Man conducts first real-world wade test on Cybertruck to see if it really can be a 'boat'
- Musk said the Cybertruck could be used as a boat
- This is the reason why the Cybertruck is fitted with something called ‘Wade Mode’
- A YouTuber and Cybertruck owner decided to test this feature
Published on Feb 22, 2024 at 1:13 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Feb 23, 2024 at 1:14 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Adam Gray
Elon Musk said the Cybertruck can wade through water like a boat.
It was only a matter of time before someone decided to see whether that was true or not and, well, it finally happened.
With surprising results.
READ MORE: Nobody can seem to work out why Cybertruck on freeway has a TV on the back
On more than one occasion, Musk said the Cybertruck “could be used as a boat” to wade through rivers, streams, and even “seas that aren’t too choppy”.
Musk decided to go one step further and put his money where his mouth was, by giving the Cybertruck an actual ‘Wade Mode’, which increases the ride height to the max and pressurizes the battery pack.
A YouTuber who goes by TechRax decided to put the Cybertruck’s waterproof ability to the test.
Somebody else had tried this before, but TechRax went the extra mile and went a lot deeper in the water.
Upon selecting ‘Wade Mode’, the truck immediately provides the driver with a couple of important warning messages.
Firstly, Tesla clearly states that “damage to the vehicle while off-roading” is not covered under warranty.
Interestingly, the message doesn’t specifically mention ‘Wade Mode’, but you can’t take the car to the water without taking it off-road first, so it’s fair to assume Wade Mode also invalidates the warranty.
There’s another message, too.
The car says changing to Wade Mode takes around 10 minutes, because that’s how long it takes to pressurize the battery.
And, even more importantly, Wade Mode only lasts 30 minutes, after which time, it will deactivate automatically.
And one last thing – Tesla says you shouldn’t go past 0.78 meters (2 ft 7 in) of water.
Warning messages aside, the test went pretty well.
Only two things happened.
Firstly, two plastic body pieces came undone, though TechRax said he simply popped them back in.
Secondly, he discovered the tailgate was not working as it should right after the test.
Presumably we’ll get a follow-up video with further details, so stay tuned.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
