JerryRigEverything Drives the Slate

[ack154]

Obviously from the same event as everyone else - but not only does he get to be one of the few that drive it, but I'm also really curious his thoughts on it as he's a big fan of the Telo truck.

 

[ack154]

Well... after watching, it was a much quicker overview than I had expected. I don't think there's anything really obvious we don't already know.

He does focus a little more on how the rear seats will attach and the bed area if you're into that - but again, I don't think much new there - just maybe a different look at it.

 

[kvermeer]

I enjoyed the live, on-camera example of replacing the front lamp plates:

The sample Slate U release warned:

Torque wrench capable of 1-2 N·m
Optional but recommended
CAUTION: These screws are self-tapping into plastic. Hand thread before using any driver. Inspect threads before reuse. Do not use a power tool.

Zach: Milwaukee impact go brrrrt!

I also enjoyed the humor in "But since I can buy three Slates for the price of one regular truck, I can just hitch them together like sled dogs for those super heavy loads".

Also, rare shot of 2006 Zach with a massive curly hairdo at 7:49. I can't recognize him as anything but bald!

There was a shot I hadn't seen before at 8:17 where he's describing the safety of the roll cage, he peels out a rubber plug to reveal the threaded fasteners under the truck bed where the roll cage bolts in:

I'm a little surprised that's just a rubber plug instead of a truss-head machine screw with a bit of blue thread locker that could assist in holding down the bed panels. and wouldn't get peeled out when I slide something around in the bed. I'm definitely interested in bolting on a plate there for a hold-down shackle to secure loads, I wish they were just forward and just rearward of the wheel arches but that works. I am going to either replace the plugs with machine screws, or else I'll need quite a few spares of that rubber plug. They look like standard parts, might as well get a multi-pack: https://www.amazon.com/Silicone-Plugs-Waterproof-Automotive-Industrial/dp/B0GK7PK8LF (not sure that's the size, but looks close).

Perhaps most remarkably, I did find it a bit ridiculous that by the tiny clips of the denim jacket, hair, earrings, glasses, and other videos from the same event with Chris in that same jacket/glasses/earrings, I'm pretty confident his ride-along partner was *Chris Barman*, President of Vehicles and Slate OG, and he just asked her to hold a camera while he monologued. Maybe interviews aren't his usual style, but that's just an astonishingly bad missed opportunity! A "generational throw" as the youths might say.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

One thing that annoys me about Slate's PR is that they don't hand these folks unwrapped blank Slates. Cmon, let's review what you spend all day, every day, crowing about. A blank Slate.

The review I'd really like to see. Hand him a blank Slate and a wrap kit. Game on.

 

[Frozen North]

I enjoyed the live, on-camera example of replacing the front lamp plates:

The sample Slate U release warned:



Zach: Milwaukee impact go brrrrt!

I also enjoyed the humor in "But since I can buy three Slates for the price of one regular truck, I can just hitch them together like sled dogs for those super heavy loads".

Also, rare shot of 2006 Zach with a massive curly hairdo at 7:49. I can't recognize him as anything but bald!

There was a shot I hadn't seen before at 8:17 where he's describing the safety of the roll cage, he peels out a rubber plug to reveal the threaded fasteners under the truck bed where the roll cage bolts in:

I'm a little surprised that's just a rubber plug instead of a truss-head machine screw with a bit of blue thread locker that could assist in holding down the bed panels. and wouldn't get peeled out when I slide something around in the bed. I'm definitely interested in bolting on a plate there for a hold-down shackle to secure loads, I wish they were just forward and just rearward of the wheel arches but that works. I am going to either replace the plugs with machine screws, or else I'll need quite a few spares of that rubber plug. They look like standard parts, might as well get a multi-pack: https://www.amazon.com/Silicone-Plugs-Waterproof-Automotive-Industrial/dp/B0GK7PK8LF (not sure that's the size, but looks close).

Perhaps most remarkably, I did find it a bit ridiculous that by the tiny clips of the denim jacket, hair, earrings, glasses, and other videos from the same event with Chris in that same jacket/glasses/earrings, I'm pretty confident his ride-along partner was *Chris Barman*, President of Vehicles and Slate OG, and he just asked her to hold a camera while he monologued. Maybe interviews aren't his usual style, but that's just an astonishingly bad missed opportunity! A "generational throw" as the youths might say.

We have to keep in mind here that the vehicles in these videos are all Development Mules. They are not the finished product you will receive. By the time we get ours there will probably be hundreds of little changes to the details.

 

[tubes]

Short and sweet, and nice little review with a few extra tidbits. As a bald guy myself, you don't want to see my 1979 picture! (I started losing my hair at age 17, that sucked!)

I'm waiting for someone here to analyze the bolt from the video. M6, M8? What is it!?

Like many others, we're wondering if we can put tie down loops in those positions. His point about peeling off the rubber covers is good.

 

[cadblu]

One thing that annoys me about Slate's PR is that they don't hand these folks unwrapped blank Slates. Cmon, let's review what you spend all day, every day, crowing about. A blank Slate.

The review I'd really like to see. Hand him a blank Slate and a wrap kit. Game on.

Yeah, and you will hear a lot of bleeps and expletives deleted on his video when doing a wrap for the first time. At least that is what I expect when attempting my first wrap. No matter how easy they say it is, I’m not feeling it.

 

[kvermeer]

Yeah, and you will hear a lot of bleeps and expletives deleted on his video when doing a wrap for the first time. At least that is what I expect when attempting my first wrap. No matter how easy they say it is, I’m not feeling it.

I don't think Zach's video would be full of bleeps and expletives. But give the man a utility knife and you'd soon hear "starts scratching at a level six, with deeper grooves at hardness level 7" when he starts testing the windshield durability....

 

[kvermeer]

Short and sweet, and nice little review with a few extra tidbits. As a bald guy myself, you don't want to see my 1979 picture! (I started losing my hair at age 17, that sucked!)

I'm waiting for someone here to analyze the bolt from the video. M6, M8? What is it!?

Like many others, we're wondering if we can put tie down loops in those positions. His point about peeling off the rubber covers is good.

We know the Slate uses T20 drive fasteners throughout, which is typically used with an M4, M4.5, or #8x32 thread size in a machine screw. (I'd have preferred T25 with M5 or M6 screws as they take significantly more torque and I've got those everywhere.)

But those weren't machine screws, they were coarse-thread screws for self-tapping in plastic.

You'll want to get a heat-melt adapter for your soldering iron and push in some brass inserts if you're planning on changing out your light covers every weekend.

 

[Johnologue]

One thing that annoys me about Slate's PR is that they don't hand these folks unwrapped blank Slates. Cmon, let's review what you spend all day, every day, crowing about. A blank Slate.

The review I'd really like to see. Hand him a blank Slate and a wrap kit. Game on.

People have seen Blanks, but Slate clearly wants people in general to see it in more varied forms, getting that "idea" into the public. If anything, showing the reviewers the wraps gives them a chance to criticize how they might look in practice.

What would they say about a Blank Slate? "I think it looks good unwrapped" or "Damn, it's kind of boring, I wish it was wrapped"?

Seeing people actually do wraps on video would be good, but a different type of video/event. Not sure people would sign up to do that on video either, since it's a lot of pressure to do on video, and-
Oh. They could have streamers do that, specifically? That could be Fun.

Yeah, and you will hear a lot of bleeps and expletives deleted on his video when doing a wrap for the first time. At least that is what I expect when attempting my first wrap. No matter how easy they say it is, I’m not feeling it.

Typically, modern YouTube videos (that I've seen) duck the volume and/or add a canned voice line or sound effect on top of it. Bleeps count as swears.

I have doubts about "easy". The Slate Maker calls it "Advanced".

2 people required. 12-16 hours. A big commitment for a DIYer. We'd recommend professional installation if you're not sure you can tackle it.

I think Slate made it reasonably possible for most people to wrap with some care and effort. "Easy to wrap" in relative terms. Most people would not be able to wrap (or paint) their own cars.

I know they had people from the office try it, which probably means hands-off people who have an interest in cars and customization.

 

[sodamo]

The prep is an unknown. I could live with the actual wrap taking me days, but having to extensively prep each day would be a deterrent for me.

 

[danielt1263]

We have to keep in mind here that the vehicles in these videos are all Development Mules.

That's actually an interesting question. I don't think they are development mules.

• In one video, one of the noise & vibration engineers calls it a "validation vehicle" and says there is another layer of refinement for NVH.
• In another Chris Barman calls it a "design validation build" and also mentions NVH refinement.
• In another the functional science manager says they are in the final validation phase.
• Lastly the CEO said all of the vehicles at the event were made at the Warsaw plant.

Obviously, they are not final production models, but they clearly came from the Warsaw factory.

 

[Frozen North]

That's actually an interesting question. I don't think they are development mules.

• In one video, one of the noise & vibration engineers calls it a "validation vehicle" and says there is another layer of refinement for NVH.
• In another Chris Barman calls it a "design validation build" and also mentions NVH refinement.
• In another the functional science manager says they are in the final validation phase.

Obviously, they are not final production models, but they clearly came from the Warsaw factory.

You are likely correct and that should be encouraging.
PVVs come late in the cycle, typically right before mass production begins, and are still prototypes that are actively being tested and improved.
That is very encouraging because it means they are showing us something that is very close to the end of the development cycle.

She is still tweaking the sauce, but Mama Slate is telling us to wash up, dinner is almost ready.
We need to be patient and taste it before telling Mama whether we like it or not.
Man, it sure smells good to me.

 

[FloppaEnjoyer8067]

We know the Slate uses T20 drive fasteners throughout, which is typically used with an M4, M4.5, or #8x32 thread size in a machine screw. (I'd have preferred T25 with M5 or M6 screws as they take significantly more torque and I've got those everywhere.)

But those weren't machine screws, they were coarse-thread screws for self-tapping in plastic.

You'll want to get a heat-melt adapter for your soldering iron and push in some brass inserts if you're planning on changing out your light covers every weekend.

One trick I learned when I was rebuilding the same power tool a lot of times is to rotate the screw backwards until it “drops” back into the hole. That way the thread starts of the screw and panel are lined up.

otherwise, it’s easy to accidentally cut a second set of threads with the screws.

 

[tubes]

One trick I learned when I was rebuilding the same power tool a lot of times is to rotate the screw backwards until it “drops” back into the hole. That way the thread starts of the screw and panel are lined up.

otherwise, it’s easy to accidentally cut a second set of threads with the screws.

Yes, great practice to avoid cross-threading. There's an old mechanics' saying out there that is a joke for late Friday afternoon: "Cross threaded is better than no thread!" Don't get your work done on a Friday. DO get the county inspector to come Friday afternoon.