Hitch cover DIY mod. Ditch the screwdriver!

[Riv_Ian]

Thanks for posting this - great mod! I ordered 4 last week just in case I hack up the first 2.

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[RWerksman]

I'm happy to order some as well and put them up in the shop. I need to put in a McMaster order anyway.

 

[jeeden]

Yea, I would be in for some

 

[SSteveEV]

I will order 20 of them if you guys want them in envelopes.

I'm in for 2!
I had put 20 in my cart last week thinking of offering the same and then paused to think how many I would need and what to charge.

 

[Blackhatch]

I'm in for 2!
I had put 20 in my cart last week thinking of offering the same and then paused to think how many I would need and what to charge.

I ordered 4 when I first ordered them. Let me swap mine and I will send you the other two.

 

[RWerksman]

FYI - I've added these to OpenPartsEV.com. They can be included with any shipment for little to no increase in shipping cost. They are priced at $6.75 for a pair, which is slightly above McMaster pricing to account for the shipping fee to me. That way, people don't have to spend $9 to get them, assuming that you're thinking of ordering something from RIVIPARTS anyway.

https://opensourceev.com/products/hitch-cover-thumbscrew-pair

 

[Blackhatch]

Nice. Capitalism for the WIN!!

 

[Kuro-Rivian]

FYI - I've added these to OpenPartsEV.com. They can be included with any shipment for little to no increase in shipping cost. They are priced at $6.75 for a pair, which is slightly above McMaster pricing to account for the shipping fee to me. That way, people don't have to spend $9 to get them, assuming that you're thinking of ordering something from RIVIPARTS anyway.

https://opensourceev.com/products/hitch-cover-thumbscrew-pair

Excellent!

 

[jebinc]

[UPDATED 9/26/22]

While I don't tow everyday, it seems like I hitch something up to the R1T at least once a week. The cover is nice and I like to remove the hitch and replace the cover when I'm not towing. But it's a PIA to have to grab a screwdriver anytime it is removed and installed. That little screw thing is called a Quarter Turn Fastener. I went to McMaster-Carr and came up with a simple, cheap, thumb-turned quarter turn fastener fix.

Step 1. Go to McMaster-Carr and buy TWO of these. Not two of each...but two of either/or. The preferred part is 94188A210, it is the exact same length as the fastener you are replacing. 94188A220 is slightly longer and requires you to use a washer (see step 3). I listed both because availability could vary and both work perfectly.

• Part # : 94188A210 https://www.mcmaster.com/94188a210/ (preferred part, exact fit)
• Part #: 94188A220 https://www.mcmaster.com/94188A220/ (alternative, slightly longer)

Step 2. Discard the female part of the new fastener. All you need is the retainer clip and the male part. Cut the ears off the new fastener to the first line as indicated in the pics.

Step 3: If you bought part # 94188A210...you're done! Put it all back together reattach the cover.

IF YOU BOUGHT PART # 94188A220. Use BOTH the old plastic retainer/washer and the new one. One as a washer, and the other as retainer. The reason you need the old washer in addition to the new washer is that the shaft of the new fastener is very slightly longer than the old one. Without the additional washer on the outside to reduce the effective length, it won't hold as well.

Step 4. Done. Now you have a thumb(able) quarter turn fastener and you can ditch the screw driver.

Nice find. Shipping is outrageous. $9 shipping for a $3 part. Call the police - we are being robbed!
Yeah, I ordered anyways.....

 

[RWerksman]

FYI - I've added these to OpenPartsEV.com. They can be included with any shipment for little to no increase in shipping cost. They are priced at $6.75 for a pair, which is slightly above McMaster pricing to account for the shipping fee to me. That way, people don't have to spend $9 to get them, assuming that you're thinking of ordering something from RIVIPARTS anyway.

https://opensourceev.com/products/hitch-cover-thumbscrew-pair

OK - so you all are crazy. I ordered 20 sets thinking that it would take a LONG while to sell through them all. Y'all bought them all within 2 days.

I might have to make a real version of this. Maybe use it as the test subject for ABS-CF printing.

 

[Kuro-Rivian]

OK - so you all are crazy. I ordered 20 sets thinking that it would take a LONG while to sell through them all. Y'all bought them all within 2 days.

I might have to make a real version of this. Maybe use it as the test subject for ABS-CF printing.

Do I get a cut of your enormous profits? Hah! Alternatively, there must be a source for these on AliExpress, Alibaba or some other place you can buy these in bulk for like $.02/each.

 

[KimBrennan]

I'd be less concerned about (minimal) drag addition, and more concerned about mud and dirt getting into the electrical connection when I don't have the cover on and not actively towing. But I guess most folk don't have 1.25 mile long gravel driveways...

 

[SSteveEV]

I'd be less concerned about (minimal) drag addition, and more concerned about mud and dirt getting into the electrical connection when I don't have the cover on and not actively towing. But I guess most folk don't have 1.25 mile long gravel driveways...

I leave my round to flat pin adapter in all the time, covered or not it makes for a relatively cheap dust cover (but mostly I just don't want to forget it somewhere).

 

[RWerksman]

After a bit of sourcing of the part that McMaster sells, a call to the manufacturer, then a distributor, plus a second distributor, and look what I found here:

More details tomorrow when I have time to create a post about it. Long story short, it's perfect.

 

[KimBrennan]

Completed my (same) modification today. Thanks. Happy happy, joy, joy.

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