Does the SUV kit make sense?

[Doctors Do Little]

Having owned a few pickups with caps, as well as vans, getting certain things in and out of the cargo area can be real back breakers. On my last pickup the cap side windows were fixed which meant if anything migrated to the front of the bed (it will) you'd have to use your yoga moves to get it out. So I won't be putting a cap on the Slate. At least until I can see that it would be very easy to remove AND doesn't weigh a ton so that ONE person can put it on and off. Likely with pulleys and ropes? Sturdy caps weigh a lot more than you might think! And a quality cap will allow for mounting racks on it which opens up lots of toy and work possibilities. No doubt Leer and other cap makers will offer them once Slate hits certain sales numbers but if they were anything like my previous ones, you put em on and leave em on.

I'd think that once we know the final dimensions of the bed rails, it will be game on for all Slate and aftermarket caps.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

I only pick up hitchhikers near the State Women's penitentiaries.

Sounds like something to be written on a tomb stone. YMMV

 

[atx_ev]

I'd think that once we know the final dimensions of the bed rails, it will be game on for all Slate and aftermarket caps.

I would think they would pick a standard that already exists so there is already a body accessories that fit.

 

[sodamo]

I like the idea of the Slate cap that the roof portion might be removable. Could be handy those rare times you have to move something taller than the window/tailgate.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

I like the idea of the Slate cap that the roof portion might be removable. Could be handy those rare times you have to move something taller than the window/tailgate.

excellent point. tall-ish furniture that is not so heavy is an example. Latches vs screws.

(Absurd example: yesterday I moved an entire leather sectional couch from main floor to basement by myself. Not wanting to manage those sections down the steps by myself, I pulled my LIghtning around and loaded two sections at a time and drove around the house to the lower basement entry. Took me about 40 minutes to do it this way, but I had it relocated before my wife even knew I had begun! With a cap, I wouldn't have been able to manipulate the furniture on the truck as easily.)

 

[sodamo]

excellent point. tall-ish furniture that is not so heavy is an example. Latches vs screws.

(Absurd example: yesterday I moved an entire leather sectional couch from main floor to basement by myself. Not wanting to manage those sections down the steps by myself, I pulled my LIghtning around and loaded two sections at a time and drove around the house to the lower basement entry. Took me about 40 minutes to do it this way, but I had it relocated before my wife even knew I had begun! With a cap, I wouldn't have been able to manipulate the furniture on the truck as easily.)

Ahhh, my tractor with pallet forks… 😁

 

[Doctors Do Little]

Ahhh, my tractor with pallet forks… 😁

#Cul-de-sacLiving

It's like being Michael Jordan in a wheelchair. You know ALL of the smart ways to do something, but you no longer have any vertical lift. Story of my current life.

 

[AZFox]

Does a rolbar + soft top count as an SUV Kit?
Prototype:

 

[Doctors Do Little]

Does a rolbar + soft top count as an SUV Kit?
Prototype:

I would think that in this case, you're only ordering the roll bar from Slate!

 

[AZFox]

I would think that in this case, you're only ordering the roll bar from Slate!

If so you'd be buying airbags whether you want them or not.

There's a Center High Mount Stop Lamp (third brake light) to consider.

 

[Dorbiman]

The roll bar has a third brake light as well, unless I'm misunderstanding you AZ

 

[AZFox]

The roll bar has a third brake light as well, unless I'm misunderstanding you AZ

Yeah I was just noticing that the top they show in the CNBC video appears to block it.

A third-party rollbar or soft top would need one, right?

CHMSL could be integrated into a spare tire carrier.

 

[Dorbiman]

Hopefully a 3rd party soft top could be designed to not block the existing 3rd brake light. I do sort of like the Wrangler's setup, with the 3rd brake light as part of the rear spare tire carrier

 

[Mac-Tyson]

I tend to agree. I think I’m going to get the rear seat, roll bar, and then do something like this!

Actually made a build yesterday based on this concept: https://www.slate.auto/en/slatemaker?shortcode=M3K7VG

 

[Doctors Do Little]

Actually made a build yesterday based on this concept: https://www.slate.auto/en/slatemaker?shortcode=M3K7VG

That's awesome and almost exactly what I have in mind. Just add spare tire on the back, running boards, and I might keep it slate colored at first or do something simple - like this:
https://www.slate.auto/share/APJDMG