Harvest
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Nov 15, 2020
- Threads
- 7
- Messages
- 120
- Reaction score
- 303
- Location
- Columbia, MO
- Vehicles
- Honda Pilot, Rivian R1T Adventure Forest Green
- Occupation
- agriculture
- Thread starter
- #1
After placing an order for an R1T Adventure model in August of 2021, I received a VIN a few days ago and went through the 8-steps. After I had completed all the paperwork, paid for insurance and sent off payment for the R1T, I had a call from my guide to tell me that the service center where I was picking up the truck wanted me to know that it did not have a tonneau cover. This was a surprise to me and was only a day before I was scheduled to drive two hours to get the truck.
My mistake was not to catch the fact that when Rivian went through the price change this spring that they no longer included the tonneau cover in the Adventure model. I have not changed my configuration once since they day I entered it in August of 2021, so didn't catch that deletion. Yes, I should have caught that, but since every single truck discussed on this forum has come with the powered tonneau cover (and I've read many of those articles), I just assumed incorrectly mine had it. When I discussed my configuration with my guide a few weeks ago, he did not bring up anything about the tonneau cover. I'm just mentioning all this so others can be sure to check their orders. Apparently, just in the last week or so has Rivian started delivering trucks without tonneau covers.
Anyway, there was further confusion because my guide told me my truck would not accept the manual cover either. I discussed with my wife and decided to go ahead with the delivery, unless there were other problems with the truck. Upon reflection I realized I would probably only need a tonneau a minority of the time, though I did wonder about the modest effect on range of not having a tonneau. Fortunately, when we arrived at the service center to look at the truck, not only was it in excellent condition overall (no build flaws), the truck bed DID have the slots for the manual tonneau cover. So my guide had incorrect information on that.
I spoke to a technician at the service center to ask if the motorized tonneau cover could be installed, especially after an improved version is available. He understandably said he didn't know, but looking at the bed of the truck he thought it looked pretty similar to the ones with the motorized tonneau. I'm uploading some photos of the truck bed so others can see what it looks like without the tonneau. The button is different (just releases the tailgate, no function for the tonneau), but the tech said the button is easily replaceable. It looks like the vertical panel at the front of the bed is a separate piece from the side walls, so I'm presuming it can be removed, but not sure of that. At the front of the bed, there is a rubber strip that presumably the manual tonneau cover panels will bump up against. The tech thought it was likely that more info on the manual tonneau covers would be available in the next month or so.
I have had a variety of tonneau covers on past work trucks and after reviewing some of the current ones on the market, most of which will probably not be available for the Rivian, I was glad to see that I am likely to be able to use Rivian's manual tonneau. With the slots already in place, it will prevent having to mount a whole additional metal frame around the top of the bed to install a third party tonneau. In other words, a much cleaner installation will be possible using those built-in slots for the times I want a tonneau on. And I really think it could be quite awhile before any third party company bothers to make a tonneau sized for the Rivian, given that all the R1Ts sold to date have come with a tonneau and many of the new ones will be either the motorized or manual Rivian options. So probably not a very sizable market for third party tonneau options.
Aside from the tonneau surprise, I'm very happy with the new truck so far. Build quality seems excellent, no misaligned panels, steering wheel is straight, no wind noise from passenger side or anywhere else, just extremely quiet in the 150 miles I've driven so far (21 inch tires). The driver plus system worked well on Interstate 70 driving east from Kansas City, as did other features of the vehicle like heated seats and steering wheel. The steering wheel did get less warm after a while. I turned it off, back on, and it warmed back up again after a bit.
The person who helped us at the service center was very personable and helpful, and the two technicians we spoke with were both very polite and helpful as well. Very glad to finally have the truck!
My mistake was not to catch the fact that when Rivian went through the price change this spring that they no longer included the tonneau cover in the Adventure model. I have not changed my configuration once since they day I entered it in August of 2021, so didn't catch that deletion. Yes, I should have caught that, but since every single truck discussed on this forum has come with the powered tonneau cover (and I've read many of those articles), I just assumed incorrectly mine had it. When I discussed my configuration with my guide a few weeks ago, he did not bring up anything about the tonneau cover. I'm just mentioning all this so others can be sure to check their orders. Apparently, just in the last week or so has Rivian started delivering trucks without tonneau covers.
Anyway, there was further confusion because my guide told me my truck would not accept the manual cover either. I discussed with my wife and decided to go ahead with the delivery, unless there were other problems with the truck. Upon reflection I realized I would probably only need a tonneau a minority of the time, though I did wonder about the modest effect on range of not having a tonneau. Fortunately, when we arrived at the service center to look at the truck, not only was it in excellent condition overall (no build flaws), the truck bed DID have the slots for the manual tonneau cover. So my guide had incorrect information on that.
I spoke to a technician at the service center to ask if the motorized tonneau cover could be installed, especially after an improved version is available. He understandably said he didn't know, but looking at the bed of the truck he thought it looked pretty similar to the ones with the motorized tonneau. I'm uploading some photos of the truck bed so others can see what it looks like without the tonneau. The button is different (just releases the tailgate, no function for the tonneau), but the tech said the button is easily replaceable. It looks like the vertical panel at the front of the bed is a separate piece from the side walls, so I'm presuming it can be removed, but not sure of that. At the front of the bed, there is a rubber strip that presumably the manual tonneau cover panels will bump up against. The tech thought it was likely that more info on the manual tonneau covers would be available in the next month or so.
I have had a variety of tonneau covers on past work trucks and after reviewing some of the current ones on the market, most of which will probably not be available for the Rivian, I was glad to see that I am likely to be able to use Rivian's manual tonneau. With the slots already in place, it will prevent having to mount a whole additional metal frame around the top of the bed to install a third party tonneau. In other words, a much cleaner installation will be possible using those built-in slots for the times I want a tonneau on. And I really think it could be quite awhile before any third party company bothers to make a tonneau sized for the Rivian, given that all the R1Ts sold to date have come with a tonneau and many of the new ones will be either the motorized or manual Rivian options. So probably not a very sizable market for third party tonneau options.
Aside from the tonneau surprise, I'm very happy with the new truck so far. Build quality seems excellent, no misaligned panels, steering wheel is straight, no wind noise from passenger side or anywhere else, just extremely quiet in the 150 miles I've driven so far (21 inch tires). The driver plus system worked well on Interstate 70 driving east from Kansas City, as did other features of the vehicle like heated seats and steering wheel. The steering wheel did get less warm after a while. I turned it off, back on, and it warmed back up again after a bit.
The person who helped us at the service center was very personable and helpful, and the two technicians we spoke with were both very polite and helpful as well. Very glad to finally have the truck!
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