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Post by BoxGods on Mar 23, 2023 19:01:44 GMT
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Post by lax25 on Mar 28, 2023 14:13:53 GMT
This is looking fantastic!! Can't wait for more info!!! Do you have any dimensions on the tray stand alone or on the drop in full width carrier? Specifically, the overall length of flat, usable space and the width at the bottom and the top of the carriers and the tote?
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Post by BoxGods on Mar 28, 2023 16:05:27 GMT
This is looking fantastic!! Can't wait for more info!!! Do you have any dimensions on the tray stand alone or on the drop in full width carrier? Specifically, the overall length of flat, usable space and the width at the bottom and the top of the carriers and the tote? I am still dialing everything in but currently the slide tray is about 9" at the bottom, 3" up to the "shelf" where it becomes 12" wide. It is another 3" up from the shelf. Length will be about 62".
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Post by phatman113 on Mar 29, 2023 15:52:37 GMT
I know you're still dialing things in, but do you think you're still roughly on target for the original estimated price of $350-$400? It's an amazing value for what you're proposing here, especially with the modular design for the kitchen and other boxes...
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Post by BoxGods on Mar 29, 2023 20:21:05 GMT
I know you're still dialing things in, but do you think you're still roughly on target for the original estimated price of $350-$400? It's an amazing value for what you're proposing here, especially with the modular design for the kitchen and other boxes... I am still on track so far--budget is always top of mind. That being said, it is easy to have "feature creep" sneak up on you. I caught myself considering a carbon fiber tray yesterday. It would shave off 3 to 5 pounds--which isn't really an issue for the Utility Tray the way it will be for the kitchen--and it would certainly look awesome, but not really something I could justify in the design budget. Sometimes it has to be enough to know you could if you really wanted to =)
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Post by rivianater on Apr 1, 2023 19:38:50 GMT
With Rivian pulling the shuttle from its online store, this is all I can think about!!!
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Post by eyesore on Apr 1, 2023 21:03:36 GMT
Where are we with the number of people signed up to get the gear shuttle?
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Post by BoxGods on Apr 1, 2023 21:44:15 GMT
Where are we with the number of people signed up to get the gear shuttle? The numbers are posted on the news ticker of the front page. Just checked and we are at 101 signups. I'm working on the final design and production preparation now with a targeted ship date of mid to late May. As always, forecasting production--especially for new products--is not an exact science as there are a lot of variables. Better to view the target date as a "no sooner than".
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Post by Ryan of PDX on Apr 2, 2023 9:36:11 GMT
Pleased to read that signups have reached the big number!
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Post by BoxGods on Apr 2, 2023 15:37:40 GMT
Pleased to read that signups have reached the big number! Me too. I am hacking away at it as fast as I can guys =)
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Post by oldsmobilemike on Apr 3, 2023 20:49:55 GMT
Am probably misunderstanding from the most recent renders, but is the flat slide-out table off the drawing board?
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Post by BoxGods on Apr 4, 2023 0:18:29 GMT
Am probably misunderstanding from the most recent renders, but is the flat slide-out table off the drawing board? When I tested the UHMW slide rails for that they are probably a tiny bit to hard to pull for some people's tastes. My guess is 90% of people would be fine with the pull force required and 10% would be unhappy. I have switched to two way slides but have kept the platform concept--just with a 3" deep U shape rather than 1.5" flat / box shape.
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Post by oldsmobilemike on Apr 4, 2023 19:03:17 GMT
Understood, thanks for replying. I'm frequently working around my truck, using tailgate as a platform to cut long boards, etc., so a flat slide-out table would give me more workspace. Basically just need more flat surface to set stuff. U-shape tray sounds less than ideal, but I understand my use case is probably different from most others. Thanks!
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Post by BoxGods on Apr 4, 2023 22:39:21 GMT
Understood, thanks for replying. I'm frequently working around my truck, using tailgate as a platform to cut long boards, etc., so a flat slide-out table would give me more workspace. Basically just need more flat surface to set stuff. U-shape tray sounds less than ideal, but I understand my use case is probably different from most others. Thanks! The slide tray is 6mm (1/4 inch) aluminum and has a 1" wide flange on either side specifically for people wanting to use it for DIY projects. It would be about as simple as it gets to add a plywood work top. The Utility tray itself is also overbuilt for those wanting to add a hinged lid to use it as gun storage or a work table--or anything else people might need. My point is I designed in as much versatility for DIY projects as I could. rivian-aftermarket.proboards.com/attachment/download/369If you look at this image, the silver aluminum portion is 1/4" thick. You can fasten a hinged plywood or aluminum top that spans the flanges and you get a top AND 3" of storage underneath.
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Post by BoxGods on Apr 6, 2023 22:16:15 GMT
I've had a lot of you guys asking about having the utility tray being powered--as in having 110v plug/s available inside the Slide Out Utility Tray. I think this makes sense for a lot of users as it lets you charge batteries for small cordless tools, laptops, tablets, camera equipment, or any other electronic devices that might be stored in the Gear Tunnel. The Slide Out Camp Kitchen needs power also for obvious reasons, so the slide tray will need the underlying architecture for power anyway--a bit silly not to have the option available for the Utility Tray.
Typically the Gear Tray and DIY Camp Kitchen projects have used a basic E-Chain power connection which is fine, (though using E-chains laying on their side isn't really a best practice) they won't work here because the slide tray is designed to slide out either / both sides of the truck. That ability to slide out either side is very useful IMO but it does make powering the slide a fair bit more involved.
Below are some renders of the basic concept of how I am thinking of powering the slide tray in both directions. This is a work in progress and there will likely be changes to the design before we enter production. This is a six inch section of the tracks shown in a cut-away so you can see what's happening--the actual tracks run almost the full length of the slide out--so about five feet long and obviously the ends are capped. The rails are extruded plastic as they serve as electrical insulators. The bottom track is screwed to the base of the slide mount and is fixed in place. The top track is screwed to the bottom of the slide out tray--so it moves in and out of the truck with the slide tray. The trolley or carriage--shown in red--is restrained for and aft, and up and down in the Z axis, but can traverse left to right. In this image the extruded plastic insulator from the top rail has been removed so you can see the embedded brass conductors. This one shows the UHMW carriage body removed so you can see the high copper content carbon brushes. They are spring loaded to keep them in good contact with the brass conductor rails. The springs also make the brushes self adjusting as they wear over time. There is a pair of connected brushes for each of the three power legs, hot, neutral, and earth / ground. the upper and lower brush of each pair is connected via a brazed copper wire which allows for slight movement in the brushes--again as they wear over time.This shows the bottom extruded plastic insulator removed so you can see the brass conductor rails. The conductors of the bottom track are energized via a short power cord on the end that plus into the Gear Tunnel power outlet. Power is passed from that track, into and through the brushes, and into the top rail which is how we are able to have outlet/s in the tray. These are the high copper carbon brushes that transfer energy between the upper and lower rails. They are (relatively) inexpensive and designed to be easily replaceable by the user when they wear out--which is unlikely in the life span of the truck.Just another view to give you an idea how everything fits together.Another view of the brushes in the tracks with the carriage body removed so you can see better.
None of this is reinventing the wheel as it is all long established technology--as in 100 plus years--and is used in drills, grinders, saws, and just about anything that has an electric motor. To put wear life in perspective, a grinder or drill typically runs at about 1250 rpm and they typically work for years before the brushes need changing. you could think of it as one years slide tray use being equal to about a minute of use on the grinder. Maybe 5 minutes for somebody using the slide tray 10 x a day 5 days a week.
To save anyone having to ask, the slots in the rails are 2mm wide--or about 1/16th inch. As a reference that is about the same width as the slot in your typical household outlet. The renders are close up so you can see better, which makes the slots look like the grand canyon =). For a sense of scale, the red carriage is 2 inches by 2 inches.
Another advantage to a system like this is that it is well suited for the modular system we want for easily swapping between modules like the camp kitchen or Slide out Utility tray. One downside is cost which will be about $50, which is why it will be offered as an option for the Slide out Utility Tray as not everyone will want or need the tray powered. That said, better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
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