Idaho farmer goes viral after buying and selling in his F-250 for a Cybertruck: ‘It’s actually quick’
When farmer Braden Smith drives his Tesla Cybertruck round Idaho Falls, Idaho, he both will get a “center finger or the thumbs up.”
“It is insane as a result of I actually am a pleasant man,” Smith, 34, informed USA TODAY.
Smith, who can also be a web based content material creator, has gone viral for an unlikely pairing: utilizing the shiny, electrical Cybertruck to take care of his family-owned 2,000-acre farm stuffed with wheat and potatoes as an alternative of the standard heavy-duty pickup a farmer may sometimes desire. His movies on TikTok have amassed hundreds of thousands of views, and he is solely had the car since April.
“It has been enjoyable,” Smith mentioned of proudly owning the Cybertruck. “Numerous the instances after I discuss to individuals they’re very skeptical about it … you may actually weld all day with this factor and nonetheless be OK. It has been good for across the farm.”
Buying and selling an F-250 for a ‘chrome steel fridge’
Earlier than shopping for the Cybertruck, Smith mentioned he would commerce in his pickup vehicles very often. In December 2023, when Smith was planning on buying and selling in his F-250, he acquired an invitation to configure a Cybertruck.
Smith mentioned he justified the acquisition because of the 50 amp fashion plug behind the Cybertruck which he makes use of to energy his welder and plasma compressor.
“I believe in the event you itemized down every little thing I needed in a pickup for the farm, I imply this suits nearly all of these needs and wishes,” he mentioned. “It was simply unlucky that it type of appears to be like like a chrome steel fridge.”
TikTok of cats singing Queen started Braden Smith’s virality
Smith’s preliminary viral TikTok submit was shared in Might 2021 and concerned a wallpaper of cats singing Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The submit has over 16 million views.
“It simply type of blew up,” Smith mentioned concerning the viral TikTok in 2021. “We thought that was fascinating so we determined to type of trip it out and maintain making content material.”
Smith mentioned he thought-about the video “fairly foolish,” however when it “took off,” he started noticing how profitable monetizing content material could possibly be.
Braden Smith didn’t purchase the Cybertruck to ‘go inexperienced’
Smith, who drives the Cybertruck day-after-day, mentioned he saves lots of gasoline though he didn’t actually purchase the car to “go inexperienced” or save on gasoline.
“I imply everyone’s saying it is so great that you are going inexperienced and every little thing, after which they see that my license plate reads ‘Coal Fed,'” Smith mentioned. “They begin scratching their heads.”
A small downside Smith has with the Cybertruck is the car’s towing capabilities.
Whereas towing issues with the truck has not been an enormous concern for him as a result of he lives about 40 minutes from his farm in Rexburg, he did acknowledge that the car could not be capable of tow heavy stuff for longer than 150 to 200 miles.
What’s the Cybertruck?
Launched by Tesla founder Elon Musk in 2019, the Cybertruck is marketed as an electrical pickup truck “constructed for any journey,” in response to the automotive company.
“Lastly, the long run will appear like the long run,” Musk mentioned when he unveiled the Cybertruck throughout a demo in 2019.
Nevertheless, the Cybetruck has had its pitfalls, as Tesla has issued several voluntary recalls since its launch. The automaker recalled thousands of the trucks in June because of a windshield wiper malfunction and a trunk mattress trim concern.
Different farmers could choose up on the Cybertruck
Regardless of the minor towing concern and perplexed appears to be like from individuals on the town, Smith mentioned he enjoys the Cybertruck and the car is nothing like he is “ever pushed earlier than or had on his farm.”
“It is actually quick (and) it is enjoyable to drive,” he mentioned concerning the Cybertruck. “I will be going 60 miles an hour down certainly one of my filth roads and it is simply gliding.”
Cyberucks could possibly be interesting to farmers going ahead, particularly when Tesla comes out with extra reasonably priced and available fashions, in response to Smith.
“It is humorous since you drive down the highway and everyone’s like ‘a lot cash,’ and but they’re additionally passing King Ranch’s, Denali’s and different excessive spec pickups, however no person blinks a watch,” he mentioned. “I believe it’s very potential that different individuals choose up on (Cybertrucks).”
This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: Why an Idaho farmer traded in his F-250 for a Cybertruck
