What are your personal MUST HAVE Add-Ons/Accessories for your Slate?

[SLOSlater]

Yeah just saw that. Bummer.

My understanding is SEMA does offer Friday admission to the general public. Not sure if those tickets need to be bought in advance or at the show. I expect the information can be located on their website. Of course one day is not enough to completely experience the event but I guess that's better than nothing. Just taking time to view all the vehicles on display outside the convention center can burn a few hours.

 

[JeffVA]

I know some people who go to SEMA for the Auto Detailing aspect of it. Every major detailing supplier is there. If you get to go don't overlook this aspect of it. I watch numerous SEMA YouTube videos on product launches. Good stuff

 

[bartflossom]

Thanks! I'll look into it, but it seemed to me that the friday deal for the public is outdoors and probably won't see a lot of the stuff on display. I hope to find someone who has been to the friday event and can tell me about it.

 

[GaRailroader]

I was thinking the same thing but 1000 towing capacity isn't much. I rent a U-Haul trailer about every 3 years to run my John Deere lawn tractor in for service but I looked up just the weight of the trailer and it's over 1000 lbs. I don't have one but even something like a single jet ski will be above 1000 lbs. Good thing John Deere offers home pickup

Why not get some ramps and load the Deere up in the bed? That is how I plan to haul my Gravely.

 

[DONMAR Sunroofs]

Not an accessory but really hope there’s an open sunroof option at some point with removable panel(s).

Aftermarket sunroofs are always an option. DONMAR has the sunroof you seek...

 

[GeoLogic]

AWD, ideally with a locking/crawling feature. AWD is non-negotiable, and I'm angry Slate is not offering this from the beginning. Even assuming everything else is stellar, I am not buying their product without AWD. Ever. You know all the tough-guy accessories Slate is boasting of? Lift kit, off-road tires, beach themes...They couldn't be more of a poseur, and it makes me laugh.

The other thing I near insist on, would be the back-up camera having ability to interface with whatever bring-your-own screen I select (likely an iPad). The purpose of a back-up camera is safety, and the piss-ant speedometer screen isn't going to be nearly sufficient enough to be of any real use in that capacity. So it'd better work with the iPad via USB-C. Bluetooth is too weak for meaningful video, unfortunately, so you'd have to rely on USB-C.

 

[cvollers]

AWD, ideally with a locking/crawling feature. AWD is non-negotiable, and I'm angry Slate is not offering this from the beginning. Even assuming everything else is stellar, I am not buying their product without AWD. Ever. You know all the tough-guy accessories Slate is boasting of? Lift kit, off-road tires, beach themes...They couldn't be more of a poseur.

The other thing I near insist on, would be the back-up camera having ability to interface with whatever bring-your-own screen I select (likely an iPad). The purpose of a back-up camera is safety, and the piss-ant speedometer screen isn't going to be nearly sufficient enough to be of any real use in that capacity. So it'd better work with the iPad via USB-C. Bluetooth is too weak for meaningful video, unfortunately, so you'd have to rely on USB-C.

You know that thing that typically lives under a bridge?

 

[GeoLogic]

Criticism often upsets apologists, unfortunately. The Slate is so promising in so many respects, but as much as I wish one, and for success of the vehicle, I shan't give them a pass when egregious shortcomings present. A lift-kit on a RWD only vehicle is good for vanity alone. To each their own, but I favor actual functionality and purpose.

 

[cvollers]

Do you even understand the purpose of a lift kit? It’s not to improve traction, it’s to clear obstacles that otherwise might get caught under the vehicle (and to improve approach, break over, and departure angles). This includes snow. I’ve seen RWD rear engine lifted VWs go places some Jeeps might fear to tread.

Speaking of Jeeps, perhaps you can add value to one of their owner’s forums.

 

[DRugerH]

All I want in mine are a set of speakers and a center console. I want the rest of it bare bones. That's the reason I reserved one.

Dan

 

[GeoLogic]

Yes indeed, a lift-kit is needed for improved clearance in off road conditions, which additionally calls for motivation in all four wheels if you wish to climb a grade better than sub 20% in slick conditions such as snow. Air-cooled VWs, something I know a little something about, were pretty unique given that Busses in particular had both the fuel tank and engine over the rear drive wheels. So those could engage things most other RWD vehicles couldn't (ala Shasta Snow Trip). Even in those cases though, you're still driving on roads with lesser grade. RWD, even with ballast weight, imparts inescapable limitation compared to 4WD, or even AWD. A lift-kit on a Slate with RWD is eye candy alone, and I wish Slate to back up the look with actual function that makes sense.

I grew up skiing in our '63 Bus. I know first hand what RWD is capable of, and what it's not. And in my research capacity also drive all about the State of Oregon in maintenance of our seismic installations, through off-road conditions of all varieties, snow, ice, mud, and inclines reaching the limit of rollover potential. A lifted Slate with RWD is realistically good for going to the mall, and I resent that, personally.

Anyway, no offense to anyone. Go ahead and lift your Slate with RWD and take it off-road. If you're clearing obstacles that a lift is good for, doing so with RWD only is a dangerous and ill-advised combination.

 

[DarkHorse]

First off, gotta have a chain link steering wheel, curb feelers, wheel well lights, lowered, and some spinners.

After that, if they would offer a fender up-badge emblem for having the extended battery would be pretty tight.

 

[metroshot]

Do you even understand the purpose of a lift kit? It’s not to improve traction, it’s to clear obstacles that otherwise might get caught under the vehicle (and to improve approach, break over, and departure angles). This includes snow. I’ve seen RWD rear engine lifted VWs go places some Jeeps might fear to tread.

Speaking of Jeeps, perhaps you can add value to one of their owner’s forums.

100% agree!

My RWD EV (Mach E) got a 1.5" lift springs installed by Eibach for 2 reasons:

1. Increase chassis height to clear the doors opening along a tall curb.
2. Change ride suspension feel over rough terrain.

Luckily, I never need AWD or 4WD living in urban Los Angeles.

Here's my Mach E that got a 1.5 lift spring kit and anti roll sway bars:

 

[GreatLakes]

Anyway, no offense to anyone. Go ahead and lift your Slate with RWD and take it off-road. If you're clearing obstacles that a lift is good for, doing so with RWD only is a dangerous and ill-advised combination.

My history is pushing vehicles beyond what is reasonable. Most recently was on AuSable Trail, an Otsego county dirt 2-track that is "not maintained by the road commission". I was still driving my Focus then, about 5" clearance FWD. As things usually go, the first 90% was fine. Then I hit the last half mile where the sand was worked up and rutted from logging trucks. I drove on the center straddling the ruts for a bit, but eventually ended up in the ruts. Bottomed out so the wheels had no traction. I stopped and shoveled sand, eventually was able to drive on.

Lots of back roads around here like that. And lots of roads signed with "not snow plowed". I don't see why wanting more clearance makes me a poseur. And I don't see how that was dangerous? I will confess to ill-advised.

I think a RWD truck with good tires and 400# added weight over the tires with clearance should be better at winter/snow than what I've usually driven. The USFS has that classification "high clearance vehicles only", which they seem to think RWD + high clearance will get you thru.

Oh, do you have an opinion on e-axles like Toyota added to some Prius? That seemed like an inexpensive way to get AWD when it is needed (get stuck or sliding in snow). I guess it couldn't be done on Slate since it wouldn't work on front axle.

PS - I finally bought a 4WD F150 about a year ago. Very nice. When it gets dicey, I turn on 4HI. About two times now I've also used 4LO - that has always worked so far.

 

[GeoLogic]

To be sure, I'm not calling those who actually do interesting things with a lifted 2WD vehicle a poseur, I'm calling Slate a poseur for offering all of these additions with zero capability to back it up. It's patronizing, and I resent it. And that's not even claiming the Slate will ever be a real off-road capable vehicle, even if they someday offer AWD. I simply maintain that you should back the look with some semblence of capability. I liken a tricked out RWD Slate as the equivalent of a hypothetical consumer RWD Hummer (just a lipstick-on-a-pig Chevy Tahoe, and at least the real pedestrian Hummer offers 4WD). Such a RWD vehicle has no practical purpose other than satisfaction of look-at-me vanity. Fine if something serves actual useful purpose, I just never responded well to show offs. I'm too logical, meticulous, and practical-- Perhaps even to a fault.

Anyway, I demand at least an AWD Slate, because I'll actually use it. So some of my disdain here is based on personal disappointment that they're not bothering to offer this from the beginning. Blah, blah, blah... "We want to keep costs down". Fine. Still offer the RWD vehicle, and quote that price all day long. Put it up in skywriting if you wish. But also offer reasonable AWD as an option in your lifted Slate with knobby tires, instead of just a pagentry parade of hollow appearances. Toyota went 4WD in '79: Slate can't do so 47 bloody years later? Common.