What would you tow?!

[ElectricShitbox]

Just make sure you spell "Slate" as "Silverado" when you're reserving a rental trailer.

 

[metroshot]

The Slate is a city runabout, not a tow mule.

A pickup with no AM radio and 1,000# towing capacity may not be the vehicle for you.

Agree !

Slate is the wrong tool for towing.

It's more a bicycle carrier or hitch mounted tray.

I'd get a Ford Powerboost hybrid truck for towing boats, campers, trailers, etc....

 

[RedJoker]

The Slate is a city runabout, not a tow mule.

A pickup with no AM radio and 1,000# towing capacity may not be the vehicle for you.

Agree !

Slate is the wrong tool for towing.

It's more a bicycle carrier or hitch mounted tray.

I'd get a Ford Powerboost hybrid truck for towing boats, campers, trailers, etc....

I don't view a small utility trailer (<2000# total) as needing a "Tow Vehicle". We have a big truck for doing real towing. I'd consider a small utility trailer firmly in the "city runabout" capability range like our 120HP Transit Connect.

Not saying who's right or wrong, just an observation on all our different perspectives.

 

[phidauex]

The low tow rating is pretty vexing. For one thing, it really limits the number of options for around-town towing, such as a landscaping trailer, rental tool pickups, motorcycle trailer, etc. Even by going to 1500 lbs you'd open up a lot more options, and at 2000 lbs there are tons of choices. I don't think you'd need to go higher than that for this class of vehicle.

The second is that it calls into question the bike rack capabilities - we know that bike racks, especially those carrying e-bikes, or 4+ bikes, put a lot of load on the hitch attachment points, more than you might think since they are extended so far back. If the Slate can't accommodate a 4+ bike rack or a 2 bike rack with e-bikes, then that is a big compromise as well.

 

[E90400K]

Just make sure you spell "Slate" as "Silverado" when you're reserving a rental trailer.

And get a custom wrap with gold-colored Bow Ties on it. Just for good measure...

 

[fuzzyweis]

This has been posted elsewhere but thought I'd add it here for the question, they do haul an empty U-Haul while the bed is loaded down, uphill, in the heat, passing people. So it can tow some, just not it's primary selling feature. And really I think it's size will help relay that unlike the F150/Silverado EVs that people generally associate the gas versions with capable towing. They keep comparing Slate to the 80s Toyota pickups, and when I think of those I don't think of towing.



-Jim

 

[phidauex]

This has been posted elsewhere but thought I'd add it here for the question, they do haul an empty U-Haul while the bed is loaded down, uphill, in the heat, passing people. So it can tow some, just not it's primary selling feature. And really I think it's size will help relay that unlike the F150/Silverado EVs that people generally associate the gas versions with capable towing. They keep comparing Slate to the 80s Toyota pickups, and when I think of those I don't think of towing.

The video is a good one, and glad to see they are doing the full testing. It would have been nice to see a bit more load, but at least they had sand bags in the bed.

As for older trucks, my 1997 Tacoma (same curb weight as the Slate, about 18" longer due to the extended cab) has a 5000 lb tow rating with the V6, or a 3500 lb rating with the 4 cyl option. That was under the older optimistic rating, so maybe assume that those would drop to 4000 lb / 2800 lb respectively, and that feels realistic to me. That is enough to bring home a cord of firewood, or pull a light travel trailer. My brother in law picks up firewood all the time in a braked utility trailer in an old Tacoma, and it feels effective and safe.

I know when people on truck forums talk about towing, they often jump to 8000 lb boats or toy haulers or something, but I don't think it is unreasonable to assume that a utility/fleet oriented around-town runabout might need to tow up to 2000 lbs and still be within the intended use range.

Ultimately it will be what it will be - there is a long list of pros/cons for me that the Slate is checking off, but "final tow rating < 2000 lbs" would be a check in the con box. Doesn't mean it is a dealbreaker, but it isn't ideal.

 

[AZFox]

Slate is the wrong tool for towing.

It's more a bicycle carrier or hitch mounted tray.

or an Old Man Step!

I think the official hitch receiver might be Class 2 (1-1/4"), not Class 3 (2").

If so, you'll need an adapter or a third-party hitch receiver to accommodate most non-hitch accessories.

 

[phidauex]

I think the official hitch receiver might be Class 2 (1-1/4"), not Class 3 (2").

If so, you'll need an adapter or a third-party hitch receiver to accommodate most non-hitch accessories.

Oof, I really hope that isn't true. That eliminates a huge range of useful accessories. Even if the load rating isn't terribly high, at least give us something better than a Geo Metro tow package...

 

[AZFox]

Oof, I really hope that isn't true. That eliminates a huge range of useful accessories. Even if the load rating isn't terribly high, at least give us something better than a Geo Metro tow package...

It'll be a pretty easy problem to solve, I'm sure.

If the official hitch is 1-1/4", just get a 3rd-party 2" hitch instead.

...or use an adapter.

 

[AZFox]

"We've simplified the manufacturing process and removed all unnecessary content to reduce cost and increase reliability."
--Charis Barman

Extra towing capacity, while it certainly would be nice, isn't necessary for the Slate to do what needs to do.

Put another way, the value of more towing capacity didn't justify the cost of building it into OG Slate design.

If there's an AWD version in the pipeline that one will likely have more towing capacity.

 

[KevinRS]

The thing is a tow rating is a real tested thing now. Maybe Slate could do some more testing and give a recommended tow rating of 1000 lb, but an official tested rating that is higher, with the note that towing more than 1000 lb may greatly reduce range.

That is the only solution I can see. They aren't going to give a significantly higher recommended rating and have people upset and trying to sue if the range drops by 75%, which would mean a 37 mile range on the standard battery. 37 mile range might work for some people's once in a while around town tow needs, but would rule out a road trip.

 

[beatle]

The Slate does have a 200-300 lb higher payload than even larger EVs due to its De Dion axle, but it's not as good at sway control. It's also got a pretty short wheelbase which also makes for more sketchy towing. Additionally, while towing a trailer, the sweet 50/50 weight distribution is more of a liability as it'll make the front even lighter than your average gasser. Those are more like 60/40 or even 65/35.

Since I've only towed twice and hauled stuff hundreds of times, this isn't really a concern for me. Towing range sucks on an EV anyway. The Slate should be pretty good at hauling with more bed area than the Maverick.

 

[metroshot]

This has been posted elsewhere but thought I'd add it here for the question, they do haul an empty U-Haul while the bed is loaded down, uphill, in the heat, passing people. So it can tow some, just not it's primary selling feature. And really I think it's size will help relay that unlike the F150/Silverado EVs that people generally associate the gas versions with capable towing. They keep comparing Slate to the 80s Toyota pickups, and when I think of those I don't think of towing.



-Jim

Remember, towing will drain the battery range to about 60% (depending on weight & profile) so your 150 mile range turns into a 80 mile range tow vehicle.

 

[fuzzyweis]

The Slate does have a 200-300 lb higher payload than even larger EVs due to its De Dion axle, but it's not as good at sway control. It's also got a pretty short wheelbase which also makes for more sketchy towing. Additionally, while towing a trailer, the sweet 50/50 weight distribution is more of a liability as it'll make the front even lighter than your average gasser. Those are more like 60/40 or even 65/35.

Since I've only towed twice and hauled stuff hundreds of times, this isn't really a concern for me. Towing range sucks on an EV anyway. The Slate should be pretty good at hauling with more bed area than the Maverick.

*Slightly more bed area than a Maverick. 5’ bed in the Slate vs 4.5’ in the Maverick. Really size wise the Slate is pretty close to a single cab Maverick.