Warning: Do not close your frunk by hand!

[SurfnBike]

So the other day I closed my R1T frunc by hand because either the frunc sensor didn't detect the frunc latch, or perhaps the computer timed out and shut off the frunc auto-close sensor (kind of like how the tailgate and gear tunnel buttons turn themselves off), so I closed the frunc by hand for the first time. BAD idea! I applied what I would best describe as light to average pressure, the same amount of pressure that I would apply to any trunk of any car to close one, and my hood is now DENTED in two places! I'm super bummed because I love this truck, but it is just so delicate!

Has anyone else experienced this? The dents are subtle, but they are there and now I can't unsee them. Perhaps I pressed in the wrong location? They are just to the left about 3" of the Rivian logo. I already have a service appointment in about a week so I'm going to see what they say, but I'm not holding my breath. Needless to say I'm pretty astonished at how paper thin the aluminum hood is...Learn from me and do not close your frunc by hand!

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[Dark-Fx]

The truck should pull the lid down into the second latch after the first latch. If you are putting pressure on it at all, this is not the way. Hit the button under the painted area to wake the truck up and try again.

 

[Rob O]

Frunc? Front + trunk = frunk!

Sucks about the dents. Agree the body panels are super thin and easily susceptible to denting/dinging easily. I barely bumped the C-pillar with the tip of my wife’s paddle board and it left a dent/crease. After 5 years with my Raptor, using the shit out of it and never taking it easy, that thing was a rock. The Rivian needs to be treated quite gently (especially for a truck ... or is that ‘truc’? ?)

 

[SurfnBike]

Yeah I came from an F150 crew cab and figured since I was done with the big "truck stuff" like landscaping for my house and bringing home the bulky home depot items and appliances that I would be good to go, and use this truck more like a car that can haul bikes and boards, but ugh....

I looked under the hood and there is a removable plastic panel, so I am hoping the dent guy can get access to it through there.

 

[NY_Rob]

All the exterior sheet metal seems to be very thin (or weak?) and dents very easily. No way can I ever see the R1T being considered a "work truck" and I'm not saying Rivian is selling it as a "work truck", but even as a regular everyday vehicle it could use thicker/stronger sheet metal.

Last night I brushed up against our Honda Pilot with the lawnmower handle as I passed by it. It left a small scratch in the clear coat that easily buffed out this morning but more importantly.. no dent in the fender! I instantly thought that if this had been my Rivian, it would have $1,000 in damage

 

[Mathme]

Rather than a service ticket, have you tried a local dent and ding repair service? It has to be cheaper and faster than Rivian Service. Here's a similar story we had...

We had an oops moment that created a backwards crease on a door seam on a car several years ago. Took it to the stealership who wanted $1500 to flatten and repaint the door. Took it to my 'go to' auto body shop and he quoted $750. He also suggested that his dent and ding guy have a go at it as he thought it could be repaired that way.

At the end of the day, it wound up being $250 for the dent guy and another $100 for the body shop to buff it out. If you knew where to look and looked closely you could see some small ripples, but the casual observer would never notice.

 

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Agreed that the sheet metal is weak. I've seen it "bounce" on the gear guard when people hit my doors. No permanent dents, so far... On my wishlist for a "real" EV work truck (along with a steel bed). C'mon Canoo, I'm hoping you'll be the one... LOL.

In the meantime, treating my Riv gentle when it comes to things like this. And always close the frunk with the button. Also because I hate fingerprint smudges on the hood. ?

 

[LivingInKaos]

I occassionally close the frunk by hand. You don't need to slam it, just lower it until it takes over itself.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

2 weeks into ownership and am noticing the R1T's skin is very flimsy compared to my 10 yro X5. More akin to Japanese & Korean models who use light skin to save weight and boost MPG.

If you use manual force to close things, you need to be very conscious of how you do it and where—palms instead of fingers/knuckles (to spread the load out) and on parts of the car where there is structural bracing behind it.

 

[mikehmb]

The sheet metal on the frunk is particularly flimsy.

That said, I dropped wheels and tires off the bed this weekend, and one of them bounced up and whacked the tailgate. Any of my other trucks would have shaken it off, but I’ve got a pretty sizable dent from where it hit.

But - Is Truck, Will Dent. I’ll just live with it.

 

[Chewy734]

I haven’t noticed any dents trying to shut my frunk manually, but I suppose I was being careful too. I agree that the sheet metal seems flimsier though, and it’s probably for weight savings.

I wonder if 8-10 mil think PPF helps a little in that regard? To make it a little more resilient.

 

[evhelphub]

They also need a different coating for the bed. You can scratch it with your finger nails. We put some stuff in ours and regardless of what it was, it always left permanent marks immediately.

 

[Rob O]

I haven’t noticed any dents trying to shut my frunk manually, but I suppose I was being careful too. I agree that the sheet metal seems flimsier though, and it’s probably for weight savings.

I wonder if 8-10 mil think PPF helps a little in that regard? To make it a little more resilient.

I have PPF and it did not save my metal from the slight bump I mentioned. It probably protected it from scratching, but this was the result of a very, very light touch.

 

[endress14]

I now preemptively tell curbside pickup delivery people not to push the thing closed after one incident that required honking and then some yelling to get someone to stop pushing on mine. I wondered for awhile if i was overreacting, but it appears not.

 

[PhatDaddy]

Not sure of exactly what (OEM) material my Gen 2 Honda Ridgeline bed is made/covered, but it seems to hold up VERY well to whatever I throw at it.

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