From the early pioneer’s horse-drawn stagecoaches to today’s decked-out pickups (which may never carry anything more than passengers or groceries from the supermarket), we love our trucks. Whether trucks are used as daily drivers, outdoor adventure (camping, hunting, fishing, antiquing) or hauling tools, people and supplies to worksites, they are engrained into many of our everyday lives. The new Tesla Cybertruck (plus 2,000,000 new picks sold in 2023) is a testimony to this.

Feedback from conversations with two knowledgeable sales reps helped me craft my overall view to answer the question, whether a Tesla Cybertruck is a good work truck.

A couple of caveats:

  • Although the regional Tesla dealership I visited had a Cybertruck on the showroom floor, I could not road-test it. (Note: Everything Cybertruck, from scheduling a road test to purchasing one, is done strictly online.)
  • Since the truck has only been out for around six months, there is no quality, reliability or crash test data to assess this new vehicle completely.

That said, read along to see what was learned.

Cybertruck All-Wheel Drive Specifications

Engine type (Power) Dual motors output approximately 600 horsepower
Torque 7,435 lb. ft.
Drivetrain All-wheel drive
Range 340 (est.), plus an additional 130 miles with optional range extender battery
Weight 6,600 pounds
Width 95 in. with mirrors extended
Height 71 in.
Length 224 in.
Wheelbase 143 in.
Track
 70 in. (centerline between both front or rear wheels)
Charge time 15 minutes (135 miles) using a Tesla supercharging station
Power outlets
 120 volt and 240-volt (9 kW, 40 amps) and three USB-C charging outlets (5 in total)
Wheels 20 in.
Home backup capability Can power a home for up to three days
Four-wheel steering Yes
Ground clearance for off-roading Up to 16 in.
Vehicle warranty Four years/50,000 miles
Battery and drive unit Eight years or 150,000 miles

Cybertruck Bed Size vs. Standard Short and Long Bed Pickups

A typical standard short bed on a four-door crew cab pickup is approximately 70 inches (63 cu. ft. of storage), while the longer bed is approximately 80 inches (72 cu. ft.). The short bed on a traditional two-door pickup is approximately 80 inches (72 cu. ft.), and the long bed 99 inches (82 cu. ft.).

The four-door Cybertruck cargo bed is 73 inches long and has additional storage compartments and a weather-tight hidden cargo space, for a total storage space of 67cu.ft.

Cybertruck bed shape

The Cybertruck’s bed shape mirrors that of traditional pickup trucks. With the tailgate down, you can haul a 4 x 8 ft. sheet of plywood or drywall.

How Much Can a Cybertruck Haul?

A Cybertruck’s payload rating is 2,500 lbs. As with any vehicle, never exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or Curb Weight (the total mass of a vehicle with all necessary operating fluids and without passengers or cargo).

Cybertruck Towing Capacity

The Cybertruck has an excellent towing capacity of 11,000 lbs.

How Much Does a Cybertruck Cost?

As of this writing, the currently available Foundation model list price for Tesla’s Cybertruck is $99,990. In addition to an optional range extender battery, there are several options you can add, including a spare tire with a tool kit, air compressor, and jump seats.

If you’re going to use a Cybertruck as a work truck, an external tailgate and bumper cover protect the body from damage. Roof rack crossbars for carrying ladders or supplies and a tailgate ramp are options to consider.

Cybertrucks cost compared to other new pickups:

The Cyber truck is priced similarly with comparable new fully loaded EV quarter-ton rated pickups:

  • 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum Series starts at approximately $88,000.
  • 2025 Rivian R1S starts at $89,000.
  • 2024 GMC Denali e4WH has a list price of $99, 495, said Ben Shoolin, Buick/GMC Mark of Excellence Sales and Leasing Specialist.
  • 2025 GMC Hummer EV 2X e4WD has a list price of $98,845. Shoolin added that adding several classic General Motors options and accessories can place the list price of the Hummer EV 3X Edition at well over $140,000.

Is the Cybertruck a Good Work Truck?

Even with the caveats, if you want to spend $100,000 on a Cybertruck, and based on Consumer Reports Tesla new car reliability, my gut says yes, it will make a good work truck. I was seriously impressed with the Cybertruck I looked at, touched and sat in. It was solid as a rock. The size, fit and finish, in my opinion, were spot on.

There are some cons, such as limited visibility, but the six external cameras and all-wheel steering (AKA “crab-walk”) would make moving around a work site safer and easier.

As a Tesla sales rep described, the 20 in. tires, the armor plate protecting the battery against damage from rocks and debris when driving through rough terrain and different off-road modes (including one mode that employs an adaptive air suspension raising the suspension and pressurizes the high-voltage battery to prevent water intrusion when driving through shallow water) all reduce the possibility of damaging the battery and undercarriage when driving around a work or construction site.

Currently, Tesla does not offer a way to mount snowplowing equipment or a bed cab for additional storage, but I did find a few sites online that offer unique and functional accessories to nicely outfit the Cybertruck as a work truck. The Cybertruck comes standard with exceptional towing and load ratings, the ability to power your home or power tools, and all the refinements, essentials and qualities you want and expect in any decent work truck.

About the Expert

  • Ben Shoolin has been professional new vehicle General Motors salesperson for over 45 years and is an award-winning Buick/GMC Mark of Excellence Sales and Leasing Specialist at O’Neil Buick in Warminster PA., a multiyear award-winning, General Motors Customer Satisfaction dealership. (August 18, 2024)

Sources

Originally Published: August 28, 2024

Author
Bob Lacivita
Since rebuilding his first engine at age 14, cars have been Bob Lacivita's passion, as well as his way of life. He went on to become an award-winning ASE and General Motors auto technician, vocational educator, career and technical center administrator, technical consultant and freelance writer; teaching legions of students and readers about DIY ca...
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