Posted on 08/07/2024 8:39:02 AM PDT by Red Badger
A Minnesota man excited that his Cybertruck is raccoon proof has been teased mercilessly that the critters think his expensive EV is a dumpster. And Wyoming auto experts agree with the raccoons.
======================================================================
A Minnesota man posted photos of how his Cybertruck withstood an assault by raccoons. What people have been quick to point out is the critters think it looks like a dumpster. (Cowboy State Daily Staff)
===================================================================
After raccoons tried unsuccessfully to break into the covered bed of a Minnesota man’s Cybertruck, he went online to brag the the vehicle had proven itself “raccoon-proof.”
It didn’t take long for thousands of responders to point out that while his Cybertruck may be secure from raccoons, the troublemaking critters apparently think the Cybertruck looks like a dumpster.
People started teasing him, saying the trash pandas went after the Cybertruck in the first place because it looks similar to the garbage dumpsters they’re used to raiding.
Some Wyoming auto experts say that’s not an unfair assessment.
“I do think the Cybertruck, in a certain light, looks exactly like a dumpster,” automotive writer Aaron Turpen of Cheyenne told Cowboy State Daily.
Automotive journalist Vince Bodiford agreed.
He believes the raccoons could have tried to break into the vehicle because they “may have really thought it was a garbage dumpster. I get it, it’s a mistake that’s understandable,” said Bodiford, who runs theweekenddrive.com, an online automotive magazine based in Cheyenne and Detroit.
Social Media Backlash
After a recent camping trip in Minnesota, Cybertruck owner Nic Cruz Patane posted on X (formerly Twitter) that raccoons had tried to tear open the panel covering the vehicle’s bed. Their muddle footprints are all over the Cybertruck’s bed cover.
Although they did considerable damage to the panel, they weren’t able to breach it, Patane posted.
He bragged that his Cybertruck had been proven “raccoon-proof.”
But that claim backfired on him in the social media sphere. People started chiding him for owning a vehicle that raccoons think is a dumpster.
Turpen said he’s seen some of the online blowback, and it’s entertaining.
“I’ve seen the memes, it’s hilarious,” he said.
Bodiford said the Cybertruck dissing was likely deserved, because the vehicle just doesn’t fit the pickup mold.
Going all the way back to the first Ford Model T trucks in the early 1900s, pickups have shared a common linage, he said.
“If you follow the design of that particular pickup, the original Model T, every new iteration of the pickup truck has made sense, it’s got some sort of utility connection to that very first pickup,” he said.
Not so with the Cybertruck, Bodiford said.
“The Cybertruck doesn’t have a logical connection to anything resembling a pickup truck,” he said. “I do think it has more in common with a dumpster than a pickup.”
‘Magic White Fluffberries’
Raccoons are the ultimate opportunists and likely went after the Cybertruck because the smelled something yummy inside, wildlife rescuer Patricia Wyer told Cowboy State Daily.
“There must have been something in the vehicle that drew them in,” said Wyer, who runs the Broken Bandit Wildlife Center near Cheyenne.
Although the idea that the raccoons were drawn to the Cybertruck because they thought was a dumpster is hysterical, raccoons will try breaking into just about anything that has food in it, she said.
Over the years, she’s taken in many raccoons and said there’s one thing in particular they find irresistible – marshmallows.
“I’m pretty sure there were marshmallows in the Cybertruck, because raccoons really love marshmallows,” she said. “They love the sweet flavor of them. We call marshmallows ‘magic white fluffberries’ here at the rescue center.”
The ‘Blade Runner’ Angle Fell Flat
Bodiford said if Cybertrucks really do look like dumpsters to raccoons, and marshmallows are a raccoon magnet, then taking a Cybertruck with marshmallows in it camping in Wyoming would be a doubly bad idea.
“If that’s the case, then you probably shouldn’t drive one into Yellowstone,” he said.
Turpen said he understands what Cybertruck producer Elon Musk was going for with the vehicle’s design, but it’s turned out to be a huge miss, at least in Wyoming.
“He was going for the ‘Blade Runner’ look,” Turpen said, referencing the classic Sci-Fi film. “As a nerd, I understand that, but I think Cybertrucks are over-hyped and over-priced.”
Cybertruck’s Bed Vault is raccoon proof :raccoon:
(Via CTOC u/ Spidog) pic.twitter.com/gcTOiwqhN7
— Nic Cruz Patane (@niccruzpatane) July 12, 2024 Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
Star Trek “The trouble with Tribbles”.............
“Ford F150 EVs delivered this year: 9,589.”
Q1 Reported: 7800
Q2 Reported: 7900
Q3 to date estimate: 3000
Total: 18,700
THEY DEFINITELY ARE “TRASH PANDAS”
Yes Tesla leads the market and despite some disadvantages of EV’s, the Model Y is a beautiful vehicle.
But the media is out to destroy Tesla, and liberals are ignorant haters.
Good one.
Back in the 60’s they made pickups out of Chevy Impalas and Ford Galaxies. They were equally useless.
According to a Musk biography, his designers tried to entice Musk with many other full size mock ups, but he demanded something with a ‘futuristic’ look. That his idea of the future is actually closer to an outdated 1950s or 1960s version of the future doesn’t bother him. He wanted this.
“ROSSMANN will not purchase any more Tesla vehicles for its fleet with immediate effect. This decision is based on the incompatibility between the statements of Tesla CEO Elon Musk and the values that Tesla represents with its products.”
Translation: Musk supports Trump
https://electrek.co/2024/08/06/tesla-loses-corporate-sales-over-elon-musk-tesla-mission/
“Good one.”
Kamala thanks you for your support.
Now that Musk supports Trump Liberals are dumping on Tesla.
“Back in the 60’s they made pickups out of Chevy Impalas and Ford Galaxies. “
Nope.
If so, the critters are being way too complimentary about it. Every time I see one of these visual monstrosities, I'm just overwhelmed anew by how hideous they look.
” They were equally useless.”
Over 500k units sold.
“Tesla loses corporate sales over Elon Musk ‘going against Tesla’s mission’”
“Elon Musk makes no secret of his support for Donald Trump. Trump has repeatedly described climate change as a hoax – this attitude is in stark contrast to Tesla’s mission to contribute to environmental protection through the production of electric cars.”
(Tesla loses corporate sales over Elon Musk’s support for Trump.)
https://electrek.co/2024/08/06/tesla-loses-corporate-sales-over-elon-musk-tesla-mission/
It was a good use of the Star Trek meme from a good episode.
Yes I commented on what they’re doing to Tesla and why.
Liberals are evil and ruthless and don’t really give a S for all the causes they use to gain power.
They destroy the environment, women, minorities, young people. And the rest of us as well.
I read this article. The company fuming Tesla has about 30 Teslas. But this is now major news because it serves the liberal cause.
In thinking about it, they are damaging the EV market but they’re fine with it, because they are handing China that market.
fuming=dumping
I would hope that Musk's support of Trump would not cause his companies to suffer but it probably will, at least temporarily. Liberals and progressives are petty and vindictive as hell.
I want that 57 Ford Ranchero. I’d also be quite satisfied with a 57 Ford two-door station wagon with the 4x4 modification.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.