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

[moosetags]

I don't need or want a tonneau cover. I had it on my order to get a truck. I am very glad that it's gone. Hopefully, it will stay gone. That way the Service Centers can spend their time fixing stuff that really matters.

Brian

Sponsored

 

[mabowden]

I don't need or want a tonneau cover. I hand it on my order to get a truck. I am very glad that it's gone. Hopefully, it will stay gone. That way the Service Centers can spend their time fixing stuff that really matters.

Brian

Agreed- except I do want the manual panels.

I estimate it will take 20 techs a years worth of hours to fix the tonneaus in the wild right now.

 

[Rivianready]

Just got this ..

When I test drove the R1T, one of the few negative things that stood out was the tonneau cover. It was noisy and sounded like the motor on it was struggling.

 

[zipzag]

I wonder if Rivian will make some sort of a deal with folks with the power cover? Free camp kitchen or discount plus the manual covers?

I really, like lots of folks, did not want a power or even a tonneau cover but got it to get the truck. I do really like having it.

You will eventually get an updated automatic cover if you complain

 

[GHuff]

This is a pretty sad failure that Rivian is having to admit to. The powered tonneau was no doubt was expensive to design and build. They thought they were doing something really special by integrating it in the truck. Turns out to just be a huge failure that cost a lot of money. And now the internal / integral storage space will go unused and is wasted. The R1T could have maybe had a larger bed, larger gear tunnel, more room for wiring and make things easier to manufacturer, maybe even slightly more cabin room, etc. . So much of the truck was built around the gear tunnel and integral tonneau cover. To have one of those completely fail and no longer be used for it's intended purpose is bad. What a shame.
The internal storage space for the cover was specifically designed for a stacking system. I don't think it's possible to utilize that existing space without stacking a cover. And, clearly, a stacking system is not practical. There is no way they can transition to a rolled system and use the existing internal space.

Just a sad failure all around.

They won't be able to fully fix this until they come out with a whole new R1T body that doesn't have the storage space of a stacking tonneau cover.

 

[GHuff]

I think the can't be retrofitted statement is total BS because what are they going to do with the 12,000 trucks that have been promised to get the updated version when available

The only way to retrofit is to keep the "stacking" design. The stacking design is always gone to be prone to failure.

 

[SoCal Rob]

This is exactly what I meant. I want something that will last, without question. Its crazy to think that these powered tonneaus are failing so early. I plan on having this truck at least 5 years. A manual tonneau will easily last that long.

Okay, that intent makes sense and I agree with you 100%. When I read the part after the comma it left me scratching my head because I started going down the literal, “I do not want my truck to outlast…” and I thought I’d never wish for that.

For the record, I think I get the frustration with the tonneaus breaking and I’m highly sympathetic. People are counting on the secure storage which converts to an open bed (and back agin) with the push of a button. Plus, when showing your truck to other people it is PAINFULLY obvious that something is wrong compared to, say, the power dash vents not keeping a set position. This can lead to less-kind folks poking at you about your decision to buy. Especially if they questioned your purchase of a new model from a new manufacturer when you were at the reservation stage. Maddening.

 

[BCan]

Why don’t they design and offer a manual stacking version? That allows the same storage area…makes repairs much easier. I have to think that’s achievable.

 

[GHuff]

That was the it for me, I was debating in my head R1T and R1S, 80% of the pros for R1T are gone now then I just switched back to the SUV.

The only thing that I really wanted was the max pack, but I can live with the large one.

And again, maybe I will be just waiting for nothing until we receive a letter saying the Max pack was removed from specs while they .... Something ...it.

The only real benefit of the truck now is the gear tunnel. The R1S is also

Why don’t they design and offer a manual stacking version? That allows the same storage area…makes repairs much easier. I have to think that’s achievable.

Not sure exactly how many panels there are, but it'd be pretty annoying and cumbersome to slide in, align, remove, and stack 10-20 panels. The storage space is small, so the panels would have to be very thin and narrow, and there would have to be a lot of them.
But, I think it might be worth exploring.

 

[BCan]

The only real benefit of the truck now is the gear tunnel. The R1S is also

Not sure exactly how many panels there are, but it'd be pretty annoying and cumbersome to slide in, align, remove, and stack 10-20 panels. The storage space is small, so the panels would have to be very thin and narrow, and there would have to be a lot of them.
But, I think it might be worth exploring.

I was envisioning a mechanism that did the stacking…with the panels attached to each other. A rolling cover, like a retrax, would be great…but the storage space is too small.

 

[jbowen52]

I reserved the Adventure version that included the power tonneau. I will take the manual one instead, but will they reduce the price by the $750 difference? no indication so far.

 

[jbowen52]

I was envisioning a mechanism that did the stacking…with the panels attached to each other. A rolling cover, like a retrax, would be great…but the storage space is too small.

Rivian reports that there are four panels to the manual tonneau that go into a bag and fit in the gear tunnel. I had a manual tonneau on my Ram 1500 and very seldom took it off, so I was actually more interested in the manual one expecting there would be problems with the power tonneau which apparently seems to be the case. I then found that the power tonneau was part of the Adventure package, so took it. I expect to be quite satisfied with the manual version.

 

[Metaphor]

Where is all this R1T has to be redesigned to fix the tonneau coming from?

This sounds like FUD running rampant. The truck doesn't need a redesign the cover does and that's what Rivian is doing.

We know the R1T Tonneau doesn't work as intended. Rivian knows this and has pledged a redesign for those that have the cover. Rivian and several engineering channels have said there are ways to fix the design to work reliably.

Rivian is pivoting to a non-optimal choice for order holders for the time being.

That is: if you are getting a truck now you can take a manual cover or no cover.

They fully intend to make the powered tonneau work, and have it offered again, but what they can not afford to do is continue to purchase and ship a known defective expensive part that has to be retrofitted later. Rivian also can not afford to shutter the line by not shipping trucks. they are basically trying to ship as many as they can and for now the only option in the line is to ship without covers and get you a manual one later as an option.

This sucks for pre-order holders who want a powered cover. If you are in that position, you might want to reach out to your guide and have a conversation about if they can delay your order (possibly). Welcome to production hell - it's not fun for them or us thats for sure.

 

[Gavinmcc]

Where is all this R1T has to be redesigned to fix the tonneau coming from?

This sounds like FUD running rampant. The truck doesn't need a redesign the cover does and that's what Rivian is doing.

We know the R1T Tonneau doesn't work as intended. Rivian knows this and has pledged a redesign for those that have the cover. Rivian and several engineering channels have said there are ways to fix the design to work reliably.

Rivian is pivoting to a non-optimal choice for order holders for the time being.

That is: if you are getting a truck now you can take a manual cover or no cover.

They fully intend to make the powered tonneau work, and have it offered again, but what they can not afford to do is continue to purchase and ship a known defective expensive part that has to be retrofitted later. Rivian also can not afford to shutter the line by not shipping trucks. they are basically trying to ship as many as they can and for now the only option in the line is to ship without covers and get you a manual one later as an option.

This sucks for pre-order holders who want a powered cover. If you are in that position, you might want to reach out to your guide and have a conversation about if they can delay your order (possibly). Welcome to production hell - it's not fun for them or us thats for sure.

What I’m confused about is this then: if it’s not a redesign, why can’t I get my R1T, that should be made in the next month or so, without the powered cover now, but have the next gen powered cover put in after it comes out?
My R1T will be just like the 12,000 before it, but without the powered cover. Now if Rivian is retro fitting the new cover for the earlier deliveries, why can’t it fit the ones made in the next few months?
I’ve been told by CS twice that it can’t be added now, and it can’t be added later. And that seems off.
I do want the earlier people to get their covers fixed, if they have issues.
And I think it’s great that Rivian is planning to improve it in the near future.
But it’s strange that there will be a select group of 20 to 40k Rivians (rough estimate. Fix could take longer) that won’t be able to get this feature when the truck hasn’t changed from the ones before it.
No hard feelings toward Rivian, making cars and trucks is tough. But this donut hole of time without a route to a powered cover seems weird

 

[goldburger]

I reserved the Adventure version that included the power tonneau. I will take the manual one instead, but will they reduce the price by the $750 difference? no indication so far.

what do you mean? If you select the manual cover it will cost what’s the manual cover costs, not what the powered costs. As they said you have to make the change, it won’t happen automatically.

Sponsored