Hitch cover DIY mod. Ditch the screwdriver!

[daeHelkcunK]

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!

Me either, I'm married.

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[Tango45]

Anyone know if this is the same design as on the R1S? I can only try to analyze from that old Cars & Bids listing with the 150-ish pictures...

 

[Dark-Fx]

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

I don't think coins have ever seen the inside of my R1T.

 

[CommodoreAmiga]

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

I have heard of some of those things.

 

[calsailor]

Just did this mod
Took 30 sec
Awesome idea.

Kuro-Rivian (the OP) deserves a free goodie bag from Rivian for this.

 

[atebit]

Here you go, in the The Tony exclusive “All-Black Colorway”.

 

[beinenson]

Thank you! This worked very well!

 

[Novo-caine]

Worked great! Thank you

 

[SherpaDog]

[UPDATED 9/26/22]

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.

Step 1. Go to McMaster-Carr and buy TWO of these. Not two of each...but two of either/or. The preferred part is 94188A210, it is the exact same length as the fastener you are replacing. 94188A220 is slightly longer and requires you to use a washer (see step 3). I listed both because availability could vary and both work perfectly.

• Part # : 94188A210 https://www.mcmaster.com/94188a210/ (preferred part, exact fit)
• Part #: 94188A220 https://www.mcmaster.com/94188A220/ (alternative, slightly longer)

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: If you bought part # 94188A210...you're done! Put it all back together reattach the cover.

IF YOU BOUGHT PART # 94188A220. Use BOTH the old plastic retainer/washer and the new one. One as a washer, and the other as retainer. 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.

Step 4. Done. Now you have a thumb(able) quarter turn fastener and you can ditch the screw driver.

These work great - thanks for turning me onto McMaster ...

 

[Thedude]

I just used a spare key to twist them off at first until I decided to just leave it off and stop messing with it all the time.

 

[ironpig]

This is a great idea and I just ordered them.

 

[netjack]

For those of you not using your cover, can I convince you to "give" it to me? Mine fell off and Rivian wants to charge me for a replacement :/

 

[Blackhatch]

Nice write up. Ordered 4 as paying that shipping for two seemed silly.

 

[Kuro-Rivian]

Nice write up. Ordered 4 as paying that shipping for two seemed silly.

Hey, is this my wife? Because you and her have the same "shopping logic".....

 

[Stationmaster]

[UPDATED 9/26/22]

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.

Step 1. Go to McMaster-Carr and buy TWO of these. Not two of each...but two of either/or. The preferred part is 94188A210, it is the exact same length as the fastener you are replacing. 94188A220 is slightly longer and requires you to use a washer (see step 3). I listed both because availability could vary and both work perfectly.

• Part # : 94188A210 https://www.mcmaster.com/94188a210/ (preferred part, exact fit)
• Part #: 94188A220 https://www.mcmaster.com/94188A220/ (alternative, slightly longer)

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: If you bought part # 94188A210...you're done! Put it all back together reattach the cover.

IF YOU BOUGHT PART # 94188A220. Use BOTH the old plastic retainer/washer and the new one. One as a washer, and the other as retainer. 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.

Step 4. Done. Now you have a thumb(able) quarter turn fastener and you can ditch the screw driver.

Went to McMaster-Carr web site and found the screws to be $3.ºº each. Two of them would be $6.ºº After finding that shipping was $9.ºº, I canceled my order. Why so much ?

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