Any other pickup would have likely faired similarly. The front of the Silverado is a crumple zone and is designed to fold up like an accordion. The bed of any pickup, like the R1T, is not a crumple zone. When a crumple zone meets a non-crumple zone, the crumple zone always loses, as designed.
Yeah. I think I’m going to look into some type of (legal) auxiliary brake light for the rear of my new R1T, similar to what other users have done for roof top tents or bed covers. Other users here have described options on how to tap into the wiring. Ideally I’d like something (like I’ve seen on a few vehicles and on motorcycles) where when the brake light first comes on it flashes several times for attention before going to a steady on state. I’d love to see a pre-made kit by an aftermarket company that would work for the Rivian. I think the rear OEM brake lights (and turn signals) are just too small. Such a shame we can’t optionally tap into the rear light bar… think that would definitely get attention.
To be clear and consistent with the earlier images, the shop and insurance feedback to me actually only alluded to a damaged frame being the final straw. I am unclear if it actually was bent/damaged or not… just that the insurance company said that when the total repair estimate passed $60K (again, remember this was at a Rivian certified shop with a good reputation), that they considered it a total loss.
https://defensivedriversinstitute.com/distracted-driving-statistics-and-facts-for-2024/
I don’t think there’s much that the Rivian is contributing to the situation of being in a rear end collossion, just that there are a lot of terrible drivers out there, traveling well above the posted speed limits and looking at their cell phones at the same time.
The end caps on the tube of the Spare Bumper can be removed with a little effort and it seemed like a great place for emergency access tools, outside of the (locked) vehicle. I even found a small rechargeable jump box that could fit inside in a ziplock bag. Never needed to or got the chance to test whether it would sustain a strong enough charge (connected to the rear jump feeds) to get me back into my Rivian if I had the dreaded 12V failure. Sadly the jump box and tools were pretty well damaged after the impact (and REALLY difficult to remove from the crushed bumper).
(Edited… pictures added)
As I just posted to the ‘Would you buy your Rivian again?’ poll, not only would I buy again… I just did, earlier this week.
My 2024 G1 R1T, delivered 12/30/2023 after a LONG preorder wait, was rear-ended in late Feb. 25 by a Silverado going 45 mph while I was stopped in traffic. Luckily I was the only occupant in my truck and saw the impact coming, but only had time to push my head back against the headrest, stomp on the brake, and hope for the best. I was just a few feet from the vehicle in front of me, but my vey expensive 3.5 ton R1T brick barely moved. The impact knocked my sun glasses off and my watch reported “It looks like you have been involved in a crash”. My last images seen through the rearview mirror was of the suddenly panicked face of the pickup truck driver that hit me (also only vehicle occupant) just before his hood crumpled up to block my view. My R1T was still running until I shut it down, but when the police arrived I was able to drive it to a parking lot next to the highway with only warning messages that my rear sensors and rear camera were not working. The Silverado driver, an older guy (about my age) was shook up but uninjured although all front airbags were deployed (and he was charged with responsibility for the crash). His truck was a mess, and I was told later it was a write-off. All the parts you see on the ground in the picture are from the Silverado - and a few were embedded in my truck. When I got home I reviewed the damage to my R1T more completely. My tailgate could (barely) be opened - at least once - but no luck opening the spare tire compartment. Turn signals and brake lights worked fine although the rear light bar was broken but remained in place. The first accessory I had purchased for my Rivian after delivery was a “impact absorbing” trailer hitch bumper, theoretically to attenuate impacts up to about 25-30 mph. It was crushed (along with the emergency 12V battery access tools I kept inside the tubular bumper pipe). I bought that bumper when I read about all the small rear impacts to Rivians leading to expensive body work… but obviously this impact was well beyond it’s design specs. Did it help attenuate the impact I felt? No idea. Did it being connected directly to the trailer hitch transfer more energy to my truck frame and increase the damage there? Also no idea.
If you want to know more about the bumper, see this website: Spare Bumper. What I can say is I am still a believer in the product, and the vendor provided me a replacement unit immediately for shipping cost alone when I provided pictures and the police crash report!
After discussion with my insurance company (Nationwide thru Rivian) the next day I drove my truck to a certified Rivian body shop around 80 miles away. No noticeable issues driving (other than the rear sensors/camera message). After initial and then ‘tear-down’ reviews, repair costs on my R1T went north of $60K (bent frame included) and it was written off as a total loss by my insurance. Although the responsible driver carried insurance, it was limited to $50K, so I refused their payout offer and relied on my own Nationwide coverage. Another choice I made at initial delivery, based totally on stories had I read here in the forum (especially the story of Sgt. Beavis’ ‘Murdered’ R1T) was opting for ‘New Vehicle Replacement’ coverage on my Rivian, good for first 3 years after purchase (at an add-on cost of $39/year!). Obviously that choice paid off! Coverage was limited to a maximum of 110% of my original purchase price, plus sales tax.. which came close but didn’t quite cover a new R1T with all the same features. That coverage will also cover up to $3K of customizations (like the partial PPF and window tinting I put on my truck), but only up to the 110%, so I missed out on getting those covered as well. But all in all I was (obviously!) thrilled to get a huge check instead of getting back my ‘retirement gift to myself’ as a badly damaged but ‘repaired’ R1T. In short order I was able to find a pretty exact replacement in the Rivian Shop available for delivery in time to take advantage of the end-of-the-quarter Rivian discounts which helped bring my price in near the 110% from the insurance payout. AND I got a V2 tonneau cover! after having that pulled from my initial order in 2023 due to the V1 (AND V1.5) tonneau issues. For me that is a huge deal and a much desired feature. I also originally changed my color choice from El Cap Granite to Red Canyon - solely because I decided red would be more visible to others in traffic and might save me damage others on the forum have experienced. Well… obviously that didn’t help. So I went back to my original desired El Cap color on my new R1T. Took possession of my new 2025 G2 R1T this week. VERY happy with my first… and even more happy - so far - with my second. Drive well all.
Him…
Me…
During tear down…
the good ending…
Makes sense, of course. I will say the Spare Bumper manufacturer did do his due diligence and testing of his product, which I reviewed on his website... which was pretty convincing. But at best it only applies up to about 30 mph, and after that, well physics is physics, and everything you said certainly applies. I was mainly hoping to avoid small impacts with expensive body damage repairs. But unfortunately I did not receive a small impact.
Thanks for posting but it would be much more readable if you broke things up into paragraphs. If you don't get all the way through it, it makes it much harder to find where you left off.
Duly noted. Thanks for the feedback.
Yeah I get that, I'm just saying, if you have a substantial impact, the device can have a worse effect. You can't obviously guarantee the force of impact to be that less than any speed limit, so just something to consider.
