Carpet in the Cab, Why??

[MIDgrid]

In yesterday's Q&A with CEO Chris Barman I'm pretty sure I heard that carpet would be standard for the cab floor. This is surprising since there is IMO a much better option already listed in the Slate Maker: Rubber Floor Liner. I've always disliked the standard auto carpet liners as they are hard to keep clean. I was looking forward to a simple, easy to clean floor liner in this function-first simple Slate Truck - similar to the standard Honda Element non-carpet "utility" floor. Adding rubber mats over carpet is not ideal.

Now I'm concerned that I can't order a plain Slate Truck without having to specify the rubber floor liner option, or possibly DIY rip out the carpet later to install the rubber floor liner - this is my first disappointment. Slate seems to have lost their "intentionally simple and utilitarian" blank slate vision in this case.

 

[SparkYellow]

Indeed! With rubber mat over carpet, I still have to vacuum the carpet to remove the dirt and debris that fell through the gap. I am looking into buying an air blow gun to loosen things up before running the shop vac. 🤦

 

[Johnologue]

I had been laughing at one of the dismissive articles for criticizing the Slate Prototypes as "not even having carpet floors!", so I'm disappointed to hear it as well.

Who ever wanted carpet floors in a car? I don't get it. Is it for quietness?

Now I'm concerned that I can't order a plain Slate Truck without having to specify the rubber floor liner option, or possibly DIY rip out the carpet later to install the rubber floor liner - this is my first disappointment. Slate seems to have lost their "intentionally simple and utilitarian" blank slate vision in this case.

I don't think you have to worry about "needing to specify" options, given the Blank Slate premise. You'd order the same truck either way and presumably install the optional rubber liner over whatever was included standard.

 

[cadblu]

I think that carpet was selected over rubber flooring due to lower cost.

 

[AZFox]

With rubber mat over carpet, I still have to vacuum the carpet to remove the dirt and debris that fell through the gap.

Choices for floor mats and floor liners in the website's Maker are

• Rubber Floor Mat Insert
• Carpet Floor Mat Insert
• Rubber Floor Liner
• Carpet Floor Liner

Presumably the liner(s) eliminate the gap you're concerned about.

I was looking forward to a simple, easy to clean floor liner in this function-first simple Slate Truck - similar to the standard Honda Element non-carpet "utility" floor. Adding rubber mats over carpet is not ideal.

Most Ford Explorer Sport Tracs came with rubber flooring in lieu of carpet. Someone I know has one and likes that feature.

 

[AZFox]

In my experience Weathertech (or equivalent) mats work pretty well on carpeted floors. They have a lip around the edge that does a good job containing spills and debris.

Take it out. Wash it off. Put it back in. Easy peasy.

 

[Sandman614]

I would assume it is largely for cost and NVH

I don't expect the Slate to be super quiet out of the box, carpet will help with some of that resonance