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

[cadblu]

Here is a chart prepared by independent reviewer Cliff Muncy, as an advocate of better products and services. I don't agree with many of these most wanted observations, and some simply don't make any sense, but just wanted to share with the group.

 

[metroshot]

Wait, I thought all new vehicles have to be equipped with rear cameras ???

 

[Mad Mac]

One feature the Slate has is that
many states allow electric vehicles (EVs)
to use HOV lanes
regardless of the number of occupants.

Sadly it expires September 31 in Houston.

When I commuted on my motorcycle
which was almost every day for six years
the Katy Freeway HOV lane was great.

 

[cvollers]

I don’t think we know about GPS yet or if the Slate will talk to the Internet. It definitely has a rear view back up camera. Also don’t know yet about TPMS. It’s an EV…no shifting to assist. Who wants AI in their car? You already have it on your phone which is how software updates will be done.

 

[cadblu]

Wait, I thought all new vehicles have to be equipped with rear cameras ???

Correct, it is federally mandated for all new vehicles since 2018.

 

[Cats]

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.

If there's trees and you got a winch you can just tow your self up

 

[DONMAR Sunroofs]

Correct, it is federally mandated for all new vehicles since 2018.

Yet there is no dash screen, unless it is in the rearview mirror

 

[slateya]

Yet there is no dash screen, unless it is in the rearview mirror

The speedometer screen converts to backup camera screen when in reverse.

 

[atx_ev]

trifold tonneau cover, 2" hitch (for bike rack), power passenger sideview mirror

 

[EverythingSlate]

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.

from what I’ve seen recently the head of engineering made comments that strongly infer there will be the ability to install AWD functionality. Specifically he stated having extra room in the fwd wheel wells for extra components but he couldn’t say more.

 

[eightOne]

Must have add-on for my family is a way to route A/C to rear vents for back seats in the SUV kit. We hit 118F yesterday, and I'm not going to subject my kids to that kind of heat in the back while I'm getting blasted with cold air up front. I'm also not going to use those stupid hoses that attach to a front vent.

This honestly might end up as a deal breaker when a used JL wrangler with rear A/C will be the same price or cheaper. I want to have a slate, but I can't neglect my children in a PHX summer.

 

[KevinRS]

Somewhere it was mentioned that there was AC routed to the back, just covered in pickup configuration.

 

[eightOne]

Somewhere it was mentioned that there was AC routed to the back, just covered in pickup configuration.

Nice! I'll go dig through the info to find that. Thanks

 

[eightOne]

Somewhere it was mentioned that there was AC routed to the back, just covered in pickup configuration.

TopSpeed addressed it. You can get the rear vents with the center console addition

Looks like the only factory option that will be available when you order is is you get the SUV or not. Though this seems maybe a little off given the two battery sizes. Maybe they're considering those as models vs options? I wonder if this is saying the only factory installed option will be the SUV cap. Though that still doesn't address the question of battery size being an option.

We got a shoutout!

 

[AZFox]

Looks like the only factory option that will be available when you order is is you get the SUV or not.

I think the article got that part wrong.

All Trucks will be built as Blank Slates with either the standard or extended battery.

Details about how accessories will be installed (if you choose not to DIY) are yet to come.