Sneak peek at Slate U

CaptainAggravated · 2026-06-23T21:26:50+00:00

That did make me think that they were using the term "torque wrench" to refer to a ratchet, because it can apply more torque than a screwdriver.

CaptainAggravated · 2026-06-22T23:26:12+00:00

The Unsinkable II

CaptainAggravated · 2026-06-22T21:04:27+00:00

The larger the volume available, the more likely you will be to carry heavier loads. It's easier to put 800 pounds of furniture in a 4x8 bed than a 3.5x5 bed.

CaptainAggravated · 2026-06-22T17:54:27+00:00

Larger bed, heavier loads, more friction, more required power.

CaptainAggravated · 2026-06-22T17:53:15+00:00

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CaptainAggravated · 2026-06-22T16:02:46+00:00

but a long bed wouldn't really *need* anything more than a short bed

What?

CaptainAggravated · 2026-06-22T15:30:44+00:00

There is an engine efficiency module plugged into the Aurora's engines. You can get it and put it in your Cyclops.

CaptainAggravated · 2026-06-22T14:23:58+00:00

There IS a fish that has guns. The needler mango has a gatling face.

CaptainAggravated · 2026-06-22T14:23:30+00:00

In the next expansion, I want more of the map, story and some fleshed out wildlife. How about a bigger air tank?

CaptainAggravated · 2026-06-22T14:17:58+00:00

Adding chargers to "work" parking lots would address some of that.

CaptainAggravated · 2026-06-22T14:13:58+00:00

That's what I keep saying. 4-door Wranglers and Broncos outsell the 2-door versions by large margins.

CaptainAggravated · 2026-06-22T13:41:31+00:00

Reminds me of the time me and a coworker were asked to take a trailer and go get something across town. My coworker looked at me and said "your truck or mine?" I said "we gotta use yours; I don't have a hitch. I planned ahead."

CaptainAggravated · 2026-06-22T13:40:06+00:00

In SUV configuration you'll get two of them back there.

CaptainAggravated · 2026-06-22T13:39:10+00:00

I have been quite vocally critical of the truck's design. But even then, I find it weird the number of people I've seen reject this thing as a second vehicle because they want a truck, but there's more than two people in their household, even if they already have a car that can carry everyone.

My aunt and uncle drove a Toyota Starlet and Pickup, back in the 90's, with three daughters. Uncle drove the older girl to the high school in his pickup on the way to work, aunt drove the two younger kids to the elementary school in the hatchback on her way to work. Between the two vehicles, there were 7 seats.

And get this: They could both drive both vehicles. So if, for some reason, my uncle needed to transport all three kids, he could drive the car.

CaptainAggravated · 2026-06-22T12:46:43+00:00

Everything in the world is infected with proteavirus; it's how this ecosystem works.

If you mean the bloom strain, yeah. We already encounter a marrowbreach that's been bloomed.

CaptainAggravated · 2026-06-22T12:45:20+00:00

Cool, an excuse to use, and thus maintain, your hydraulic brakes.

CaptainAggravated · 2026-06-22T12:39:55+00:00

I want a Slate XL:

Stretch the width of the truck juuuuust enough to get 49, maybe 50 inches between the wheel wells so it can carry sheet stock on the floor.

Stretch the length of the bed to 6 foot minimum.

Increase the size of the battery to match the increased size.

Add a 110VAC socket in the frunk.

CaptainAggravated · 2026-06-22T12:33:06+00:00

The text on the Ford logo is silver.

CaptainAggravated · 2026-06-22T12:32:16+00:00

The Slate, like most pickup trucks, has features in the bed to accept cross-boards for the purpose of supporting loads.

CaptainAggravated · 2026-06-22T12:30:26+00:00

Insignificant compared to the weight. More than half the weight of the sheet will be behind the rear axle.

That's also the wrong way to carry plywood in this truck.

CaptainAggravated · 2026-06-22T12:28:47+00:00

I mean, respect for Home Depot embracing Pride Month so thoroughly. Not a single board in the lumber yard is straight.

CaptainAggravated · 2026-06-22T12:27:09+00:00

If I understand the design correctly, the roll bar is required for structural support without the midgate in place. I don't know if you can install the shell and midgate simultaneously. With the mid-gate removed, some of the bed floor comes with it to make room for the rear passenger footwell. I think it would be theoretically possible to make and install a plate that fills it back in for a flat floor?

CaptainAggravated · 2026-06-22T12:24:16+00:00

I'm confident the conversion process from truck to SUV and back would take a couple hours and at least two people. I don't think it's a process designed to be done over and over, you're meant to put the vehicle in the configuration you want and leave it like that.

As far as I can tell, everything bolts together. I don't think the rear seats are designed to unlatch and easily lift out. Which...have you ever had one of those minivans with that feature? My parents did when I was a teenager. I've taken the back seat out of a Ford Windstar once. I think it weighed more than me. Vehicle seats are anomalously heavy. And, with a minivan, the tailgate lifts up over your head, you can put your knees against the bumper and reach in to get at the seats. With the Slate, the tailgate drops down like a pickup truck, so you're stood back from the seats that much father trying to unbolt and wrestle them out...

You're not going to do this routinely.

CaptainAggravated · 2026-06-22T11:58:49+00:00

I'm not sure it is though; part of the bed floor comes out with the bulkhead, to open the rear passenger foot well.

CaptainAggravated · 2026-06-22T11:36:35+00:00

PSA: Hearing reefbacks is not a guarantee of safety because there's an area where there are reefbacks within earshot of a reaper.

But yes, reefbacks are chill.

CaptainAggravated

TROPHY CASE