Does the SUV kit make sense?

[sodamo]

Imagine if we had the same proportion of

As was mentioned before...best not to have portly friends in the rear if you are running ER battery and SUV (and spare etc). If I kitted it out, I'd be left with a couple of 50# kiddos and a 45# dog!

Soooo, guess I’ve got a year to shed a few, but then my puppy will be growing so will have 3 70#ish pound boxers behind the seat.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

Soooo, guess I’ve got a year to shed a few, but then my puppy will be growing so will have 3 70#ish pound boxers behind the seat.

Keep the doggy treats to a minimum, my friend.

 

[sodamo]

Keep the doggy treats to a minimum, my friend.

And risk rebellion?
Every morning, I trek out to my tractor/utility shed to check staus of my PV system. I keep a jar of the little milkbone treats on the bench for my assistants.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

And risk rebellion?
Every morning, I trek out to my tractor/utility shed to check staus of my PV system. I keep a jar of the little milkbone treats on the bench for my assistants.

I have a boxer in my mix, too. I understand the assignment.

 

[sodamo]

I have a boxer in my mix, too. I understand the assignment.

My assistants

 

[Luxrage]

Repeating for emphasis:
The weight of four average-weight American adult males exceeds the load capacity of a Truck with an SUV Kit, Extended Battery and Spare Carrier.

Heading for the airport? Better put the luggage on a trailer.

The next release should be an AWD Truck with heavier-duty specifications.

The Honda Elements actually have this constraint. The internal total cargo capacity is something like 600lb, easily exceeded by four adult good 'ol boys.

 

[sodamo]

Not where to put this so just landed here.
sent this to Slate
“My Blank Slate is on Reserve, but my hope is topper for my dogs. Initially hopeful of the SUV kit, but don’t need the seat or lose bed width with rollbar. So maybe the Cargo kit. Is it same top? If not, what differences? Able to haul 4x plywood, remove the top panel for those times I need the height?”

response

Hey David, Thank you for contacting Slate! We're glad you asked, and we're definitely planning for some dog-friendly accessories for our Slate. Agreed, it sounds like the Cargo Kit would be the way to go, as it provides the topper without seats or a rollbar, but other than that it provides all the same capabilities as the SUV Kit. Let me know if this helped answer your question or if there's any additional information we can help clarify. Best, Gianni

 

[cadblu]

That is not a satisfactory response. They didn’t address your specific questions on differences like lack of windows, and the hauling of plywood.

 

[sodamo]

That is not a satisfactory response. They didn’t address your specific questions on differences like lack of windows, and the hauling of plywood.

True, but in all honesty I purposely didn’t ask about windows. As for the plywood, I assumed not having the rollbar returned size of bed to blank Slate.Really hoping this is another of those things we get more detail in June.
”all the same capabilities as the SUV Kit” could use some expansion.
was hoping for some insight on the truck rear window and midgate, whether it is optional to leave or remove for Cargo variant.

 

[KevinRS]

This is the first time I've seen an answer addressing roll bar and cargo kit. If that answer is correct, then yes you can get topper without rollbar.
I had thought from looking at photos that it was possible that the rollbar was the frame that held up the topper, the topper being just lightweight panels that bolt to the rollbar.
That's basically all I see new in the answer. We should know more, including pricing in 2 months.

 

[RedJoker]

I'm encouraged by seeing the cargo response. No roll bar or seats should definitely bring the price down for that option.

 

[cadblu]

Lately I’ve been rethinking my original configuration of a fully loaded up Slate with the SUV kit along with accessories, and now I’m leaning towards the basic, no frills version in its purest form. Why?

1. Delivery. I get it faster without going the service partner route adding weeks to the final delivery destination
2. Price. It’s the lowest ‘out the door’ cost
3. DIY. After all it’s a “project” vehicle
4. No wrap. Let the factory plastic panels acclimate to solar, UV rays, snow, and the elements. This is how the OEM intended it to be. If the factory finish no longer appeals to me after I few years I can always wrap it then.
5. Insurance. It will be listed as a $25k vehicle, not loaded up to ~ 40k with much higher premiums
6. Accessories. I have time on my side to watch and wait for the aftermarket accessories market to catch up
7. It’s the most highly anticipated, highest in demand, original concept, and will likely have solid resale value. For example, used heavily modified vehicles tend to get lower resale prices. And you never recover the cost of those mods.
8. As owners of the higher contented SUVs continue to post on this forum with personal experiences, issues, and improvements, I can sit back and make more informed decisions of how to customize my Slate.

 

[Trail Seeker]

Lately I’ve been rethinking my original configuration of a fully loaded up Slate with the SUV kit along with accessories, and now I’m leaning towards the basic, no frills version in its purest form.
...

Sound reasoning all the way around.

I'd like to see pricing and plans around pre-delivery customization before I make any final decisions. Too many unknowns still remain.

 

[cadblu]

Also keep in mind that prices of accessories tend to fall in a few years as competition builds and with inevitable excess inventory.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

Also keep in mind that prices of accessories tend to fall in a few years as competition builds and with inevitable excess inventory.

I admire your long game.

Lately I have the attention span of a gnat.

So…depending on costs, I will probably get bigger battery, AT tires and spare, basic interior accessories (power windows!) and then look hard at aftermarket solutions for bench. Then run that for a while. I can add diy running boards, stripes/wraps as my wild hairs dictate.