The design resembled a vehicle is a Sci-Fi movie, and the flashy, carnival-like debut of the electric Tesla Cybertruck was everything Elon Musk desired. If nothing else the flash unveiling last November at the Los Angeles Auto Show was polarizing. The truck drew cheers and jeers.
Officially, it’s “an all-electric, battery-powered, light commercial vehicle. Three models have been announced, with range estimates of 250–500 miles and an estimated 0–60 mph time of 2.9–6.5 seconds, depending on the model.”
Is it possibly a precursor to more utilitarian vehicle creations or was Tesla owner Elon Musk pranking the industry? For RV enthusiasts, the prevailing question was, is it really a truck and, if so, can it tow an RV or trailer?
Tesla responded with a resounding “Yes.” Musk manufactured the Cybertruck as a first in the industry. It will be a fully electric (no gas) vehicle.
According to Tesla specs, the Cybertruck will be constructed “with cold-pressed, unpainted stainless steel.” It will have a towing capacity of as much as 14,000 pounds.
Tesla reports: “With up to 3,500 pounds of payload capacity and adjustable air suspension, the Cybertruck is the most powerful tool we have ever built, engineered with 100-cubic-feet of the exterior, lockable storage, including a magic tonneau cover that is strong enough to stand on.”
The manufacturer describes the truck’s barren and stealth appearance as “a nearly impenetrable exoskeleton. Every component is designed for superior strength and endurance, from Ultra-Hard 30X Cold-Rolled stainless-steel structural skin to Tesla armor glass.
“If there was something better, we’d use it. The exterior construction “helps eliminate dents, damage and long-term corrosion with a smooth monochrome exoskeleton that puts the shell on the outside of the car and provides you and passengers maximum protection.”
Tesla enthusiasts are true believers. According to the manufacturer, pre-orders for the truck (the release date is undetermined) are booming. But for potential buyers who wish tow an RV with the Cybertruck, several questions loom:
How many miles will the truck tow an RV? How efficiently will it brake?
Tesla hasn’t provided the information, but it recently released an image of how a camper option might work, and it claims it will soon be available.
Article Last Updated: March 10, 2020.
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A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004.
In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida.
An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.
