Three Issues I Encountered While Pulling a Trailer With My Cybertruck from SoCal to Texas in 4 Days

Early this morning I read an interesting post in one of the Cybertruck owners' groups on Facebook where a Tesla Cybertruck owner told how he just did 3,000 miles in four days from Southern California to Texas and back while pulling a trailer coming home.

His writing should be very interesting for current Tesla Cybrertruck owners, Cybertruck reservation holders, and electric vehicle owners in general. I am presenting it below with some changes, basically just improving the grammar.  Please, pay specific attention to what he says about the range while towing a trailer, the problem with the wiper blade speed, and the three issues he encountered on the road.

1. Limited availability of pull-through chargers for Cybertrucks on Interstate 10.
2. Non-Cybertruck Tesla owners using pull-through chargers, causing inconvenience for Cybertruck owners.
3. Lack of towing-specific features in navigation, such as route optimization and charger selection for trailers.

He writes:

I just completed a 3,000-mile round trip from Southern California to Texas in four days with my Tesla Cybertruck and towed a trailer on the way back.

I spent most of the time cruising at 70-80 mph. I couldn't even feel the trailer behind me. The truck handled incredibly stable, and hill climbs were effortless.

Range

Surprisingly, the range wasn't an issue. I used a 4x8 U-Haul trailer to lower the profile, which I believe helped significantly. I overcharged initially, fearing I'd be left with only 15% battery at the next Supercharger. However, I consistently had more range than expected and could leave exactly when the car indicated. This small trailer made almost no difference in range compared to towing nothing.

Charging

Charging is where Tesla needs improvement.

Interstate 10 should have more pull-through chargers. I found only 3-4 out of 20+ stations offered this option, and they were often difficult to navigate with a trailer. Many charging locations could accommodate pull-through chargers but haven't implemented them.

Additionally, non-Cybertruck Tesla owners frequently occupy these spots. This is a growing problem as more Cybertrucks hit the road. It's much easier for Cybertruck owners to pull in. While this situation will likely improve, I wouldn't recommend a Cybertruck for frequent long-distance towing until it's addressed. Tesla was aware of this issue and made changes to the team responsible, so I don't expect a quick fix.

I apologize to anyone inconvenienced by my blocking chargers. I minimized this by never unhooking the trailer and leaving some spots open. A POD might have been a better option for this trip.

Navigation

The navigation system should offer towing-specific features. It already accounts for the trailer's weight and braking, so it should also suggest routes and charging stations optimized for towing. Information about the number of available pull-through stalls would be helpful.

Wipers

We encountered some weather and tested the wipers. While not bad, improvements could be made. The delay at the bottom of the wiper cycle is annoying, as it pools water before clearing. I think Cybertruck wiper's auto setting is too slow in heavy rain, and there seems to be no way to manually increase the speed. A few times I had to use the touchscreen to control the wiper's speed. However, having to use the touchscreen while driving in heavy rain is unsafe.

We saw only four Cybertrucks during the entire trip. Positive feedback from other drivers was overwhelming, with countless people taking photos and videos. One time at 3 AM we were watching a movie and heard people outside saying "let's just knock on his window and ask questions." This attention can be annoying and tiring, but it's clear that people love the Cybertruck as much as I do.

Overall, this was a fantastic trip, and the Cybertruck exceeded my expectations. It's the best vehicle I've ever owned, and I would gladly pay $100,000 for another one without hesitation.

Despite these challenges, the Cybertruck remains an incredible vehicle. Its performance and capabilities are unmatched. I believe that with Tesla’s focus on continuous improvement, these issues will be resolved. Have you had any experiences towing with your Cybertruck? Share your stories and tips in the comments below!

Also see: First Time Having an Issue With Cybertruck After 1,000 Miles in a Week

Armen Hareyan is the founder and the Editor in Chief of Torque News. He founded TorqueNews.com in 2010, which since then has been publishing expert news and analysis about the automotive industry. He can be reached at Torque News Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, and Youtube. He has more than a decade of expertise in the automotive industry with a special interest in Tesla and electric vehicles.

Image source: Adapted from Greg Wilkinson from Tesla Cybertruck Owners Group.