Open Air Kit Body Style question - how do you keep your truck from getting rained in?

[1BadAZRaptor]

140 INCHES!

 

[Garbone]

The bikini top is exactly how I roll in my Geo. I just can't take the doors off. The roof keeps most of the drizzles you get caught in out of the driver's area as long as you keep the side windows up. But even then, like a Jeep, the Tracker's built with the idea it'll get rained on. Everything is recessed in the dashboard and even the ECU has a full water-cover on top. I haven't put my full-top back on in years or bothered repairing the AC as it's so much better.

IF slate is serious about having the open top design, they need to make sure there's nothing going under the floor that could get soaked/damaged by standing water. My friend's VW Passat was ruined by bad sunroof drains due to having the transmission and body controllers under the carpet... which filled with water when the drains clogged.

Floor drains are a good idea.

Maybe a no flooring option so we can roll on some bed liner.

 

[AZFox]

I called my Jeep's top a "bikini top". Similar tops on boats that are detached on the front are called "bimini tops" with an m.

TL;DR: I searched DDG and got this result that better illustrates what I'm trying to convey: a top over the back that attaches to the rear of the cab.

Here's what made me think of that...

In Sedona, AZ you'll see happy tourists enjoying some light-duty Rock Crawling and Nature Viewing (it's splendiferous) under whopper Bimini Tops on Jeeps. I rifled through some photos from a recent trip there; sure enough I found these snapshots showing a bimini top on a Jeep:

The scenery at that location, "Submarine Rock" I believe, is breathaking. Pictures don't do it justice. And no, a Slate wouldn't get you there.

 

[NovaTrees]

Those living in wetter areas might hate all of this inconvenience and just opt for a fully enclosed vehicle yearround. It's up to the individual.

The Slate Truck appeals to me for all kinds of Jeep-y reasons. I have no intention of getting the open-air kit as I have no intention of using the truck as anything but a 2-seater. I have to assume SA will offer a vinyl cover for those who opt for the open-air kit. I'd expect it to sell anywhere from $200-500. Meanwhile, tailgates are not designed to seal out air and/or water, so if you were to park this truck facing downhill, WATER WILL GET IN. It's inevitable.

To enjoy an open vehicle, you need to be zen about weather. Just embrace it.

Gotcha, makes sense. I really like the idea of the open air, but it rains way too much for me to get it where I live. I definitely won't be zen about getting rained on. It's fine, but I'm going to assume that maybe it's not for me. It's a long way out, of course, so I will definitely keep looking at the options, but yeah.

 

[cvollers]

I called my Jeep's top a "bikini top". Similar tops on boats that are detached on the front are called "bimini tops" with an m.

TL;DR: I searched DDG and got this result that better illustrates what I'm trying to convey: a top over the back that attaches to the rear of the cab.

Here's what made me think of that...

In Sedona, AZ you'll see happy tourists enjoying some light-duty Rock Crawling and Nature Viewing (it's splendiferous) under whopper Bimini Tops on Jeeps. I rifled through some photos from a recent trip there; sure enough I found these snapshots showing a bimini top on a Jeep:

The scenery at that location, "Submarine Rock" I believe, is breathaking. Pictures don't do it justice. And no, a Slate wouldn't get you there.

I think a Bimini top for the Open Air is perfect.

 

[dcgray2]

I love rockin' the Safari style even here in PA in the summer. If it rains you get wet, if it rains a lot you get a lot wet. Assuming something similar will be possible with the Slate.