R1S / R1T Garage Constraint Questions

[SWMI to STL]

I've been strongly considering the R1T and R1S, and have a practical, real-world garage question for everyone. I've done a bunch of research, and even called Rivian today to ask about it. Essentially, I am capped at 73 inches of height in my garage. Both getting in the door, but also the garage door equipment in the ceiling, a steel beam, and a floor vent for my office above the garage. 73 is the limit. According to the Rivian rep I spoke with today, the R1T at its lowest suspension sits at 73.1 inches with the antenna, not in kneel. With kneel, it sits at 72.7 inches. The R1s at lowest sits at 72.4 not in kneel. It's 71.8 inches in kneel. He suggested that while it would be tight, both vehicles should fit if I were to pull into my neighborhood, setting the suspension to lowest. Park in my drivewy, put it into kneel. Then creep forward under 5 mph and it should stay in kneel. I should clear into the garage. He said the vehicle will remain at that height, even overnight, and as long as I back out of the garage under 5mph, it should still be at the lowest kneel setting. I know about the 4-hour auto-raise issue, but again - he mentioned this doesn't affect kneel. AI says I should get in the practice of just setting the suspension to lowest when getting into the vehicle in the morning too as a precaution. I've got demo drives with both the R1s and R1t in the next couple of weeks. Does this all track with real-world experience? I do think I prefer the R1T, but it seems like the only way it works is in kneel - and even then, it's a super tight fit. R1S might be safter. Thoughts?

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[Electron]

Tip: I know it's one extra step, but you can also try putting it into tire change mode, which would prevent the suspension from adjusting. Typically you'd set it to the highest for this mode, but it basically locks the height so this may be worth a shot when at the low setting.

 

[CharonPDX]

If there's a hard "if the vehicle raises unexpectedly, it will press the vehicle roof against the garage door opener, which may shatter the glass roof or break the garage door opener" I wouldn't risk it. I'd go for a vehicle whose maximum height is short enough. (An R2 perhaps?)

One mistake could be very expensive. One Rivian software update that accidentally raises the vehicle when the vehicle reboots after the software update. One "forget to drop it to kneel". One change in kneel behavior (kneel has changed multiple times since it was introduced, including changing its kneel height!)

Another option is to use smaller tires, and maybe also Mountain Pass' "Triple L Height Adjuster Kit": https://www.mountainpassperformance.com/product/rivian-r1t-lowering-leveling-lifting-kit

(Definitely do not get the off-road package / 20" AT wheel+tire set, which adds an inch of height.)

 

[Luxus]

I'll be honest, I wouldn't park it in that garage. There is no margin for error. All it takes is for you to forget to lower it one time and then you have expensive repairs to do. Also the truck itself can get buggy from time to time and may raise on it's own. I would also say that having to lower the truck every single time you park in the garage would get old real fast. The lowering is not a super speedy process.

You can just keep it outside. Most truck owners do so because their trucks are too big.

 

[csharp]

I'm another vote for that is way too close for comfort and not worth it. Either park outside, or look for another rig.

 

[ribuck97]

Damaging a $100k vehicle plus the garage... a big oopsie

 

[Redmond Chad]

One change in kneel behavior (kneel has changed multiple times since it was introduced, including changing its kneel height!)

Agreed that kneel behavior changing could be a big deal...especially if it's been happening, and I haven't heard about it even though I follow these forums. OP might not hear until it's too late. Now I see that it was covered in THIS thread about a software update about 4 months ago.

 

[KBabione]

I wouldn't risk it...I've got scratches on the top of my R1S from a NYC garage where I forgot to turn off kneel mode so it started rising as he was pulling it out from under a lift that held another car. Of course I didn't notice it until days later when I was washing it so I couldn't go back to the garage and confront them.

Having a vehicle that can change heights brings some challenges. Just lower your garage floor 5 inches...

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