Zoidz
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #1
This question is popping up frequently now that the 3rd row seat is no longer an option. There are alot of comments about "I don't need it" (OK, I get that), "I want the additional space for storage", etc. Below is some info that I overlayed on an image of the third row so you can try to visualize some of the realities. The dimensions are pretty accurate but not exact. I used the entire length of the R1S (200") to create a 24" ruler to overlay to measure the third row seats. Is it off by 1/2"? Maybe, but close enough for this discussion.
I'm not trying to convince anybody of anything in particular. I'm just speaking as an engineer who likes to analyze and solve problems, also speaking from a lot of experience with having 3 trucks with fold down seats (Avalanche and 2 Suburbans) and having 3rd row seats in both Suburbans.
1 - I'm pretty sure the width is not limited by the 3rd row armrests (I've read comments by others stating that). If you look closely at the image below, it looks like the armrests are mounted ON TOP of the rear wheel well arches. It's clear the 3rd row seat is not full width compared to the 2nd row, it's only as wide as the wheel well arches permit. I could be wrong but I think I'm right. Now someone will say that it's known there's more than 48" between the wheel wells on the R1T. Yes, that's been discussed. But it's likely the R1S body has a different shape wheel well arch. A pickup truck bed is not built the same as an SUV body.
2 - Space Gain by removing 3rd row seat - I've posted elsewhere that it's not going to create as much USABLE space as you might think. Hopefully you can visualize the vertical dimension (Z axis) in the picture below. It might help to watch the seat folsing animation on the Rivian web site. The 3rd row seat folds down into the space just in front of the rear axle hump, behind the second row seat. It's 24" front to back. If you remove the 3rd row seat, the additional space is not level with the rear deck. It's going to be 8" to 10" below the rear deck where the spare tire is stored. So you will not have a flat area to slide things in and out. It's really convenient for that area to be uniformly flat.
It is likely that you can't lower the rear deck - the space require for the spare tire underneath is fixed, regardless of whther you have the 3rd row seat or not. My guess is that if you ordered the 5 seat version, they simply were going to install a flat platform at the same height as the rear deck, making nice, flat storage space for camping/sleeping as RJ demonstrated.
3 - Amount of space gained - 24" front to back, 46" wide, and (from my other vehicle experience and guessing based on the video) I think the depth/thickness of the 3rd row seat is about 10" - 12". In the animation it's clear that the 3rd row seat is not as thickly cusioned as the second row. That's consistent with the Suburban. Do the math and you come up with about 8 cubic feet additional space. BUT - is it really USABLE space? What can you put in there? How accessible is it? I guess that depends on your use case and whether you want a flat floor or not.
Again, if you have not watch the folding seat animation on Rivian's web site, you should. That's where this image came from.
I'm not trying to convince anybody of anything in particular. I'm just speaking as an engineer who likes to analyze and solve problems, also speaking from a lot of experience with having 3 trucks with fold down seats (Avalanche and 2 Suburbans) and having 3rd row seats in both Suburbans.
1 - I'm pretty sure the width is not limited by the 3rd row armrests (I've read comments by others stating that). If you look closely at the image below, it looks like the armrests are mounted ON TOP of the rear wheel well arches. It's clear the 3rd row seat is not full width compared to the 2nd row, it's only as wide as the wheel well arches permit. I could be wrong but I think I'm right. Now someone will say that it's known there's more than 48" between the wheel wells on the R1T. Yes, that's been discussed. But it's likely the R1S body has a different shape wheel well arch. A pickup truck bed is not built the same as an SUV body.
2 - Space Gain by removing 3rd row seat - I've posted elsewhere that it's not going to create as much USABLE space as you might think. Hopefully you can visualize the vertical dimension (Z axis) in the picture below. It might help to watch the seat folsing animation on the Rivian web site. The 3rd row seat folds down into the space just in front of the rear axle hump, behind the second row seat. It's 24" front to back. If you remove the 3rd row seat, the additional space is not level with the rear deck. It's going to be 8" to 10" below the rear deck where the spare tire is stored. So you will not have a flat area to slide things in and out. It's really convenient for that area to be uniformly flat.
It is likely that you can't lower the rear deck - the space require for the spare tire underneath is fixed, regardless of whther you have the 3rd row seat or not. My guess is that if you ordered the 5 seat version, they simply were going to install a flat platform at the same height as the rear deck, making nice, flat storage space for camping/sleeping as RJ demonstrated.
3 - Amount of space gained - 24" front to back, 46" wide, and (from my other vehicle experience and guessing based on the video) I think the depth/thickness of the 3rd row seat is about 10" - 12". In the animation it's clear that the 3rd row seat is not as thickly cusioned as the second row. That's consistent with the Suburban. Do the math and you come up with about 8 cubic feet additional space. BUT - is it really USABLE space? What can you put in there? How accessible is it? I guess that depends on your use case and whether you want a flat floor or not.
Again, if you have not watch the folding seat animation on Rivian's web site, you should. That's where this image came from.
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