Powered 40 qt Frunk Cooler and 12 gal Water Tank w/ washdown sprayer concept (by @BoxGods)

[TeamPJ]

I am interested and have a 12v in my frunk

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[diz]

Put me down for one! I'm a 12v frunk owner as well

 

[BoxGods]

Super cool! Great work. Interested.

A few questions:

- Is the water tank required or optional?
- is the center metal section going to be a color matched option? Seems expensive if you offer that, but I appreciate the depiction you posted.
- will the digital temperature display be visible at all when in the frunk? Looks like it’ll be flush against the front wall and not visible.
-any smart features planned? E.G., adjust and monitor the temp of the two zones from a phone app?
- capacity is 40 qt, so 20 qt for each side? What are the dimensions of each side?

The water tank is optional and sold as a separate product. The cooler has provisions for optional positioning cleats that can be used either on your frunk shelf or on the water tank. See images below.

We were considering a body color matched option--maybe as a first run perk similar to Launch Green--but you are correct that it would add a fair bit of complexity and cost as it would require a minimum number of customers for each color--something like 100-150 at least--to be viable. To be candid I really like it as an idea but not so much as a practical/logistics consideration. My guess is that if we do end up manufacturing these I would offer the Rivian Trim yellow and the Gray, (re-posting below for your reference) as the two available color choices.

The Temperature display is easily viewable/usable by anyone over about 4' 6" (1.3 m) image below.

As for smart features: Adding a WIFI or BT module is not all that hard or expensive but the phone app to connect with and run it could easily be $20k plus to build per platform, (Android and IOS) which would add a fair bit to the price of a low volume product like this.

I am a big fan of tech but the more I thought about this the more it felt like a solution looking for a problem as it adds a lot of cost, complexity, and frankly aggravation (for me AND for customers) for a feature the vast majority will either never use, or use a few times and then never use. I would rather put the money into a REALLY good controller interface on the cooler itself that is super intuitive and as easy to use as humanly possible. Set it and forget it.

Yes total capacity is 40 qts with that split evenly between the two compartments. I opted for a 50/50 split because the cooler can be used as a refrigerator/freezer or both as either--IOW you can also use it configured as a freezer/freezer or a refrigerator/refrigerator. I am posting the dimensions for you below.

The optional yellow "pucks" help position the cooler on the water tank and keep it centered in the frunk space. The pucks can also be easily attached to the frunk shelf for customers who don't want the water tank.

Rivian Trim Yellow.

The gray color option. Both would be high durability powder coating on aluminum.

Cooler display and controls are easily viewable and usable on the front.

Please let me know if you're still not clear on anything or if you have additional questions.

 

[lorenv]

Very interested. Have a plug
Forest green, but would honestly take any color


Im also a mechanical engineer, do a lot of cad modeling, injection nolde part design,... If you ever want another set of eyes for design ideas, LMK.

 

[Blur1t]

A long time PC modding and gaming buddy who I chat with daily about Tesla and Rivian were talking about a thread in RivianForums.com where forum member DannyC fit a small DC powered cooler in his R1T Frunk.

My buddy is a product design and manufacturing engineer with 20+ years of experience in rotomolding, CNC, electronics, SolidWorks, and other ventures for his actual day job.

On the concept of a bespoke cooler for the strange limitations of the Frunk volume, we got to talking about my coolers for camping, the Dometic style in overlanding, and if it would even be possible for the Frunk to use such a unit with more volume than current retail units offer.

We bounced ideas around for about 4 months, worked with the great Sue Smith from Munro & Associates for engineering assets, and DuckTruck let us poke around his R1T to take hundreds of photos.

The Design Brief ended up being a cleansheet 40 quart powered refriderator/freezer to specifically fit in, and work with, the R1 platform: highly robust, field repairable, functional, and likely to outlast the Rivian itself.

While working on these issues, we came up with the addition of a potable water tank to sit in the lower well of the Frunk: DC powered pump, solid state fill limit switch, baffled interior, washdown sprayer, and sturdy enough to replace the stock Frunk folding deck.

I have blue R1T with 12v I would like one as well! Looks amazing!!!

 

[BoxGods]

Very interested. Have a plug
Forest green, but would honestly take any color


Im also a mechanical engineer, do a lot of cad modeling, injection nolde part design,... If you ever want another set of eyes for design ideas, LMK.

As a mechanical engineer and part designer you are uniquely qualified to know just how much I appreciate that offer. Thanks =)

 

[silby1383]

I would certainly be interested as I do have 12vt in my frunk.

I would really like to get some more details on capabilities and how the water tank would be used.

 

[tosehee]

I am not interested in water tank, but cooler, I am in.

 

[BoxGods]

I would certainly be interested as I do have 12vt in my frunk.

I would really like to get some more details on capabilities and how the water tank would be used.

1. The water tank is designed specifically to fit the space under the frunk shelf.
2. Capacity is 12 gal nominal--actual capacity is closer to 12.5 gal but the pump can't drain the tank 100%
3. Wall thickness is 3mm (1/8th inch)
4. There are two molded in handles for easy transport.
5. The tank is baffled to reduce sloshing while driving.
6. the pump is 12V DC, 3.5 Gal/m (14 Liter/m
7. There is a near infrared solid state water level sensor and an electronic shut off valve to make filling the tank easier.
8. The bottom of the tank is designed to accept cold weather warming pads if needed.
9. Wash down sprayer will be either black brushed aluminum or brushed stainless.
10. Tank side fill hoses will be included. I can explain more about those if you need me too.

Please let me know if you have additional questions =)

 

[Synapticon]

I have launch green R1T with 12v; I would like one as well! Looks amazing!!!

 

[harkco]

I have interest in both! Have Silver R1T with 12v.

 

[Largos]

Put me down for both the cooler and the water tank! I’ve got a Glacier White R1T, but I’d be happy with either the grey or the yellow center portion.,

 

[rosspa2]

I've actually been thinking about the frunk as it gets quite hot and not really sure I want to put things in there that need to stay cool. One solution I was thinking of was to take the tub out and coat it with a reflective insulation since most of the heat is coming from the cooling system for the engines/battery etc. That would reduce any thermal load and also just make the frunk more practical for other purposes.

Love the ideas here, but not sure I'm part of the first batch, best of luck though.

 

[BoxGods]

I've actually been thinking about the frunk as it gets quite hot and not really sure I want to put things in there that need to stay cool. One solution I was thinking of was to take the tub out and coat it with a reflective insulation since most of the heat is coming from the cooling system for the engines/battery etc. That would reduce any thermal load and also just make the frunk more practical for other purposes.

Love the ideas here, but not sure I'm part of the first batch, best of luck though.

Rivian owners have already been running electric coolers without issue:

https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/threads/vehicle-fridge-temperature-impact-in-frunk.5074/

 

[sub]

As for smart features: Adding a WIFI or BT module is not all that hard or expensive but the phone app to connect with and run it could easily be $20k plus to build per platform, (Android and IOS) which would add a fair bit to the price of a low volume product like this.

EV's tend to appeal to tech-savvy people. What is $20K for you may be just a few hours of freetime for some of your customers. If you stick in a well documented chip like an esp32 and share basic details about the interface, there is a pretty good chance that a customer would jump in and build firmware and apps for fun.

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