Mods to Increase Tow Capacity

[danielt1263]

Yes!!!

That's plenty to get useful payloads on my aluminum 6x10. What fantastic spoilers!

The infographic on https://www.slate.auto/en/specs still reads 1440/1000, but this update has a bunch of great stuff.

I went to the website FAQ and it says 1000lbs. I wonder if you saw some accidental pre-release?

 

[ElectricShitbox]

I went to the website FAQ and it says 1000lbs. I wonder if you saw some accidental pre-release?

They must have just changed it back! I saw it earlier this morning.

 

[ElectricShitbox]

Quick, someone check the code! Haha

 

[HTXSlate]

It does say around 1000 lbs. So some wiggle room but I doubt double.

The 2000 lbs fake news had me excited.

LOL

 

[Gladstone]

With the change in motor and price spec "leaks" this morning the site was updated to 1550/2000, before being quickly reverted.

Here's a post from the other thread with a screenshot - https://www.slateforums.com/forum/threads/24-950-blank-slate-price-announced.15025/post-236351

 

[NowThatsDamp]

I’ve said it before on this forum and the fanboys get triggered, but I’ll say it here again because it seems like more people are realizing this:

1.) The 1000lb tow capacity is pathetically bad and honestly unacceptable. It means you basically cannot tow anything with your pickup truck.

2.) It’s also probably sandbagged. You don’t need to do an FEM analysis on the skateboard chassis to know that the vehicle can handle more than 1000lb. Econobox sedans are rated for more than that. Toyota’s 2.0L hybrid minivan is rated for 3.5x that. My 500cc ATV is rated to tow more than this 3600lb pickup. I don’t know why they’re sandbagging the spec, but they should stop. Because it makes them look incompetent.

 

[Shrink36s]

I’ve said it before on this forum and the fanboys get triggered, but I’ll say it here again because it seems like more people are realizing this:

1.) The 1000lb tow capacity is pathetically bad and honestly unacceptable. It means you basically cannot tow anything with your pickup truck.

2.) It’s also probably sandbagged. You don’t need to do an FEM analysis on the skateboard chassis to know that the vehicle can handle more than 1000lb. Econobox sedans are rated for more than that. Toyota’s 2.0L hybrid minivan is rated for 3.5x that. My 500cc ATV is rated to tow more than this 3600lb pickup. I don’t know why they’re sandbagging the spec, but they should stop. Because it makes them look incompetent.

https://www.slateforums.com/forum/threads/24-950-blank-slate-price-announced.15025/post-237068

Slate isn't trying to be the everything truck. That's what many critics do not seem to understand either. Yeah, they could very well be sandbagging, and I hope they are. Not because I think 2000lbs is needed, but because it will help them with sales and I want them to succeed. Assuming they are morons for not doing what you think they should is a hell of a lot of self-importance.

 

[danielt1263]

1.) The 1000lb tow capacity is pathetically bad and honestly unacceptable. It means you basically cannot tow anything with your pickup truck.

I've heard this on reddit too. For some reason you think 1000 == 0. I don't get that logic. I am buying the Slate specifically because I need to tow and it can tow what I need, yet you insist that it can't tow.

 

[LuMu14]

I love the slate because it makes us sit back and think about how much truck you really need. The vast majority of people never need to haul more than 1500lbs or tow more than 1000lbs(or 2000 if the leak is right). If you do need to do more than that regularly, get a different truck.

I plan on getting the slate, and on the off chance that I need more capacity I can just rent a Uhaul for 30 dollars for the day.

 

[Driven5]

Econobox sedans are rated for more than that.

Please list all the currently produced sub-compact and compact 'econobox' sedans with a US rating higher than that... I have found none greater than 0, let alone greater than 1000.

International tow ratings are not directly comparable to US tow ratings, as they utilize different hitch designs/loading, based on lower equivalent tongue weights and lower max allowed speeds, which allow them to get away with the subsequently lower towing stability.

 

[danielt1263]

Please list all the currently produced sub-compact and compact 'econobox' sedans with a US rating higher than that... I have found none greater than 0, let alone greater than 1000.

The cheapest EV found so far (thanks to the person on this forum that pointed it out), other than the Slate, is the Tesla Model 3 with tow hitch @ $40k (2.2k lbs)
Among Gas vehicles:

• Ford Maverick (2k lbs)
• Subaru Crosstrek (1.5k lbs)
• Hyundai Kona (2k lbs)

These aren't exactly econoboxes, but they do put the Slate in a bad light when it comes to towing. I mean, I see what @NowThatsDamp is saying once you strip some of the hyperbole. A 1k tow rating is anemic.

Sure it's enough for me, but I'm not typical. Most people who will want to tow with the truck will want to tow something with an engine on it (motor boat, jetski, motorcycle), and most of those come in at over 1000 lbs, but usually less than 2000... If, Slate's "accidental" sneak peek is any indication. The whole question will be moot, because a 2k tow rating is quite adequate for the typical person who wants to tow... Time will tell if that number comes back on the 24th.

 

[atx_ev]

It does say around 1000 lbs. So some wiggle room but I doubt double.

The 2000 lbs fake news had me excited.

LOL

It probably isnt fake news. They were likely testing their new webpages for the official rollout and even though it was 3am, people caught it.

Very likely the tow capacity is 2000lbs.

 

[kvermeer]

It probably isnt fake news. They were likely testing their new webpages for the official rollout and even though it was 3am, people caught it.

I think they were likely trying to drum up interest with calculated intentional leaks meant to look like accidents, but the result is the same.

 

[bloo]

I’ve said it before on this forum and the fanboys get triggered, but I’ll say it here again because it seems like more people are realizing this:

1.) The 1000lb tow capacity is pathetically bad and honestly unacceptable. It means you basically cannot tow anything with your pickup truck.

2.) It’s also probably sandbagged. You don’t need to do an FEM analysis on the skateboard chassis to know that the vehicle can handle more than 1000lb. Econobox sedans are rated for more than that. Toyota’s 2.0L hybrid minivan is rated for 3.5x that. My 500cc ATV is rated to tow more than this 3600lb pickup. I don’t know why they’re sandbagging the spec, but they should stop. Because it makes them look incompetent.

The leak says it's 2,000 pounds.

Your 500cc ATV can't do 90mph, and doesn't meet the safety requirements an onroad vehicle must.

My 2021 Seltos AWD SUV isn't tow rated at all. Quite honestly, I don't think the transmission could handle it.

 

[cadblu]

It probably isnt fake news. They were likely testing their new webpages for the official rollout and even though it was 3am, people caught it. Very likely the tow capacity is 2000lbs.

Yep, you nailed it! There probably were some hyper links to pages that weren’t taken down while testing was in progress. If you logged in at the exact time (like 3:33 am ET) you got to see what’s going to happen on 6/24.

Prediction: everything they leaked out will be restored back in 6 days; eg. Horsepower reduced to 185; tow rating increased to 2000 lbs; possible range increase on the base battery range due to lower engine output; and the price reveal at $24,950.

I really don’t expect any further surprises on the big day. $50 shy of “mid twenties” really didn’t surprise anyone; just glad it was a “minus” 50.