!Dry out your R1T spare tire bay! Or expect RUST & Petri dish effects!

[R1TCA]

Hi all. Friendly R1T notice incoming!
The spare tire bay doesn’t empty completely and should be checked in case you don’t want rotting debris or worse, a tire that’s soaking after rains or cleaning with water, and washing.

I just checked the spare tire bay after the mad rains in FL and to my surprise there’s been stagnant water the tire was marinating in!

See pics for depth gauged with the retention rod.

Definitely some type of growth happening as can be expected in a swamp. My 5th tire/wheel had bits stuck to it as I pulled it out.

The fix was a sponge and some towels to get the remainder of water out.
I routinely wash the bed out and I’m sure some of this water accumulated then too. In California I would guess the water would evaporate eventually, but I’m glad I checked while in FL because it was pretty stank!

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[Dark-Fx]

You probably need your seal replaced or checked. Water shouldn't be able to enter the compartment unless it's open.

 

[R1TandMe]

I think it says in the manual that it is not water tight.

 

[beatle]

Yep, the spare tire compartment is not water tight:

That said, there is a drain plug at the bottom of the compartment. Seems like instead of a drain plug, it should be one of those valves like the front trunk has that automatically lets water drain out.

 

[TTedP]

I think someone posted a while back a photo where they stored all their biking gear in there and it was moldy & mildewed. I guess tires and rims can handle it.

 

[R1TCA]

Yep, the spare tire compartment is not water tight:

That said, there is a drain plug at the bottom of the compartment. Seems like instead of a drain plug, it should be one of those valves like the front trunk has that automatically lets water drain out.

Yeah that's what I read. It's clearly not water tight. I don't think any seals are at issue here.

About the drain position: In the pics you can see the water that was remaining, was lower than the drain plug (round object pictured next to the retention rod in the water).

 

[Riviot]

Funny, I opened mine yesterday for like the 3rd time ever to take this pic and 54k miles later it's probably the cleanest place in my truck.

 

[R1TCA]

Funny, I opened mine yesterday for like the 3rd time ever to take this pic and 54k miles later it's probably the cleanest place in my truck.

Rub it in!! ?

 

[CrazyOne]

PTC barely lets any water in, if you have it. Mine was very clean after > 18 months.

 

[Rivdog]

That’s interesting - I’ve never had any water intrusion into mine. I store all sorts of stuff in there and there’s been a LOT of water in the back of my truck over the past 21 months. I have a December 2022 Gen 1 build so I wonder if the design changed. I very well could be wrong, but I thought Rivian marketed the compartment as “waterproof storage” back when I bought mine.

 

[R1TCA]

PTC barely lets any water in, if you have it. Mine was very clean after > 18 months.

I’ve been thinking I could use a cover, but haven’t gotten around to it yet.

 

[misterturbo]

Pull the drain plug and leave it out. The underbed compartment holds water.

 

[madhat]

I actually had slime and a worm like creature in mine. Tried adding some waterproofing measures and haven’t check it since (been busy)

 

[Dark-Fx]

That’s interesting - I’ve never had any water intrusion into mine. I store all sorts of stuff in there and there’s been a LOT of water in the back of my truck over the past 21 months. I have a December 2022 Gen 1 build so I wonder if the design changed. I very well could be wrong, but I thought Rivian marketed the compartment as “waterproof storage” back when I bought mine.

If you drive through water deep enough to come up to the bottom, some will seep in through the bolt holes for the spare, but I've never had mine let water in from the top at all. Would be interesting to know if the newer vehicles have something different about them. I know Rivian replaced my seal randomly because the original ones could freeze and crack, so perhaps that's part of it?

 

[R1Thor]

Mine's not only water tight, it's practically air tight. It's slightly annoying, but any time I get into it, I have to stand/walk all over the top of it to squeeze enough air out of it so I can close my tailgate without it snagging on the plastic (it still closes, but makes an annoying pop and has started showing some wear on those edges).

Just another data point.

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