They laughed at the Cybertruck’s design. Now it’s pulling 25,000-pound semis out of the mud — with a winch mounted in the frunk.
Yes, really. Cybertruck owner Braden Smith shared a moment that’s now setting Tesla forums ablaze: he used his electric pickup to rescue a stranded semi-truck from a muddy campground. But what really stunned people wasn’t just that it worked — it’s how it worked.
“He was pretty surprised I pulled his stuck semi out at the campground with the Cybertruck,” Braden posted.
“It’s a frunk winch (Mission winch) powered by a 12V battery mounted in the frunk.”
No film crew. No paid influencers. Just torque, traction, and a little bit of ingenuity.
Wait… The Cybertruck Pulled a What?
According to Braden and follow-up posts in the Cybertruck Owners Club, the stuck truck was a full-sized semi tractor unit, weighing somewhere between 20,000 to 25,000 pounds. That’s more than double the Cybertruck’s rated towing limit of 11,000 lbs in the Cyberbeast trim.
So how did it work? It’s all physics. The semi wasn’t axle-deep in quicksand — just stuck enough to need a nudge. The winch didn’t lift the whole truck, it simply overcame the drag force holding it in place. As one forum member explained:
“The winch didn’t pull dead weight. The semi’s wheels did most of the work once the drag was broken.”
Still, that’s one serious flex for a truck that many dismissed as a tech toy.
A Winch in the Frunk? Yes, and It’s Actually Smart
Braden’s setup used a Mission winch, mounted in the front trunk (frunk) and powered by a 12V battery. But what really impressed off-roaders was his use of synthetic rope — not steel cable.
That’s important. Steel winch lines can snap under tension and act like a whip, which is extremely dangerous. Synthetic rope, on the other hand, is safer.
“Synthetic just drops. No whip of doom,” one user said.
Braden’s approach wasn’t just impressive — it was well thought out, well executed, and totally DIY.
Cybertruck Specs That Helped Make It Happen
Cyberbeast Towing & Power:
- Towing capacity: 11,000 lbs
- Wheel torque: 10,296 lb-ft (thanks to instant electric torque)
- 2-inch hitch receiver and digital trailer brake controller
- Note: Towing heavy loads (e.g., 7,500 lbs) can cut range in half
Charging & Power Output:
- Up to 154 miles added in 15 minutes (800V charging system)
- PowerShare: Outputs up to 11.5 kW — enough to power tools, other EVs, or even a home
- Outlets include: 4 x 120V (2 in cabin, 2 in bed), 1 x 240V in bed
Tesla’s constant over-the-air (OTA) updates keep improving everything from charging speeds to traction tuning, making this one of the most adaptable trucks ever built.
Real Owners Are Turning Cybertrucks Into Multi-Tools
What’s striking is how real owners, not influencers or marketers, are shaping the Cybertruck’s reputation.
Braden isn’t a YouTuber chasing clicks. He’s a hands-on guy using the truck to solve real problems — no gas, no noise, no drama. And the forum responded: owners started asking about how he wired it, whether they should sacrifice their frunk fridge to install a winch too, and how much drain it puts on the battery.
“This isn’t just a truck anymore,” one user wrote. “It’s a platform.”
That’s what makes this moment feel different. For all the memes, the stainless steel jokes, and the blade-runner aesthetic — the Cybertruck is quietly becoming a legitimate workhorse.
Forget the Hype — This Is the Future of Utility
Let’s be real: this story could’ve been a Super Bowl commercial. But it wasn’t. No voiceovers. No slow-mo shots. Just a Tesla pulling a semi out of a muddy campground because it could.
The real flex isn’t the torque — it’s the utility. No engine revving. No tailpipe fumes. Just silent power.
“This truck is everything I wanted,” Braden said after the recovery.
Have You Added a Winch to Your Cybertruck?
Got a winch setup you’re proud of? Thinking about turning your Cybertruck into a recovery rig or worksite tool? Drop your comments below and let us know how you’re using your Cybertruck in the real world.