Max ride height while trailering?

[Phrogz]

I put a boat in the water every weekend. This past weekend was my first with the R1T.

No issue hooking up to the trailer. (Adjusting ride height to Low made it easy to get under the ball, even though the trailer's post had sunk into the mud.)

No issue pulling the boat (about 6,500 pounds with trailer and gear) a short distance from its storage to the ramp. Rivian with power to spare up and over the hill, plenty of weight and easy regen stopping downhill.

No issue backing down the ramp (though I do miss the maneuverability of the Audi Q7's 4-wheel steering I was previously using; my trailer maneuvering was below par with the R1T). Good mirrors.

When it came time to pick up the boat, I wanted to set the ride height to maximum, to keep my doors out of the water when I got out to hook the boat to the winch. However, in Towing mode the ride height is capped at "High". As a result, the bottom edge of my driver door pushed through the water; when it came time to drive away, I'd close the door as best I could against the water, the Rivian would detect it wasn't fully closed, and would shift from Drive right back to Park. (Annoying mother behavior!) It took me 3-4 tries of "slamming" the door and sloshing water onto the floor before it felt that the door was closed enough to drive.

This weekend, once I'm on the ramp should I switch out of Towing and into Off-Road so I can max out the height? Or is there some "trick" to getting max height while still in Towing?

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[Dark-Fx]

Try not to drive so far down the ramp? I can't imagine most trucks would need to be that far into the water. (Yes, the only way to get into highest is in the off-road modes)

If you want to drive slowly with the door open, press lightly on the brake with your left foot and the truck will stop dropping into park immediately.

 

[SoCal Rob]

Try not to drive so far down the ramp? I can't imagine most trucks would need to be that far into the water. (Yes, the only way to get into highest is in the off-road modes)

If you want to drive slowly with the door open, press lightly on the brake with your left foot and the truck will stop dropping into park immediately.

I think OP will have to unplug the trailer’s wiring from the Rivian’s socket in order to go into Off Road highest because plugging anything into the Rivian’s trailer wiring connector forces it into Towing. Does that sound right?

 

[Phrogz]

Try not to drive so far down the ramp?

I'll certainly try that next time, but my trailer has markings on it for the ideal depth at various ramp slopes, and though I overshot a little, I was not over by more than an inch or so. Might have made the difference at the door.

If you want to drive slowly with the door open, press lightly on the brake with your left foot and the truck will stop dropping into park immediately.

Two footed-driving, eh? I'll also give that a shot. Thanks.

 

[Dark-Fx]

I think OP will have to unplug the trailer’s wiring from the Rivian’s socket in order to go into Off Road highest because plugging anything into the Rivian’s trailer wiring connector forces it into Towing. Does that sound right?

I don't think it obligates towing mode, but you lose sensors by having anything plugged in, regardless of tow mode use.

 

[Dark-Fx]

Two footed-driving, eh? I'll also give that a shot. Thanks.

The reason it drops into park normally is the truck can't tell if you are trying to get out of the truck. Some people might push down on the accelerator as they are getting out, and that would be all kinds of bad if the truck is still in gear. Using two feet tells the truck that you aren't trying to exit.

 

[SoCal Rob]

I don't think it obligates towing mode, but you lose sensors by having anything plugged in, regardless of tow mode use.

Okay, sorry about that. I thought that someone tried adding a hitch receiver mounted supplemental brake light and when they plugged it in the truck forced towing mode. I’m probably not remembering correctly and I don’t have a Rivian to test with yet.

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