R1T recovery needed at Salton Sea (stuck in mud). PSA: have a recovery plan when off-roading

[quartz]

Hey all - first time poster here - I've been enviously lurking since my 9/21 pre-order!

I was holding out for Max Pack, but after the latest delay I gave in and switched to Large Pack.
I got tired of waiting, so I borrowed my buddy's R1T for an extended test drive over the holidays -- 1300 mile round trip from LA to Tuscon -- what a fun ride!

I decided to take the scenic route on the way back, following a beach path on the East side of Salton Sea.

I hit a patch that was really silty, almost clay-like, and the truck immediately sank. It was quite shocking how poorly the Riv performed on flat, silty terrain. All that weight and torque with no traction...

As soon as the truck started slipping, the mud completely filled the tread, basically turning the AT's into slicks.

I tried airing down the tires, digging a ramp in front of each tire, and throwing whatever debris I could find, but the R1T just kept sinking deeper.

I didn't have any recovery tools so I knew I was pretty screwed.

I hit the SOS button and got in contact with Rivian offroad recovery team -- they didn't have any vehicles in the area, so my options were to keep digging or abandon the vehicle and go look for help. I decided to keep digging while the rep was looking for alternate recovery options.

Eventually, I got hooked up with Kim's Towing and Offroad Recovery, which was just 20 minutes away in Bombay Beach.

Kim brought a pair of shovels and four traction boards, and we were able to self-recover within 30 min.

I was super lucky there was cell service and help around, but it's easy to imagine how it could've been a whole lot worse.

TL;DR don't be a n00b like me and go offroad without a recovery plan, even if it looks flat, dry, and easy!

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[quartz]

Interesting note, I was getting decent traction on the front tires, but the rear were slipping, big-time. I was hoping the Quad Riv would be smart enough to "lock" the rear, and only send power to the front, but that was not the case. I tried AP, Sand, and Rock Crawl, all with same result -- I had to let go off the accelerator to prevent rear from digging in due to heavy spin, with the front tires not rotating at all.

 

[Thedude]

It is a 7000lb truck after all, can’t expect it to stay on top of anything soft.

 

[quartz]

It is a 7000lb truck after all, can’t expect it to stay on top of anything soft.

After watching many vids of people driving uphil in sand, wading through water/mud, even with road/sport tires, I felt overconfident on flat terrain with AT's. Lesson learned!

 

[Ginny]

Interesting note, I was getting decent traction on the front tires, but the rear were slipping, big-time. I was hoping the Quad Riv would be smart enough to "lock" the rear, and only send power to the front, but that was not the case. I tried AP, Sand, and Rock Crawl, all with same result -- I had to let go off the accelerator to prevent rear from digging in due to heavy spin, with the front tires not rotating at all.

You have a very generous friend!

 

[bd5400]

It is a 7000lb truck after all, can’t expect it to stay on top of anything soft.

Also, AT tires are, unfortunately, insufficient for mud and mud-like materials. Mud tires are necessary for that kind of surface.

 

[stynes]

You have a very generous friend!

My first thought as well!

 

[COdogman]

From the looks of how soft that is I feel like most trucks would have been in a similar predicament without recovery gear. But yes, the 7000 lb Rivian would sink even further.

 

[quartz]

Also, AT tires are, unfortunately, insufficient for mud and mud-like materials. Mud tires are necessary for that kind of surface.

Yeah, I had no idea what was lurking underneath the crusty layer of this, it did not look muddy at all!

 

[Dark-Fx]

Air down. Rivian included a compressor in every vehicle. Use it.

P.P.S.: I sunk the car in my profile photo up to the front bumper after attempting to back up from the photo I took here. A few sticks and copious throttle got me out.

 

[Ravenron]

I hit a patch that was really silty, almost clay-like, and the truck immediately sank. It was quite shocking how poorly the Riv performed on flat, silty terrain. All that weight and torque with no traction...

Sorry to see you had a tough experience and glad you got it out with minimal damage to your friend’s R1T but it seems odd that you blame the truck for it’s poor performance. From your story, you expected the Rivian to perform miracles to rescue you from your own very poor decisions. To summarize: You drove a borrowed vehicle through unknown terrain with noob off-roading skills and it’s the truck’s fault? Right…

 

[quartz]

Sorry to see you had a tough experience and glad you got it out with minimal damage to your friend’s R1T but it seems odd that you blame the truck for it’s poor performance. From your story, you expected the Rivian to perform miracles to rescue you from your own very poor decisions. To summarize: You drove a borrowed vehicle through unknown terrain with noob off-roading skills and it’s the truck’s fault? Right…

just sharing my experience, of course it was my fault.. but thanks for the snarky comment.

 

[Ravenron]

just sharing my experience, of course it was my fault.. but thanks for the snarky comment.

Sorry…more snarky than intended…just seemed an odd observation. Really am glad it turned out okay for you.

BTW…what did your buddy have to say?

 

[quartz]

Sorry…more snarky than intended…just seemed an odd observation. Really am glad it turned out okay for you.

No sweat--the observation was at the time when I did not know what I was stuck in--I thought it was packed sand, which it was for the most part, but there were some patches that were mostly silt underneath a thin crust of shells. Not blaming the truck at all, I clearly pointed at my own lack of experience and preparation.

BTW…what did your buddy have to say?

This guy collects cars for fun, he was just glad it wasn't too much of a hastle for me.

 

[cbrcanuck]

Can I have your friends number? I’d like to buy him a beer and offer my friendship too.

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