DIY Tonneau Repairs? Anyone try to do this yet?

[Lil'O Annie]

After calling Service twice, and being told I would hear back about our tonneau problem...then crickets and more crickets...I'm starting to feel like we're left to our own devices to get these "less major" things fixed in a timely manner. YES, I know they are swamped. YES, I know they are a new struggling company. YES, I know if we start messing around with repair attempts we may void our warranty. BUT, if our problem makes using the R1T how we need to difficult, and we can't get service to respond, what else can we do?
We're farmers and are accustom to fixing just about everything ourselves and capable of doing so when needed. Being in the middle of nowhere (over 200+mi. away from service center) and waiting longer than most for any repair service makes it tough to wait.

So...my question is, has anyone out there dug in and opened up the touneau area under the back window where the tonneau motor/s are located? If so, how did you go about doing it?? We opened the big panel in the bed with "RIVIAN" molded into it that's below the tonneau box, but that doesn't get you anywhere. Looks like the bed-edge covers have to be removed, along with the covers in the corners and above the tonneau box, to actually get in there. We don't want to tear things up, obviously, so I thought I'd ask if anyone had removed the bed-edge covers and how they went about it and have any hints.
All we really want to do is get in there and get the cover completely open and just leave it open until Rivian gets around to a replacement solution for these defective tonneau covers. If we could just get it completely opened, we'd be happy to wait. We're obviously starting to feel a bit desperate.
I know I'll be told, "DON'T DO IT", but it can't hurt to ask. ?

UPDATE: We did our own temporary fix...see my 6/17/22 post below for some details.

Sponsored

 

[Davethadog]

Do it. Take photos. Be methodical and don't pull on anything unless you're sure its just a clip. I don't have my truck yet otherwise I'd do it but someone has to be the first.

 

[aw113sgte]

Interested... and yes...do it.
Mine wasn't closing or opening all the way. Some silicone spray on the rails and now it closes all the way (although seems like the end stops are not set quite right) as it closes more than needed and doesn't open quite all the way. Push and holding doesn't seem to reset it.

 

[Craigins]

Sandy is tearing down the R1T, maybe he'll get to the tonneau cover soon(or maybe he has already) and you could follow along for getting access to it.

 

[DaveA]

Keeping mine closed until the Shade Tree Mechanics on the board have documented fixes for all the issues.

 

[MountainBikeDude]

If you try pulling (with hands) on the affected corner while someone tries opening/closing the cover, maybe alleviating the bind enough to allow it to fully close?

Also, what is the cover beside the green arrow at the bottom over the tonneau cover housing? I'm assuming its covering a bolt to allow full access?

 

[Craigins]

Keeping mine closed until the Shade Tree Mechanics on the board have documented fixes for all the issues.

I'd just roll it up and use wood slats in the track to make a manual one until everything is fixed.

 

[omamatt]

I saw on another thread the recommendation to use CRC Dry Graphite Lube.

 

[Lil'O Annie]

omamatt
Nice idea, but ours will not move at all now. Stuck solid!
Craigins
Yes! I've been watching his tear down closely hoping he'll address the cover and how it's designed.
And, I would roll it up if I could...but, can't. Stuck solid! That on panel slipped sideways and locked everything up.

 

[omamatt]

omamatt
Nice idea, but ours will not move at all now. Stuck solid!
Craigins
Yes! I've been watching his tear down closely hoping he'll address the cover and how it's designed.
And, I would roll it up if I could...but, can't. Stuck solid! That on panel slipped sideways and locked everything up.

Specifically for those where the rails are sticky and cover won't move all the way...I should have said that.

 

[Zoidz]

After calling Service twice, and being told I would hear back about our tonneau problem...then crickets and more crickets...I'm starting to feel like we're left to our own devices to get these "less major" things fixed in a timely manner. YES, I know they are swamped. YES, I know they are a new struggling company. YES, I know if we start messing around with repair attempts we may void our warranty. BUT, if our problem makes using the R1T how we need to difficult, and we can't get service to respond, what else can we do?
We're farmers and are accustom to fixing just about everything ourselves and capable of doing so when needed. Being in the middle of nowhere (over 200+mi. away from service center) and waiting longer than most for any repair service makes it tough to wait.

So...my question is, has anyone out there dug in and opened up the touneau area under the back window where the tonneau motor/s are located? If so, how did you go about doing it?? We opened the big panel in the bed with "RIVIAN" molded into it that's below the tonneau box, but that doesn't get you anywhere. Looks like the bed-edge covers have to be removed, along with the covers in the corners and above the tonneau box, to actually get in there. We don't want to tear things up, obviously, so I thought I'd ask if anyone had removed the bed-edge covers and how they went about it and have any hints.
All we really want to do is get in there and get the cover completely open and just leave it open until Rivian gets around to a replacement solution for these defective tonneau covers. If we could just get it completely opened, we'd be happy to wait. We're obviously starting to feel a bit desperate.
I know I'll be told, "DON'T DO IT", but it can't hurt to ask. ?

A 2x4 and some whacks with a dead blow hammer on the left side would be my first attempt. "Hold my beer!".

 

[Lil'O Annie]

A 2x4 and some whacks with a dead blow hammer on the left side would be my first attempt. "Hold my beer!".

? It may come to that if we can't figure out how to open the thing up to get inside.

Anyone know how those panels are attached to each other?? Draw a picture! ?

 

[Lil'O Annie]

Well...we did it!! Spent the whole afternoon doing exploratory surgery on the R1T Tonneau fiasco. After 3 service requests, and not hearing back at all, we were desperate. Ended up doing a partial tonneau-lectomy. Not for the faint-of-heart, but not the most difficult procedure either. You need a few of the right tools, though. Ended up taking off all the plastic bed edge-caps and the cover over the tonneau box below the rear window. Had to pull out the tonneau rails to get 3 of the panels un-jammed and removed. Then, when things were loosened up, the tonneau motor was able to pull the cockeyed panel down into the stack in the box.
We'll just leave the bed open and didn't want to try to actually fix it, only to have it lock up again. Not the perfect solution, but at least now we can use the entire open bed.

Now, we wait for the re-designed replacement when Rivian can get around to it--I'm thinking that will be a long wait. ?

Here's what the tonneau gears look like in two corners underneath the panels.

 

[Rivian_Hugh_III]

Nice!

 

[Sgt Beavis]

Well...we did it!! Spent the whole afternoon doing exploratory surgery on the R1T Tonneau fiasco. After 3 service requests, and not hearing back at all, we were desperate. Ended up doing a partial tonneau-lectomy. Not for the faint-of-heart, but not the most difficult procedure either. You need a few of the right tools, though. Ended up taking off all the plastic bed edge-caps and the cover over the tonneau box below the rear window. Had to pull out the tonneau rails to get 3 of the panels un-jammed and removed. Then, when things were loosened up, the tonneau motor was able to pull the cockeyed panel down into the stack in the box.
We'll just leave the bed open and didn't want to try to actually fix it, only to have it lock up again. Not the perfect solution, but at least now we can use the entire open bed.

Now, we wait for the re-designed replacement when Rivian can get around to it--I'm thinking that will be a long wait. ?

Here's what the tonneau gears look like in two corners underneath the panels.

More pics please.. A LOT more pics..
I hope Sandy Munro does a deep dive on the tonneau.

Sponsored