Commuting Concerns on a Packed Ferry Boat

[PappaBolt]

This is a speculative thread on being prepared for potential breakdowns while on a packed ferry boat.

I commute several days a week via a crowded vehicle ferry. The cars are squeezed in as tight as possible with no room to go around if there’s a breakdown. As you might expect traditional ICE vehicles have occasionally broken down, jamming other cars from exiting the ferry and holding up other commuters. Engines that won’t start, dead batteries. these vehicles can be placed in neutral and rolled out in worst case.

For our Rivians, if we loose the 12v they are unmovable. Or maybe I’m missing a way they can be manually forced into neutral without power?

Is there anything one can do to reduce the odds of this happening? For example: leave the vehicle in “Ready” mode and don’t leave or lock the vehicle. Carry a jump battery and tools in case the 12v batteries die.

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[COdogman]

The tow operator’s guide is probably the best resource if something like this happens. It doesn’t say anything specifically about what to do if the 12v is dead (other than attempting to jump start the 12v) so I assume their transport instructions would apply even in that situation.

Basically it sounds like you need to ensure the parking brake is off and tow at less than 5mph or it will come back on automatically. If the 12v is already dead and you can’t release the parking brake via the display you need to lift the rear wheels before towing. Not ideal on a ferry?

https://assets.rivian.com/2md5qhoea...-tow-operator-guide-en-us-20240304.pdf#page24

 

[SparkyR1t]

There is a tool that releases the electric parking brake. It would be a last resort but possibly handy item to carry for your concerns. I would want to try it out once at home to make sure I know how it works

https://rivianservicetools.com/Catalog/Product/TSN00547-300-C

 

[PappaBolt]

There is a tool that releases the electric parking brake. It would be a last resort but possibly handy item to carry for your concerns. I would want to try it out once at home to make sure I know how it works

https://rivianservicetools.com/Catalog/Product/TSN00547-300-C

That might be an option, albeit expensive. I wonder about braking a 7,000 lb vehicle rolling down the ramp without power assist.

 

[jeeden]

In this extreme situation I would say some wheel dollies that you use in a garage would be better, or even some plastic glides under the wheels.

I really think this is an extreme edge case that you are not likely to run into. How long is the Ferry ride? If it is 10 minutes and the 12v battery shows no problem as you enter the ferry it's not going to die in 10 minutes. If you have a battery light on as you enter the ferry and it pulls away from the dock, keep it in drive and sit in the car so the HV battery is still engaged with the 12v and then drive it off and to a spot for the 12v to die that is easy to tow from. Basically, the same approach if you noticed the battery dying on your ICE and you were running off the alternator.

 

[PappaBolt]

In this extreme situation I would say some wheel dollies that you use in a garage would be better, or even some plastic glides under the wheels.

I really think this is an extreme edge case that you are not likely to run into. How long is the Ferry ride? If it is 10 minutes and the 12v battery shows no problem as you enter the ferry it's not going to die in 10 minutes. If you have a battery light on as you enter the ferry and it pulls away from the dock, keep it in drive and sit in the car so the HV battery is still engaged with the 12v and then drive it off and to a spot for the 12v to die that is easy to tow from. Basically, the same approach if you noticed the battery dying on your ICE and you were running off the alternator.

Boat time is 40 min commute plus load/unload time. IIDK about it being extreme, as others have reported the 12v can die without warning with no easy way to move the vehicle while in a confined directional space.

 

[Kidentist]

We've taken those ferry rides in the past for fun, beautiful for those of us leaving in the arid eastern side of WA. Never once did I think about a car "breaking down" in the ferry, I guess it would be a colossal PITA........ ?

 

[jjswan33]

Boat time is 40 min commute plus load/unload time. IIDK about it being extreme, as others have reported the 12v can die without warning with no easy way to move the vehicle while in a confined directional space.

Are the reports of 12V failure really that widespread? Sure some will fail just like any 12V battery and it does complicate things if you get completely locked out.

Certainly plenty of people that have had no 12V problems, including myself after 2 years and 57k miles. So in my opinion being that concerned about this is a bit extreme but I guess the typical adage YMMV.

 

[PappaBolt]

Are the reports of 12V failure really that widespread? Sure some will fail just like any 12V battery and it does complicate things if you get completely locked out.

Certainly plenty of people that have had no 12V problems, including myself after 2 years and 57k miles. So in my opinion being that concerned about this is a bit extreme but I guess the typical adage YMMV.

Labeling my concern as extreme seems dismissive. I’d rather be prepared. You may feel differently if it happened to you. I’ll let others weigh in on their 12v stories.

I’m coming up on 3 years of ownership and haven’t had a failure (yet).

 

[Mathme]

Drive it, ferry it, and don't worry about it. The chance of a breakdown on the ferry is very remote to say the least and if it did break down on the Ferry, the system has plans for when it does happen (as you know you wouldn't be the First).

 

[jjswan33]

Labeling my concern as extreme seems dismissive. I’d rather be prepared. You may feel differently if it happened to you. I’ll let others weigh in on their 12v stories.

I wasn't trying to be dismissive, just that negative reports get amplified and I am sure others will tell you about their episodes. Just pointing out that most likely most owners won't experience 12V issues at all. But again YMMV

 

[Polar]

If you’re that concerned about the 12V just sit in your truck the entire time with the headlights turned off in park still in ready mode. Problem solved.

Those little tractors, the Washington state fairy guys use to pull cars can pull trucks and semis off the ferry as well. I don’t think a 7000 pound SUV would cause any concern.

 

[carsly]

I keep a charged 12v jump starter in all my vehicles at all times. You just never know.

 

[gregtay]

This is a speculative thread on being prepared for potential breakdowns while on a packed ferry boat.

I commute several days a week via a crowded vehicle ferry. The cars are squeezed in as tight as possible with no room to go around if there’s a breakdown. As you might expect traditional ICE vehicles have occasionally broken down, jamming other cars from exiting the ferry and holding up other commuters. Engines that won’t start, dead batteries. these vehicles can be placed in neutral and rolled out in worst case.

For our Rivians, if we loose the 12v they are unmovable. Or maybe I’m missing a way they can be manually forced into neutral without power?

Is there anything one can do to reduce the odds of this happening? For example: leave the vehicle in “Ready” mode and don’t leave or lock the vehicle. Carry a jump battery and tools in case the 12v batteries die.

I think you are overthinking this a bit, this isn't really an issue and the Bainbridge ferry isn't long enough to really worry about it. I sit in my car for an hour with the heat or AC blasting and listening to music and I never have issues with the 12v. Most of the 12v issues were early on when they had two 12v batteries (apparently the system design had some issues.) They moved to a single battery and there haven't really been significant issues since. Rivian's (and most modern cars) are smart enough to start shutting down things if they detect at 12v issue. Think about how many Tesla's sit on that ferry every day and have been commuting for many years.

 

[KBabione]

I understand your concern...If something happened to your R1 while on the ferry there could easily be an "organizational overreaction" that would prevent ALL Rivians from being permitted on the boat because "if it dies, you can't even put it in neutral to move it."

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