Powered tonneau fix = new dual motors setup

[mikehmb]

FYI and take it for what it’s worth … spoke with service to ensure my truck had an open ticket for the tonneau fix (mine was delivered disabled, vs others that had theirs break along the way). Ticket is opened again, and they again claimed there was some sort of backend list that they’re working from for scheduling the fix.

Service rep informed me that the fix was indeed a dual motor setup to prevent the beam from torquing and having the panel skip a tooth.

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[R1Tom]

FYI and take it for what it’s worth … spoke with service to ensure my truck had an open ticket for the tonneau fix (mine was delivered disabled, vs others that had theirs break along the way). Ticket is opened again, and they again claimed there was some sort of backend list that they’re working from for scheduling the fix.

Service rep informed me that the fix was indeed a dual motor setup to prevent the beam from torquing and having the panel skip a tooth.

Not how I would have fixed it, but let's hope they have a good way of synching the motors and keeping them synced with age.

I would have gone with a more robust jack shaft.

 

[NY_Rob]

Funny as I got lambasted here for suggesting a dual motor setup back when the failures started happening in earnest.

 

[aw113sgte]

Funny as I got lambasted here for suggesting a dual motor setup back when the failures started happening in earnest.

Because it is still not a great option.

 

[evhelphub]

Let's hope they've been testing them all day, every day non-stop with a robot for the past two years.

 

[NY_Rob]

Because it is still not a great option.

Rivian has very limited options due to the available driver device area available, the type of panels they prefer to use and the oddly shaped space they have to store them in. I'm sure they tried lots of solutions over the past year +, but adding the 2nd motor won out due to simplicity and reliability, and that as they say is that.

One big advantage of using two motors is that they can put indexing marks on the underside of the panel ends which a simple optical reader could count on either side.. if it sees the left side has started counting more index lines than the right side it could slow down the left side motor so the right side could even up the count and the panels would once again be getting retracted evenly preventing binding and jams. You can't do that with a single motor and thicker jack shaft.

 

[R1Tom]

Rivian has very limited options due to the available driver device area available, the type of panels they prefer to use and the oddly shaped space they have to store them in. I'm sure they tried lots of solutions over the past year +, but adding the 2nd motor won out due to simplicity and reliability, and that as they say is that.

One big advantage of using two motors is that they can put indexing marks on the underside of the panel ends which a simple reader could count on either side.. if it sees the left side has started counting more index lines than the right side it could slow down the left side motor so the right side could even up the count and the panels would once again be getting retracted evenly again preventing binding and jams. You can't do that with a single motor and thicker jack shaft.

Thicker jack shaft doesn't need to count index marks. If it was thick(or better put...stiff enough, it would have to shear in half to be a problem.

Dual just seems so complicated. 2 readers...index marks all needing to be added, software...feedback circuitry...not to mention another motor and all the needed wiring.

Hopefully all those added components will stand the test of time in the environment they will be exposed to.

 

[RayzorBEV]

I spoke with LV RSC regarding my 2003 R1T that doesn't come with any tonneau cover but are compatible with the new manual and electric version; I'll have to take it into a RSC in order to install the electric version starting middle to late 2024 due to thousands of R1T that needs their broken tonneau covers replaced. They are the priority, next would be owners that wants to have a electric tonneau cover install. It will be awhile for us not having an existing, broken one, I'm afraid...

 

[dleepnw]

I spoke with LV RSC regarding my 2003 R1T that doesn't come with any tonneau cover but are compatible with the new manual and electric version; I'll have to take it into a RSC in order to install the electric version starting middle to late 2024 due to thousands of R1T that needs their broken tonneau covers replaced. They are the priority, next would be owners that wants to have a electric tonneau cover install. It will be awhile for us not having an existing, broken one, I'm afraid...

i was thinking of returning/selling my manual tonneau but not sure i want to be without a cover for that long. guess ill just have to live with the manual.

 

[Golfer04]

i was thinking of returning/selling my manual tonneau but not sure i want to be without a cover for that long. guess ill just have to live with the manual.

There are now all kinds of after market bed covers available for an R1T. Given my choice I would rather get a refund and go buy something better. I don't have confidence this fix is going to work long term and my warranty will be up in under 5 months. Rivian is going to run from these things as fast as they can.....You wait see how long it is until they are priced in the gear shop.
And just as an aside....I agree with strengthening the shaft. Grain platforms have worked this way for years without major problems. Any bets on how long the timing mechanism stays accurate?

 

[moosehead]

Opened ticket for jammed powered tonneau 3 weeks ago, scheduled Nov 9th at Denver RSC. Got Rivian VM’s confirming powered tonneau replacement.

We’ll see, but given the VM’s were not from Tony says there’s a chance.

 

[endress14]

Opened ticket for jammed powered tonneau 3 weeks ago, scheduled Nov 9th at Denver RSC. Got Rivian VM’s confirming powered tonneau replacement.

We’ll see, but given the VM’s were not from Tony says there’s a chance.

was your first ticket for the tonneau 3 weeks ago? mine broke over a year ago, ticket placed, cover removed at denver SC. email came out last week, my truck was at the SC that day for another reason and i asked about getting an appointment for the PTC and they said to do it through the app and anticipate december for availability. did another service ticket and scheduled 12/12. got a call from rivian service that they wanted to cancel the appointment and "they would call me" but got them to keep it given my SC instructed me to do that. if you get a cover on 11/9 that just broke 3 weeks ago, then they clearly are not doing the replacements according to when they were originally broken which was my understanding. good for you though!


that being said, i don't want to be the first in Denver to have it done. let them work the kinks out a bit. make me like number 15 or something

 

[Throwdown]

Not how I would have fixed it, but let's hope they have a good way of synching the motors and keeping them synced with age.

I would have gone with a more robust jack shaft.

If the motors can auto-time themselves like late model Boxster convertible top motors, then that would be ok.

 

[kozak79]

I would guess they tested with a bigger shaft and couldn't get the torque to be even on both sides with one motor, hence why they went with 2 motors. I can't imagine they decided to go with a more expensive fix without trying the cheaper one first.

 

[Dark-Fx]

Should have just done two shafts so the windup is forced out of the equation.

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