Dumb Rivian owner at Barstow RAN, hogging the trailer spot with no trailer

[rapPayne]

Here’s me all excited to get to the Rivian charger at Barstow, California, towing my trailer, knowing there is a very nice trailer spot to park in and charge, only to find this, single, no trailer R1T parked in it, charging with four other charges open!

Sorry about that, Virgil. That sounds frustrating.

If I were charging there, I'd have been too dense to even notice that it was special for trailers. I'd have used it ignorantly. I'm going to choose to think the best about this guy -- he was unaware as opposed to self-centered or malicious.

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[Adventusaurus]

Perhaps ping Rivian and ask that they better mark the trailer spots. Even a sticker on the charger would likely work. The one in Sacramento used to always have ICE cars parked in it anyway - I think they improved the markings there?

 

[CharonPDX]

I was there a week ago, thankfully the trailer spot was available.

I did have to help a Kia driver, though. He pulled up and tried to plug in next to the blue R1T. The other Rivian driver tried to help, thinking it should work. I walked up and had to break it to them "unfortunately these will only work for Rivian vehicles for now" so the other Rivian driver suggested the (non-Magic-Dock) Supercharger at the outlet mall across the street. :sigh: I pulled up PlugShare and found an EA a couple miles away for the Kia to use.

Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for the Bishop location - no good markings on the similar trailer stall, in a busy strip mall, so some random other car was parked in the "back half" of the trailer stall. A non-trailer Rivian could have charged just fine, but me with the trailer? Had to block part of the aisle on one of the "normal" stalls:

 

[darren1f]

This OP rant is completely out of line, and it's a level of entitlement that's kind of gross. This charger can accommodate a trailer, but is not for the exclusive use of those pulling a trailer. If there's no signage that explicitly says who can and can't use the charger, and the other chargers aren't available, then I'm taking this one and you can wait twenty minutes until I'm done. This is not a handicap spot, nor are the waters going to part for you just because you choose to pull a toilet, kitchen and bed behind you.

 

[Mathme]

As someone who's towed lots (not yet with the Rivian) I always choose a non-towing space if one is available. One time I pulled into the Sac RAN and the trailer spot was the only one available...so I took it.

I've also used a couple of RAN stations, and they can go from busy to slow and desolate in a matter of minutes.

What I do find annoying is that I can pull in and do a 15-85% charge and there's usually ONE truck that's there longer than I am. If you're going to sit there and trickle charge to 100%, at least be courteous enough to move to the Destination charger once you get close to full -- especially if the station is busy.

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