Entry / ingress into R1 is not that easy

[crashmtb]

New member here…

I am a 29” inseam guy with two hip replacements. I try remember to lower the suspension upon exit. It is not that bad really. And to exit, just swivel on the seat and slide out..l

Now I do have a Land Rover Defender 110 from 1990. I carry a little stool on a piece of paracord to get in that one… Awkward but needed…

I was going to post a picture of a tape measure showing ground to sill of my defender

My wife is 5'2" on a tall day and makes extensive use of the handle on the end of the dash or the steering wheel. When we demo'd an R1T she had no problem getting in on low height, standard was a bit of a stretch. Park/kneel mode will be most useful, hopefully they have it by the time we get ours.

I have to say in the 4 years I've had my defender it's been great for hip flexibility.

How much more difficult is it to get in the R1T at the lowest suspension height compared to a standard SUV/crossover (CR-V, Rav4, etc...)?

I am 6'1" so it won't be an issue for me but my wife is 5'2" so I am just concerned she will struggle trying to get in. I can always get in first and make sure the truck is set to the lowest setting and worst case scenario I can get her a little folding step stool lol.

Also I am wondering how this future kneel mode will work. At the lowest suspension height the fenders are sitting really close to the tire so how will it be possible to get the truck to go even lower? Or is it just software programming to automatically put the truck at the lowest height when parked?

It is none more difficult.
Park/kneel mode is likely even lower than "lowest". it is probably similar to kneel mode on a bus, where they just dump all the air.

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[johnstuder]

How much more difficult is it to get in the R1T at the lowest suspension height compared to a standard SUV/crossover (CR-V, Rav4, etc...)?

I am 6'1" so it won't be an issue for me but my wife is 5'2" so I am just concerned she will struggle trying to get in. I can always get in first and make sure the truck is set to the lowest setting and worst case scenario I can get her a little folding step stool lol.

Also I am wondering how this future kneel mode will work. At the lowest suspension height the fenders are sitting really close to the tire so how will it be possible to get the truck to go even lower? Or is it just software programming to automatically put the truck at the lowest height when parked?

I find it substantially more challenging than our older MDX. I think its a bit higher than the rental 4Runner we had earlier this year. My wife is 5'0, and can manage, if not actually liking it. I also don't like the weather strip at the bottom edge that I often catch as I slide out. So while not a deal killer, not ideal.

 

[AxelR]

Gonna have to be careful with park/kneel mode when off-roading. I wish they put a grab handle on the A pillar (in addition to kneel mode). In the mean time I’ll be fine at 6.2 and still not having a Rivian ?

 

[Siguy90]

I find it substantially more challenging than our older MDX. I think its a bit higher than the rental 4Runner we had earlier this year. My wife is 5'0, and can manage, if not actually liking it. I also don't like the weather strip at the bottom edge that I often catch as I slide out. So while not a deal killer, not ideal.

Good to know. And just to confirm you mean that even at the lowest suspension height it's a bit higher than a 4Runner?

 

[mini2nut]

It’s interesting since RJ Scaringe is 5’ 8” (173 cm) tall.

 

[Sierra7117]

Grab bars on the A-pillar would be infinitely less complicated than special ingress and egress modes. Why bother with a $5K solution for a $5 problem? It's as if during development no one who test drove had experience with trucks. Still love my R1T though!

 

[Dirty_B]

We need squat mode! We need squat mode! We need squat mode!!!

Nope, need running boards... Something like, but better than, Toyota Predators.

 

[kurtlikevonnegut]

It’s interesting since RJ Scaringe is 5’ 8” (173 cm) tall.

Are you sure? I thought he said he was about 6'2 in the Rivian R1S video when he got in the back.

 

[dleepnw]

thanks for the responses everyone. glad to know its not just me. i did try entering and exiting the vehicle about 15 times while in standard height. though i got more familiar it didnt really get any easier. my wife is 5'0 so its definitely going to be a challenge. time to stop by ikea for a nice folding step stool.

and i can see, as @kurtlikevonnegut pointed out, i think those side bolsters are going to take some wear and tear. dont know if thats any different from other off road vehicles but can see it happening.

 

[johnstuder]

Good to know. And just to confirm you mean that even at the lowest suspension height it's a bit higher than a 4Runner?

That's my impression. But to be fair, there was 5 months in between, and just used it on vacation in CO.

 

[astonius]

Grab bars on the A-pillar would be infinitely less complicated than special ingress and egress modes. Why bother with a $5K solution for a $5 problem? It's as if during development no one who test drove had experience with trucks. Still love my R1T though!

I fully support the A-pillar grab handles, but ingress and egress modes aren’t a $5k solution. Yes, retractable running boards would be a pricey fix, but airing out the suspension on park is already feasible with an OTA update (and is already on the roadmap).

 

[Hoo D. Hoo]

Grab bars on the A-pillar would be infinitely less complicated than special ingress and egress modes. Why bother with a $5K solution for a $5 problem? It's as if during development no one who test drove had experience with trucks. Still love my R1T though!

Staggering to me that these aren't already on there. At 6' I admit I hadn't given this a moment's thought. But this thread reminds me that Sweetie is going to want to ride in it too. She's 5' 1.5".

We can put in a mini-tramp next to the driveway. But that's a little cumbersome to carry around.

 

[COdogman]

We need squat mode! We need squat mode! We need squat mode!!!

 

[Lobo]

Are you sure? I thought he said he was about 6'2 in the Rivian R1S video when he got in the back.

Yeah, I think the wikipedia page is wrong. Here he is with Rhianna who is supposedly 5'8". unless his heels are way higher than hers...

 

[whyasky]

I'm 5'8" on a good day and I don't have any issue getting in the truck. It is, however, absolutely comical to watch my 9 and 7 year olds give the 4 year old a boost to hop in. I'm going to have to take him rock climbing once he figures out how to get in on his own!

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