Dorbiman

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I didn’t get a ton of pictures from the Olympia WA event today, but it was so fun to see the truck in person! Lots of fun insights from the staff as well.

1) The midgate is planned to have an access / passthrough panel for skis, 2x4s, etc. It can be seen in the picture of the bed. It’s a ~12”x12” square in the mid gate

2) They said that the plan is to allow customers and DIYers to get High Voltage certified from Slate University. I hadn’t heard this before, but lends MUCH more credence towards a DIY AWD conversion in my opinion.

3) It was confirmed that they’ll have a 120V outlet accessory. It was said that this would basically be a requirement for fleets, and would be an option for those who want it.

4) Currently the distance between the fenders in the bed is 45”, but they’re looking to be able to widen that to a full 48” to fit Sheetrock and plywood directly on the floor of the bed without needing the 2x6s spanning the bed width to support them. They did make it clear that this was a goal, but not a certainty.

5) I asked if the fog lights would work with the basic bumper or only the premium front bumper. They said they’re unsure for now, but would count on there at least being a fog light option for the basic bumper.

6) There’s quite a decent space between the seats and the back of the cab. Plenty of room to add a little sub enclosure or something. The cab is actually much more spacious than I was expecting.

Overall I was super impressed. Obviously the truck was a prototype and clearly had some rough corners. But it was much more solid feeling than I was expecting. I actually found the seats to be quite comfortable, but I only sat in them for a few minutes. I’m 6’3” with a longer torso, and I had plenty of leg and head room. The steering wheel is nice and thick, and the lines of the bed and hood make it very easy to see where the truck begins and ends, for parking etc. The tailgate was solid, and the door latches felt good too. Honestly I was just really impressed, even in the state of a prototype.

Slate Auto Pickup Truck Olympia, WA Slate Event @ Ember Goods Coffee IMG_3512




Slate Auto Pickup Truck Olympia, WA Slate Event @ Ember Goods Coffee IMG_3520


Slate Auto Pickup Truck Olympia, WA Slate Event @ Ember Goods Coffee IMG_3513
 
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Dorbiman

Dorbiman

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I made a suggestion that they make a toolbox to go in the bed of the truck that replaces the rectangular panel that covers the footwell for the rear seats in the SUV kit. Make it use the same key as the truck, and bolt into the existing seat brackets under the panel. I'd 100% buy it as a way to keep spare tools and stuff secure.
 
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Dorbiman

Dorbiman

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I actually really liked the wrap (without the Ember Goods livery). If they made it one piece so that the mountains didn't overlap the orange, it might be an actual consideration for me.
 

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4) Currently the distance between the fenders in the bed is 45”, but they’re looking to be able to widen that to a full 48” to fit Sheetrock and plywood directly on the floor of the bed without needing the 2x6s spanning the bed width to support them. They did make it clear that this was a goal, but not a certainty.
I really hope they do this, I was planning on fixing that myself, so I'd rather them do it. Haha
 
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Dorbiman

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For anyone that goes to a future event, can you take a pic of the inside of the key fob spot in the dash? I’m curious if it’s just a simple pocket or if there’s any tomfoolery happening in there. I forgot to take a look today
 

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I made a suggestion that they make a toolbox to go in the bed of the truck that replaces the rectangular panel that covers the footwell for the rear seats in the SUV kit. Make it use the same key as the truck, and bolt into the existing seat brackets under the panel. I'd 100% buy it as a way to keep spare tools and stuff secure.
Yes, a thousand times, yes. I would rather not store tools in the frunk with groceries. A secure place to stash a small collection of tools and an air compressor would be extremely helpful.
 
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Dorbiman

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I almost forgot to mention that they partnered with Ember Goods for Slate coffee beans as well! They had the frunk full of bags of coffee, and if you found one with a Slate sticker on the bottom, you got to keep it. Thankfully I was pretty lucky.
Slate Auto Pickup Truck Olympia, WA Slate Event @ Ember Goods Coffee 1752986882931-z7

Slate Auto Pickup Truck Olympia, WA Slate Event @ Ember Goods Coffee 1752986904740-uz
 

PACMAN

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I almost forgot to mention that they partnered with Ember Goods for Slate coffee beans as well! They had the frunk full of bags of coffee, and if you found one with a Slate sticker on the bottom, you got to keep it. Thankfully I was pretty lucky.
1752986882931-z7.jpg

1752986904740-uz.jpg
Little things like this are a whole other reason I’m rooting for Slate. They’re just a fun company.🙂
 

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For anyone that goes to a future event, can you take a pic of the inside of the key fob spot in the dash? I’m curious if it’s just a simple pocket or if there’s any tomfoolery happening in there. I forgot to take a look today
Sorry I can’t remember where I saw / read it, but I recall them saying the key has a slot where it must be inserted in order to operate the truck. That leads me to believe it is not a proximity sensor, but it is a contact device.
 

GaRailroader

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Note the decal in the back window. 'Slate to State Truck Tour' When are they coming to a state in the southeast? The next person that attends on of these, if you don't mind, could they ask Slate to open the rear window?
 

GaRailroader

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Sorry I can’t remember where I saw / read it, but I recall them saying the key has a slot where it must be inserted in order to operate the truck. That leads me to believe it is not a proximity sensor, but it is a contact device.
I saw that too. Thinking perhaps Munro video. You have to insert the dongle into a slot in the dash. I'd prefer to keep it in my pocket.
 
 
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