Offroad Video By Normal Guy

[EVOverlanding]

Oof, yeah this is rough. A 180ish HP 4 cylinder with no lockers Subraru Crosstrek made it up a simple hill that the CT couldnt. Software can/should be able to fix this but this is a bad showing for new owners and people trying to figure out how capable it is. The drive mode resetting every time you get out of the seat is also a blunder.

I know the TFL Off-Road channel has an order for a FS AWD, better hope they get these things fixed before that delivery.

 

[Crissa]

Don't blame the truck for inexperience.

-Crissa

 

[OIIIIIIIO]

I don't understand... How can a software update give you lockers ? You either have them or you don't. Unless it has a motor at each wheel then in that case it would not even need diffs.

 

[heems]

This “Subaru made it hahah” talk only shows more inexperienced 4x4ers on this forum. A bicycle could go up that. Really. So should we start making fun of the Subi? “Paid $30K to get up a hill I did on my $1200 trek. Such a dumb ass”. Feel better ? Or should we talk drive dynamics of a 6600lbs 18 ft long vehicle vs 3300lbs 15 long vehicle ? And tires matter big time. The CT “AT”s are at the “road optimized” end of the scale for efficiency. We have seen them lose traction on rocks and off road often. Add the noobie user “gunning” up the obstacle vs picking a line and working it and it’s glorious “tesla engineers dumb” fodder. Whatever. It might not be a dedicated rock crawler but this is not the end of story either.

 

[EVOverlanding]

This “Subaru made it hahah” talk only shows more inexperienced 4x4ers on this forum. A bicycle could go up that. Really. So should we start making fun of the Subi? “Paid $30K to get up a hill I did on my $1200 trek. Such a dumb ass”. Feel better ? Or should we talk drive dynamics of a 6600lbs 18 ft long vehicle vs 3300lbs 15 long vehicle ? And tires matter big time. The CT “AT”s are at the “road optimized” end of the scale for efficiency. We have seen them lose traction on rocks and off road often. Add the noobie user “gunning” up the obstacle vs picking a line and working it and it’s glorious “tesla engineers dumb” fodder. Whatever. It might not be a dedicated rock crawler but this is not the end of story either.

I get your sentiment but it's natural for people to compare things. Essentially every car youtube channel exists to make comparisons. I could walk up that hill in $5 shoes from the thrift store but it doesn't change the premise of why people make the comparison to other vehicles - some buyers want to go remote places and bring their family/things along with them.

They expect this truck to be capable and to see it fail when another vehicle most would consider less capable makes it is tough to watch. You can say weight or length and yes they play factors, but that CT not getting up that hill was far more software/systems kicking in and restricting the slip then anything else which is why I have hope they'll be able to fix these things. This is Tesla's first vehicle designed to go off-road, they're going to need to tweak things.

I have no doubt my Rivian would have made it up there despite weighing more than the Tesla but that's because they have a few years of head start on off-roading in EVs, have completed the Rubicon Trail, won the Rebelle Rally, and have refined those off-road modes over time. I fully expect Tesla to do the same for the CT.

 

[Crissa]

I don't understand... How can a software update give you lockers ?

Because the software decides when and how to activate and deactivate the hardware.

-Crissa

 

[ideaXfactory]

Not impressed with his off-road skills, but then he did say it was his first time. In golf that was a double bogey. Now show someone who know how to drive it...

 

[GhostAndSkater]

I don't understand... How can a software update give you lockers ? You either have them or you don't. Unless it has a motor at each wheel then in that case it would not even need diffs.

The functionally isn't implemented yet, the lockers are there, just the button doesn't work

Why? Only Tesla knows, likely fine tuning when/where it gets engaged disengaged because with the amount of torque the motors have it's easy to blow a locker by engaging it at the wrong moment

 

[OIIIIIIIO]

Because the software decides when and how to activate and deactivate the hardware.

-Crissa

The functionally isn't implemented yet, the lockers are there, just the button doesn't work

Why? Only Tesla knows, likely fine tuning when/where it gets engaged disengaged because with the amount of torque the motors have it's easy to blow a locker by engaging it at the wrong moment

Its really not that complicated. A selectable locker, probably an e-locker in the CT, should be engaged before you actually need it. If you engage it while spinning tires you're going to grenade everything. I have not seen pictures of the CTs cv axles but for the weight and torque of the vehicle I would expect them to be pretty beefy if they intend to use lockers. Also curious to see the diff size/construction and ring gear size. Most 1/2 ton ifs vehicles dont even have lockers available because how weak they tend to be.

 

[Crissa]

Its really not that complicated. A selectable locker, probably an e-locker in the CT, should be engaged before you actually need it. If you engage it while spinning tires you're going to grenade everything. I have not seen pictures of the CTs cv axles but for the weight and torque of the vehicle I would expect them to be pretty beefy if they intend to use lockers. Also curious to see the diff size/construction and ring gear size. Most 1/2 ton ifs vehicles dont even have lockers available because how weak they tend to be.

So that's why it's not a simple programming question. And even if it were, the production of the selection screen needs to be coded, and the priority of some things would be lower than others.

-Crissa

 

[OIIIIIIIO]

So that's why it's not a simple programming question. And even if it were, the production of the selection screen needs to be coded, and the priority of some things would be lower than others.

-Crissa

So tesla just installed some lockers in the CT without thinking about whether or not the diffs / cvs could handle it or when and how to use it ? And they just sell off vehicles that have features/selling points that are incomplete ?

 

[Crissa]

So tesla just installed some lockers in the CT without thinking about whether or not the diffs / cvs could handle it or when and how to use it ? And they just sell off vehicles that have features/selling points that are incomplete ?

Thinking about how it works is different than implementing the code in the production system.

I'm sure it's been tested in the non-production system, or in isolation.

-Crissa

 

[TheLastStarfighter]

So tesla just installed some lockers in the CT without thinking about whether or not the diffs / cvs could handle it or when and how to use it ? And they just sell off vehicles that have features/selling points that are incomplete ?

They shipped Plaids without trunk liners. It’s the Tesla Way.

 

[Crissa]

They shipped Plaids without trunk liners. It’s the Tesla Way.

You want your car, or you want to wait for a frunk liner?

-Crissa

 

[Callsign_Vega]

I feel that this has more to do with Air Suspension being an issue offroad than anything else. On the obstacle he couldn't make it over....If you look at the 4 runner and Subaru, the wheels can more freely swing upwards and over the obstacle and keep traction on all wheels.

With the CT, it seems like the air suspension is so stiff that the entire truck lifts with the wheel on the obstacle, and that lifts the other wheels in the air and loses traction.

Heres a screenshot of what I mean. As you can see, if the front drivers side wheel was able to compress, it wouldnt force the CT upwards and hence the passenger front tire. The suspension is too stiff. Likely because it has to be to lift the truck with more air pressure to have more clearance. Catch 22....

Yes air suspensions are quite terrible for off-road. Although I thought I read something about the Cybertruck being able to link the front and rear axle air lines together to make the truck suspension articulate better.

Once Telsa enables the lockers, a hill like that is a cake walk.