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Tesla has updated the Cybertruck online configurator to address the controversy surrounding the Cybertruck’s aluminium frame and towing capability.
Tesla’s official site now mentions that the Cybertruck has a “high-strength steel tow bar.”
Tesla included this line in the Cybertruck online configurator, specifically in the section detailing the Cybertruck’s towing capacity.
Under “Towing,” Tesla now specifically notes that the Cybertruck features a steel tow hitch.
Tesla writes…
“Towing
High-strength, Class IV steel tow bar”
Tesla also provides more information about the Cybertruck’s towing capacity and enumerates all the features included in the Tow package.
Tesla writes…
“Tow package
Towing capacity up to 11,000 lbs
Trailer controller
Integrated trailer controller”
The part about the 11,000 lbs towing capacity was already on the Cybertruck online configurator; however, what’s new is that the EV maker has now added a line specifically spelling out that the Cybertruck has a steel tow hitch.
This change aims to address concerns regarding the Cybertruck’s aluminum frame and its towing performance.
So far, we’ve seen a couple of videos showing the Cybertruck’s tow hitch separate from the vehicle frame during severe testing scenarios.
Given that the Cybertruck hitch fell off during extreme testing conditions, Tesla fans defend the vehicle, claiming it performed according to spec.
However, even if this is true, it’s still surprising to see the Cybertruck’s rear subframe snap in half while the tow hitches on a Ford F-150 and a 20-year-old Chevrolet pickup, which were subjected to the same torture test, remained intact.
Given these circumstances, it’s easy to see why Tesla is trying to reassure Cybertruck buyers by specifically pointing out the tow hitch is made of high-strength steel rather than aluminum.
The Class IV, high-strength steel tow hitch is good; however, the primary concern when it comes to Cybertruck towing is not the hitch’s durability, but the potential failure of the Cybertruck’s aluminum rear giga casting under extreme stress conditions.
This is the single giant cast aluminium part that makes up the Cybertruck’s rear subframe.
In more conventional ladder-frame pickup truck construction, the chassis is made out of high-strength steel, and the body sits atop this sturdy steel base.
This is the construction method that nearly all full-sized pickup trucks currently on the market use.
When using the body-on-frame construction method, high-strength steel reinforces the vehicle from below, with the tow hitch mounted to this robust foundation.
This design enables the tow hitch to effectively transfer forces while towing, greatly minimizing the chance of a sudden vertical force spike that could damage the rear subframe.
However, one drawback of the body-on-frame construction method is that the strong steel frame significantly increases weight.
In comparison, the Cybertruck features a unibody/exoskeleton chassis design. Tesla further streamlines the monocoque approach by utilizing large, front and rear cast aluminum sections, which the EV maker refers to as giga castings.
This reduces the chassis weight compared to the body-on-frame approach. However, since the chassis is made of aluminum rather than steel, it is more susceptible to breakage, especially when struck by concentrated force in a small area.
Returning to Tesla’s latest update, the company noted that the Cybertruck is equipped with a tow hitch made from high-strength steel, which is encouraging. However, as previously mentioned, potential towing issues are likely unrelated to the tow hitch itself, but instead to the aluminum rear subframe.
When faced with severe force, the steel tow hitch is unlikely to break; however, the force transmitted to the aluminium gigacasting will lead to a failure in the rear subframe.
Considering this, it’s not clear whether the high-strength steel tow hitch will alleviate concerns about potential problems with the aluminum gigacasting during towing.
However, please let me know what you think in the comments. Share your ideas by clicking the RED “Add new comment” button below. Also, be sure to visit our site, torquenews.com/Tesla, regularly for the latest updates.
Image: Courtesy of Tesla, Inc
For more information, check out: A Cybertruck Owner Says There is So Much Water Trapped Inside His Truck Floor That It Sloshes Around When He Drives, But Adds, “Tesla for Life, I’ll Never Switch Brands”
Tinsae Aregay has been following Tesla and the evolution of the EV space daily for several years. He covers everything about Tesla, from the cars to Elon Musk, the energy business, and autonomy. Follow Tinsae on Twitter at @TinsaeAregay for daily Tesla news.
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Source: torquenews.com
