SOS on non-flat cargo space

[Vetmobile]

Hello! I had a drawer unit built to slide into the cargo area with the third row folded, based on measurements of my vehicle sent by my guide. The photos he sent me appeared to be reasonably continuous from cargo to folded third row. Sadly there is about a 2” jump from cargo to folded third row and I can’t get the unit to slide/lift up and over the jump due to size of rear opening (nor would it be close to level if I could.) The unit weighs over 300# and is now sitting part way in after freight delivery, so I can’t close the tailgate. Any ideas if I’m missing something? Guide seems uninterested in helping (photo taken with half the drawers removed to lighten the unit)

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[Dark-Fx]

You had something custom like that made off someone else's interpretation of your measurement request?

You could have come here before having it made and people would have made sure you were aware that the cargo floor isn't level to the ground when the insert is placed in so it flattens the rear floor out.

Probably going to have to have it re-worked to accommodate the small raise in the back,. But I have not seen what it looks like when the rear seats are physically removed yet. Might be able to make it workable then?

 

[Vetmobile]

I did. I am a mobile veterinarian and have had units like this for 20+ years n expeditions/suburbans but rebuilt this time since the rivian is smaller. I told my guide what I needed and he told me what size would fit. I had him send me pictures with the tape measure to make sure he was measuring what I thought he was measuring. The pictures he sent me did not appear to have a jump at all. I was not aware of this forum before now. I asked the guide if I could go look at a vehicle in person when I was near the orlando center and he said I could not that it wasn’t set up for that. This is my vet practice vehicle so waiting for it to arrive before building the unit would have meant not working for weeks which I can’t really do to my practice.

There is a lip around the top of the box I’m hoping I can find someone local to just remove. That’s the only box modification that would work. I did find a picture last night of a way to readjust the cargo floor to at least be continuous with the third row which I think is what you’re referring to above. That would ar least solve my problem of not being able to lift the box over the jump. Once I have it up the hill per se I may be able to get a 2x4 underneath it in the cargo area to level the box. Just frustrated neither the person who did my introduction nor my guide told me about this when I pointed out the problem. Fingers crossed that’s all I needed.

 

[COdogman]

Oof. I would never trust anyone else to measure that space before ordering a custom fixture like that. I can’t imagine that was cheap.

Seeing those pics the only solution I can think of is to remove the rear seats. If you do that, I guess the bonus might be that you could then add even more storage under the front of that fixture that could help you out more than folded down seats. Like 2 drawers that pull out towards each door.

 

[Dark-Fx]

There is a lip around the top of the box I’m hoping I can find someone local to just remove.

Looks like that would be very easy. Angle grinder with a zirconia flapper disc if that's aluminum. 10 seconds per corner. I would probably also get rid of that accessory mat and just use the tie-down points to keep everything in place.

 

[Vetmobile]

i think worst case scenario i get the box in sideways and drive 4h to the fabricators. They will make it fit for me…I’m not seeing patients today anyways since I can’t close the tailgate the way it is but agreed I think cutting down the top may be the simplest solution and they can probably get it level for me more stably that what I can do myself. I would love to see the third seats removed option but that may be a bigger project than modifying the box? Thanks!

 

[Zoidz]

I did. I am a mobile veterinarian and have had units like this for 20+ years n expeditions/suburbans but rebuilt this time since the rivian is smaller. I told my guide what I needed and he told me what size would fit. I had him send me pictures with the tape measure to make sure he was measuring what I thought he was measuring. The pictures he sent me did not appear to have a jump at all. I was not aware of this forum before now. I asked the guide if I could go look at a vehicle in person when I was near the orlando center and he said I could not that it wasn’t set up for that. This is my vet practice vehicle so waiting for it to arrive before building the unit would have meant not working for weeks which I can’t really do to my practice.

There is a lip around the top of the box I’m hoping I can find someone local to just remove. That’s the only box modification that would work. I did find a picture last night of a way to readjust the cargo floor to at least be continuous with the third row which I think is what you’re referring to above. That would ar least solve my problem of not being able to lift the box over the jump. Once I have it up the hill per se I may be able to get a 2x4 underneath it in the cargo area to level the box. Just frustrated neither the person who did my introduction nor my guide told me about this when I pointed out the problem. Fingers crossed that’s all I needed.

Guides are just that - guides. They are not engineers, carpenters, etc. and honestly, I would never expect them to provide highly accurate dimensions regarding something like this.

I understand your problem, and it sounds like you discovered that the rear floor panel can be installed to provide a flat surface. If it does not fit, a local shop that does stainless work will need to modify it. If it does not fit after removing the corners, it appears (at least from the front photo) that 1/2" or so could possibly be cut off the entire bottom?

 

[bbonkk]

Hello! I had a drawer unit built to slide into the cargo area with the third row folded, based on measurements of my vehicle sent by my guide. The photos he sent me appeared to be reasonably continuous from cargo to folded third row. Sadly there is about a 2” jump from cargo to folded third row and I can’t get the unit to slide/lift up and over the jump due to size of rear opening (nor would it be close to level if I could.) The unit weighs over 300# and is now sitting part way in after freight delivery, so I can’t close the tailgate. Any ideas if I’m missing something? Guide seems uninterested in helping (photo taken with half the drawers removed to lighten the unit)

My suggestion would be if you’re able to lift up the back of the cabinet and push it over those rear seats, then put in a couple of two by fours on the area that’s low and then push it back to the rear. I can’t really tell from the photos where there’s enough room to Jimmy it up so you can slide it over those seats. My other suggestion would be to pull it out and notch the bottom of the cabinet, so it sits over that area for the third row rather than cutting off the top. It might be a slightly simpler and cheaper solution.

 

[VSG]

I think if you can get it in by removing the third-row seat backs then there will be plenty of room to lift the whole unit up a few inches. It seems your problem is just getting it through the smaller opening on the back, but once it's in there's more headroom available.

 

[SANZC02]

i think worst case scenario i get the box in sideways and drive 4h to the fabricators. They will make it fit for me…I’m not seeing patients today anyways since I can’t close the tailgate the way it is but agreed I think cutting down the top may be the simplest solution and they can probably get it level for me more stably that what I can do myself. I would love to see the third seats removed option but that may be a bigger project than modifying the box? Thanks!

Hello! I had a drawer unit built to slide into the cargo area with the third row folded, based on measurements of my vehicle sent by my guide. The photos he sent me appeared to be reasonably continuous from cargo to folded third row. Sadly there is about a 2” jump from cargo to folded third row and I can’t get the unit to slide/lift up and over the jump due to size of rear opening (nor would it be close to level if I could.) The unit weighs over 300# and is now sitting part way in after freight delivery, so I can’t close the tailgate. Any ideas if I’m missing something? Guide seems uninterested in helping (photo taken with half the drawers removed to lighten the unit)

Not sure if you tried this or not. The rear cover will rest on that lip and make for a flat (although not level) surface. Can you rest it on there enable to slide the unit in past the lip? It will still leave the level by the hatch low so should still be able to get through the opening. Once it is in you should be able to tilt the unit to drop the cover into the other position and use a board cut to dimension to level it out.

It is hard to see by the pictures, might be worth trying if you have not tried it yet.

Good luck![/QUOTE]

 

[VSG]

p. 183 and p.184 of the R1S owner's guide shows you how to do what @SANZC02 suggested:
https://rivian.com/support/article/r1s-owners-guide

 

[Vetmobile]

I think if you can get it in by removing the third-row seat backs then there will be plenty of room to lift the whole unit up a few inches. It seems your problem is just getting it through the smaller opening on the back, but once it's in there's more headroom available.

this was the answer! I have a blacksmith colleague who came over and removed just the backs of the third row seats. We then put a 2x10 over the seat cushions to level that with the cargo area. And then we did have to cut the corners of the face of the cabinet unit to get it through the opening but that was actually really easy. It looks amazing and the fit is perfect. Thanks to all of you for your suggestions!!!

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