Here’s How The Slate Truck Could Offer More Value For Not Much More Money

I don’t think we’ll ever see a pickup that generates more publicity than Cybertruck, but the upcoming entry-level Slate EV is certainly making a strong effort at it. Unlike the Tesla, though, most of the opinions on the Slate appear to be quite positive. A lot of enthusiasts seem to be clamoring for a bare-bones vehicle that has an undeniable “cool” factor. That is, of course, if the price is right.

A recent leak has possibly revealed (but absolutely not confirmed) what the entry price of the Slate will be, and the frenzy begins anew. The big question now appears to be this: at $25,000, is the Slate going to be worth it? As with everything else, I think that’s a personal decision, but I have a few crazy ideas for Slate that could add some practical value and excitement that nobody else is offering. At least, not offering any more.

Luv And A Baby ‘Yota

Many have observed that the Slate is in some ways a throwback to the seventies through the early nineties, when the mini pickup was a major player in the market. Compact trucks like the Toyota Hilux and Datsun (Nissan) Lil’ Hustler were arguably the head honchos of the genre.

These two were joined by captive imports like the Isuzu-built Chevy Luv:

There was also the Mazda-built Ford Courier that I’ve written about before:

With gas-sipping four-cylinder motors, absolutely zero frills, and rock-bottom sticker prices, these were some of the most economical means of transport you could buy; the cargo bed was just an added bonus. As basic as they were, brands and buyers both found ways to customize and personalize these blank slates. Ignore the pun there – or don’t. Other than the gas motor, that description sure sounds a lot like a certain new EV truck we can’t stop talking about.

Just like the Slate, these old mini trucks had one obvious deficiency: a very cramped tin box of a cab. Back in the day, people had a couple of solutions to this issue. One was highly practical, the other was not, but both could be done for limited cash. The same low-cost tricks could be applied to the Slate and make it that much more appealing.

Cab’N Fever

You might be all on board with the Slate concept, but you need to be aware that with two passengers in place there is essentially no more room to be found for anything inside that you want out of the weather. Behind the seats? Is what you want to put there much thicker than a piece of paper? Yeah, put it on your lap or squeeze in your legs to put it at your feet. Back in the seventies, this was also a problem, one that Nissan (then called Datsun) was the first to find a workaround for. Their solution was the same as what Dodge had introduced on their new-for-1973 trucks: the extended cab.

Datsun’s was cleverly called the “King Cab,” and you can hear the “Datsun Voice Guy” with his endless enthusiasm talking about this “car and truck combined” game changer:

By today’s standards, it’s a bit of a joke, lacking enough room even for the side-facing “jump seats” that would appear on later examples. Still, as the ads showed, the King Cab provided room for groceries or any other things you didn’t want unlocked or out in the elements. Even better, the extra cab length let you recline your luxurious vinyl bucket seat or gave a passenger over six feet tall room to breathe. The Slate could benefit from the same thing.

Such a modification to the Slate appears to be easy to make; the structure is essentially open behind the front seats.

That’s because it currently allows for a conversion kit; Slate will offer an enclosure for the cargo bed and a rear seat to transform the pickup into an SUV. With rather awkward folding front seats and the possible squeak and rattle issues of big bolt-on panels, it seems like that’s not going to be the ideal incarnation of this vehicle. However, that doesn’t mean the cab couldn’t use some extra space as an option.

You can see from the Slate-provided picture that shows the rear structure that’s added on for the pickup version with the cargo bed wall and upper window frame:

We could develop a structure to bolt on and extend that wall back to make a King-Cab-style box that would add around a foot of length to the cabin. That’s about the same as the old Datsun and enough to fit something like carry-on-size suitcases but still not take much away from the bed space.

I’d call this add-on box the Caboom, and it could be in a matching color or contrasting finish, or maybe even all black with lights on top to make it almost look like a roll or sport bar.

If that bed length is still important to you at times, not a problem. The Caboom would have a removable or fold-down section of that rear wall and opening or detachable rear window glass to give you that extra bed length back for when you need it. You could even remove the rear window just for flow-through ventilation in the summer.

Hey, but what if I want more than just flow-through ventilation? I have just the answer.

Just Drop It

Small Japanese trucks arguably really hit their stride in the late eighties, when rustproofing and creature comforts had improved but we had yet to see overweight and overwrought examples. They were the first cars of a lot of us GenXers, and we knew we were cool rolling around in our Vuarnet shades and Hypercolor shirts while rowing through the five gears. Yeah, but we knew how we could make it even cooler: chop the top off!

Yes, Dodge offered a fabric-topped convertible truck in the late eighties, but us kids had no time or money for that. A number of companies offered kits to simply slice off your roof and provided the needed seals, door modifications, and latches to make it happen. You had to bring your own saw and be sure that you cut it just right.

I can see the Slate getting a similar treatment at the factory either standard or as an inexpensive option. Obviously, removing the roof would require a brace behind the rear seats to add back in rigidity, and it could be integrated with a roll hoop to hold the seat belts as well.

You can see how the bar would weld or bolt the side walls of the truck for strength. The CHMSL would be mounted to the bar so you’d still be legal with the roof off; a rubber trim baffle would press against the rear window when the top was installed so you wouldn’t get a cabin full of red light when you hit the brakes at night.

As with the old school conversions, the bed would have plenty of room to carry the detached roof, so you’d be prepared if the sky opened up. An optional holder would let you snap the top in place to stop it from getting scratched or going flying when you brake, turn, or accelerate. You’d likely want another person to help lift off and reinstall the roof, but that’s just part of the experience. Prefer a one-touch power top with twenty-two limit sensors, five motors, and six miles of wiring? Go find a six-figure convertible coupe. The whole idea here is to add value without really adding much money back into the product.

Welcome back to 1990. Who knows? Maybe dancing pickup beds will be back in style soon as well.

Yeah, maybe not. You never know, though.

Give ‘Em What They Can’t Get Anywhere Else

If you listened to Jason and David talking about the Slate on our emergency podcast, you’ll know that we really, really want it to succeed. Many Autopians appear happily willing to forgo a dashboard full of screens and power everything to get an easy-to-buy and maintain machine, but it might be challenging to get more casual enthusiasts to put their money where their mouth is.

Jason and David elaborated on the issues. If the Slate really is going to be $25,000 proposition, for a few dollars more each month, the upcoming $30,000 Ford EV pickup will apparently give you four doors, way better range, and “niceties” that even well-under-$25,000 Korean crossovers have standard. If you’re not terrified of previously owned choices, the Slate’s price will also get you a low-mileage under-warranty Maverick (or even a Toyota Tacoma) that essentially nobody will know that you bought used. It’s safe to say that none of those better-equipped alternate truck options have the “cool” factor of the Slate, but a buck is a buck. Oh, and let’s be honest: if you have a partner or spouse who is part of the buying decision and isn’t an enthusiast? Good luck on getting that Slate.

No, the Slate will need to succeed on “cool” as much as price, if not more so. A “King Cab” or a convertible option wouldn’t turn the Slate into a Maverick, but why should they? We don’t want this breath-of-fresh-air concept to be that. I’m just trying to find ways to add some more excitement and usefulness to one of the most interesting new trucks to come along in a long time and help the value proposition that it needs to make it.

Think about it. You’re about to pull the trigger on a new Slate when you (or your wife) see a Maverick at the Ford dealer across the street or, worse yet, a ’24 Maverick with low miles for the same money or less than this crank window and screenless grey truck. “Well,” says the salesman, “you realize that the top comes off this thing, right?” Sold. Where’s the paperwork?

These two ideas here are hardly new; but if they worked forty or fifty years ago, they could certainly do the same thing today.

Top graphic base image: Slate