R1T underbody review by Sandy Munro. "Amazing suspension."

[Max]

This is a better view of what is under the skin:

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[LaunchGreen]

F yes

 

[LoneStar]

Wow.

 

[Whmorken]

This is a better view of what is under the skin:

?. Sandy mentions that Sue, his wife, has special credentials — 3 degrees in engineering and manufacturing, including a PhD, and one MBA, to say that when Sue complemented the Rivian in yesterday’s video, her creds are extraordinary and ought to be noted. Also said this may be the last vehicle he ever buys for himself. May Sandy and Sue have many years ahead!

 

[Max]

?. He mentions his wife’s engineering credentials — 4 degrees in engineering and manufacturing, to say that when she complemented the Rivian in yesterday’s video, , her creds are extraordinary and ought to be noted.

Yup, very impressive. I married up too. Highly recommend to single guys out there.

 

[JeremyP]

So close to answering the skid plate questions but yet so far! I wish they showed the plates they took off below the mirrors, and also took off the plastic aero cover from below the battery. Oh well, at some point someone will be able to directly compare the differences between the trucks with and without the optional skid plates.

 

[Max]

So close to answering the skid plate questions but yet so far! I wish they showed the plates they took off below the mirrors, and also took off the plastic aero cover from below the battery. Oh well, at some point someone will be able to directly compare the differences between the trucks with and without the optional skid plates.

Yes, generally very disappointed with not seeing the teardown. At first glance I thought these were a part of it.

but they are most likely under four plastic pieces around the battery:

 

[NY_Rob]

Can definitely envision a sleek single piece casting replacing that extensively hand welded/hugly time consuming to build center mounting structure in future Rivian builds. Hopefully it will make it's way in to the R1T like it did in the Model Y.

 

[av8or]

Wonder if the 1/8 inch metal plate between the carbon fiber battery tray and the outer shield is the off road skid?

 

[NY_Rob]

?. Sandy mentions that Sue, his wife, has special credentials — 3 degrees in engineering and manufacturing, including a PhD, and one MBA, to say that when Sue complemented the Rivian in yesterday’s video, her creds are extraordinary and ought to be noted. Also said this may be the last vehicle he ever buys for himself. May Sandy and Sue have many years ahead!

100% agree, she's got the chops for this kind of work/analysis... and she has a great camera presentation. Like many engineers, she chooses her words carefully and makes the point with economy.

 

[LoneStar]

Sure hope Rivian has at least one composites mfg. engineer that made sure to call for a paste sealant/barrier gets applied to all metal fasteners attaching the plate to the carbon-fiber laminate. Otherwise that's a recipe for galvanic corrosion. The plate face itself should be fine touching the laminate surface as long as the plate has a robust anti-corrosion coating which it appears to have being black in color. But through-bolts or rivets or any kind of metallic fastener other than say titanium requires a coating. Commonly a polymer paste called ProSeal. Fastener bearing, shear and all other loads will normally wear-away at exposed surfaces at each hole location.

 

[iansriv]

Thanks for sharing. This was eye opening! What an amazing machine!

 

[kurtlikevonnegut]

This video confirms what I've thought for a while now (since the in depth MT article) that the suspension is the real secret sauce as opposed to the quad motors.

By all accounts the suspension, both the structural aspects and the hybrid hydraulic/air system, is an absolute work of art. Put it in the Louvre.

 

[aw113sgte]

Please do not treat this as gospel, Sandy often makes many engineering errors. His "specialized" engineers even called the humvee portals planetary, which is completely wrong.

 

[moosetags]

Wow! I'm impressed. These guys really know their stuff and they are impressed.

Brian

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