Go Fast Camper for R1T Announced

[SJaYx2P]

How's the visibility through the rearview mirror? (Bonus for photos)

Have you figured out how to close the tailgate from inside the camper yet? ?

Visibility is good. It's hard to take a picture of the mirror but you get the idea.

The tailgate is surprisingly light. What's annoying is the length. I'm able to close it just fine sitting inside. I did practice this before install lol.

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[kylealden]

They did not hook up the brake light or provide guidance. I don't believe they do this for any of the installs due to liability. I don't plan on ever connecting it unless someone figures out where to tap. I might even remove it completely so it's not seen as a "broken light"

This is a bummer. I'll need to carry bikes on the back so an inoperative CHMSL is a dealbreaker for me. Hoping someone is able to give guidance out the wiring soon, I don't mind doing the work but am reluctant to play amateur electrician without instructions.

 

[jctownsley]

This is a bummer. I'll need to carry bikes on the back so an inoperative CHMSL is a dealbreaker for me. Hoping someone is able to give guidance out the wiring soon, I don't mind doing the work but am reluctant to play amateur electrician without instructions.

There are probably some easy options to do a 3rd light through the towing harness connection. I know some bike racks come with that already. But then you give up some of the Driver + features right? Or does the tow accessory setting in the rivian settings fix that?

 

[kylealden]

There are probably some easy options to do a 3rd light through the towing harness connection. I know some bike racks come with that already. But then you give up some of the Driver + features right? Or does the tow accessory setting in the rivian settings fix that?

Tow accessory doesn't fix it, unfortunately - it just turns off the rear prox sensor warnings. (I've been complaining about this for a long time since my bike rack's brake light uses the tow harness.)

I'm sure there's a wire you can tap into if you take enough of the bed liner apart, in the worst case, but I'd prefer not to go spelunking...

 

[HighVoltOverland]

Okay boys and girls. After 2300 miles, I officially have a GFC camper. AMA and I'll do my best.

I’ve never met you but you’re tacky and I hate you

 

[HighVoltOverland]

Okay boys and girls. After 2300 miles, I officially have a GFC camper. AMA and I'll do my best.

We should do a winter trip to mammoth or Pismo for all the CA GFCers

 

[HighVoltOverland]

I did this in preparation for my install this week:

 

[jjswan33]

Tow accessory doesn't fix it, unfortunately - it just turns off the rear prox sensor warnings. (I've been complaining about this for a long time since my bike rack's brake light uses the tow harness.)

I'm sure there's a wire you can tap into if you take enough of the bed liner apart, in the worst case, but I'd prefer not to go spelunking...

For all of you hoping to tap the brake lights somehow, it's very complicated. The left/right tail light (at least in my truck, usual YMMV) had 4 lines that appeared to be ground, always on power (when the truck is awake), and two signal wires.

Only solution to getting an 'operable' brake light is to use a Tekonsha controller that is on the ground but pointed away from the light on both sides and then feeding that into a 2 to 3 converter. It was a PIA and meant taking the bed apart every time I wanted to take the camper off.

So yes it's doable but it was still buggy and a PIA... Hopefully there is a better way but I suspect not until Rivian eases restrictions on the trailer connection or releases the long ago promised brake light accessory.

https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/threads/rooftop-tents-blocking-brake-lights-chmsl.5014/page-4

I outlined my experience on page 4 of an old thread of yours. Good luck folks, hope there is a better solution that I couldn't find.

 

[HighVoltOverland]

For all of you hoping to tap the brake lights somehow, it's very complicated. The left/right tail light (at least in my truck, usual YMMV) had 4 lines that appeared to be ground, always on power (when the truck is awake), and two signal wires.

Only solution to getting an 'operable' brake light is to use a Tekonsha controller that is on the ground but pointed away from the light on both sides and then feeding that into a 2 to 3 converter. It was a PIA and meant taking the bed apart every time I wanted to take the camper off.

So yes it's doable but it was still buggy and a PIA... Hopefully there is a better way but I suspect not until Rivian eases restrictions on the trailer connection or releases the long ago promised brake light accessory.

https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/threads/rooftop-tents-blocking-brake-lights-chmsl.5014/page-4

I outlined my experience on page 4 of an old thread of yours. Good luck folks, hope there is a better solution that I couldn't find.

To reference myself with additional info:
"
Spoke to my buddy today who works at Rivian
He showed me where the wire to the chmsl is in the rear passenger pillar
He mentioned that the service trucks use this same location for their auxiliary light

I’ll share pictures later in the week when I wire mine up
"

To add, he has a full brake light wired up under his RTT using this direct wire lighting method

No converter or anything needed.

I'm tempted to buy a cheap light from HF today just to pre wire before install so I can potentially share the knowledge with the rest of the tribe

 

[jjswan33]

To reference myself with additional info:
"
Spoke to my buddy today who works at Rivian
He showed me where the wire to the chmsl is in the rear passenger pillar
He mentioned that the service trucks use this same location for their auxiliary light

I’ll share pictures later in the week when I wire mine up
"

To add, he has a full brake light wired up under his RTT using this direct wire lighting method

No converter or anything needed.

I'm tempted to buy a cheap light from HF today just to pre wire before install so I can potentially share the knowledge with the rest of the tribe

Yes plugging into the existing CHMSL wiring is great solution. Glad you have some inside information. Good luck.

 

[R1Thor]

Yes plugging into the existing CHMSL wiring is great solution. Glad you have some inside information. Good luck.

What if--hear me out, I'm an ME, not an EE, and I'm just getting into controls-- you use a small photo sensor to trigger an ESP32 or Arduino to light the remote brake light. Your only challenge is how to power it at that point (so, you'd really only need power and ground).

You could mount the light sensor near the brake light (maybe a lux sensor that can be calibrated for the intensity or spectrum of the red light from the brake light if the area isn't sealed well from ambient light), and it'd simply trigger a relay to light up your extended brake light?

Just an idea. Seems relatively kit-able. And a good way to work around having to tap into the truck's interface.

 

[jjswan33]

What if--hear me out, I'm an ME, not an EE, and I'm just getting into controls-- you use a small photo sensor to trigger an ESP32 or Arduino to light the remote brake light. Your only challenge is how to power it at that point (so, you'd really only need power and ground).

You could mount the light sensor near the brake light (maybe a lux sensor that can be calibrated for the intensity or spectrum of the red light from the brake light if the area isn't sealed well from ambient light), and it'd simply trigger a relay to light up your extended brake light?

Just an idea. Seems relatively kit-able. And a good way to work around having to tap into the truck's interface.

I know @LivingInKaos was considering such an approach. I would argue though that Rivian should just make it easier.

FWIW most folks with camper shells should have 12V power available, at least I do to run lights, fans, etc in the bed.

 

[HighVoltOverland]

Photo sensor is exactly the route Super Pacific went
You can see it in detail here:

 

[R1Thor]

FWIW most folks with camper shells should have 12V power available, at least I do to run lights, fans, etc in the bed.

I think everyone (not just campers) should have some auxiliary access to the 12V system. I think I ranted about this when someone was asking where to tap in a Gen2 for some DC Power and couldn't figure out out due to 1- not having physical fuses to fuse-tap into and 2- Rivian stonewalling them when they asked.

 

[LivingInKaos]

I know @LivingInKaos was considering such an approach. I would argue though that Rivian should just make it easier.

FWIW most folks with camper shells should have 12V power available, at least I do to run lights, fans, etc in the bed.

When I asked at the Super Pacific event how they triggered the 3rd brake light, I actually laughed. The guy asked why I thought that was funny. I told him that I was thinking along these lines 6 months ago. Have to wonder if my post on that was inspiration? I also gave them an idea on how to trigger locks in the camper from the vehicle when it locks... I should not talk out loud sometimes.....

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