Still Leary of getting my Slate

[MotoGary]

 

[E90400K]

The manufacturer has posted their rationale behind their tow rating.

Current guidance on towing from Slate.



I've posted this before; forgive my repetition.

Sounds like the solution then for a higher towing capacity is a DIY tow kit that adds higher capacity heat management hardware such as a higher capacity radiator and cooling fan, along with an oil cooler for the drive unit. And, a Class 3 tow hitch with trailer brake controller.

Along with choosing the 84 kWh battery version.

 

[sodamo]

Sounds like the solution then for a higher towing capacity is a DIY tow kit that adds higher capacity heat management hardware such as a higher capacity radiator and cooling fan, along with an oil cooler for the drive unit. And, a Class 3 tow hitch with trailer brake controller.

Sounds like an opportunity for someone.

 

[E90400K]

Sounds like an opportunity for someone.

The real aftermarket could make the kit easily. A 3-D printed hitch and radiator aren't going to cut it...

 

[nstrains10]

Dude. I don't think he's alluding to someone 3D printing them. Just manufacturing them.

 

[E90400K]

Dude. I don't think he's alluding to someone 3D printing them. Just manufacturing them.

Seriously? LOL.

 

[Bayfire2441]

Sounds like the solution then for a higher towing capacity is a DIY tow kit that adds higher capacity heat management hardware such as a higher capacity radiator and cooling fan, along with an oil cooler for the drive unit. And, a Class 3 tow hitch with trailer brake controller.

Along with choosing the 84kWh battery version.

As far as I understand it, atleast in the states, there isn't really a way to legally certify your vehicle with a higher than factory stated tow rating. So, none of that would help from a legal standpoint and if you don't care about that, then you already assume it's more capable then is being told. Altough, I do agree with you that the 1k lb towing cpapcity is disappointing, its a tradeoff I can live with. I do wish we knew for certain what was limiting them to that because I've been comparing the Slate to my 22 Tucson which has two different towing capacities. 1.6k if you're towing a trailer without brakes and 2k if you are towing a trailer with brakes and I think it would be nice if the Slate can do a similar thing just to help boost it abit. I would like a higher rating than it has but, I can also live with it as is.

 

[sodamo]

Seriously? LOL.

Perhaps, you could convince Slate to manufacture/authorize an official towing upgrade. Guessing the additional cost would be acceptable to those that want it.

 

[dragondroptv]

Dude. I don't think he's alluding to someone 3D printing them. Just manufacturing them.

After sodamo clearly alluded to making it with my 3D printer, I plan to start selling these immediately upon release of the truck. 😀

“Tow rated” is more of a mindset than an engineering certification anyway.

 

[kvermeer]

After sodamo clearly alluded to making it with my 3D printer, I plan to start selling these immediately upon release of the truck. 😀

“Tow rated” is more of a mindset than an engineering certification anyway.

I'm planning on a slightly better build with an upgraded heat exchanger, electric brake controller, airbags on the rear axle, and - most importantly - an upgraded weldment to the rear subframe to which I can bolt up a universal class 2 receiver. It'll be used mostly to pull my ~750 lbs empty, 3500 lbs rated, aluminum 6x10 utility trailer loaded to <2000 lbs. Might push it (at low speed) once in a while to drop in or even haul out my ~2800 lbs Prostar 190 ski boat. Would be great to not need to drive the old gas guzzler up to the cabin...

I'm an engineer at a systems integrator, so I've got access to a 3D scanner, CNC fiber laser, press brake, and welding equipment, plus the FEA software needed to sanity check my work.

But there's no way in hell I'm taking on the liability of selling it. I'm typically of an open-source bent, but I'd be reluctant to even release the 3D models for someone else to buy from SendCutSend and weld up in their garage. If anyone else wants to take that kit offering on, I'll happily buy your probably-inferior materials and hardware for your vastly, overwhelmingly, unbelievably greater appetite and effort into testing and DOT certification and commercial liability.

 

[KevinRS]

I think the start of the tow rating in design was due to range. If they knew any serious towing was going to cut the range in half, they decided to go with only light utility towing of 1k.
This decision was likely made early enough in the design stage that there is a whole range of components now limiting it, each of which allowed them to lower the price a bit.
We haven't even seen anything of what the 1k towing kit would look like or how it attaches. The tow testing video and photos were of a test truck, with a temporary hitch bolted on.
While it is remotely possible that the 1k number stated is a conservative estimate, and that that number will go up some update before launch, I wouldn't count on it, and no way will it go to 3500 lbs.

This "Slate should tow more" idea has come up several times here in the past year, and it's just not going to happen, at least not with the first Slate model, and definitely not due to people posting about it in forums.

 

[Shrink36s]

After sodamo clearly alluded to making it with my 3D printer, I plan to start selling these immediately upon release of the truck. 😀

“Tow rated” is more of a mindset than an engineering certification anyway.

"Made from recycled PLA (mostly vibes)"

hahahahahahahahahahaha

 

[E90400K]

As far as I understand it, atleast in the states, there isn't really a way to legally certify your vehicle with a higher than factory stated tow rating. So, none of that would help from a legal standpoint and if you don't care about that, then you already assume it's more capable then is being told. Altough, I do agree with you that the 1k lb towing cpapcity is disappointing, its a tradeoff I can live with. I do wish we knew for certain what was limiting them to that because I've been comparing the Slate to my 22 Tucson which has two different towing capacities. 1.6k if you're towing a trailer without brakes and 2k if you are towing a trailer with brakes and I think it would be nice if the Slate can do a similar thing just to help boost it abit. I would like a higher rating than it has but, I can also live with it as is.

If Slate offers a tow kit as a DIY installation, then the modified truck would be rated to tow at the higher limit. It is no different than Slate offering the DIY SUV kit, which adds a rear seat, roll bar, seat belts and side airbags (in the rollbar).

 

[Bayfire2441]

If Slate offers a tow kit as a DIY installation, then the modified truck would be rated to tow at the higher limit. It is no different than Slate offering the DIY SUV kit, which adds a rear seat, roll bar, seat belts and side airbags (in the rollbar).

I was specifically thinking about aftermarket options but even if Slate did it, I don't know what regulations exist around doing something like a DIY kit that changes the manufacturer specified towing capacity. If it could be done, that would indeed be a great accessory.

 

[E90400K]

I think the start of the tow rating in design was due to range. If they knew any serious towing was going to cut the range in half, they decided to go with only light utility towing of 1k.
This decision was likely made early enough in the design stage that there is a whole range of components now limiting it, each of which allowed them to lower the price a bit.
We haven't even seen anything of what the 1k towing kit would look like or how it attaches. The tow testing video and photos were of a test truck, with a temporary hitch bolted on.
While it is remotely possible that the 1k number stated is a conservative estimate, and that that number will go up some update before launch, I wouldn't count on it, and no way will it go to 3500 lbs.

This "Slate should tow more" idea has come up several times here in the past year, and it's just not going to happen, at least not with the first Slate model, and definitely not due to people posting about it in forums.

I agree with you, the tow rating is probably tied to the range cut. I do not think the chassis components are too lightweight to tow above the 1,000-pound rating. Maybe the battery/motor cooling system needs a 2nd row of radiator and a higher wattage cooling fan, and maybe an oil cooler for the drive unit. I'm just guess because I do not know the specific setup of the drive unit.

I see no reason why Slate can't offer a tow package and caveat it with the requirement that it is only offered with the 84 kWh version of the Slate.