Hell's Gate in my R1T

[R1Sky Business]

I'm not sure when that happened but it was definitely not on Hell's Gate. I think I snagged a tree branch on an earlier part of the trip. No big deal: an off-road vehicle with no scratches isn't being used to the fullest

Great attitude!!!

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[Zoidz]

Nice!

I think I am going to bookmark this video. When people come here and complain about the Rivian ride, compare it to a Tesla MX or MY, Kia EV9, Volvo, etc. I'll tell them to watch this and decide whether they want a capable off road vehicle or a Saturday afternoon mall cruiser. ?

 

[SeattleSteve]

On another part of the trail we smashed the front bumper pretty badly by misjudging a ledge. Can you believe the "skid plate" under the front is plastic? There is a substantial composite skid plate under the battery but the ends are pretty vulnerable. I had to constantly remind myself to baby the truck. That one lapse of concentration will be costly. (And it would have been nothing but it little paint scratch on my old Jeep.)

Yes! This The plastic that is on every edge of this truck kills me. I've munched, crunched, or tore off just about every plastic piece minus the plastic rear bumper cover.

Here's a picture with my bed full of busted plastic trim pieces after off-roading. ?

 

[SSteveEV]

I'm not sure when that happened but it was definitely not on Hell's Gate. I think I snagged a tree branch on an earlier part of the trip. No big deal: an off-road vehicle with no scratches isn't being used to the fullest

Agreed! I haven't done anything 10% as fun as that but I've still got scratches

 

[zefram47]

Quad is only *potentially* better than mechanical lockers. Compare my video on Hell's Gate last year with my Jeep (no chirps, no slipping, just a nervous wife behind the camera

In no way, shape, or form is the Quad Motor drive better than proper mechanical lockers (as currently calibrated). Put the R1 in a split-mu situation and the software just gives up. You can floor the throttle and it won't even spin any tires...it just sits there and does nothing. On the slick rock or a trail with similar mu at each corner the truck does phenomenally well, but they really need to do some calibration work in the split-mu situations. For instance, climb up a rock wall with rock, loose dirt, as well as getting tippy up on two diagonal wheels. Not an uncommon situation here in Colorado. But honestly, I'm not sure they can really fix it either because with 3 wheels having limited grip and only 1 with a lot of grip, there's nothing to bias the mu calculations that Rivian does.

What I'd really like to see is a mode that allows all wheels to turn at a minimum speed, say 1-3 mph with whatever torque to each motor is required. Think the way Toyota implemented Crawl Control. But there's just no reason why you should be able to floor the rig and have nothing at all happen. Now, if you move the throttle pedal very quickly you will get it to do something, but in a precarious situation you're liable to flop or do damage in the process.

 

[Ralph]

In no way, shape, or form is the Quad Motor drive better than proper mechanical lockers (as currently calibrated). Put the R1 in a split-mu situation and the software just gives up. You can floor the throttle and it won't even spin any tires...it just sits there and does nothing. On the slick rock or a trail with similar mu at each corner the truck does phenomenally well, but they really need to do some calibration work in the split-mu situations. For instance, climb up a rock wall with rock, loose dirt, as well as getting tippy up on two diagonal wheels. Not an uncommon situation here in Colorado. But honestly, I'm not sure they can really fix it either because with 3 wheels having limited grip and only 1 with a lot of grip, there's nothing to bias the mu calculations that Rivian does.

What I'd really like to see is a mode that allows all wheels to turn at a minimum speed, say 1-3 mph with whatever torque to each motor is required. Think the way Toyota implemented Crawl Control. But there's just no reason why you should be able to floor the rig and have nothing at all happen. Now, if you move the throttle pedal very quickly you will get it to do something, but in a precarious situation you're liable to flop or do damage in the process.

Something like this?

 

[zefram47]

Something like this?

While that would be nice, I'm proposing a software change that should be totally doable for existing trucks.

 

[Ralph]

While that would be nice, I'm proposing a software change that should be totally doable for existing trucks.

A software on solution would be perfect. But wouldn't that result in the overheating condition that the gear reduction is supposed to address? Or is your proposal unique in some way?

From the first paragraph:

" With a motor at every wheel and adjustable long-travel suspension, they can conquer tough terrain, tow with ease, and stay planted in extreme weather. This capability comes at a cost, though. High torque scenarios like rock crawling, heavy-duty towing, and slippery conditions can overheat the motors and limit performance. The answer? A bolt-on low-range gearbox for every corner, of course."

 

[SeaGeo]

Based on previous posts you have a quad. Lockers missing LOL. Lockers go on diffetentials. You don’t have those and no place to put them. Quad is better than any car with locking differentials. I’ll let you do the research .

There isn't a reason a company couldn't design a quad motor system with a differential between two adjacent motors and the ability to mechanically lock them.

The quad motor system is cool, but there are absolutely weaknesses that it's has that a locker doesn't, and vice versa.

 

[SeaGeo]

What were you aired down to?

Not sure I'd go faster through this personally. If anything I'd probably have taken it a bit slower.

 

[_R1S_]

this is a lot harder than it looks, going fast would be terrifying. Lockers would help a LOT.

^^Understatement of the year. Rivian ate it up though! ! ! Going the speed you did is terrifying!

Nice!
Based on previous posts you have a quad. Lockers missing LOL. Lockers go on diffetentials. You don’t have those and no place to put them. Quad is better than any car with locking differentials. I’ll let you do the research .

Good achievement none the less ?

Anyone who's driving hell's gate knows the difference between quad motor, electronic LSD, mechanical lockers, and any combo in-between. "Nonetheless" (one word), you point out the obvious to the expert and recommend they look it up.

 

[_R1S_]

The answer? A bolt-on low-range gearbox for every corner, of course."

Portal axles! Although with a one speed gear box that wouldn't be great on the highway. One thing I read about electric motors is that when a wheel comes off the ground it spools up fast regardless of the amount of current going to it. Where I see this being a problem is when it makes contact back with the ground. I watched or read some early rivian videos or articles that said getting the motors to work right in zero traction situations is very hard.

 

[shrink]

Wow. Just wow.

You are a MUCH better and braver driver than I.

Well done, sir!

 

[JeremyP]

Nice work! It is an intimidating obstacle (also dropping down the entrance to get to the start of the climb takes some commitment). Here's a view from the bottom giving a different perspective. My 4runner was on 35" tires with front and rear lockers, as well as lower axle and transfer case gears.

 

[zefram47]

A software on solution would be perfect. But wouldn't that result in the overheating condition that the gear reduction is supposed to address? Or is your proposal unique in some way?

From the first paragraph:

" With a motor at every wheel and adjustable long-travel suspension, they can conquer tough terrain, tow with ease, and stay planted in extreme weather. This capability comes at a cost, though. High torque scenarios like rock crawling, heavy-duty towing, and slippery conditions can overheat the motors and limit performance. The answer? A bolt-on low-range gearbox for every corner, of course."

I definitely had the truck go into turtle mode while trying to climb the rock wall I mentioned. Something overheated for sure. Let it sit for a minute or two and it cooled down enough to keep going. Lowering gearing would certainly help, but it also adds weight and complexity.

We'll see though. Mercedes is supposedly adding a low range to their upcoming EV G-wagon, possibly lockers and portal axles too. The G has always been a ridiculously capable off-roader that almost never goes off pavement because of how expensive they are.

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