Rubicon Trail: 1, Rexbo R1T: 0

[superfluid]

Great write-up! How much of what you experienced would you chalk up to the R1T’s wheelbase length?

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[R1T Kludge]

DCE makes a lift kit for Rivian.

https://www.weistec.com/media-event...XyUUmxo0OTJjAycWiavpXRLgY3LIsmuhoCEp4QAvD_BwE

 

[Hillbilly]

Looks...touristy.

 

[FooF]

DCE makes a lift kit for Rivian.

https://www.weistec.com/media-event...XyUUmxo0OTJjAycWiavpXRLgY3LIsmuhoCEp4QAvD_BwE

Made a lift kit but have not turned it into a product yet that can be purchased

 

[Joules Burn]

Great attempt and save.

This was from one of the newsletters...

https://stories.rivian.com/r1s-first-production-ev-rubicon-trail

 

[Thedude]

The wrinkles don’t surprise me. Watch a normal truck with a separate bed and cab go over this kind of terrain and you’ll see the bed and cab flexing independently of each other as the frame twists with wheel deflection. For the Rivian there is no independent movement so the points where the majority of the flex would happen end up with creases in the body work.

 

[R1Thor]

The wrinkles don’t surprise me. Watch a normal truck with a separate bed and cab go over this kind of terrain and you’ll see the bed and cab flexing independently of each other as the frame twists with wheel deflection. For the Rivian there is no independent movement so the points where the majority of the flex would happen end up with creases in the body work.

WIthout seeing a full skeletal breakdown of how the frame is connected, I cannot say for sure, but in theory I disagree with you.

The entire premise behind the Rivian is the skateboard platform.

Then the chassis is bolted on top of it.

There's no reason for anything beyond the functional components of the suspension to be flexing at all. Unless the skateboard platform itself is flexing. And if it is, that's a problem, given the fact that it's the battery pack and is responsible for not only the structural integrity of the vehicle, but also the ...you know... integrity of the batteries.

The dimples are a concern. Obviously something happened here, but I think the *what* is more of a mystery than 'chassis flex.' I could be wrong on this one. And as pointed out by others, between the sliders and the hitch mounts, there are added stress focal points to the frame that might have otherwise been intended flex points. But again, I'd have to see the vehicle's internal structural breakdown. I'd be very interested to hear what Rivian would have to say bout it.


All of that said, thanks for the post and writeup, OP. Looks like a hell of an adventure! Makes me want to get out on some trails...!

 

[JeremyP]

Nice effort on trying the trail! I think the closest my R1S will get to the Rubicon will be if I tow my 4runner out to run it!

 

[NY_Rob]

WIthout seeing a full skeletal breakdown of how the frame is connected, I cannot say for sure, but in theory I disagree with you.

The entire premise behind the Rivian is the skateboard platform.

Then the chassis is bolted on top of it.

There's no reason for anything beyond the functional components of the suspension to be flexing at all. Unless the skateboard platform itself is flexing. And if it is, that's a problem, given the fact that it's the battery pack and is responsible for not only the structural integrity of the vehicle, but also the ...you know... integrity of the batteries.

My thoughts exactly!

For that happen, the whole battery pack had to bend/flex and or break loose from the frame. It could be permanently damaged and no longer hermetically sealed? I would get it in to Rivian for a safety check ASAP.

 

[CarGuyCarl]

The "skateboard platform" is a cute term, but in simple terms, R1s are body on frame vehicles with a battery bolted in between the rails.

The flex could be a very small amount but it would still show in the sheet metal.

The construction of the R1 is not far off from the GXs you see in the photos along with it. Frame with powertrain in it, with body bolted on top.

 

[Nixapatfan]

The "skateboard platform" is a cute term, but in simple terms, R1s are body on frame vehicles with a battery bolted in between the rails.

The flex could be a very small amount but it would still show in the sheet metal.

The construction of the R1 is not far off from the GXs you see in the photos along with it. Frame with powertrain in it, with body bolted on top.

Main difference is the Rivian body is hard mounted to the frame so any deflection in the frame will transfer to sheet metal much easier than traditional body on frame designs which usually have bushings.

 

[Luvolbikes]

What impresses me about Rivian is that with minor modifications it can race top of the line sports cars on the quarter mile, run Pikes peak against modified track vehicles, and offroad against the best off roaders on the market, many of them heavily decked out from the factory or modified thereafter, be a tow truck, and then be an efficient economical family all purpose vehicle. It's like a decathalete competing against one event specialists. Rivian will never be the best at any of the individual events , but damn, is there any other vehicle that can even come close to competing in the all around?
Let me also say how impressed I am with your sacrifice and dedication to your cause. I doubt anyone else outside of a dedicated offroad company with big backing dollars would do what you do.

 

[Erik+]

Maybe whatever this monstrosity is would make it through. Very valiant effort though, and look forward to seeing about future endeavors.

 

[AllInev]

Thanks for the write-up! I own the @DCE sliders as well and agree with you that they're awesome!

Also, I don't know if they ended up selling it, but DCE also had this prototype "lift kit" for the R1T and R1S:

I think you get another 3" of lift. May or may not help getting through parts of the Rubicon.

 

[AllInev]

What impresses me about Rivian is that with minor modifications it can race top of the line sports cars on the quarter mile, run Pikes peak against modified track vehicles, and offroad against the best off roaders on the market, many of them heavily decked out from the factory or modified thereafter, be a tow truck, and then be an efficient economical family all purpose vehicle. It's like a decathalete competing against one event specialists. Rivian will never be the best at any of the individual events , but damn, is there any other vehicle that can even come close to competing in the all around?
Let me also say how impressed I am with your sacrifice and dedication to your cause. I doubt anyone else outside of a dedicated offroad company with big backing dollars would do what you do.

Completely agree. Asking an R1 to cruise through the Rubicon is borderline cruel ?

That said, I love the idea of a dedicated Rocking crawling EV. I hope Jeep, Ford, Scout Motors, etc make a more than half-hearted attempt at making this type of vehicle.

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