Today’s story is a special one. My uncle, Tito Henry, flew in all the way from the Philippines (after a quick stop in New York) to visit us here in California. He’s never been to the Golden State before, and I knew I had to give him the full “Sherwin” experience.
That meant three things: high-tech EVs, iconic California landmarks, and a whirlwind road trip to Las Vegas. We put the Cybertruck, the Model Y, and the Rivian R1S to work for this trip, but the real star was our Model Y as we trekked across the desert.
The Ultimate California Welcome: Cybertruck at LAX
The trip started with the most California welcome possible. I headed over to LAX in the Cybertruck to pick up Tito Henry. If you’ve seen my travel channel, you know he hosted us at his beautiful beach house in Palawan, so I had to return the favor in style. Seeing his reaction to the Cybertruck in the middle of LAX traffic was priceless—it’s not every day you get picked up from the airport in a stainless steel fortress!
Of course, no first-time visit to California is complete without a pit stop at In-N-Out Burger. We grabbed some Double-Doubles and let him soak in the culture before we geared up for the long drive to Nevada the next day.
Road Tripping the Model Y: Efficiency and Upgrades
For the actual trek to Las Vegas, we opted for the Tesla Model Y. This gave me a great opportunity to test out some new hardware. I recently swapped the OEM wheels for 20-inch RVRN wheels and a fresh set of tires. I was curious to see how the efficiency would hold up compared to the stock 19-inch wheels with covers.
| Metric | Details |
| Total Distance | 440.8 Miles |
| Energy Used | 147.5 kWh |
| Average Efficiency | 334.6 Wh/mi |
| Wheel Setup | 20″ RVRN Wheels |
| Tire Aspect Ratio | 40 (for better ride comfort) |
Even with the larger wheels, the ride quality remained excellent. I chose a 40 aspect ratio instead of 35 to maintain that cushion, and it paid off. The efficiency of 334.6 Wh/mi is solid considering the heavy elevation changes on the climb to Vegas and the fact that we weren’t exactly babying the throttle.
Testing FSD V14.2.1 on the Open Road
I spent a lot of time documenting Full Self-Driving (FSD) V14.2.1 during this trip. On the wide-open stretches of the I-15, the system performed admirably. It handles lane changes much more confidently at highway speeds, though I did notice some occasional hesitation when things got a bit more crowded.
One thing I noted: the speed profiles change based on the setting.
- Standard: ~75 mph
- Hurry: ~80 mph
- Mad Max: ~85 mph
Tito Henry was absolutely tripping out over the technology—especially the Summon feature. Seeing the car move itself in a parking lot to come pick us up was like magic to him.
Charging and Sightseeing
We made the classic stops along the way to show off the “tourist” side of the drive. We hit up Alien Fresh Jerky in Baker and checked out the massive new Supercharger stations.
- Baker Supercharger: We arrived at 25% and saw speeds north of 200 kW.
- Barstow Supercharger: This is a massive site with over 100 stalls, featuring the new V3.5 (often called V4) posts with longer cables, making them much more friendly for non-Tesla EVs like the Rivian or Ford Lightning.
I asked my uncle what he thought about the “waiting” involved with an EV road trip. His take? It didn’t feel like waiting at all. By the time we used the restroom, grabbed a snack, and took some photos, the car was already charged and ready to go.
Vegas Vibes: From the Strip to Fremont Street
Once we hit Vegas, it was a whirlwind. We stayed at the Aria (shoutout to the 54th-floor views!), walked the Strip to see the Bellagio fountains, and explored the Venetian. But Tito Henry’s favorite part? Fremont Street. He loved the energy, the music, and the lights of Downtown Vegas over the more “corporate” feel of the main Strip.
We also got a surprise ride in a Kia EV9 from some friends, which gave us a chance to compare its matte finish and six-seater layout to my fleet. The EV world is growing fast!
Wrapping Up the Trip
Before heading back, we stopped at Seven Magic Mountains—those colorful stacked rocks you always see from the freeway. It was my first time actually stopping there too!
We finished the trip by dropping Tito Henry off at Ontario International Airport in the Rivian R1S. With the third row folded down, the R1S swallowed his large luggage with ease. While he loved the utility of the Rivian, I think the sheer “tech-factor” of the Tesla (and that Summon feature!) really won him over.
