Cybertruck Worktruck, a 2nd body style - 5th wheel, removable sails, larger vault, no glass roof, passthru

[ldjessee]

You seem to keep missing the point. Why does the CyberTruck need this modularity, from Tesla's perspective?

Look at how little differences there are between any Model S. The body changes from when they first started making them to now would barely count as a mid-model refresh by most car companies.

I do not see them giving up any structural strength for some limited, low volume modularity.

Engineers can get robot cars to Mars, but what engineers can do is not at question, it is what makes sense for Tesla to remain a profitable company while transitioning the world to BEVs (ie, their mission statement as paraphrased by me). Right now, a BEV truck that meets a LOT of people's use case for a truck is what is needed.

As much as I want them to make a winch in the frunk an option, I am not even pushing for that to be an option, because I think there are so many more important options they get to first that would make the truck more adoptable by the general public (not just the fans or the already convinced).

For example, I am not sure a full mid-gate is structurally possible, but I hope Tesla does it, because it would really improve the utility of the CyberTruck for MANY use cases. Not just construction/work truck people who want to be able to carry full length sheetrock, plywood sheets, or lumber without sticking out or having to have the tailgate down, but the camping crowd, the ones who have a kayak that would fit and not need roof racks... and many others.

The mid-gate provides a lot of utility to a variety of people, so that is what I hope they pull of an engineering feat to find a solution that allows for it without decreasing the structural integrity of the CyberTruck.

Your modular sail pillars, metal roof, and such have much easier solutions that do not require changing the body to accomplish and the utility, atleast from what I have seen, does not have the wide range of use cases nor the number of people who would buy a CyberTruck because it had one or all of those features.

Now, when there are electric trucks from multiple manufacturers, then to compete, Tesla or someone else might need to differentiate themselves and might consider doing some of those things to stand out different from other manufacturers...

But, look at this, when I saw Dodge's RamBox, I was immediately questioning why none of the other truck manufacturers had not done something similar. So many use cases for that extra, lockable storage. Then I realized that it helped sell a few more Ram trucks, but it did not really hurt Ford or Chevy, so they did not bother.

Why does GM have that fancy tailgate? Because they are trying to differentiate themselves from Ford, to try to draw more customers. If it works (doubt it), then Ford will have to respond.

So, not only do you have to consider the utility of it for one use case, it needs to service multiple use cases, and it has to be a big enough draw that enough people will buy the truck because of that feature to justify all the work, changes, training, and maintenance of that feature.

Look at power and air in the bed of the truck. I have heard several truck people say they want the CyberTruck JUST for those two features. I see lots of use cases, high utility, and people are willing to buy the truck just for that feature.

The metal roof and the modular sail pillars? To me it does not meet all those criteria. Only time will tell if Tesla agrees with me or you.

 

[firsttruck]

You seem to keep missing the point. Why does the CyberTruck need this modularity, from Tesla's perspective?

No, you are the one missing the point. Modularity of detachable sail panels is one potential solution to conflicting goals not the goal itself.

As I stated a couple times already, every Ford/RAM/Chevy/GMC F-150/1500 series pickup trucks with 6.5ft or longer bed and every Ford/RAM/Chevy/GMC F-250/2500 series pickup trucks can tow 5th-wheel/gooseneck trailers. This is over two million new pickup trucks that support 5th-wheel/gooseneck towing sold every year.

The only two features keeping a lot of truck buyers from getting Cybertruck and completely replacing their ICE is 5th-wheel/gooseneck towing & the other is range.

** 5th-wheel/gooseneck towing is one of the goals I posted this thread to discuss **

detachable sail panels is one potential solution.

5th-wheel/gooseneck towing with no sail panels attached might actual have better aerodynamics than ball hitch towing with sail panels. Also total length is shorter which might allow Cybertruck to pull some trailers that would be illegally long in some U.S. states. This might be a big deal to customers in those states. Also 5th-wheel/gooseneck towing has better turning radius.

Home Depot, Camping Word, Amazon have 8 major brands & 40 models of 5th-wheel/goose-neck hitches.

Of the couple millions of pickups sold every year there is a large number using 5th-wheel/goose-neck hitches.

There is huge advantage for Cybertruck owner to not having to also keep & maintain an ICE truck. Even if they already planned to buy Cybertruck, if they do not need to keep an ICE truck around the saving of only needing one truck they can upgrade their order to long range tri-motor Cybertruck.

Look at how little differences there are between any Model S. The body changes from when they first started making them to now would barely count as a mid-model refresh by most car companies.

Right, you do not vary the outside body panels very often because these non-Cybertruck style bodies require at least 11 huge & expensive sheet metal stamping machines & at least 22 expensive dies.

Elon said one of the goals of Cybertruck design was eliminate need for the 11 stamping machines & 22 dies. Sandy Munro agreed and thought this was a brilliant move. A side benefit of that decision is that Tesla now actually has ability to have more different Cybertruck style body choices without significant increasing factory capital costs or cost to make each body.

So having a 2nd style for a Business or Towing Edition Cybertruck is much more feasible (and price effective to customers) than having two different bodies for model S.

I do not see them giving up any structural strength for some limited, low volume modularity.

You do not know for sure that removing sail panels will in fact reduce structural strength enough to be of concern. It is possible without sail panels there is plenty of strength and even if there was too much strength lost there are other ways to get that strength back.

5th-wheel/gooseneck towing actual requires less structural strength from truck because the load is more evenly distributed in the truck because it is between the truck wheels instead of all the load being at the end with ball hitch at rear.

Right now, a BEV truck that meets a LOT of people's use case for a truck is what is needed.

Even if the new ICE pickup truck buyer does not use a 5th-wheel/gooseneck hitch today, many expect pickups to be capable if they have that need in the future. They just buy the hitch at their local Home Depot or Camping World, etc.

Your modular sail pillars, metal roof, and such have much easier solutions that do not require changing the body to accomplish and the utility, at least from what I have seen, does not have the wide range of use cases nor the number of people who would buy a CyberTruck because it had one or all of those features.

What other easier solutions are you referring to other than telling customer his state of the art super duper powerful expensive Cybertruck which can beat a Ferrari in a race but can not pull a simple 5th wheel trailer that most cheap ICE trucks can do?

Now, when there are electric trucks from multiple manufacturers, then to compete, Tesla or someone else might need to differentiate themselves and might consider doing some of those things to stand out different from other manufacturers...

But, look at this, when I saw Dodge's RamBox, I was immediately questioning why none of the other truck manufacturers had not done something similar. So many use cases for that extra, lockable storage. Then I realized that it helped sell a few more Ram trucks, but it did not really hurt Ford or Chevy, so they did not bother.

Why does GM have that fancy tailgate? Because they are trying to differentiate themselves from Ford, to try to draw more customers. If it works (doubt it), then Ford will have to respond.

So, not only do you have to consider the utility of it for one use case, it needs to service multiple use cases, and it has to be a big enough draw that enough people will buy the truck because of that feature to justify all the work, changes, training, and maintenance of that feature.

Storage boxes & lift gate feature is not in same class of problem where you have to go get a different truck to get the job done at all.

 

[T3slaDad]