Power Tonneau in Winter (snow/ice)

[Jim4]

For those of you with a power tonneau that can’t park in a garage, do you leave the tonneau open or closed? Specifically when you know it’s going to snow/sleet?

This will be my first winter with my R1T and I have the updated power tonneau. Trying to decide which is better. Just trying to avoid having it stuck one way or another.

Sponsored

 

[Nixapatfan]

I leave it closed as it is easier to clean but never open it until I know the snow has melted off it.

 

[Dark-Fx]

Closed. I've used mine when it's iced over, but it definitely doesn't like that. If there's a chance you might need to use it during an ice storm, I'd probably leave it open.

I've never seen one of the new tonneaus though, they might work better in snow and ice.

 

[bc81620]

I live in a snowy climate - I have always left my tonneau covers closed. Otherwise you end up with a bed full of snow...

 

[jodyz]

Don’t know what we’re gonna do, but my husband always left the snow in the bed of the Tacoma because the added weight made handling in the snow better.

 

[Nixapatfan]

Don’t know what we’re gonna do, but my husband always left the snow in the bed of the Tacoma because the added weight made handling in the snow better.

That helps on front heavy and rear wheel drive biased trucks but Rivian is front wheel biased and mostly even weight split so you'll just carry more weight and not much benefit.

 

[RoadTripFan]

When I was in NH for NYE last year I left the tonneau closed. We also had luggage in the truck bed, so there was that. I mostly dd not open it when I did it was fine. I did carry around deicer and silicon lube just in case (and had lubed the tracks before driving up to the snow) - Although the tonneau had no issues with only a few uses, the tailgate froze shut towards the end of my week there. Fortunately, the deicer worked well.

 

[ebellinder2]

I leave it closed as it is easier to clean but never open it until I know the snow has melted off it.

Same here. But have never had any luck with any powered covers in the winter.

 

[RivianCurious]

I leave it closed. If I am at home and I know its going to snow overnight, I put a cover over the truck. If there is a forecast for lighter snow, I put a cover over the windshield and wiper well.

 

[Tim Peck]

Question - my tonneau had decided to go into auto open/close mode, when I unlocked the car. On one of these events a slat twisted and the connection with the next slat broke - now it’s well and truly jammed. Any recommendations as to how to remove the slats? My car is in the Cayman Islands so I cannot get to a service center ……. So I am unable to get a replacement tonneau (unless I ship the truck back to Miami).

 

[bc81620]

Don’t know what we’re gonna do, but my husband always left the snow in the bed of the Tacoma because the added weight made handling in the snow better.

And then you drove down the road with all of that in the bed? That seems borderline illegal, definitely hazardous and I would probably be rather pissed if I was behind you on the road in a cloud of snow blowing out of your truck.

 

[jodyz]

And then you drove down the road with all of that in the bed? That seems borderline illegal, definitely hazardous and I would probably be rather pissed if I was behind you on the road in a cloud of snow blowing out of your truck.

Where we live, we don’t get so much snow that it blows out the bed of the truck. Everyone here does the same, and it hasn’t caused issues. If we’re traveling to another area, we do clear the snow. But here in town, it’s not a problem.

 

[Jim4]

I leave it closed. If I am at home and I know its going to snow overnight, I put a cover over the truck. If there is a forecast for lighter snow, I put a cover over the windshield and wiper well.

I was thinking of doing this as well. Just a regular tarp I’m assuming? Or are there any Rivian specific covers sold by third parties?

 

[RivianCurious]

I was thinking of doing this as well. Just a regular tarp I’m assuming? Or are there any Rivian specific covers sold by third parties?

I purchased a cover from SealSkin.

Sponsored