I Want To Take My Tesla Cybertruck on a Fishing Trip, Towing My Boat Like I Do With My Ram, But I Don’t Want My CT To Brick On Me In the Middle of Nowhere

Should Chris take the Ram truck or the new Tesla Cybertruck on a backcountry fishing trip to Canada? 

Many Tesla Cybertruck owners would like to use their trucks to drive to remote locations and access top fishing or camping spots, but can they do it without getting stranded?

Chris Evert wants to pull his 18' Lund boat to Canada to his favorite fishing hole, like he has done many times with his Ram pickup. 

However, he's afraid that if he uses his new Cybertruck, he will get stranded because of a completely drained battery in the middle of nowhere.

It's a genuine concern for many Cybertruck owners.

Chris says on the Tesla Cybertruck Owners Facebook post, "Hi All. I need your opinion. I'm planning to drive up to Canada for a fishing trip. I live in Illinois and would be driving to Upsala, Ontario, Canada." 

"It's about 750 miles to get up there, with the last 5 miles being an unpaved, bumpy road. I would be towing my 18' Lund boat." 

"I've done this trip many times with my Ram truck without any issues." 

"I'd like to do the same trip with my Cybertruck. I would plan to take a spare tire with me, but I'm nervous because the closest Tesla Service Center is 350-400 miles away." 

"The last charger from my destination is 12 miles, but that includes the five miles of unpaved and bumpy road."

"I hate that I have to think about these things and want to use the Cybertruck just like any other truck. I realize that I'll have to stop and charge every 100-150 miles, but I don't want the CT to brick on me in the middle of nowhere." 

"I'm interested in everyone's thoughts and opinions. Has anyone taken their Cybertrucks to remote locations?"

"Should I take the Cybertruck or the Ram?"

Great Questions That Chris and Other Cybertruck Owners Have.

Cybertruck owners have some precise answers, with many telling Chris to take his Cybertruck.

Joseph Lee says, "As long as you're able to map out the chargers and there's one close to the destination, you'll be good. One tip: add your trailer profile weight beforehand, after you test connect and map the destination and chargers." 

"Also, look at how many are expected to be available and use Google Maps to judge the best approach to the chargers in case you don't need to unhook to charge. I took my camper to 5 chargers, and half were pull-through, and the others were so open I just parallel parked."

Maurice Fuller - "Yes, take your CT. Put the destination into your system and most importantly, set the destination energy at the highest level."

"Let it guide you there safely with a full battery. Bring your home charger and 240V adapters, and enjoy the journey. I'm responding to this post in my Cybertruck from Hatteras, NC, on a remote beach."

Kelvin Lu - "750 miles with a low and relatively lightweight load is feasible and not as painful as if you were towing a heavier, less aero load. I would consider strapping some cover over the top of the boat to lessen the drag even more and doing some 15-minute freeway efficiency testing to see what is realistic." 

"Your main concern with efficiency will be managing speed. The slower you go, the more efficient you become. So if you don't want to deal with driving slowly, don't even bother. By slow, I mean averaging 60-70 mph."

"I guess that you'll still need to stop to recharge four times minimum and six on the high end, which is a lot of stopping and probably pushes a one-day drive into a relatively painful one compared to your Ram with only 2-3 stops."

David Meidam - "For my deep off-road trip, I had a spare tire (jack, air compressor, and lug wrench in the boot) and I brought along this tri-fuel generator for backup."

Paul Hamilton says, "Check out this video from Teslatino, who drove two Cybertrucks to the most northern latitude possible in North America."

Here are a few more tips to consider before heading out on a 750-mile road trip to Canada. 

• Significant Range Reduction: This is the most crucial factor. Towing an 18' Lund fishing boat like Chris, with a large aerodynamic profile, will drastically reduce the Cybertruck's range.
• Expect a 30-70% reduction, meaning your actual range while towing could be as low as 100-180 miles, depending on speed, terrain, and temperature.
• Speed is Key: Aerodynamic drag increases exponentially with speed. Driving at 50-55 mph will significantly improve your range compared to driving at 65 mph or higher. This will add time to your trip, but it is vital for range management.
• Payload Matters: While the boat is your primary towed weight, remember that the weight of your passengers, gear, and supplies in the Cybertruck also affects range. Pack as lightly as possible.
• Cold Weather Impact: If your trip occurs during cooler months, battery performance and range will be further affected. Cold weather reduces regenerative braking efficiency and the overall usable capacity of the battery.

Conclusion:

Chris has already planned out his route and has made the trip many times in his Ram pickup. So, he knows what to expect, and there shouldn't be any big surprises.

However, there are dedicated trip planner apps, such as "A Better Route Planner (ABRP)" and "PlugShare," that can be helpful.

1. ABRP: Allows you to input your Cybertruck's anticipated energy consumption while towing (using experimental or forum estimates of a 50-70% range reduction) and your desired buffer for arrival at chargers. This will give you the most accurate charging plan.
2. PlugShare: Excellent for finding charging stations, including user comments, photos, and availability. Filter for DC Fast Chargers (Superchargers and other networks, such as Electrify Canada), as Level 2 (L2) charging will be too slow for significant en-route charging.
3. Non-Tesla Chargers in Canada: While Tesla's Supercharger network is robust in many areas of Canada, be aware that you might encounter non-Tesla charging networks (e.g., Electrify Canada). You'll need a CCS adapter for the Cybertruck to use these.

What Advise Would You Give Chris?

What would you do, and have you taken your Cybertruck off-road to get to the best fishing hole or camping spot? If so, click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.

Check out my Tesla Cybertruck story: Tesla Killed My Plans To Pull An RV With My Cybertruck, It Doesn’t Have Enough Range To Do the Job, So I’m Selling It

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news, covering owner stories, and providing expert analysis, ensuring that you are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on X @DenisFlierl, @WorldsCoolestRides, Facebook, and Instagram

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Chris Evert