Hitch cover DIY mod. Ditch the screwdriver!

[Novo-caine]

Great idea! Buying them now. I hate having to use the screwdriver each time and mine started to get worn down. Thanks for sharing

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[Kuro-Rivian]

Same, It's a truck and has a hitch opening. Not sure why I would need to cover that, it's more of a pain taking it on and off.

Well look at you getting all the "Man Points" of the day! Joking. You don't really. But you also live in Texas where they don't use 334 million pounds of salt on the roads last year. And it was a light snow year! Everything rusts in what seems like an instant. The hitch cover is nice to keep the rust at bay at least a little.

 

[jakef801]

Or you could be like me. I semi-crunched mine on a small barricade that got placed on the street overnight and I wasn't watching closely, nor did a warning go off. Many were placed on my street as it was just repaved. The one in front of my house was the only metal one - all others on the street were rubber style . I've put in a ticket to order a new one, but I don't really care. This is how it sits much of the time.

As a positive, I look at it as protection if I'm rear ended.

 

[Kuro-Rivian]

As a positive, I look at it as protection if I'm rear ended.

Yeah, I have a 3/4 ton pickup with a "permanent" hitch. Couple years ago got rear ended hard at Arby's drive though. Punched a huge hole in their radiator all the way to the serpentine belt. I literally drove away without a scratch.

 

[jakef801]

Yeah, I have a 3/4 ton pickup with a "permanent" hitch. Couple years ago got rear ended hard at Arby's drive though. Punched a huge hole in their radiator all the way to the serpentine belt. I literally drove away without a scratch.

Also, the reason I NEVER use hitch racks for my mountain or road bikes.

 

[mstealth22]

I took my cover off the first time I needed to use the hitch months ago and haven't put it back on since. Not even sure where I set it.

I put mine where the spare tire I've not received should go.

 

[JoelD]

I took my cover off the first time I needed to use the hitch months ago and haven't put it back on since. Not even sure where I set it.

Yep, I think mine is in my storage room somewhere

 

[CouR1Tois]

Why is everyone trying to use a screw driver? You all dont have spare change in your vehicle?? Pennies, quarters, dimes and nickels all do the trick just fine

 

[F1shSkier]

While I don't tow everyday, it seems like I hitch something up to the R1T at least once a week. The cover is nice and I like to remove the hitch and replace the cover when I'm not towing. But it's a PIA to have to grab a screwdriver anytime it is removed and installed. That little screw thing is called a Quarter Turn Fastener. I went to McMaster-Carr and came up with a simple, cheap, thumb-turned quarter turn fastener fix.

This is awesome. Definitely doing this. Pretty annoyed that Rivian let this cover get through design all the way to production while still needing a separate tool to use.

@LeDiable might like it.

 

[Kuro-Rivian]

Why is everyone trying to use a screw driver? You all dont have spare change in your vehicle?? Pennies, quarters, dimes and nickels all do the trick just fine

Pftt...that's too easy and makes too much sense. Plus who uses "paper" money these days. I haven't seen a quarter, dime, nickel or penny in 5 years!

 

[clockwork crane]

Step 1. Go to McMaster-Carr and buy TWO of these. Part #: 94188A220 https://www.mcmaster.com/94188A220/
Step 2. Discard the female part of the new fastener. All you need is the retainer clip and the male part. Cut the ears off the new fastener to the first line as indicated in the pics.
Step 3: Use BOTH the old plastic retainer/washer and the new one. One as a washer, and the other as retainer.
Step 4. Done. Now you have a thumb(able) quarter turn fastener and you can ditch the screw driver.

I followed the steps and did this today, it works nicely! I had a bit of trouble cutting the ears off the screw, since I didn't have the proper tools at hand, but I managed to get through it with some tin snips and a utility knife.

A quick note to others, since this wasn't obvious to me: The reason you need the old washer in addition to the new washer is that the shaft of the new fastener is very slightly longer than the old one. Without the additional washer on the outside to reduce the effective length, it won't hold as well.

 

[Kuro-Rivian]

A quick note to others, since this wasn't obvious to me: The reason you need the old washer in addition to the new washer is that the shaft of the new fastener is very slightly longer than the old one. Without the additional washer on the outside to reduce the effective length, it won't hold as well.

Yes,that's exactly right. There is a shorter fastener but I found it a little tight. I'm gonna add your text to the write-up. Thank you.

 

[atebit]

McMaster-Carr was time-on-target yesterday. Will be band-sawing down the ears tomorrow!

 

[beinenson]

Thank you for doing this! I am sure someone is surprised at McMaster why all these orders are coming through.

 

[Kuro-Rivian]

Thank you for doing this! I am sure someone is surprised at McMaster why all these orders are coming through.

You're welcome. I updated the instructions with a new part number that is an exact fit, ie the "washer" is not needed. It was not available when I initially replaced mine. It is now, so there are two options for part #s to do the job and they both work perfectly.

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