Tesla Cybertruck Max Towing Revealed

by Matt Posky

Published: November 27th, 2023

Tesla has revealed the maximum towing capabilities for the long-anticipated Cybertruck by including it in display materials located at some of the brand’s physical locations. As the company lacks a dedicated PR department, the information comes by way of social media accounts and dedicated forums. While this means Tesla hasn’t confirmed the figures, there is sufficient coverage to deem the number plausible. Until the manufacturer says otherwise, Cybertruck will be capable of towing 11,000 pounds.

This is about 3,000 pounds less than the brand had originally claimed. But it remains competitive for an all-electric pickup truck if compared to alternatives from Ford and General Motors. Both of their full-size pickups that forego combustion engines top out at 10,000, while the Rivian R1T caps at 11,000 pounds.

Ram is supposed to deliver its electric REV 1500 with 14,000 pounds of towing capacity and GM claims to have something that ballparks around 20,000 of pulling power in the works. But neither of those products have entered the market boasting the relevant specifications. So, Tesla’s Cybertruck appears to be right in the sweet spot with 11,000 pounds of towing and a maximum payload of 2500 pounds.

Pickup aficionados will note the above figures are lacking when compared to any HD pickup equipped with the relevant towing packages. But it needs to be said that people who buy upgraded dually trucks usually have some intention of hauling real weight on a regular basis. Meanwhile, I’ve yet to see any electric pickup operating in the wild with something in the bed and towing tests done by reputable outlets have shown all-electric platforms make for less-than ideal tools during a long haul.

It’s not that electric trucks cannot haul things, it’s that range suffers greatly under load. While this is likewise true for combustion-engined vehicles, it’s easier and quicker to fill up a vehicle that relies on liquid fuel for energy. However, the number of EV fast chargers in the country continues to climb and it’s still cheaper to recharge an electric pickup at home. An electric truck may still be of great use to someone who simply wants to get their boat to a nearby lake. But they begin to lose the advantage once you’re moving weight considerable distances and have to pay (and wait) for public charging.

Tesla’s numbers may be down slightly from what was originally being promised. But, assuming the brand doesn’t correct anyone, Cybertruck’s initial specs should be more than enough to keep it competitive until something newer comes along. Maximum towing is about what we’d expect for the segment and maximum payload is a little better.

Expect more mysteries to be solved later this week. Tesla is planning a huge event at the Gigafactory in Austin, Texas, on November 30th to celebrate the first Cybertruck deliveries.

[Image: Tesla]

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Matt Posky

A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.

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2 of 41 comments

285exp on Nov 28, 2023

The only people impressed with 5 figure EV tow ratings don’t tow.

1 Reply
ToolGuy on Dec 01, 2023

Well yesterday's 'tractor pull' footage was interesting...

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Bd2 Lexus is just a higher trim package Toyota. ^^
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