Observe a Tesla Cybertruck being dismantled during a tow hitch stress examination.

      JerryRigEverything on YouTube

      There has been significant discussion surrounding the Tesla Cybertruck's capacity (or lack thereof) to perform typical "truck tasks," with social media closely scrutinizing any sign of failure. Central to the debate is Tesla's decision to attach a hitch receiver to its cast aluminum body. While aluminum is strong, can it match the strength of the steel ladder frame found in traditional half-ton pickups? Apparently, YouTuber JerryRigEverything aimed to settle this matter with his own stress test, even bringing along an ordinary HD Ram 2500 pickup as a “control” for comparison.

      Given the impressive towing capabilities of modern trucks, Jerry needed something substantial for this stress test. How about a 50,000-pound excavator? To ensure the Cybertruck’s front end remains grounded while the hitch bears weight, they secured it to a convenient wheel-loader. By positioning the truck on a concrete loading dock and applying pressure to the hitch with the excavator’s digging arm, he was able to accurately manage and observe the hitch's load throughout the test using a basic crane scale (which Jerry states is accurate to within 5 pounds). He proposes that the ideal scenario for Tesla would be a failure substantially beyond the 15,000-pound mark—approximately 35% more than its rated 11,000-pound towing capacity, and over 13 times its specified tongue weight.

      As the load on the hitch surpasses 6,000 pounds, Jerry notes hearing sounds emanating from the Cybertruck, indicating that the hitch is starting to visibly distort. Shortly after exceeding 7,500 pounds, the truck's alarm system is activated. At 8,000 pounds, Jerry humorously comments that the truck is “Creaking like a millennial going down stairs.” A relatable sentiment, Jerry.

      At this point, they reposition the excavator to enhance its leverage and begin increasing the load again. At 8,000 pounds, it has already outperformed Jerry's expectations. However, it soon fails entirely at 10,400 pounds. Following this, they conduct a failure “analysis.” The loading area facilitates access to the back of the truck post-test, allowing them to closely examine the damage. An entire aluminum section seems to have been ripped off the Cybertruck, tearing apart some of the structural adhesive in the process. Jerry compares the failure to that of WhistlinDiesel’s Cybertruck, which had suffered impact damage before its catastrophic failure. Additionally, after the bumper was removed, the Cybertruck refused to start, displaying 28 error messages on-screen.

      JerryRigEverything on YouTube

      Although the frame failed below the Cybertruck’s towing capacity, it was at a weight nearly 9.5 times its rated tongue weight, which provides a more accurate indication of how the load was applied during this stress test. However, as Jerry mentions later in the video, horizontal towing loads can convert to vertical tongue loads under specific conditions, and the impact increases if the trailer isn’t properly loaded, making this test outcome more relevant to real-world scenarios than one might think. Nonetheless, the Cybertruck’s 1,100-pound tongue weight rating is in line with the half-ton class. Therefore, other trucks would likely yield similar results, correct?

      Now, we arrive at the part many of you may have been looking forward to: the control test conducted with a Dodge Ram 2500 HD. This is a 20-year-old truck featuring a steel hitch receiver affixed to a steel frame. This older model doesn’t even have an engine, and its chassis has been involved in an accident. It seems like an unfair disadvantage, doesn’t it? Without giving away too much, let's just say the Ram’s capabilities surpassed those of Jerry's testing equipment.

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