Mods to Increase Tow Capacity

[EV Trek]

I guess it’s just not a feature I need in a truck so it’s a non issue with me. I haven’t towed anything since the mid 1990’s when I sold my popup camper.

 

[Nivek]

Every sub-compact, compact, and at least most mid-size 'family' cars all have zero rated towing capacity since SAE J2807 became standard. The Slates nearest EV competitors on price (Bolt, Leaf, Kona) all also have Zero towing capacity.

Yes, because the new standards dont justify the cost to certify a towing capacity.

I guess I need to just start thinking of my slate in terms of a compact/sub compact EV car, not small truck 😉.

 

[Driven5]

I guess I need to just start thinking of my slate in terms of a compact/sub compact EV car, not small truck 😉.

That's what I'm doing from a towing perspective, considering it's also still one of the few vehicles of any kind that has any towing capacity at all for under $30k. From a payload perspective it's still plenty truck-like though.

Perhaps think of it as an affordable compact 2-seat EV (overpowered Fortwo EV?) with a built-in 1k payload trailer?

 

[Nivek]

Gonna get off the soap box on this one. In summary I find the 1k tow rating too small for most real world applications, especially since the Slate is in the small truck category.

Numerous other people in here have stated they would like to pull over 1k, including OP. Numerous people have stated they will pull over 1k, which in the engineering world I would classify as forseable misuse, especially if slate includes a hitch receiver over class 1.

Minimal investment in a higher tow rating, or at least the ability to increase it, could/would prevent allot of this as well as prevent the business risk of similar competitors offering a small electric truck that is much more capable in its form factor (small truck).

Edit to say: all of this may change with the announcement in a week.... and I will enjoy my little EV regardless 🍻.

 

[P. Regent]

It's fascinating when online communities decide they know more about a platform's capabilities than the engineers who designed it.

Except the "rated capacity" isn't what the engineers who designed it would say the the maximum safe capacity under all circumstances - it's the level at which the company - engineers, marketers, lawyers, etc. - feel comfortable with putting their stamp of approval on, knowing that there are people who would do dumb stuff if they think the company has said it was okay. The company needs to protect itself from liability, so the lawyers are going to want to set the tow limit low. The marketing department wants it high. The actual stated limit is going to be a compromise, based on engineering considerations, but biased towards the human use side of the equation.

From an engineering standpoint, I would argue towing greater than 1,000lbs is forseable misuse, since it is so easy to accidently exceed such a small number. It's surprising nobody on the research and development team pushed for a higher number.

I suspect that Slate's engineers would be fine with the OP towing his jetski to the lake in Texas. The drive train shouldn't overheat - the combined 2400 lb load uphill test shows that. The weight and torquing forces on the hitch are probably well within its ability to cope. I'm sure the boat/trailer combo is well behaved. I think the OP will be fine with his use case.

But pulling a tall, 2000 lb trailer in heavy traffic at 75 MPH on a high wind day? Unbalanced load in the trailer? Overloaded downhill with no trailer brakes? There are lots of ways to make towing unsafe. The company needs to put its stamp of approval on a limit that takes those sorts of human decisions into account. For a more benign use its probably not a terrible thing to exceed that limit by 40%.

 

[E90400K]

Came here to say this. The truck will tow bit more than 1,000 and probably be no worse for wear. Your insurance will not pay a dime if you are over that rating and have an accident.

Who actually weighs the total weight of the trailer once it is loaded? Seriously, people rent a 4x8 U-Haul trailer and put as much stuff on it that fits and then roll. Reality.

 

[E90400K]

Safety margins are funny things. I wonder if they felt that 3500 lbs towing capacity (standard single-axle utility trailer) was forseeable misuse of a vehicle with a 2,500 lbs tow rating, or a lightly-loaded utility 2500 lbs utility trailer is forseeable misuse of a 1,650 tow rating, and ratcheted their way down to 1000 lbs.

I'm sure there was plenty of back-and-forth among the engineering team on tow capacity, I just hope they spent the pennies on the steel for a subframe that can take the abuse so the few of us who want to tow moderate to small stuff can do so after spending our own money on upgraded cooling.

I can appreciate (even if I don't personally agree) in not wanting to inflate the base truck price with that added cooling and bigger brakes and increased power and so on to hit a higher tow rating that many buyers will not use, affordability is a core value. But so is the ability to customize, and I think a solid tow package could be developed as long as the structure can take it.

This is why in the other thread we've had discussing the tow rating I advocate for Slate to develop and sell a tow package that can be DIY installed. Increase the capacity of the cooling system (double-row radiator), stronger cooling fan, and an oil cooler for the drive unit so easily increase the heat shedding capability to protect the battery/drivetrain.

We then got into the discussion about under the current FMVSS regs can Slate provide a GCVWR sticker for the door jamb with the kit. I say Slate can.

A DIY tow kit solves most of the issues discussed here. Slate does not have to build a stronger cooling system for the base truck and owners can buy and install the kit after purchase. A tow upgrade kit fits perfectly into the Slate's minimalist add-it-later DIY ethos. As I stated in the other thread, the 3,700-pound Maverick AWD can double the standard tow capacity from 2,000 to 4,000 pounds with the addition of the $745 tow upgrade option. The Maverick is also a unibody (non-ladder frame) design.

 

[clofan]

Who actually weighs the total weight of the trailer once it is loaded? Seriously, people rent a 4x8 U-Haul trailer and put as much stuff on it that fits and then roll. Reality.

No argument here, but that has nothing to do with insurance. Insurance companies have a monetary incentive to deny claims, so will look for any reason to do so. If they can prove your trailer was overloaded beyond the vehicle's payload capacity, you are SOL getting a check from them.

 

[bloo]

No aftermarket part can increase your payload or tow capacity. Period.

[emphasis mine]

Please stop using multiple periods for a single response; one is sufficient.

 

[P. Regent]

Seriously, people rent a 4x8 U-Haul trailer and put as much stuff on it that fits and then roll.

But U-Haul won't rent you a trailer if your vehicle isn't spec'd to pull the weight of the trailer (plus, I assume, some load.)

 

[atx_ev]

This is why in the other thread we've had discussing the tow rating I advocate for Slate to develop and sell a tow package that can be DIY installed. Increase the capacity of the cooling system (double-row radiator), stronger cooling fan, and an oil cooler for the drive unit so easily increase the heat shedding capability to protect the battery/drivetrain.

We then got into the discussion about under the current FMVSS regs can Slate provide a GCVWR sticker for the door jamb with the kit. I say Slate can.

A DIY tow kit solves most of the issues discussed here. Slate does not have to build a stronger cooling system for the base truck and owners can buy and install the kit after purchase. A tow upgrade kit fits perfectly into the Slate's minimalist add-it-later DIY ethos. As I stated in the other thread, the 3,700-pound Maverick AWD can double the standard tow capacity from 2,000 to 4,000 pounds with the addition of the $745 tow upgrade option. The Maverick is also a unibody (non-ladder frame) design.

I agree. Selling us a kit to install the upgrade later is fine. They can do whatever testing over the next year, it doesnt have to be ready when production starts.

Same with with AWD. They might sell a kit to retroactively add AWD.

 

[LuMu14]

But U-Haul won't rent you a trailer if your vehicle isn't spec'd to pull the weight of the trailer (plus, I assume, some load.)

in theory yes, but in practice I have never had them check or enforce anything. Most of the time they just give you the key and tell you the trailer number then send you on your way

 

[LuMu14]

Same with with AWD. They might sell a kit to retroactively add AWD.

Hmmm, thatd be pretty nice, I do wonder what the impact on battery life would be going to AWD...

 

[2thlesswithta2s]

So, my jet ski and trailer weigh 1275 lbs. dry. Add another 50 lbs. for fuel and gear.

Are there any mods to be done to increase the towing capacity from 1,000 to say 1,400?????

Finds some after market suspension parts, higher rated hitch, etc????

I know an almost 50% increase is asking a lot, but maybe???

You could probably stay under the speed limit about 25% & be fine. Maybe slower yet on curves & hills.

 

[OldGoat]

So, my jet ski and trailer weigh 1275 lbs. dry. Add another 50 lbs. for fuel and gear.

In my case, I will exceed the recommended Slate tow weight by 400 lbs. But...I am only going to haul my kayaks and gear no further than 20 miles to lakes. And on country roads-no interstate speeds or mountain grades. I was surprised when I mounted a Curt hitch rack to my Mach E frame how lightweight the frame tubing was and if Slate is using the same gauge then it's best to be very conservative. I realize this sounds stupid but it's important to jack up your trailers now and then and ensure the wheels/hubs are spinning easily. Any extra drag on an EV is worth eliminating if possible.