Tesla lead engineer clears up one of the biggest questions asked about the Cybertruck
- Tesla has answered a commonly asked question about the Cybertruck
- It’s all about the tow hitch accessory
- The lead engineer is answering it once and for all
Published on Nov 05, 2024 at 5:28 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Nov 06, 2024 at 10:54 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
From Pythagorean theorem to Einstein’s theory of relativity – it’s these formulae that make the world go around – and now the Tesla Cybertruck has one to add to the list.
There seems to be one question about the Cybertruck that keeps popping up.
Specifically about the tow hitch accessory.
Now, the lead engineer is finally coming to the table with an answer.
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The Tesla Cybertruck tow hitch accessory
Tow hitch accessory questions are something that Cybertruck lead engineer, Wes Morrill, fields daily on X.
He begins his response: “There are many different accessories, but the relationship is clear.”
“To simplify it, when you increase the distance away from the hitch the load capability goes down. The 11,000lb tow rating isn’t absolute.”
Still confused? He tries to put it into a context gymgoers will understand.
“You can think of it as holding a heavy weight against your chest, it’s much harder to hold that same weight with your arms outstretched.”
He adds that the online and in-vehicle owner manual has now been updated ‘to make it easy to find and clearly explains with more text and diagrams’.
The details
Per the manual: “The load that the hitch receiver can support varies based on the configuration of the accessory carrier.
“The maximum tongue weight—the downward force on the trailer hitch—of Cybertruck is 1,100 lbs (500 kg).
“The maximum weight decreases when the center of gravity (the effective center point of the load) of the accessory carrier is farther from the trailer hitch.”
So now you know.
This was something Cybertruck-philes took an interest in long before the EV pickup even launched.
In fact, footage of a Cybertruck towing a massive trailer had fans intrigued.
Its payload and towing capacity certainly impressed when it was revealed last year.
And the Cybertruck appears to have proven itself, beating a Porsche 911 in an epic drag race whilst towing a Porsche 911.
All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”
