My first Big Island (Hawaii) Off-Road experiences with my FS AW Cybertruck - peaking at 13,728 ft elevation

[BayouCityBob]

Awesome and once you get the "boat mode" OTA update, you can motor over to Maui.

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[Matt_CRNA]

Shoots braddah, I wish we still had the superferry so I could ferry mine over from Oahu to do thissssss!!!!!

That brake fade is real on the ICE 4x4s!

 

[Whmorken]

Aloha!

Enjoying my new FS AW Cybertruck on the Big Island of Hawaii!!
I finally got a chance to take it on some of my favorite off-road adventures this week.

Bottom line:
The truck did great!! The regen controlled the descent on Waipio valley road and Mauna Kea road....no need for brakes. Brake temp at bottom of Mauna Kea (at visitor center) was 55 degrees F. The ranger said it was the lowest he had ever seen. Very comfortable ride compared to my 2018 4Runner for the same excursions.

The Excursions:
Waipio Valley - Drove down the "steepest paved road in the United States" using the trail assist at 5mph. It is a very narrow, one lane road and I did not need the brakes except to allow one truck to pass me going UP while I was going DOWN.
Used Wade mode to go thru the river (only about a foot of flowing water depth)
Mauna Kea Summit (13,796 ft elevation)

I drove to the Summit of Mauna Kea to watch the sunrise. I usually drive up for sunsets but this was my first opportunity for a sunrise.

It is recommended to "acclimate to altitude" for one hour at 10,000ft to avoid altitude sickness, prior to ascending.

I got to the top about 10 minutes before sunrise. Weather: temp was 38 degrees F wind 20-30 MPH.

Tried to get some "beauty shots" of the truck with the sunrise and observatories. (see photos)

Heated seats were used on the ride back down and never needed to use the brakes

Overall, it was a pretty awesome experience!!

Mahalo Tesla for creating the Cybertruck and making these excursions so safe and comfortable.

P.S. Both of these trips require regular 4X4s to use 4 wheel low and engine braking to control downhill descent to avoid "burning up their brakes". The ranger said that one driver told him that they did not use the brakes when descending Mauna Kea....he said "the thermometer doesn't lie".....the temp was 600 degree F and the driver was told to pull over to let the brakes cool prior to descending the final 4,000 ft in elevation to the Saddle Road. All detailed info is on TeslaFi.... which is such geeky fun to review.

We drove Mauna Kea this summer just before dawn. Great test of regenerative brakes! Go CT.

 

[GatorCyber]

I'm planning to go to the green sand beach at South Point. I made it once with my 4Runner so I suspect this will be fine!

Are guys still charging to ride people to the beach? I bet you could make some good money doing that, but the regular drivers might get pissed if you take all the business

 

[Gary Miller]

We drove Mauna Kea this summer just before dawn. Great test of regenerative brakes! Go CT.

What vehicle did you take up? My friends are asking if they can take their Model X or Ys to the top and I didn't know the answer. Mahalo!

 

[Whmorken]

What vehicle did you take up? My friends are asking if they can take their Model X or Ys to the top and I didn't know the answer. Mahalo!

We took a jeep rental. Charged up at speed on dirt portion with no problem. As a an X driver in the recent past I would go slow up and down If they allow that vehicle. It is 4 wheel drive.

 

[WHIZZARD OF OZ]

Aloha!

Enjoying my new FS AW Cybertruck on the Big Island of Hawaii!!
I finally got a chance to take it on some of my favorite off-road adventures this week.

Bottom line:
The truck did great!! The regen controlled the descent on Waipio valley road and Mauna Kea road....no need for brakes. Brake temp at bottom of Mauna Kea (at visitor center) was 55 degrees F. The ranger said it was the lowest he had ever seen. Very comfortable ride compared to my 2018 4Runner for the same excursions.

The Excursions:
Waipio Valley - Drove down the "steepest paved road in the United States" using the trail assist at 5mph. It is a very narrow, one lane road and I did not need the brakes except to allow one truck to pass me going UP while I was going DOWN.
Used Wade mode to go thru the river (only about a foot of flowing water depth)
Mauna Kea Summit (13,796 ft elevation)

I drove to the Summit of Mauna Kea to watch the sunrise. I usually drive up for sunsets but this was my first opportunity for a sunrise.

It is recommended to "acclimate to altitude" for one hour at 10,000ft to avoid altitude sickness, prior to ascending.

I got to the top about 10 minutes before sunrise. Weather: temp was 38 degrees F wind 20-30 MPH.

Tried to get some "beauty shots" of the truck with the sunrise and observatories. (see photos)

Heated seats were used on the ride back down and never needed to use the brakes

Overall, it was a pretty awesome experience!!

Mahalo Tesla for creating the Cybertruck and making these excursions so safe and comfortable.

P.S. Both of these trips require regular 4X4s to use 4 wheel low and engine braking to control downhill descent to avoid "burning up their brakes". The ranger said that one driver told him that they did not use the brakes when descending Mauna Kea....he said "the thermometer doesn't lie".....the temp was 600 degree F and the driver was told to pull over to let the brakes cool prior to descending the final 4,000 ft in elevation to the Saddle Road. All detailed info is on TeslaFi.... which is such geeky fun to review.

Bloody AMA2!NG...... G'Day from Oz DownUnder!
Beaut Pix!!!!!

 

[Faffle]

I'm planning to go to the green sand beach at South Point. I made it once with my 4Runner so I suspect this will be fine!

Please post your pics from your 4x4 experience on the way to green sand beach! I had one reserved, but it got too expensive, you're my only hope until the prices come down.

 

[ginmqi]

@Gary Miller Gary that's so awesome to read about this experience. I personally do not have a CT but have owned a Model S Plaid before and am planning to potentially lease the new Model 3 and I am a big Tesla fan. There's probably not much CTs on the Big Island so great to see those photos...I can only imagine the shock on the ranger's face when he saw how cold your brakes were back at the Onizuka VIS when you came down from the summit...lol. Regen braking FTW!

I will be on Hawai'i staying in the Kohala area in March of 2026 (a vacation rental townhome in the Mauna Lani area near Fairmont Orchid) with a Tesla Model 3 LR RWD (highland redesign) rented via Turo and I will go up to the Onizuka visitor center and I will ask the ranger about taking a non-truck Tesla/EV up to the summit. I do agree that they SHOULD allow most EVs up there as the main issue/need for 4x4 is NOT that you need high ground clearance or locking diff/transfer case due to huge rocks/holes/uneven roads but to prevent brakes melting and you have a car rocketing down the side of the mountain due to loss of brakes.

I've been up to the summit several times (2017/2018) before they instituted these more strict measures and the unpaved/gravel section were fairly smooth and well maintined/graded....a regular sedan with completely stock ground clearance and decent all season tires is just fine...it makes sense because they have multi-million dollar equipment/telescope that needs maintenance and there is no way they will allow unpaved roads to become something like the Rubicon trail or Green Sand Beach off roading as the various organizations surely will need to be running regular deliveries of supplies and fragile scientific instruments up and down the summit. But to limit it to 4x4s helps curb crowds at the summit and also 4x4s will have extra cushion for safety (bigger brakes, more knbobby tires, etc.) in case something does go wrong.

Many people go up and down Pikes Peak in an EV without issue.

They will probably not be as enthused about a Model 3 (perhaps a X or Y) but it shouldn't be an issue as modern Teslas can stop completely without using the brakes in normal conditions (emergency braking notwithstanding). Mine I think is just a RWD model so they may not be as open to it versus other Teslas that are dual motor/AWD (but as we already know, 4WD/4x4 is really for braking./slowing down without melting the brake pads/rotors).

It would be nice to have a photo of a little EV sedan parked right next to all the Wranglers and trucks and 4x4s up at the summit. I will give a report back on if they allow non-CT/non-AWD Teslas up there. The Model 3 I have is not even dual motor/AWD but I think just a 2025 LR RWD...but again the issue is not you actually need locking diff and high ground clearance...but able to slow down without melting brakes...let's see what they say about EVs.

Thanks for the report Gary, perhaps if possible we could even coordinate a Tesla meet up at the Maun kea summit (LOL). I'm flying in March 1 and flying out evening of March 6. I'll also be checking the USGS live cam website for Pele/volcanoe activity daily and making a mad drive there to catch any insane eruption like what we just had. The new LR RWD Model 3 should be super good on range and I have quite the confidence that it can actually get from Kohala to Mauna Kea/Volcanoes National Park AND back to Kohala on one single charge. I will need to make sure to air up the tires (up to 50 PSI) to maximize range

 

[Mini2nut]

We visited the Big Island last month and I counted 2 CT's during our week long stay.

Also, HI residents love Toyota trucks. I saw tons of Tacoma's and 4 Runners running around the island.

 

[ginmqi]

We visited the Big Island last month and I counted 2 CT's during our week long stay.

Also, HI residents love Toyota trucks. I saw tons of Tundra's, Tacoma's and 4 Runners running around the island.

lol Yes, Tacomas and 4Runners are the locals choice for vehicles in Hawaii. On the other hand, Wranglers and convertible Mustangs are the stereotypical tourist vehicles. We always try to NOT rent anything that stands out too much like a tourist rental car.

 

[Mini2nut]

We rented a Willy’s Wrangler.

It came in handy when driving to Makalawena Beach just north of the airport. You need a high clearance vehicle to navigate the unimproved road leading to the beautiful beach.

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