Still Leary of getting my Slate

[Tom Sawyer]

You have picked up the mantle that AZFox dropped on enforcing thread posts match thread subject.

I'm looking at this with an eye toward future searches rather than enforcing following the theme of the original post.

Topic drift, as in this example, can lead to some interesting discussions that can be useful down the road. But then the thread title no longer matches the topic of discussion, which can be misleading.

The information shared in a forum format is much easier to search for than say Facebook or Reddit, where topics tend to get lost in the pile of time like a needle in a haystack.

Topic drift has its pros & cons. I'm not saying to rigidly stick to the original topic, if that's what you're implying. If not, please disregard.

 

[danielt1263]

After reading more about Ford’s planned ~$30K midsize EV pickup, (due in 2027) I’m having more doubts about buying a first-gen Slate.
I like Slate’s mission, but if Ford delivers a four-door truck with more features at a similar price, it feels like the better fit for my needs. I’m not a big Ford guy, but I trust their experience more when it comes to a first-generation vehicle.
At this point, it seems like a Slate could end up near $30K (for my needs) with fewer features, given how quickly the EV market is evolving.

I've said from the beginning, if the ideal Slate for you is an SUV with an extended battery, you should probably look elsewhere (unless your finances demand that you step into it which is relatively unlikely.) At the time, I cited the KONA EV (about the same range and size, likely not much more expensive and it has four doors). However, Hyundai decided not to make any 2026 Kona EVs citing high inventory of the '25s (interestingly, if you go to the website and search their inventory, you won't find any), so now it means waiting for the new Ford thing to come out.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

Being leery of purchasing a vehicle you haven't driven, don't know the price of, don't know the final specs, don't know which "second-rate repair dives" will service it, and don't know if the selling company is financially stable?

Seems pretty sane to me.

Check back later this year. When we know delivered prices, know specs, know which Repair Pal sites have signed on, and have (if we have a lick of sense) read a few professional road test reviews.

 

[Bayfire2441]

Again, if Slate can add the SUV kit as a DIY add-on, which includes seats, seatbelts, airbags, and a rollbar, and certification it meets occupant safety regs, then surely it can create a DIY tow kit that allows it to increase the tow capacity. The CGVWR is not a Federal certification regulation for light-duty vehicles is my understanding. The trailer brake controler for 3,500-pound trailers may be a Fed regulation; some states definitely require it.

I'm assuming the SUV kit doesn't involve the owner of the vehicle messing with the safety compliance certification sticker. From what I can tell, the FMVSS does not apply to motor vehicles once they are sold for purposes of resale (meaning once they are in dealers or owners hands) however it also seems like the NHTSA holds the opinion that the only way a manufacturer can ammend the weight rating (and so I would assume towing capacity into this) is on account of an error. The NHTSA does say that the owner can put on a label saying of any modifications that could effect these things, however, it also seems that this is generally not legally binding in any way. And so, from what I have looked up, it seems like Slate would have no legal way to up the towing capacity of a vehicle once it is sold and titled.

 

[Bayfire2441]

I've said from the beginning, if the ideal Slate for you is an SUV with an extended battery, you should probably look elsewhere (unless your finances demand that you step into it which is relatively unlikely.) At the time, I cited the KONA EV (about the same range and size, likely not much more expensive and it has four doors). However, Hyundai decided not to make any 2026 Kona EVs citing high inventory of the '25s (interestingly, if you go to the website and search their inventory, you won't find any), so now it means waiting for the new Ford thing to come out.

I would disagree with this as a general statement on the basis of, even in SUV form, the Slate has advantages over the Kona, mainly including less technology and presumably being more repair friendly. However, from purely a bang for the buck perspective, I would say a good deal on a Kona would be the better option.

 

[Bayfire2441]

I'm looking at this with an eye toward future searches rather than enforcing following the theme of the original post.

Topic drift, as in this example, can lead to some interesting discussions that can be useful down the road. But then the thread title no longer matches the topic of discussion, which can be misleading.

The information shared in a forum format is much easier to search for than say Facebook or Reddit, where topics tend to get lost in the pile of time like a needle in a haystack.

Topic drift has its pros & cons. I'm not saying to rigidly stick to the original topic, if that's what you're implying. If not, please disregard.

I agree. I made a poll that can also accommodate the topic drift about towing capacity as to not clutter this topic anymore.

Slate has said they are aiming for a towing capacity of 1k pounds.

 

[E90400K]

I'm assuming the SUV kit doesn't involve the owner of the vehicle messing with the safety compliance certification sticker. From what I can tell, the FMVSS does not apply to motor vehicles once they are sold for purposes of resale (meaning once they are in dealers or owners hands) however it also seems like the NHTSA holds the opinion that the only way a manufacturer can ammend the weight rating (and so I would assume towing capacity into this) is on account of an error. The NHTSA does say that the owner can put on a label saying of any modifications that could effect these things, however, it also seems that this is generally not legally binding in any way. And so, from what I have looked up, it seems like Slate would have no legal way to up the towing capacity of a vehicle once it is sold and titled.

From my very brief research on the topic yesterday, my understanding is manufacturers of commercial trucks (i.e. those with DOT numbers on the doors) have a legal compliance to certify to weight ratings and manufacturers of light-duty trucks (i.e. consumer pickup trucks like an F150) do not have a legal certification requirement. I'll review the FMVSS when I get time to verify.

But what I have said a few times now, is if a Slate customer wants a higher tow capacity, Slate can offer at additional price a DIY tow kit with the necessary equipment/software (if necessary) that upgrades the Slate Truck to the higher capacity. The kit would include a new weight rating sticker. Slate can provide the sticker with the kit knowing the installed equipment meets their engineering design requirements for the higher weight rating. This is no different than if the equipment was installed on the Truck during the assembly process. And no different than Slate being able to certify the DIY SUV kit meets all Federal passenger safety regulations. If you recall, Slate states the SUV kit has some sort of electronic lockout if the seats are installed without the airbags. There is no reason Slate can't do the same with the Tow Kit. My thought would be the kit must include a trailer brake controller (i.e. 7-pin connector) that must be recognized by the body or drive motor controller in order for the kit to work.

 

[JoeBlow-Kokomo]

I 100% would look at the ford if slate doesnt pan out

but for 5K less (and the ford will have all kinds of markups) I get:

Smaller truck (ford is 210 inches, slate is 187)
no shitty infotainment system
Not "software controlled car" They literally want software everywhere in the car
physical controls
maintainable by me
No paint - I love the idea of no paint.

the ford might be 2 years out, slate should be available next year.

Im not averse to a 4 door truck, but my tundra at 230 inches is too big. The ford EV is also still too big, but better than the tundra.

I love parking my daughters bolt EUV.

They are on track for 2027 production and with large production capacity that Slate won't have. i haven't seen physical specs on the Ford, have they released official specs? Right that if good, dealers will be marking them up. That will be the battlefront.

 

[JoeBlow-Kokomo]

Pretty sure Ford has had this in the works for a while, the one impact Slate may have had is on the timing of their announcements.

Some but most of the timing was to counter all the negativity about them dropping the Lightening and taking the huge $$ loss on EV stuff. EVERYONE was talking about Ford bailing on EV's, so........
And that was never the case. The Lightening was a converted gas vehicle with huge limitations from its design as a gas motor truck. Trying to 'patch' it to keep it going was a lost cause. this new truck (starting to see an old Ford model name but can't recall it) was ground up to be new school with a skateboard chassis and all the newest stuff. Testers talk about how much fun it is to drive. Not like any pickup....they say..

 

[E90400K]

I'm looking at this with an eye toward future searches rather than enforcing following the theme of the original post.

Topic drift, as in this example, can lead to some interesting discussions that can be useful down the road. But then the thread title no longer matches the topic of discussion, which can be misleading.

The information shared in a forum format is much easier to search for than say Facebook or Reddit, where topics tend to get lost in the pile of time like a needle in a haystack.

Topic drift has its pros & cons. I'm not saying to rigidly stick to the original topic, if that's what you're implying. If not, please disregard.

I'm just aiming for another "You effing Troll" response post from @Shrink36s .

I'm not sure any thread on the Slate forum can't have a reasonable conversation about the Slate Truck even if the posts drift off the title of the thread. The title of this thread is "still leery", which kind of is very broad spectrum.

Just saying.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

I'm just aiming for another "You effing Troll" response post from @Shrink36s .

I'm not sure any thread on the Slate forum can't have a reasonable conversation about the Slate Truck even if the posts drift off the title of the thread. The title of this thread is "still leery", which kind of is very broad spectrum.

Just saying.

Look here you troll, I can booger up my own posts and upset other forum members here without your help. You just focus on correct speelling & grammer, ok?

 

[Shrink36s]

@E90400K - Nearly every thread I've read on this forum where you've participated you've taken this adversarial stance to someone or something. You stick on that topic no matter what, and you make claim after claim, without any real supporting evidence. It's annoying. You are a troll. I boomer, bored with life, probably has few friends, and fewer people who will care when you die. You take all that animosity out here veiled in faked I-know-more-than-you statements just to ruffle feathers and give your self good feels for "owning" people. You're clearly an asshole.
You were clearly called out, you didn't relent, Slates own evidence won't shut you up, and you keep going. You're truly a troll.
I also give zero fucks if I'm booted form the forum for saying so. You're a dick.
There you go. You called me out, so I responded in kind. 🖕

 

[E90400K]

@E90400K - Nearly every thread I've read on this forum where you've participated you've taken this adversarial stance to someone or something. You stick on that topic no matter what, and you make claim after claim, without any real supporting evidence. It's annoying. You are a troll. I boomer, bored with life, probably has few friends, and fewer people who will care when you die. You take all that animosity out here veiled in faked I-know-more-than-you statements just to ruffle feathers and give your self good feels for "owning" people. You're clearly an asshole.
You were clearly called out, you didn't relent, Slates own evidence won't shut you up, and you keep going. You're truly a troll.
I also give zero fucks if I'm booted form the forum for saying so. You're a dick.
There you go. You called me out, so I responded in kind. 🖕

Nah, no need for me to report this post. I find you entertaining. If you get booted, it will be of your own accord.