a heck of a lot more with it than any truck could offer off the lot.

Check out some of the videos riding in the Cybertruck. The night of the reveal they had lights on in the bed, also check out the slots in the bed. Most of us think those slots are T-slots that are used for temporary mounting anything including saws, clamps and dividers for work.

 

[FullyGrounded]

You are absolutely correct. The Cybertruck has to have the capability to have a heavy duty ladder rack that can carry WEIGHT. That's a must for any contractor that needs a worktruck! You have to be able to put an extension ladder and long supplies on a roof rack or you don't have a fully functional work truck! Everything I've seen says the Cybertruck has connection points for a roof rack already built into it. Just for fun, I drew up a concept of a triangular roof rack, based on an idea that another member here "Newton" came up with. Triangular made with 3mm S.S. would go along with the design much better than round. And have much lower drag.

The forward mount point needs to hit at the point - top of the roof triangle, for maximum strength. peace

 

[Sirfun]

The forward mount point needs to hit at the point - top of the roof triangle, for maximum strength. peace

Thanks for looking over my work and making a suggestion.
I have a high resolution image that shows the anchor points for the Cybertruck. I drew this roof rack based on those anchor points. Also, when you look at a side view, those anchor points make sense. Because they are located on the B pillar between the doors and the C pillar at the end of the back door. So structurally they could hold more weight there.
Your thinking make sense too, because at the peak of the roof/ top of the triangle is usually a strong point. However, the front window is below that point, so probably less support.
BTW, this was just drawn up for fun. I don't have the ability to create that rack. It was a fun thought/graphic exercise.

 

[firsttruck]

To me, it's an open question whether the CT is a work-truck.

It looks like a home-run for the suburban dad who tows things on weekends use-case, but is is really a work-truck?

....
But it has an unusually high tow rating for what it is.

Absolutely, YESSSSSSSSSS it can be an excellent work truck.

Besides the tow rating, the Cybertruck payload of 3,500 lbs would be huge for just a dad occasionally pickup.

That kind of payload would be used everyday in contractor or installer trucks.

Also
1. all the power outlets in the bed (120V & 240V) that can run a welder
2. compressor to run pneumatic tools (few home owners ever had these)
3. Seating for crew of 6 & protected storage in vault of all their gear.

Cybertruck is going to be one the rare things we see in the world. Like Swiss army knife.
Jack of all trades and master of many.

 

[Sirfun]

Absolutely, YESSSSSSSSSS it can be an excellent work truck.

Besides the tow rating, the Cybertruck payload of 3,500 lbs would be huge for just a dad occasionally pickup.

That kind of payload would be used everyday in contractor or installer trucks.

Also
1. all the power outlets in the bed (120V & 240V) that can run a welder
2. compressor to run pneumatic tools (few home owners ever had these)
3. Seating for crew of 6 & protected storage in vault of all their gear.

Cybertruck is going to be one the rare things we see in the world. Like Swiss army knife.
Jack of all trades and master of many.

It's funny, very few people seem to realize what a great truck the Single motor will be for $39,900. I hadn't thought about it until recently, how it will be lighter and have good power with all the weight down low and placed perfectly so unlike all other trucks it won't be light in the rear end. Plus, all the benefits you mentioned and a very low cost of ownership. Also work trucks generally don't need the range, people don't take there company work trucks on a road trip.