Slate towing trailer (video) -- 104 degrees heat, 3500 ft grade

[1yeliab_sufur1]

Slate just posted this towing a small u-haul trailer it seems to be a 2 inch receiver hitch.

I’ve been asking them so long now but I’m so glad I was right or at lest for now would be kinda pie in the face for them to change it now.

 

[Dorbiman]

Lookin good. Nothing really crazy in the setup, which I dig. I assume it's a simple bolt on to the rear end, a la Curt or U-Haul aftermarket hitch. Hopefully the provision for a flat 4 connector is set up for easy addition.

 

[1yeliab_sufur1]

And it seems they have also put sand bags in the bed. I’d say because I can’t see the whole bed 18 from but what I can see is 16 and they didn’t blurr them all out giving us the bags brand. Which is called shot-bag and they look like the 25lb each so 16x25=400lb just in case I am missing 2 18x25=450lb and that u-haul is at least what I can tell a 4x7 that requires a 1-7/8" or, 2" hitch ball (2,000 lbs. minimum) and a empty wight of 630lb so as the video is a total wight of 1,030lb to 1,080lb.

 

[Driven5]

The Davis Dam test is run at Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR). This means the maximum combination of payload and towing. That's a 5x8 U-Haul trailer, which is right at their 1,000 pound tow rating. The sandbags are to get the rest of the way to GCWR.

On the one hand, they successfully passed the Davis Dam test at their stated ratings.

On the other hand, it's really hard to make maxing out on an empty trailer look or sound impressive.

 

[1yeliab_sufur1]

The Davis Dam test is run at Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR). This means the maximum combination of payload and towing. That's a 5x8 U-Haul trailer, which is right at their 1,000 pound tow rating. The sandbags are to get the rest of the way to GCWR.

On the one hand, they successfully passed the Davis Dam test at their stated ratings.

On the other hand, it's really hard to make maxing out on an empty trailer look or sound impressive.

How can you tell it’s a 5x8? Because everything I have seen indicated the 4x7 any larger and they seem to have the full tale gate or no “handle bars” in the front by the bed

 

[Mac-Tyson]

Now that I think about it we are putting a lot of focus on the towing, which is understandable since it’s the first time we’ve seen it. But I don’t think that was the purpose of the footage otherwise it would have just been showing the utility you can have despite the limited towing capabilities.

I think this video was more to show how they are stress testing the prototype. Putting the truck in high temperature, with a load in the bed, and towing something to ensure that even under those unoptimized conditions the Truck will still perform reliably. Not breakdown or overheat.

As for why test towing in general when most people aren’t going to tow with it, as some have asked on Reddit. Well the answer to that goes more with my initial reaction: Most people aren’t going to be towing but it’s still good they are testing since some will still want to despite the drawbacks and especially when this hits the used market you are going to be people pushing this truck to its limits and nearly torture testing it. So if the truck offers basic towing capabilities, testing those capabilities during the prototype phasing is a good thing.

 

[sodamo]

I see this as putting out something positive for us. 😁

 

[Bayfire2441]

I'm hoping this is a more production intent unit than the other interior shoots we normally get because the prototype that I saw in Cleveland had me worried about the screen size for the gauge cluster. This version seems to be just fine.

 

[Dorbiman]

I'm hoping this is a more production intent unit than the other interior shoots we normally get because the prototype that I saw in Cleveland had me worried about the screen size for the gauge cluster. This version seems to be just fine.

Interesting, that driver display does seem larger than the prototype units on the prototypes on the road tour. If anything, I think this one is less indicative of the "real deal". I'd expect the small screen personally

 

[Driven5]

How can you tell it’s a 5x8? Because everything I have seen indicated the 4x7 any larger and they seem to have the full tale gate or no “handle bars” in the front by the bed

1) Tire and fender proportions.
2) Extra vertical supports on the front.
3) The Davis Dam test is a technical tow rating requirement. For their stated tow rating goal, an obviously empty 5x8 meet the test requirements while an obviously empty 4x7 would be meaningelss.

 

[Bayfire2441]

Interesting, that driver display does seem larger than the prototype units on the prototypes on the road tour. If anything, I think this one is less indicative of the "real deal". I'd expect the small screen personally

I can see that being the smaller screen generally looks more intergrated. I hope its not though, I can't see that being great for displaying the speed, soc, and any MIL's on top of that. Could do it, just less than ideal. I do wonder if we get stuck with the smaller screen how possible it'd be to make it bigger. But it's not a big deal overall.

 

[sodamo]

I can see that being the smaller screen generally looks more intergrated. I hope its not though, I can't see that being great for displaying the speed, soc, and any MIL's on top of that. Could do it, just less than ideal. I do wonder if we get stuck with the smaller screen how possible it'd be to make it bigger. But it's not a big deal overall.

Might it be that the info displayed on the screen is also in the app and can also be displayed on your phone or tablet?

 

[Bayfire2441]

Might it be that the info displayed on the screen is also in the app and can also be displayed on your phone or tablet?

Could be but it would be a much better design to not have the app be relied upon for driving necessities.

 

[sodamo]

Could be but it would be a much better design to not have the app be relied upon for driving necessities.

True. I was thinking of it as more secondary than primary.

 

[Bayfire2441]

True. I was thinking of it as more secondary than primary.

Fair enough, rereading it, I get that impression. I just think the bigger screen makes the info easier to see. This can also just be solved by getting a heads up display come to think of it.