tidmutt
Well-known member
- First Name
- Daniel
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2020
- Threads
- 8
- Messages
- 603
- Reaction score
- 992
- Location
- Somewhere hot and humid
- Vehicles
- Model Y Performance, Model X P100D
- Occupation
- Software Architect
I wish for it to be different, but can't argue with the logic especially the point about NVH. The solid wall would seem to be a lot easier to seal, one less point of failure etc. although a sliding window seems like less of a problem in that regard, with on where for it to go, it's problematic as you said.RE Midgate
Although I'd really like to see a midgate I'm not sure how they will manage to do it with the current mid wall design. The problem is that the CT 6.5ft bed is only so on the bed level itself, and it tapers back into the bed area to accommodate the rear seat backrest recline angle. Technically it's only a 6ft bed at 1ft over the bed, which is also an issue for tall people sleeping on a higher mattress. Total height under the vault cover at the midwall is around 3ft.
The window is also another issue in that there is no room underneath the current midwall design to slide the window down. For reference the window is only 11-12" (30cm) high so it wouldn't work as a crawl through, and the area that is parallel to the window underneath is only 7". So unless they slope the rear window to match the midwall incline area the window will not have any space to wind down into. If they do have a opening in the midwall, that would also allow an after market addition of some rearwards facing seats in the vault...if you needed them.
That leaves another problem with the current midwall design. If it folds over forwards like it is now it's also not flat area to extend the bed. It would have to be straight instead of the z shape, but that also shaves off some length at the bed height when up. There's also a problem with load retention when the midgate is folded down. For that they might need to foldup the rear seat bottom to create a retention wall behind the front seats.
Maybe foldup rear seats like in the F150s would be easier overall to add storage space in the cab, and together with lights in the top of the rear gate, so when it's folded over theres still rear light, might be an easier way to extend the bed length for those occasions you need the extra bed length. Which is what it looks like they're doing in the CT prototype:
In a ideal world the whole cab would shuffle forwards a bit and allow for a simpler straight mid wall with wind down window that could also then fold forward (midgate) on top of the read seats backrests. The limitation there is to keep the head height for the rear passengers right, the front passenger have ample headroom. From what I can tell without having exact rear seat dimensions, the rear seat bottom will need to lower onto the cab floor in order for the backrest to fold over and be flush with the bed height.
So to get a foldover midgate the midwall needs a significant redesign from the prototype, which is not out of the question, but maybe there is not enough motivation to so if some simpler mechanical changes will add versatility with minimal cost. We also haven't had any recent bed photos. A middle passthru hatch might be easier to accomplish but is not a really useful addition, as the bed is already long enough for skis etc.
As for using the midwall window for HVAC for the vault area, I think its much easier and effective to duct through the HVAC to the rear vault and in particular it could then be independently temperature controlled, without having to deal with any NVH leaking in from the rear into the cabin.
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It will feel a lot more useful as a camper IMO if there is a pass through of some kind, or a window that opens. A couple of people in the bed wouldn't leave a lot of space for luggage.
Still, it's not the end of the world if there is no pass through, but no A/C would make it a lot less appealing.
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