R2 towing limitations / specs

[kwindrem]

I am considering an R2 to tow a travel trailer. There is SO much information missing from Rivian documentation but what remains makes me think that towing with an R2 is almost a joke.

The 4,400 pound towing limit is documented and well understood.

Tongue weight is less so. Most SPECULATE that tongue weight is limited to 440 pounds. Nothing official from Rivian. Getting a single axle travel trailer down to that limit is extremely difficult. I have already switched to lithium batteries and moved them to the back of the trailer and removed one of the propane tanks. Cargo area is as empty as I can realistically make it. Best I can do is 480 pounds.

Lets assume for the moment that 480 pounds would be an acceptable tongue weight and consider additional situations.

The receive height above the ground is not specified. Multiple searches say it's on the order of 15 inches but nothing official. If that's accurate, I'd need about 4 inches of rise to tow level.

I found a note in the R2 manual that indicates the maximum rise is 1 inch (and 2 inch max drop). That rules out nearly all towing scenarios.

Horizontal clearance is also lacking. The manual specifies a maximum shank length of 8" which puts the trailer's tongue jack in line of the lift gate arc so it can't be raised when hitched. Yes, I've already turned the jack's head 90 degrees. Removing it entirely is a possibility with either the Jack-E-Up or replacing it with the Ultimate Trailer Jack.

There is also no information on the use of a weight distributing hitch. I've always used one to minimize squat.

Any information (not speculation) would be extremely helpful in making a rapid decision. Thanks.

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[BCondrey]

The 440 lbs tongue weight sounds like the standard 10% of payload calc that people use ... The payload is 1,168 lbs right? I saw one place that the tongue weight was 1,100 lbs. Also, on the R1S the higher towing ratings require a weight distributing hitch. I don't see any mention of that on the R2. Here is a site with a lot of info: Rivian R2 Towing Guide, Max Tow Tested at 4,400 Pounds

 

[RickRivian]

Most vehicles have a sticker on the hitch receiver itself that lists it's limits.
Usually, you should not exceed 500 pounds of hitch weight without a wdh.
4,400 pounds at 13% tongue weight would be 572 pounds. Therefore, if 500 is the limit, you would need a wdh.

 

[asellus]

do note that WDHs are generally not recommended for use on unibody vehicles. not sure if the R2 is somehow different here, but also with a 4400# limit there's no real need for a WDH if you're properly loading the trailer.

limited to 440 pounds. Nothing official from Rivian

the R2 owners guide very explicitly recommends a 10% tongue weight ratio, which is where people are getting the 440# number. there is a safety margin here, but if you're itching to tow something that weighs more than the R2, you're quickly getting into a square peg/round hole situation.

maximum rise is 1 inch (and 2 inch max drop)

only for the maximum rated capacity. you can go further out, higher, and lower, but you are adding leverage against the receiver so it is inadvisable to run up to the max capacity.

 

[Dark-Fx]

I am considering an R2 to tow a travel trailer. There is SO much information missing from Rivian documentation but what remains makes me think that towing with an R2 is almost a joke.

The 4,400 pound towing limit is documented and well understood.

Tongue weight is less so. Most SPECULATE that tongue weight is limited to 440 pounds. Nothing official from Rivian. Getting a single axle travel trailer down to that limit is extremely difficult. I have already switched to lithium batteries and moved them to the back of the trailer and removed one of the propane tanks. Cargo area is as empty as I can realistically make it. Best I can do is 480 pounds.

Lets assume for the moment that 480 pounds would be an acceptable tongue weight and consider additional situations.

The receive height above the ground is not specified. Multiple searches say it's on the order of 15 inches but nothing official. If that's accurate, I'd need about 4 inches of rise to tow level.

I found a note in the R2 manual that indicates the maximum rise is 1 inch (and 2 inch max drop). That rules out nearly all towing scenarios.

Horizontal clearance is also lacking. The manual specifies a maximum shank length of 8" which puts the trailer's tongue jack in line of the lift gate arc so it can't be raised when hitched. Yes, I've already turned the jack's head 90 degrees. Removing it entirely is a possibility with either the Jack-E-Up or replacing it with the Ultimate Trailer Jack.

There is also no information on the use of a weight distributing hitch. I've always used one to minimize squat.

Any information (not speculation) would be extremely helpful in making a rapid decision. Thanks.

IMO, Rivian just didn't want to spec the R2 tongue weight because it doesn't have enough payload for any real trailer. After adding the spare, my sticker says 1102 lbs payload. Subtract 440 lbs tongue for a trailer and you're left with 662 lbs. Probably not enough for a family of 5 with older kids before you even put any gear in the car.

 

[LevelHeaded]

The manual says that Rivian recommends tongue weight not exceeding 10% of the loaded trailer weight, which would seem to imply a max of 440.

I swore somewhere I saw it specified to not use a WDH but now can’t find that

 

[asellus]

I swore somewhere I saw it specified to not use a WDH but now can’t find that

You're not alone, I remember reading that a few months ago.

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