White Slate towing U-Haul trailer (hot weather testing photos)! Mater's had a rough life .

[StromSpeed]

Love to see this hot weather testing! Need this truck to thrive in PHX heat. 🔥
Looks like those body panels and roof are taking a beating—chalking that up to panel swapping & mule testing rather than material that’s heat-warping. 🤞🏼

 

[tubes]

OK, we're all friends here, right? So friends, I'm going to ask what is probably a stupid question.

What is a "Mater?"

 

[mini702]

I was going to do mine in white cuz Vegas but man does it look stubby in color matched rockers
I might have to wait for the extra-cab / 4 door version

 

[SparkYellow]

Some body panels don't seem to fit very well together. I was expecting tight fitment like Lego pieces. 😅

 

[AZFox]

OK, we're all friends here, right? So friends, I'm going to ask what is probably a stupid question.

What is a "Mater?"

A Tow Mater, I presume.

 

[tubes]

I'm apparently old. 😀

 

[RevMS]

I'm apparently old. 😀

From the Disney movie series "Cars"

 

[Rocks]

OK, we're all friends here, right? So friends, I'm going to ask what is probably a stupid question.

What is a "Mater?"

It's not clear in the posted pics because of the compression, on the top left of the back glass it says "066 Mater". Here's a zoom from the original image.

It's a towing test, so "Tow Mater" would be their engineering joke.

 

[ADFX01A]

"My name's Mater. It's like tomato without the 'to'."

 

[AJM1]

I live in this area and am excited to see any results from this testing. I drive up the "Davis grade" on my commute after work. 110-115 degrees is common in the summer and 120+ is not unheard of. Thanks for the pics!

 

[Rocks]

I live in this area and am excited to see any results from this testing. I drive up the "Davis grade" on my commute after work. 110-115 degrees is common in the summer and 120+ is not unheard of. Thanks for the pics!

Wave when you go by the Gas'n'Grub. I'm back in the houses south of the road.

 

[whippet]

awesome to see them in the wild! and 115f is definitely wild!

 

[AZFox]

awesome to see them in the wild! and 115f is definitely wild!

IIRC last time they did a towing test (and made a documentary video out of it) the temperature was 104°F and I thought "yeah that was pretty warm, but how about 115°F? That would be a real test."

And here we are...

 

[HTXSlate]

It's also the first one I've ever seen with color-matched rocker panels instead of black. I wonder if those are sample shots of parts that will eventually be dyed gray, or if they are actually wrapped in white. I have to say I don't mind it!

I'm a little surprised by the shape of the hitch, looks like they've got an upside-down adjustable ball mount. I guess too many years of looking at trucks that are stupidly tall has me accustomed exclusively to hitches that have a large drop and very little rise!

Do we think you could open the tailgate with that hitch and trailer installed? On most trailers, you have to worry about the jack, but this little 4x7 doesn't have one... I'm not usually thinking about the tailgate hitting the top of the coupler!

Using my certified eyeball I think the tailgate can open fully and not hit.

 

[kotaKat]

IIRC last time they did a towing test (and made a documentary video out of it) the temperature was 104°F and I thought "yeah that was pretty warm, but how about 115°F? That would be a real test."

And here we are...

That was also vehicle 66. Mater returns.

In the Cold Weather Testing, it also appeared with a sticker: "I SURVIVED THE 2025 HOT TRIP".

Also... note the proto-logo...