DIY Tonneau Repairs? Anyone try to do this yet?

[Carmelbythesea]

This is what just happened to mine after the SC replaced my entire unit. It's still broken. Mobile service was here to check out something for me, but I mentioned the cover and how I just want to use the bed. Rivian was going to have me drive an hour to the SC to get everything back in, instead, the mobile tech just grabbed the outer-most slat and yanked hard at an angle and was able to pull it out. He then did all the rest of them, too. So while I have a crooked one partially sticking out from where the cabin in, at least my bed is open and usable again.

Man I cannot wait for the redesign. Something tells me it's further away than just the beginning of 2023, too. But who knows, maybe we'll be surprised.

What I am finding is the motor is the real issue. If there was a way to free the gear(spin freely) I could unlock the twisted panel and maybe get it fed back in correctly. It so far sideways that the gear is just binding back on forth. I have taken a few good whacks while engaging the motor and nothing.

Sponsored

 

[JGard18]

What I am finding is the motor is the real issue. If there was a way to free the gear(spin freely) I could unlock the twisted panel and maybe get it fed back in correctly. It so far sideways that the gear is just binding back on forth. I have taken a few good whacks while engaging the motor and nothing.

Yeah, the first time I "fixed" it, I got the entire cover set apart and that allowed the panels to disengage from the cogs on either side, which allowed me to straighten out the crooked ones. I was able to get everything back in that way. However, after jamming AGAIN (my kid pressed the button by mistake), I just wanted all those slats gone so it can't keep happening.

 

[NY_Rob]

Sadly, it may be beyond the scope of Rivian's engineering prowess to ever make the stacking design system work 100%. Given the fact that they have a few different systems in testing means there's no clear winner at this time.

 

[Carmelbythesea]

OK so after taking this whole thread in - I went for a whole new method.

The peel back the side rails and unbolt the top - (not removing anything more then a few clips)

Total time 45 mins

Started with this 5 slats out one jammed in the gears.

I started by peeling the sides of the bed close to the window. Using plastic stick to unclip the larger clips I just did one clip enough to get under it.

Then from there I pulled the two left and right covers which hide the torx bolts. All that's holding them is three red clips.

Then I unscrewed the 8 torx bolts (once this happens you are free of the tension) there are washers under the large plate. Picture of under the plate.

Then comes real move you need to pull the plastic and metal unit that is tucked under the back window out(the plastic and metal are bolted together). I pulled up and tilted the L towards the car.` It pops out with a little force. There are two giant long metal poles with bolts at the ends.

I was able to pull the slanted blade/panel out of the track. It cracked off some the ridges. The panel is a loss, but now I was able to make the machine eat the rest of the panels. You need to press the button and then push the remaining panels with force until the gears grab the panels and suck them down.

Then I put it all back together.

The items I had left over. I will let rivian sort this out.

 

[loudog3114]

Has anyone tried removing slats from the rear at the tailgate yet? I think this might be the best solution to being able to open or close it until they come up with a fix. I took a quick look and there seems to be a plastic cap at the tailgate end of the rails that keeps the slats in that is held in place by a couple torx. I wonder if I pull those caps if I've effectively got a manual tonneau.

 

[JGard18]

don't need to open the tailgate. Mobile tech did it at my house. Just grab the outer-most at one end and get it so sideways it'll just slip out. It takes some force, but you can do it. He got 5 panels out for me that way. Took about 20 seconds.

 

[loudog3114]

don't need to open the tailgate. Mobile tech did it at my house. Just grab the outer-most at one end and get it so sideways it'll just slip out. It takes some force, but you can do it. He got 5 panels out for me that way. Took about 20 seconds.

Nice, thanks.

 

[JGard18]

Nice, thanks.

Just note, if you do this, they aren't going back in!

 

[loudog3114]

Just note, if you do this, they aren't going back in!

Yep, I started to fiddle with it and realized that fast. I pulled off the end caps and made it a manual tonneau. Much much better. Going to make another post.

 

[elektrode]

Just realized I need more covered storage on my R1T for Christmas driving “adventure”. Might have to take the mini van because my tonneau is jammed open. Sigh.

Trying to figure out if I can fix it enough for rain coverage for the trip. I know it isn’t water proof, but it is theft and water resistant.

 

[staples]

Just realized I need more covered storage on my R1T for Christmas driving “adventure”. Might have to take the mini van because my tonneau is jammed open. Sigh.

Trying to figure out if I can fix it enough for rain coverage for the trip. I know it isn’t water proof, but it is theft and water resistant.

Go for it. It's not too bad of a job if you take your time.

 

[Deleted member 7086]

Saw a new GMC truck over Thanksgiving with an electric tonneau cover. Interesting to see GM’s approach. Did not get to do a close inspection but appears to be a clamp in system. If something fails the whole unit is easily replaced. Not as esthetic as Rivian’s but certainly more functional.

 

[elektrode]

Go for it. It's not too bad of a job if you take your time.

Looks like Senator Manchin’s state is devoid of fast chargers - “Coal Town USA!”. A simple 4hr trip will take nearly 9hrs.

Trip not going to work, so no need to manually close the tonneau.

Keep Adventurous Forever.

 

[Ysbenjamin]

With the help of these threads, the YouTube video below, and a beer, I had a successful disassemble of the tonneau to address the spacing/mis-alignment I had with one panel.

Took a good 3 to 4 hours start to finish, including a good cleaning of each panel, it’s track, and the rubber channel.

In addition to removing all the slats, I saw several significant wear points which may have attributed to the issue. It’s clear the engineering behind this could use some work.

A few pics below along the way for record keeping; and happy to connect with anyone trying to give this a go.

 

[beardlaughing]

After taking delivery of my R1T in November, my powered Tonneau just got jammed on Saturday. I have a service appointment to fix and disable it on May 23. This thread gives me hope that I could resolve it on my own, and maybe even get it back to operational if it's not too screwed up. Fortunately, it's just the first slat that got stuck on the way out from opening.

1) Did anyone doing this get it back to actually operational vs just get it to be fully open and get the bed usable, but the tonneau off?

2) @loudog3114 I didn't see a follow up thread on the conversion to manual? Have any photos or videos of what you did and how it works?

3) anybody talk to Rivian about what, if any, impact doing this work will have on the warranty replacement when if they get the redesign done?

4) Has anyone had a Rivian Service tech fix it vs disable it? I was hoping I could have a chat with the Mobile Service rep who comes out to try or at least show me what's up vs fully disable it.

It's a busy month, so I'm not sure I'll have the time to try the work before service comes out. Hoping to give it a shot, but planning contingencies

Sponsored