To be clear I don’t like the camera in any vehicle but I don’t begrudge Lincoln for matching other mfrs.

As stated, Ford could also generate a considerable amount of revenue by selling their CE1 platform to brands like Slate. Kinda like how VW sold their EV platform to Ford. If this CE1 platform is the end all, be all, I can see a lot of startup brands being interested in buying it, even if it means throwing out their own engineering work. Imagine how cool this slate truck would be if they delayed it by a few years to switch to Ford's CE1 platform, and produced in out of one of Ford's plants.    It means a higher quality platform, it means the platform has Ford quality, and can be serviced and repaired at thousands of Ford locations. This could save these start up brands a shit ton of time and money by partnering with someone like Ford instead of trying to build their own series of dealers and services centers across the country.    Now is the time to take a unique approach. This whole thing is about how could Ford rethink their partnerships to make things like producing EVs more profitable and sustainable. 

$25K today is effectively the same as $20K in 2021 when Maverick came out with that base MSRP.    Can Slate deliver the truck at that price? Remains to be seen because they don't have production site or have said anything about who is building it.   The only important thing to remember is Slate can do a 2 door truck because it is BEV - it can deliver huge MPGe so has no CAFE footprint restrictions. Ford probably did look at making a shorter 2 door Maverick but quickly ruled that out due to CAFE. Next gen Maverick will need to get a lot bigger to stay ahead of that dreaded CAFE curve... or go full electric.    That brings me to the CE1 truck... don't forget Ford's CE1 truck target price is... drumroll... $25K. I don't know if Ford CE1 Maverick will beat Slate to market but I wouldn't bet against it.     

It just seems logical for Ford who's been struggling to make profitable EVs, outside of working to develop CE1, the most logical ways to generate profit are to offer a broad range of accessories, but also, to partner with other brands. Either by building their cars, or selling this CE1 platform to them, amongst other things.    This Slate truck is kinda in a weird gray area where it's partially developed, but they haven't locked in a factory yet, or finished the engineering on it. Ford just invested a shit ton of money into BOC which in hindsight, a massive plant that won't have a great output because the large EVs it was created to produce aren't selling well. Outside of moving CE1 production there, the next best thing is to leverage that plant to make money building others products.    Ford makes hundreds of millions, if not billions building other brands cars when the alternative would have been to leave that plant under capacity and under utilized, and brands like Slate have a dependable manufacturing partner, it's a win-win. 

Their approach to the industry has been unlike anything else we've seen in the ev startup space. Most EVs thus far have been large, very expensive products with very limited customization abilities. This product takes a radically different approach to basically anything else on the market.    It stands to reason that if someone else is making a very compelling product in a segment you're competing in, a radically new approach, it could benefit your brand to partner and learn from them. Additionally, turning a rival into an ally is never a bad strategy.    Ford seems to have taken a creative approach with the development of the CE1 platform, it's innovative, but as for the rest of the truck, who knows. Whereas this seems to have a rather restrained platform by EV standards, but took a radical approach in several other areas, like saving 300 million by not having a paint shop, and instead encouraging customers to wrap the truck. Or by developing an entire range of accessories that will be profit drivers for the company.    Could Ford do something like that? Yeah, but they haven't done that with their existing EVs, and there's been no mention of broad customization and accessories for future EVs mentioned up until this point. 

A lot to unpack here, and for what it's worth I'm on the cautious side because the whole point of camping is to relax, not spend 3 - 5 terrifying hours trying to keep the rig upright with a back seat of screaming kids  * Diesel. Gas is a great engine if you want to tow around a ~30ft bumper pull, but at the size you're looking for you will want diesel if only to reduce the amount of engine noise -- the gas engine is likely to stay at higher RPMs trying to tow around a huge 5th wheel like that. 42' fifth wheels get heavy fast. More so for toy haulers. Gas is not the best tool for that job.  * EDIT TO ADD -- Also, diesel so you can go through the truck stops to refuel. I would never in a million years want to pull a 42' 5th wheel through a corner Shell station on a Saturday with a million blind minivans trying to end my vacation early.   * CDL question: That is entirely dependent on the state you are in and how loaded your trailer is. I don't know if CDL requirements are on max weight or actual weight, but you'll want to become an expert on those laws rather than trust some random folks on the Internet.    * "the most payload", you are going to want to get a bottom of the line trim with no extras if you want the highest payload. I have a Platinum SRW F350 and my payload is "only" 3920; but while towing I am riding very comfortably with massage seats. I think the sweet spot if I wanted toys and payload would be a Lariat, but I'm not sure how much more payload I would get.    * This is the big one: You said that your target length is ~42', and in that case I really really think dually is your only realistic option. You don't say how much towing experience you have, but at 42' 5th wheel is a HUGE amount of wind surface, and you'll want those extra wheels helping keep your rear under control. I'm not trying to be the tow police here, but this is a huge investment for you and I only see white knuckle buyers remorse if you spend any real time in a SRW with a 40+ foot 5th wheel. But again, I lean on the cautious side because I'd rather cruise listening to music, not fight the rig.  I probably wouldn't go over 38 feet if I wanted to stick with my SRW setup and stay relaxed, but to be fair I haven't towed that long before. My current trailer is only 28' and low profile and even with that I only know it's back there with a strong gust hits it. I can't imagine a much taller, much longer trailer going gentle when a shear hits it.    Good luck on your research!

My '94 F-150 has crank windows.  Young people get a big kick out of that, and the vent windows.

But I'm trying to understand your logic, though, of why Ford investing in/buying Slate would benefit Ford?   You haven't proposed anything they'd bring to the table outside of "boxy traditional truck design" and "customization".  Both of which Ford could do on their own, as we've seen with something like Bronco.   If they had a new battery technology or unique motor design or something that Ford could learn from it might be something, but they don't seem to have that either.

We're just gonna have to agree to disagree man. 

Has he said the CE1 truck will be radical looking, or other vehicles on the platform will be that way? (genuinely asking)   And, even if the CE1 is radical looking, I revert to my other point of....let's say they do want to have a "safe"/traditional design option alongside the radical one......why would they invest billions in this random no-name company and hope it works, when they could just take their own great new CE1 platform and put a more traditional top hat on it with tried & true/well known Ford branding?