Gear Tunnel Confessionals

[kurtlikevonnegut]

I have a confession to make after over 2 and a half years with my R1T: the Gear Tunnel is far more of a novelty than a utility.

That's not to say that there isn't legitimate utility to it, just that the utility I've found isn't nearly commensurate with the hype around it. Worse still, in my use case (and I suspect many more), I think the size and shape of the gear tunnel makes the backseat much less convenient, especially with small children, then it should be.

I think this was a miss by Rivian in the design department. They could have kept the concept of the gear tunnel, albeit smaller, while keeping a more traditional rear door opening shape and size to improve the utility of the back seat.

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[Riviot]

Do you like dealership license plate frames too?

 

[Nixapatfan]

I'm guessing it all has to do with the design goal to have tonneau cover for increased range. Then what exactly do you do with the space below the tonneau housing? The whole thing would have been a 100x better as a gm style midgate but most likely GM holds a patent on it.

There is also wasted space right below the gear tunnel which could have been made as under bed storage similar to the monster tunnel on Telo but I'm guessing wasn't done to reduce costs.

 

[goldburger]

The back seat is so small for my 6 and 9 year old— and I’m not very tall so it’s not kind I push my seat super far back— I can’t imagine adults sitting back there at all. I can barely imagine my kids sitting there in 5 years tbh. The gear tunnel is my least used feature of the truck.

 

[TexasBob]

This is my second favorite storage location, right after the frunk. Perfect place to toss boxes, and tool bags, and shovels, and beer (will hold two 12 packs side-by-side with lots of room to spare). That said, I would trade a smaller gear tunnel size for more rear seat space. Still, love the gear tunnel.

 

[kurtlikevonnegut]

I'm guessing it all has to do with the design goal to have tonneau cover for increased range. Then what exactly do you do with the space below the tonneau housing? The whole thing would have been a 100x better as a gm style midgate but most likely GM holds a patent on it.

There is also wasted space right below the gear tunnel which could have been made as under bed storage similar to the monster tunnel on Telo but I'm guessing wasn't done to reduce costs.

I think they could have still used the wasted space, just more effectively without sacrificing rear seat functionality. If they had started with a traditional rectangular opening for the rear door there would have been space for a narrow rectangle behind it using most of the same space that the gear tunnel uses, albeit more narrow.

Honestly as it is the odd trapezoidal shape really limits what you can actually store in it.

 

[zefram47]

Personally, I've found the gear tunnel quite useful and it was a big reason I was willing to get a truck instead of an SUV. I've taken road trips with 4 adults and between the frunk and the tunnel I didn't even need to use the bed for anything, which was good at the time as I hadn't yet gotten my tonneau. I will agree that the shape leaves something to be desired as it makes it only useful for soft bags that can mold to it.

 

[COdogman]

 

[McLovin]

I could not disagree more. I use the gear tunnel practically every day. Tennis bag, ski poles, gym equipment, my disc golf bag & discs, any trip to the grocery store. I even put my pizza in there for the drive home.

When I was working from home 3 days a week, I’d put my laptop in there the days I went into the office (now I just keep it at work…silent protest after they yanked our Work From Home last month…).

Furthermore, it’s the first thing I show someone when they ask me about my truck.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

 

[Doug]

I think the gear tunnel is one of the best features. We use it all the time. From golf clubs in the summer to many cases of beverages when I work out of town to plugging a crock pot in and cooking on the way to friends or families houses. Also, I keep some straps and a chain in the tunnel over winter. Also as someone else said it is the first thing I show people. My nieces and nephews enjoy crawling thru it too.

 

[mikehmb]

I use it all the time.

Can fit two carry-on suitcases in there with room for backpacks, all of our camping clothes / things we want to keep semi-clean for camping, sports gear, helmets, etc.

As a lifelong truck person, the gear tunnel is a game changer. Having dedicated, secure storage for larger items while the bed is exposed (bikes, other gear, etc) is absolutely one of the main selling points for me.

 

[Big_Ike]

I thought this was going to be a safe space where I could confess to driving around with my nephew stuffed in the gear tunnel...

 

[Doug]

I thought this was going to be a safe space where I could confess to driving around with my nephew stuffed in the gear tunnel...

That is what the frunk is for.

 

[Mathme]

Gear Tunnel for the win!

The Frunk is good for Costco runs, and the bed (with tonneau) is good for general purposes. The Gear Tunnel is perfect for: 1-3ish grocery bags, take home treasures when wine tasting, our soft sided weekend bags, our soft sided 24-pack coolers, an evening coat for when it gets chilly, a place to sit that's not dirty when putting on snowboard boots.

Gear tunnel for the win!

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