What's the craziest modification you're actually considering for your slate

[kallenh]

Lower it, & upgrade shocks, swaybar, tires.
Then take it out to a track day; I only live 45min away from the race track!

 

[AeroWolf]

Still want to try for this.

 

[IanNubbit]

Lower it, & upgrade shocks, swaybar, tires.
Then take it out to a track day; I only live 45min away from the race track!

The rear suspension won’t be ideal, but that doesn’t nean I don’t want to do the same. Definitely want some kind if front lip and smooth rear bumper

 

[fuzzyweis]

Craziest I was thinking since the rear window is moveable like if you got the SUV kit, I'd pop off the whole thing and replace the rear glass with a sliding rear window. Especially on a single cab 2-seater, having that middle window open adds some nice breeze. Also putting the third brake light and a cargo light back up above the rear glass instead of in the tailgate, think that's a goofy place for it.

 

[IanNubbit]

Craziest I was thinking since the rear window is moveable like if you got the SUV kit, I'd pop off the whole thing and replace the rear glass with a sliding rear window. Especially on a single cab 2-seater, having that middle window open adds some nice breeze. Also putting the third brake light and a cargo light back up above the rear glass instead of in the tailgate, think that's a goofy place for it.

3rd brake light is in the top of the cab, it's in the black surround of the glass there is a couple square transparent sections there. I'm hoping the glass just pops out on the truck easily. A little bag (Like Jeep freedom panel storage bags) and toss it behind the seat, roll the windows down and have a nice breeze.

 

[brian10x]

Lifetime achievement award.

 

[fuzzyweis]

3rd brake light is in the top of the cab, it's in the black surround of the glass there is a couple square transparent sections there. I'm hoping the glass just pops out on the truck easily. A little bag (Like Jeep freedom panel storage bags) and toss it behind the seat, roll the windows down and have a nice breeze.

It was there, look in the updated maker, third brake light is in the tailgate now

 

[cadblu]

It was there, look in the updated maker, third brake light is in the tailgate now

So I guess the design decision to move the 3rd brake light to the tailgate reduces the complexity in the SUV kit. The brake lamp would have needed to move to the rear window. This approach is suitable for both the square back and fast back SUVs. Kudos to the Slate design team.

Now for the ‘not so good’ news. If you’re carrying cargo or sheets of plywood that requires driving with the tailgate down, the 3rd brake lamp is going unnoticed. Not to mention the rear backup camera, which is useless as it faces the pavement in this scenario.

 

[AeroWolf]

So I guess the design decision to move the 3rd brake light to the tailgate reduces the complexity in the SUV kit. The brake lamp would have needed to move to the rear window. This approach is suitable for both the square back and fast back SUVs. Kudos to the Slate design team.

Now for the ‘not so good’ news. If you’re carrying cargo or sheets of plywood that requires driving with the tailgate down, the 3rd brake lamp is going unnoticed. Not to mention the rear backup camera, which is useless as it faces the pavement in this scenario.

I will gladly take the simplified roof. Better chance of getting moon, sun, or convertible roof top.

 

[fuzzyweis]

So I guess the design decision to move the 3rd brake light to the tailgate reduces the complexity in the SUV kit. The brake lamp would have needed to move to the rear window. This approach is suitable for both the square back and fast back SUVs. Kudos to the Slate design team.

Now for the ‘not so good’ news. If you’re carrying cargo or sheets of plywood that requires driving with the tailgate down, the 3rd brake lamp is going unnoticed. Not to mention the rear backup camera, which is useless as it faces the pavement in this scenario.

Yeah, I get why they did it, but agree on the not so good points. It shouldn't be terrible to add a 3rd brake light back to the roof, and as I said I'd like cargo lamps there too, and I'd move the backup camera to the license plate area like I have it on my Ranger, just a generic bolt on type but it works great even if the tailgate is down. Also not a fan of wiring going to the tailgate, that should be just a big old slab of material with a handle in it.

This is the thing with the Slate, I'm not as concerned about being able to tap into or rerun things, it's not all canbus computerized, I'm sure the brake light circuit is a regular old 12v line run from the cab to the back, and the camera is probably a composite video type, or even better I put in an aftermarket stereo and run my own backup camera there and just unplug/remove the one in the tailgate, 3d print a fill plate and wrap over it.

-Jim

 

[IanNubbit]

It was there, look in the updated maker, third brake light is in the tailgate now

Interesting, is it the same on SUV? I can’t imagine they would have 2 light location, that’s a mess of increased manufacturing loop holes to accommodate, and especially when the back of the top isn’t “removable” in a way you would drive down the road.

okay I see it now, as other stated it is definitely simpler. Also means the tailgate handle, brake light, and camera are on one single holder. As far as the downsides, it’s fine in the Gladiator

 

[fuzzyweis]

Interesting, is it the same on SUV? I can’t imagine they would have 2 light location, that’s a mess of increased manufacturing loop holes to accommodate, and especially when the back of the top isn’t “removable” in a way you would drive down the road.

Yeah, I think as cadblu mentioned that's 1 less thing to fiddle with when applying the kits, or even like the open air kit the glass goes away and the brake light is all set:

 

[TPL]

Now for the ‘not so good’ news. If you’re carrying cargo or sheets of plywood that requires driving with the tailgate down, the 3rd brake lamp is going unnoticed. Not to mention the rear backup camera, which is useless as it faces the pavement in this scenario.

I mean... has the third brake light ever been useful? Going back to when it was first mandated in the 80's or 90's or whatever, it's seemed superfluous to me. Maybe useful in case one of your tail lights + brake lights goes out, so that someone behind you doesn't think you're a motorcycle. Super rare for that to actually matter.

In my state when carrying cargo that sticks out the back you're required to put a red flag on it. Not super helpful at night but it's something.

 

[TPL]

I am not much of a car modder, but I would be interested in learning what type of noise dampening is possible to add after the fact. If/since the body panels will be removable, that could increase the possibilities.

 

[AeroWolf]

Y

I mean... has the third brake light ever been useful? Going back to when it was first mandated in the 80's or 90's or whatever, it's seemed superfluous to me. Maybe useful in case one of your tail lights + brake lights goes out, so that someone behind you doesn't think you're a motorcycle. Super rare for that to actually matter.

In my state when carrying cargo that sticks out the back you're required to put a red flag on it. Not super helpful at night but it's something.

Yes the center brake light is useful. Particularly for dense urban traffic. Drivers tend to be more focused on what is ahead of them. As the distance closes between drivers, the front car's side taillights move toward drivers peripheral. This reduces the rear driver's cognition of those signals. The center tail light helps rear driver's maintain a clear visual in their main sight line of what the lead car is doing.

That is why they reduce rear collisions and became mandated.