quartz
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2023
- Threads
- 7
- Messages
- 213
- Reaction score
- 221
- Location
- Los Angeles, CA
- Vehicles
- Honda Clarity PHEV
- Thread starter
- #1
Hey all - first time poster here - I've been enviously lurking since my 9/21 pre-order!
I was holding out for Max Pack, but after the latest delay I gave in and switched to Large Pack.
I got tired of waiting, so I borrowed my buddy's R1T for an extended test drive over the holidays -- 1300 mile round trip from LA to Tuscon -- what a fun ride!
I decided to take the scenic route on the way back, following a beach path on the East side of Salton Sea.
I hit a patch that was really silty, almost clay-like, and the truck immediately sank. It was quite shocking how poorly the Riv performed on flat, silty terrain. All that weight and torque with no traction...
As soon as the truck started slipping, the mud completely filled the tread, basically turning the AT's into slicks.
I tried airing down the tires, digging a ramp in front of each tire, and throwing whatever debris I could find, but the R1T just kept sinking deeper.
I didn't have any recovery tools so I knew I was pretty screwed.
I hit the SOS button and got in contact with Rivian offroad recovery team -- they didn't have any vehicles in the area, so my options were to keep digging or abandon the vehicle and go look for help. I decided to keep digging while the rep was looking for alternate recovery options.
Eventually, I got hooked up with Kim's Towing and Offroad Recovery, which was just 20 minutes away in Bombay Beach.
Kim brought a pair of shovels and four traction boards, and we were able to self-recover within 30 min.
I was super lucky there was cell service and help around, but it's easy to imagine how it could've been a whole lot worse.
TL;DR don't be a n00b like me and go offroad without a recovery plan, even if it looks flat, dry, and easy!
I was holding out for Max Pack, but after the latest delay I gave in and switched to Large Pack.
I got tired of waiting, so I borrowed my buddy's R1T for an extended test drive over the holidays -- 1300 mile round trip from LA to Tuscon -- what a fun ride!
I decided to take the scenic route on the way back, following a beach path on the East side of Salton Sea.
I hit a patch that was really silty, almost clay-like, and the truck immediately sank. It was quite shocking how poorly the Riv performed on flat, silty terrain. All that weight and torque with no traction...
As soon as the truck started slipping, the mud completely filled the tread, basically turning the AT's into slicks.
I tried airing down the tires, digging a ramp in front of each tire, and throwing whatever debris I could find, but the R1T just kept sinking deeper.
I didn't have any recovery tools so I knew I was pretty screwed.
I hit the SOS button and got in contact with Rivian offroad recovery team -- they didn't have any vehicles in the area, so my options were to keep digging or abandon the vehicle and go look for help. I decided to keep digging while the rep was looking for alternate recovery options.
Eventually, I got hooked up with Kim's Towing and Offroad Recovery, which was just 20 minutes away in Bombay Beach.
Kim brought a pair of shovels and four traction boards, and we were able to self-recover within 30 min.
I was super lucky there was cell service and help around, but it's easy to imagine how it could've been a whole lot worse.
TL;DR don't be a n00b like me and go offroad without a recovery plan, even if it looks flat, dry, and easy!
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