How are you solving the Jack height problem?

[Mojave]

Something is amiss here. Let's see if we can figure out why.

We can lift the front tires almost 2" off the ground

Yes please. Car in tire change mode and highest.

I think that my problem is that when I test drive it in the drive way, the tire is full, and the car is higher than with a flat. With a flat, the car drops about 5" of tire wall (on 21").

Basically, in your case, you can lift 2" above ground, but if you have to start with the jack point 5" lower due to flat, and lift the same amount, you are still 3" short of air and to put a new wheel, no?

I install the jack all the way compressed, screw extender at minimum, with the long puck on top. I had a traction board to increase the base, too. I don't have better pictures of the exact setup, but it basically barely fit in. Then I lift the whole thing to the max, but it's now 5" less than it was in the driveway, starting with a pumped wheel. It's enough to get the flat wheel off.

But we dug to get the spare in.

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[Mojave]

The other time (rear)

 

[Mark_AZR1T]

Both examples are really helpful and makes sense. You might have tried this, but here is what we do. 1. Do what you did, and jack it up as far as it will go. 2. Release jack hydraulic pressure. Vehicle will retain much of the previous jacked height. 3. Compress bottle jack manually. This will allow you to extend the screw extension on the bottle jack quite a bit. 4. Lift again and you should be good to go. If not. 5. Repeat steps 2-4 raising height of screw extender each time.

The problem is because the vehicle is so low initially, you can't use the screw extender on the Big Red, which doesn't allow enough lift height to get a fully inflated spare on the R1. Doing above will resolve it. And thanks for being a customer!!!

This real world feedback is important for Rivian owners. I'm going to do a how-to on exactly your situation. Would it be okay to use your photos to help explain this scenario?

 

[usulio]

Funny @perrochon and @Mark_AZR1T, this is exactly what I just experienced this weekend, although instead of the extender puck I was jacking directly on my rock sliders against the frame rail.

Running the stock 20" ATs, slashed the sidewall out on a trail. I went into Highest -- probably should have done "Firm" suspension but I didn't think of it -- and by the time I was ready, the tire was completely flat.

Like Mark_AZR1T said, I jacked up, then came back down but the suspension remained a bit higher. I screwed out the bottle jack a bit more and was able to get probably at least another 2 inches of lift that way. (This wasn't actually intentional but then I realized and took advantage of it.)

Then, just like perrochon, after taking the flat off I ended up digging a couple inches of dirt out in order to get the full-size spare on. I was thinking of letting all the air out of the good tire if needed but this was enough.

It would be nice to have a bottle jack with a couple inches more travel, or else jack on the control arm if anyone considers that (I know Rivian doesn't want us to).

 

[usulio]

Rivian has (recently) changed the ride height suggestion from High to Standard, prior to initiating Tire Change Mode.

I am seeing that Rivian suggests Standard mode before removing the spare tire and kit, but then it says to put it in Off-Road / Highest before you turn on Tire Change Mode.

 

[Mojave]

digging a couple inches of dirt out

The learning is that it's a bad idea to stop on rock... always stop on dirt. I dug a hole in a nicely graded dirt road. After the winter, it will be a pot hole :-(

Thanks for sharing, I am glad I am not the only one

 

[Mark_AZR1T]

Funny @perrochon and @Mark_AZR1T, this is exactly what I just experienced this weekend, although instead of the extender puck I was jacking directly on my rock sliders against the frame rail.

Running the stock 20" ATs, slashed the sidewall out on a trail. I went into Highest -- probably should have done "Firm" suspension but I didn't think of it -- and by the time I was ready, the tire was completely flat.

Like Mark_AZR1T said, I jacked up, then came back down but the suspension remained a bit higher. I screwed out the bottle jack a bit more and was able to get probably at least another 2 inches of lift that way. (This wasn't actually intentional but then I realized and took advantage of it.)

Then, just like perrochon, after taking the flat off I ended up digging a couple inches of dirt out in order to get the full-size spare on. I was thinking of letting all the air out of the good tire if needed but this was enough.

It would be nice to have a bottle jack with a couple inches more travel, or else jack on the control arm if anyone considers that (I know Rivian doesn't want us to).

Another one . You figured it out by accident, which is actually what happened to me two years ago. There is a bottle jack that has another 4-5" of height, it's just $160. Small price to pay, instead of digging ditches....

I've done measurements in my shop, with ride heights at various levels, to see how much lift the jack (floor or bottle) must go. I don't have the data in front of me, but All Purpose High was marginally better than all including Off Road Highest, so I stick with All Purpose High, then Tire Change mode.

 

[Mark_AZR1T]

I am seeing that Rivian suggests Standard mode before removing the spare tire and kit, but then it says to put it in Off-Road / Highest before you turn on Tire Change Mode.

Yes, that is correct.

 

[atebit]

Cat 3 Ton Big Wheel Off Road... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08Q1PLYSR?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

 

[usulio]

Just use the lower control arm as a jacking point.

Have you done it? I'm seeing a somewhat level spot on the rear arm, but not really a good surface on the front. I also know Rivian doesn't recommend it, but I assume that's more for stability/liability reasons than any actual concern about damage...

 

[usulio]

I guess if you have sliders or pop off the plastic to expose the frame rail, then you could first jack the truck up part way, then rest it on a jack stand, then extend your bottle jack and jack it the rest of the way. But I'd love not to have to bring a jackstand in the R1S where space is already tight with the spare tire. Come to think of it, bringing a second bottle jack would be the same cost and take less space.

There is a bottle jack that has another 4-5" of height, it's just $160. Small price to pay, instead of digging ditches....

Could you link to the one you have in mind? I found this so far: https://www.amazon.com/BAOSHISHAN-8in-24-Portable-Hydraulic-15-65lb/dp/B07RWJ6WDL

 

[Mark_AZR1T]

I guess if you have sliders or pop off the plastic to expose the frame rail, then you could first jack the truck up part way, then rest it on a jack stand, then extend your bottle jack and jack it the rest of the way. But I'd love not to have to bring a jackstand in the R1S where space is already tight with the spare tire. Come to think of it, bringing a second bottle jack would be the same cost and take less space.


Could you link to the one you have in mind? I found this so far: https://www.amazon.com/BAOSHISHAN-8in-24-Portable-Hydraulic-15-65lb/dp/B07RWJ6WDL

While the lift height is excellent, the top hat is 56mm in diameter, which is significantly wider than the port on any jack puck, including ours.

 

[White Shadow]

Have you done it? I'm seeing a somewhat level spot on the rear arm, but not really a good surface on the front. I also know Rivian doesn't recommend it, but I assume that's more for stability/liability reasons than any actual concern about damage...

Not on a Rivian, but I've done it on literally hundreds of other vehicles, even those with aluminum control arms. It's not going to damage anything.

 

[ksurfier]

Funny @perrochon and @Mark_AZR1T, this is exactly what I just experienced this weekend, although instead of the extender puck I was jacking directly on my rock sliders against the frame rail.

Running the stock 20" ATs, slashed the sidewall out on a trail. I went into Highest -- probably should have done "Firm" suspension but I didn't think of it -- and by the time I was ready, the tire was completely flat.

Like Mark_AZR1T said, I jacked up, then came back down but the suspension remained a bit higher. I screwed out the bottle jack a bit more and was able to get probably at least another 2 inches of lift that way. (This wasn't actually intentional but then I realized and took advantage of it.)

Then, just like perrochon, after taking the flat off I ended up digging a couple inches of dirt out in order to get the full-size spare on. I was thinking of letting all the air out of the good tire if needed but this was enough.

It would be nice to have a bottle jack with a couple inches more travel, or else jack on the control arm if anyone considers that (I know Rivian doesn't want us to).

Question - Do you think an LT tire would have been slashed too or just the not so great stock 20s?

 

[usulio]

Question - Do you think an LT tire would have been slashed too or just the not so great stock 20s?

No idea but maybe someone more experienced can weigh in:

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