I’m Blown Away by How My Tesla Cybertruck Handled This Load, I Carried 2,700 lbs in the Bed and 400 More in the Frunk, And It Leveled Instantly With Barely Any Range Loss

We’ve all heard the jokes that the Cybertruck is more tech toy than tough truck. But when someone actually pushes it to its limits with a real-world load, that narrative gets shaken up fast. That’s exactly what happened when I came across a post this afternoon in the “Cybertruck Owners Only” group on Facebook, where Joel Nashett shared an experience that might just reframe what people think this truck is capable of. What unfolded during his 120-mile haul with the Cybertruck sounded less like a tech experiment and more like a masterclass in how to haul without breaking a sweat.

Joel wrote, “Cybertruck doing truck things. 2,700 lbs in the bed, 120 mile haul. I was very impressed with the auto leveling and handling. It squatted pretty bad upon loading, but then leveled right up. With adaptive regen braking on, I hardly had to use the brakes even though I had another 400 lbs in the frunk! My previous F-150 and Ram 1500 both would have been sitting on the bump stops and I likely would have had to come back with a trailer because the sales guy made a mistake communicating the overall weight. Also, I had very little noticeable drop in range.”

Redefining Expectations

This kind of real-world test punches through the noise at a time when critics still dismiss the Cybertruck as more gimmick than an actual workhorse. Not only did Joel load over 3,000 pounds between the bed and the frunk, but the truck’s air suspension leveled itself seamlessly after initially squatting. This is a clear sign that Tesla’s engineering team didn’t just build for aesthetics but for utility.

It’s this kind of functionality that has convinced some owners the Cybertruck may very well be the best vehicle they’ve ever driven—a sentiment echoed in reports like this one where an owner outright declares the Cybertruck as the most complete machine he’s ever owned. It’s no longer just a tech showpiece, it’s doing the work.

Regenerative Braking in Heavy Use

What makes this even more interesting is Joel’s comparison to his previous trucks. If a well-established truck like the Ram 1500 or Ford F-150 would have required a second trip to haul the same payload, then that gives us a meaningful benchmark. He points out how his old trucks would have been sitting on the bump stops, and that in itself tells you what kind of strain he used to deal with. The Cybertruck, by contrast, tackled it in one go.

And it wasn’t just about hauling weight. With adaptive regenerative braking enabled, Joel said he hardly had to use the actual brakes during the 120-mile trip. That’s not only a convenience boost but a potential safety and longevity benefit as well. It’s a feature that many truck owners might underestimate until they experience how seamlessly it blends into daily driving, especially when loaded down.

From a practical perspective, hauling this much weight with so little impact on driving experience or range is a win too. But the fact that the Cybertruck did it with almost no noticeable range loss is the part that may turn heads. We’ve seen how towing with the Cybertruck does draw significant energy, as noted in this towing review, but hauling payload in the bed, even over 3,000 lbs, proves much more range-friendly than many expected.

Other Owners Weigh In

Among those who chimed in on Joel’s post, several owners shared their own frustrations with how people perceive the Cybertruck. Mary Torigiani commented, “I’m glad to hear that! Sometimes people don’t even realize that it is a real truck. Great to hear how well it did!”

That single line captures a broader sentiment: even now, there’s a lingering disbelief in some circles about whether the Cybertruck belongs in the same category as other pickups. But results like Joel’s criticize that narrative.

Jeff Barnett added, “Yep, I use mine as a truck sometimes too and I get annoyed when I am just around town with folks saying, 'Wow that's really cool, but it's not really a truck, right?' Maybe it's the crappy aftermarket cover on my F-150 that helped them know that was the bed of a truck.”

Jeff’s comment is revealing. There’s a bias in how people perceive electric trucks as if their sleek, tech-forward appearance disqualifies them from being treated seriously as work  vehicles. But that perception is beginning to shift as more owners like Jeff and Joel put the truck to the test.

Then there’s Pedro Ferrer, who summed it up with a dose of flair: “Out-trucks most trucks while also being a sports car, luxury car, and an iPad.”

It might sound humorous, but it seems to be true in many cases. The Cybertruck combines utility, performance, and tech in a way no other truck has before. And when owners see it perform across so many categories, it becomes clear that this vehicle is changing the truck world.

How Stories Like This Shape the Cybertruck’s Long-Term Value 

Even when put in tough environments, the Cybertruck seems to rise to the occasion. Whether it’s hauling heavy payloads, towing on inclines, or holding up to real-world abuse like this vandalism incident, Tesla’s earning credibility through results and not just marketing.

And what about durability on the road? Some owners have gone so far as to test how new tires impact range, where performance tires made a notable difference in energy efficiency. Yet despite all the experimentation, the base truck continues to deliver a solid and capable experience according to many owners.

It all leads to a bigger question that owners are starting to ask themselves—not just whether they like the Cybertruck, but whether they would actually buy one again. In Joel’s case, it seems like that answer is a resounding yes.

So in my opinion, I think these kinds of stories are the most valuable as they represent the kind of real-world proof that cuts through all the noise. We’re past the point of just concepts and numbers, as we now have examples like this that show they can do some jobs well, sometimes even better than their gas-powered counterparts. 

Now I’m not claiming that theCybertruck can out-muscle a 2500 diesel... because it can’t. But the fact that we’re now seeing electric trucks regularly handle hauls like this is a clear sign of how far EV capability has come. I’ve covered many EV stories where owners show why their trucks struggled, but here we see the opposite of someone who threw the maximum case scenario at their Cybertruck, and it just handled it.

Not to be redundant, but the part that sticks with me the most is how little range loss he reported. That’s something I hear concerns about constantly. But if Joel’s experience is any indication, payload hauling may be far less of a range killer than many believe. And let’s not overlook the psychological impact of stories like these, because when other people say, “That’s not a real truck,” stories like this are the rebuttal. This is how the EV market wins trust over time.

Key Takeaways

Real-World Payload Performance: Joel’s Cybertruck carried over 3,000 lbs and handled it effortlessly, leveling itself and maintaining solid ride quality.

Surprising Range Efficiency: Despite the heavy load, there was barely any noticeable drop in range—a key concern for many potential EV truck owners.

Regen Braking Confidence: Adaptive regenerative braking allowed safer and smoother downhill driving with a heavy load, reducing reliance on traditional brakes.

Changing Perceptions of Trucking: Owners are using the Cybertruck like a real work vehicle, and it’s slowly dismantling a bias that EV trucks can’t do the job.

Multi-Role Capability: As Pedro joked, the Cybertruck isn’t just a truck—it’s also a luxury vehicle, a tech hub, and a high-performance EV, all in one.

What Do You Think?

Do you think the Cybertruck is finally proving itself as a serious work truck? Or was this just a one-off success story that doesn’t reflect how it performs day to day?

And for those who own an EV truck, have you ever loaded yours to its limits? How did it perform under real work conditions?

I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences in our comments below. 

Aram Krajekian is a young automotive journalist bringing a fresh perspective to his coverage of the evolving automotive landscape. Follow Aram on X and LinkedIn for daily news coverage about cars.

Image Sources: The “Cybertruck Owners Only” public Facebook group and Tesla’s Gallery, respectively.