⛔️ Powered Tonneau cover removed from R1T production until further notice on all future deliveries

[dp351]

I’ve owned many trucks, none with a tonneau cover. The only reason I selected the powered tonneau here was in hopes of getting a truck (or shop access) sooner. If I had an R1T with powered tonneau I’d leave it open until V2.0 is installed, and then I’d probably treat it the same. Why? Because this whole powered tonneau concept is asking for problems sooner or later, especially if it’s exposed to extremes of weather, dirt, my children….etc.

As an investor, I love this move, but I hate that it took this long to do it. I acknowledge that this message and other communications haven’t been perfect. But since there is no perfect solution, the best move is to stop the bleeding ASAP.

The root cause of this problem is ambition. Unlike every truck maker before it, Rivian is extremely ambitious, which is why this insanely capable vehicle came to be. Some of their ideas might’ve been overly ambitious. That’s to be expected when thinking so far outside of the box.

But who am I to tell Rivian’s engineers they were wrong to include a powered tonneau? Listening to pessimistic amateur engineers & keyboard warrior Monday morning quarterbacks gets us vehicles like the Toyota Tacoma - bulletproof but barely advanced from the one I drove in high school (and I’m old).

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[moosehead]

 

[mabowden]

Just checked my email and got the same. That is a good thing and more cost effective in the long run. My goal was to get R1T sooner but not at the expense that the cover would break and require time at a SC.

I agree. From the very first deliveries and right after my first mile I had switched to manual tonneau. In my mind I just COULD NOT trust that tonneau. Eventually I moved to power in an attempt to get the truck faster. The first truck that came in with slats in the bed with no tonneau on reddit i switched back to powered...

 

[Sully151]

Wasn’t the powered tonneau part of the Launch Edition? Are they planning on still providing the new one for them?

I originally put my deposit down for an S because I like to keep my gear inside the vehicle and locked. I was lured by the Tonneau cover and the gear tunnel, but went back to the S. Glad I did.

 

[mabowden]

Such BULL! I should be able to get no cover and then get the power covered installed when it becomes available at pre March pricing. I swear they keep taking options away so pre March orders will just give up and cancel. Items being taken away are some of the very reasons why I ordered the Rivian. I feel it is still good deal at pre March pricing but they just keep chipping away at the stone.

Honestly at this point surprised people still want a powered tonneau that is bound to break. I agree though they should just ship them without the powered part and install it when they fix it.

I'm more than happy the manual option is coming out.

 

[WylieD]

the supplier for the current version makes sunroofs and so on.

why assume they’re designing and building it themselves?

I assumed so because Rivian installs the tonneaus on the line, they seem highly integrated with the truck bed, Rivian, not some third party, does the servicing, and Rivian is the one having to clean up this mess.

But my post was unclear. I think it would have been wiser of Rivian to leave tonneaus to the aftermarket. They could have talked with aftermarket suppliers and made the bed easy for them to access power and a bed drain, but that's it. Then any problems would be the headache of the aftermarket and would not absorb any Rivian resources.

Do you know the name of the current supplier? Thanks

 

[Mike TDM]

[/[/QUOTE]

Honestly at this point surprised people still want a powered tonneau that is bound to break. I agree though they should just ship them without the powered part and install it when they fix it.

I'm more than happy the manual option is coming out.

Yes that is what I would like to see happen. At least give an option to retrofit after I get my R1T. Of course my delivery is an estimate of Nov 22- Jan 23. Maybe the tonneau issue will be fixed by then! ( sarcasm intended!)

 

[mabowden]

No biggie on my end. I will switch to the manual cover and add a spare tire with the savings.

Same. I've always wanted the manual and glad its coming out

MY TIME HAS COME! I had manual cover and OC interior from the get go. Slowly changed to try to get the truck faster but now I'm happy that did not happen.

 

[Zool]

Apologies if this has been mentioned in the thread...

If this manual version slides into the rails, does that mean you can't remove or open it without lowering the tailgate? So, when you have a bike rack on or you're parked in a tight garage, yer fucked?

The manual cover sounds like it's either on or off, eliminating dry storage in the bed. You can't crack it open to get something. If so, me not happy.

 

[crashmtb]

I assumed so because Rivian installs the tonneaus on the line, they seem highly integrated with the truck bed, Rivian, not some third party, does the servicing, and Rivian is the one having to clean up this mess.

But my post was unclear. I think it would have been wiser of Rivian to leave tonneaus to the aftermarket. They could have talked with aftermarket suppliers and made the bed easy for them to access power and a bed drain, but that's it. Then any problems would be the headache of the aftermarket and would not absorb any Rivian resources.

Do you know the name of the current supplier? Thanks

Rivian Installs the brakes on the line, which are highly integrated with the truck…..and not designed or made by Rivian. Brembo does those.

BOS Systems is the known supplier.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/manuf...invest-11-million-add-50-jobs-rochester-hills

Apologies if this has been mentioned in the thread...

If this manual version slides into the rails, does that mean you can't remove or open it without lowering the tailgate? So, when you have a bike rack on or you're parked in a tight garage, yer fucked?

The manual cover sounds like it's either on or off, eliminating dry storage in the bed. You can't crack it open to get something. If so, me not happy.

yes, absolutely dickered. have to open the tailgate. I get the impression you might be able to take out an individual segment, but that would be fairly uselss.

 

[Wentworth]

Apologies if this has been mentioned in the thread...

If this manual version slides into the rails, does that mean you can't remove or open it without lowering the tailgate? So, when you have a bike rack on or you're parked in a tight garage, yer fucked?

The manual cover sounds like it's either on or off, eliminating dry storage in the bed. You can't crack it open to get something. If so, me not happy.

All three tonneau covers I’ve owned force one to open the tailgate to open the cover. I’ve had the rack experience you’re describing. Whether or not you can slide out a panel with the rack on will depend on your exact bike rack setup and setback.

 

[mabowden]

I'm semi OK with the manual tonneau. But paying $800 for 4x$20 panels that I didn't want is sad. $1500 for an automatic Tonneau is fine.

Lol. Check other comparable aftermarket options. $800 is a bargain and I believe they're aluminum which doesn't come cheap... They will have to have some sort of interlocking as well so its not just 4 $20 pieces of plywood.

 

[sacramentoelectric]

Lol. Check other comparable aftermarket options. $800 is a bargain and I believe they're aluminum which doesn't come cheap... They will have to have some sort of interlocking as well so its not just 4 $20 pieces of plywood.

Where are you shopping? A quick search on Amazon shows plenty of sub $800 aluminum hard tonneau covers for much bigger beds.

 

[mabowden]

Most people with good functioning gen 1 tonneaus will likely want a fix. For resale if no other reason. Rivian doesn't want to accumulate any more gen 1 owners. Just the impact of replacing existing gen 1 is large in terms of cost and service capacity.

But I was also hoping to get a gen 1 tonneau. Replacement in my driveway would have been no problem for me.

High mileage drivers need to be sure to report the broken gen 1 before their warranty expires. Current trends suggest an out of warranty repair will be a bit less than a V12 engine replacement on a Ferrari.

From what we're hearing they barely have any service capacity as it is. Imagine when 13k trucks need a 3 hour repair.

They have 22 service centers now. 13000/22 = 590. 590x3 is 1772. It will take one service employee nearly a year to do the tonneau retrofits. I think the 3 hour mark is being generous too...

 

[mabowden]

On thing this probably reveals is that the power tonneau isn’t a simple fix and it likely will require a chassis re-design which would come in the next gen R1T or a completely different solution.

I’d rather have the manual cover, which I can store in my garage when not needed, than a power one that I’m afraid to use because it can break. I’ve read too many trip reports of people having horrific issues or not using it because they’re afraid of issues.

I know it’s disappointing, but this was likely Rivian’s best option at this point.

I'm in the exact same boat. I want the tonneau cover to outlast the truck, not the other way around...

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