Northeast Rivian Club – NERC Spring 2025 Off-Roading event

[2kwik4u]

We found a VRBO that checked out boxes that's about 15-20 out from AoAA.
They have a dryer.
I might see about piggybacking off of their 240 for a small top off, if it's feasible.

If not, I did the ABRP planning, and assuming we use ~10% a day at AoAA (conservative estimate), we'll be golden to make it there, and all the way back home with 13% remaining SoC, including our small field trip to Quaker Steak & Lube.

Nice.

I just did the ABRP thing as well. I'll have to stop once to get down to the hotel. Then it's showing about 20% usage total between hotel and AoAA, Figure 25% with the Quaker Steak detour. Then throw another 20% for the offroading part of the day (I'm super conservative ) and I only need to leave the hotel with 65% or so.

Using that math and knowing the hotel only has 6.2kW chargers, I'll just top off further when we stop on the way down to "get ahead". ABRP says I need 18min, and to only go to 35% to make into the hotel at 5%. I'll likely go ahead and get 80% there and leave once the curve drops off. That should get me to the hotel with like 60%, plus the overnight I should be good.

Best laid plans though, right?!?

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[R1Thor]

Nice.

I just did the ABRP thing as well. I'll have to stop once to get down to the hotel. Then it's showing about 20% usage total between hotel and AoAA, Figure 25% with the Quaker Steak detour. Then throw another 20% for the offroading part of the day (I'm super conservative ) and I only need to leave the hotel with 65% or so.

Using that math and knowing the hotel only has 6.2kW chargers, I'll just top off further when we stop on the way down to "get ahead". ABRP says I need 18min, and to only go to 35% to make into the hotel at 5%. I'll likely go ahead and get 80% there and leave once the curve drops off. That should get me to the hotel with like 60%, plus the overnight I should be good.

Best laid plans though, right?!?

Tracking.

First time we went out I used all of 6% each day (nicer weather, less burden on the HVAC). When we went out in fall, we used 12%. It was cold (snow on the ground cold), and it used more HVAC.

You don't do a lot of miles or move very fast on these trails. So, moral of the story: I'd be SUPER surprised if you use more than 12-14%. But if you always estimate with extra conservative numbers, you'll never be white-knuckling a leg of your trip, so I definitely support that!

 

[2kwik4u]

@R1Thor

What's the rainout policy? Looks like crap weather for the weekend?!?

 

[R1Thor]

@R1Thor

What's the rainout policy? Looks like crap weather for the weekend?!?

We play in the mud!!

 

[2kwik4u]

We play in the mud!!

Well, sounds like the winter floor mats stay in for another week then.

Guess I'm still in. Adventure awaits!

 

[2kwik4u]

@R1Thor

Another question......Running boards, and bed rack are coming off tonight in prep for the weekend. I have my front license plate attached to the front recovery hook. I'm guessing I should take that off as well eh?

 

[KBabione]

I'm really looking forward to the trip reports on this one! I wish I could have made it work...

 

[R1Thor]

@R1Thor

Another question......Running boards, and bed rack are coming off tonight in prep for the weekend. I have my front license plate attached to the front recovery hook. I'm guessing I should take that off as well eh?

You really don't have to remove anything--you'll be fine for sure. There are quite a few people that keep their non-slider running boards on. You're taught to stay off of obstacles that'd high center or bottom out the truck for any more than a brief moment. Remember: even though these vehicles can do quite a lot, the goal of these courses is to familiarize you with BEST possible driving skills. Which more often than not is to negotiate obstacles with intelligence (not Dukes-of-Hazzard-send-it-style). So, you'll spend more time figuring out how to NOT bottom out, NOT hit hazards, NOT negotiate really questionable terrain (unstable/obstructed), NOT navigate into situations from which you might not be able to return.

Bedrack shouldn't affect anything, unless you're worried about your efficiency on the drive down. Part of the class teaches you to watch for trees/shrubbery/branches as much as you're paying attention to the road/terrain/obstacles/tire placement.

The only risk might be if we hit some deep puddles--depending on how your front plate is held on, if it's not hard-affixed, it might want to slosh off, but so far that hasn't happened in any of the groups I've been in.

All you should really need to focus on is how much FUN you're going to have!

 

[2kwik4u]

I'm really looking forward to the trip reports on this one! I wish I could have made it work...

My 13 and 7yr old boys are coming with me. I fully expect the interior to be completely covered in mud after Saturdays rain.

13yr old got a cheap drone for Christmas. Hoping he gets at least a decent picture or two. I'm putting them on picture duty while we're there. We'll see how that shakes out.

@R1Thor

Thanks. I wasn't really wanting to take the boards off. With that feedback, I think I'll just pack a light tool kit to bring with me that has the tools required to remove everything should I need to. Would make my life a lot easier overall.

Yet another question......and I'm sure we'll figure this out when we get there. What time is the quaker steak and lube thing on Friday night? how long do we stay at the off road park each day?

Finally.....Is anyone except you, your wife, and I coming? I haven't seen any other chatter about this event anywhere except this thread. Any ideas?

 

[R1Thor]

My 13 and 7yr old boys are coming with me. I fully expect the interior to be completely covered in mud after Saturdays rain.

13yr old got a cheap drone for Christmas. Hoping he gets at least a decent picture or two. I'm putting them on picture duty while we're there. We'll see how that shakes out.

@R1Thor

Thanks. I wasn't really wanting to take the boards off. With that feedback, I think I'll just pack a light tool kit to bring with me that has the tools required to remove everything should I need to. Would make my life a lot easier overall.

Yet another question......and I'm sure we'll figure this out when we get there. What time is the quaker steak and lube thing on Friday night? how long do we stay at the off road park each day?

Finally.....Is anyone except you, your wife, and I coming? I haven't seen any other chatter about this event anywhere except this thread. Any ideas?

Your guys will love this. My big little man's only 10 and he digs off-roading. He helps find obstacles and take photos. I think having a drone will make it pretty epic for them!

Quaker Steak is normally once we wrap for the day. Both days we meet between 0800 and 0900 and depart shortly thereafter (pretty much when everyone is ready to go). Ready to go means: we'll get briefed, everyone gets GMRS radios from Off-Road Consulting, and we'll all air down.

So, what dictates time to dinner is when we get back (we'll be back for lunch, then head back out on the trails). Since the routes are pre-planned by ORC, it's how long does it take our group to navigate. Typically we're back around 1600. AoAA closes at 1700 or 1730--but it's a hard: everyone get out kind of closed--so for that reason they try to get us back at a conservative hour so we have time to air back up (they do have some commercial grade compressors there so you don't have to rely on your trucks compressor to get you back up and running. Some people opt to use their own truck in lieu of the provided air. Depends on when you get back, how big the line is, and if you want to do anything else, like clean your windscreen, change your shoes, use the restroom, or have some chitchat with the Off-road guys (talk through the day, ask questions etc).

SO, that's a long-winded way of saying: once everyone's pretty well aired back up, one of the NERC leaders (I'm not positive who'll be there this go round--typically it's Jazzy. Last go round, it was Rob) will let everyone know we're heading to dinner and the reservation is under "Northeast Rivian Club"

Then we convoy out there and sit down for dinner. Typically we are sitting down by 1730 at the latest. It's both a consequence of when we get done for the day due to park scheduling, in conjunction with: they don't want to make it too late so that anyone who is only coming for the 101 and has to drive back home can have a meal with the club before departing, not-so-late.


As far as who else is coming: I'm not sure myself. I don't have any access to any lists, and you're right insofar as there hasn't been much conversation about it. RCA even started Heylo groups, but they didn't even add this as an 'event.' I think the first one they listed is an overlanding convention in October somewhere in Virginia.

I know my neighbor and his son are coming. I think I'd mentioned it'll be my wife and I (her R1S, my R1T) and my kiddo.
The 'final call' email mentioned they were anticipating a pretty good group. Last spring I think we had over 30 vehicles for the 101 and probably 20-some stayed for the 201. 3 Groups went out that go-round. It was super fun.

 

[2kwik4u]

Tons of super awesome information!!!

Thank you sir. Really appreciate the context and details.

 

[KBabione]

@R1Thor - What are you doing about a spare for your wife's R1S? I'm guessing that you're clever enough that you have the same wheels on both your T and your S so it's not an issue - you'd just use the spare from your T if needed.

We've got 20" wheels on our R1S and I don't have a spare...I've been thinking about saving the best of my Pirellis when I replace all four this summer and then buying a steel wheel just to have a full-sized spare for stuff like this.

 

[R1Thor]

@R1Thor - What are you doing about a spare for your wife's R1S? I'm guessing that you're clever enough that you have the same wheels on both your T and your S so it's not an issue - you'd just use the spare from your T if needed.

We've got 20" wheels on our R1S and I don't have a spare...I've been thinking about saving the best of my Pirellis when I replace all four this summer and then buying a steel wheel just to have a full-sized spare for stuff like this.

Yeah, we were debating on this, but dug into the nuance.

Short of it: we are rolling the dice with having a single spare between the two of us. They're not the same [I have an Atomic Wheels 20" set of 5 with Nokian Outpost nAT 275/60s; my wife's R1S came with the OEM 20" ATs in 275/65], but in fairness: the compact spare thru Rivian (for the R1S) is only 30" OD when inflated, so at least temporarily, we assume there's not a huge issue with having mismatched wheels (at least until we could get a patch or replacement).

My neighbor also doesn't have a 5th (spare), but he has a set of AW with 20" Recon Grapplers. His truck originally came with the 21" OE Pirellis, so he's bringing one of those as his spare.

I was trying to find an OEM 20" AT for the R1S on the used market. We're still going to keep our eyes out and maybe grab a hitch mount in the future for whenever we venture out on our own.

Bear in mind: NERC grabs a spare 20" and 22" from the Brooklyn SC and has those with them just in case people don't have spares. I believe one was used once. The only difficulty is that you'd be on the hook (assuming you borrowed one of them) to return it to the SC when you're finished with it OR buying it out.

Also to note: there've been all of 2-3 flats the entire time NERC has been hosting these. And during our fall event, there were 0 flats. It's not a judgment whatsoever for those who get flats: we're all learning. However, Off-road Consulting really helps teach you about tire placement, and if you follow the trails well, the odds are pretty decent there's very low risk of a flat. Earnestly, the biggest risk to ANY tire in an offroad situation is sidewall placement. Putting the center of the tread on the harshest points of a rock under appropriate inflation will almost never cause a puncture.

 

[Thunderbolt Adventure]

?
Yeah, I was totally not trying to get you to send me one to show off for you ?

While your product is totally kickass and probably worth it, it's a tad over my already irresponsible budget given I'd use it all of 3x/year.

But I do hope you're right--someone at the event may have one that we (and the rest of the NERC/MARC/NJRC) who join us can check out. My wife's a trained/certified/degreed chef, so she might nerd out on it anyway.

Hope you have a great time on this trip!

 

[2kwik4u]

I think a great time was had by all.

I should have removed the running boards. They got borked pretty decently. The EVBase ones I have are a terrible design if you're going to be off-roading. They're poor design and poor quality. Several others with boards didn't have any issue at all, or might have had some slight bending that was easily solved.

I'll either take them off for the next trip (and I will be going again), or I'll have a better quality setup by then.

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