R1 and R2 crossbars not compatible (don't fit) - now officially confirmed by Rivian

[rivianchris]

Another confirmation from a test engineer at Rivian (my neighbor). As of the Rev. 2 test vehicles they have been testing, the R1 crossbars do not fit the mounting pattern and will not physically go on. They tried them, thinking they would fit and it was a no go. He has no clue why they would make them different (he tests different veh systems), but he at least verified that they wouldn't work.

I only know one Rivian Test Engineer in R&T. Are his initials DZ?

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[Oldsmobile_Mike]

I don't have a dog in this fight, but here me out:

If it's the mechanism that's the issue (not the width), how about removing the inserts and replacing them with the others?

 

[Frisbee]

The comments regarding the R1 crossbars not being compatible with the R2’s begs the question “why”? (This question as to “why” should not be confused with why Rivian would not make the R2’s compatible to begin with.) If it is because the locking mechanisms and mounts are not compatible that is one thing. If it is because the R2 vehicles are narrower than the R1’s that is something else. If the later wouldn’t a simple solution be to cut the R1 crossbars down to fit the narrower R2’s? Each crossbar is comprised of three parts, the middle slider and the two outer housings, which also have the locking mechanisms, moving in and out on the middle slider. From the photographs it is possible the R1 crossbars can not compress far enough to fit the narrower R2’s. Separate the three pieces, cut a couple of inches off the ends of each outer housing,, reassemble, problem solved.

 

[Riviot]

I don't have a dog in this fight, but here me out:

If it's the mechanism that's the issue (not the width), how about removing the inserts and replacing them with the others?

Only $55 each, not a terrible idea! $115 for a 4 pack on eBay.

I'm going to keep my crossbars on my truck, and if I see any little R2s out in the world, you bet your leathery backside I'm slapping them on and taking pics without permission.

 

[VSG]

For those of you who haven't followed the R2 for the past two years ...
The original intention was to be able to supply power through the mount points. Rivian demonstrated this with the R2 rooftop tent.
But at some point they cancelled this feature.
I suspect the engineering had been done and the suppliers contracted, so they just went with the new design sans electricity, with the intention of adding the feature back at a later time.

Still, I thought the mount points were going to be compatible with the R1 mount points. Seems like a mistake to have a second proprietary design, since now the R1 will be left out of future aftermarket solutions (R2 is the volume vehicle that will attract aftermarket designs.)

 

[rodhx]

The R1 bars look to have less than 2" of "shrinkage" remaining at the narrowest attachment point which is the rear of the R1S. R1S is 4" wider than R2. So it feels like they couldn't possibly fit but someone needs to take a measurement between mounting points at the next R2 block party.

 

[wicked2112]

Don't post nonsense like this until someone with existing crossbars for an R1 attempts to mount them on an actual R2. You cannot tell from pictures whether it's compatible and there has been plenty of well-meaning but bad/false info spread by (whoever you asked that is presumably affiliated with Rivian. It would be stupid for them to make the crossbars purposefully incompatible and if that's the case, they will suffer the negative consumer reaction

I work for Yakima and know first-hand the R2 bars are not compatible with the R1.

 

[Riviot]

I work for Yakima and know first-hand the R2 bars are not compatible with the R1.

 

[ACDC]

Rivian officially confirmed today that "the cargo crossbars are not interchangeable between R1 and R2."

 

[MrHockey17]

Are there aftermarket roof racks that will work on a R1 or a R2 I have a Thule system on my current vehicle to haul kayaks or a canoe.

 

[wnealisr226]

Last week on Insta

 

[EV-overland]

It’s wild. I thought Doug Demuro said that they fit. I assumed he heard that directly from a Rivian Rep.

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