RealWheels EV Horn Upgrade Kit - Review & Sound Clips Videos

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

FWIW, I’ve heard the whine before upon wake. So when you reconnected the ground cable you might have triggered the same. It was likely fine and would have subsided one you drove a bit. The reboots you did, I hope they were not hard reboots. Read somewhere that you are not supposed to do that more than once within an hour. Don’t recall reason. With my previous car, X5, upon reconnecting battery I’d get all sort of errors, including one for transmission. That was considered normal and would self clear after a few minutes of driving. I think it’s just the process if various computers “waking”.

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[RealWheelsEV]

thanks @RealWheelsEV, this horn is pretty great. The instructions provided by the seller were perfect - be sure to download the e-copy so you can zoom in on photos. I took a bunch of photos so if anyone has any questions please ask. I used a decibel meter app on my iphone - see snips in videos. The before is 121.0 and the after is 124.6. I have no idea how accurate an iphone decibel meter is, and I assume there is a lot more to how a horn sounds than decibels. In person this sounds like a night and day difference, and this is the type of sound this truck needs.

Thank you for the update after your install Mike. Your rig sounds awesome!

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

My cable to the battery seemed a bit short, so I took some shortcuts when running it. See photos. I took a couple of short cuts with the cable run compared to what was shown in the installation photos.

Quick question, what is your build date? wondering if yours is one with a single 12V + capacitor.

And @RealWheelsEV, was the kit prototyped with one with two 12V batteries? or does it matter whether the wires are connected to a 12V or capacitor?

 

[mike813]

FWIW, I’ve heard the whine before upon wake. So when you reconnected the ground cable you might have triggered the same. It was likely fine and would have subsided one you drove a bit. The reboots you did, I hope they were not hard reboots. Read somewhere that you are not supposed to do that more than once within an hour. Don’t recall reason. With my previous car, X5, upon reconnecting battery I’d get all sort of errors, including one for transmission. That was considered normal and would self clear after a few minutes of driving. I think it’s just the process if various computers “waking”.

No issues after a day and a couple of trips.

Quick question, what is your build date? wondering if yours is one with a single 12V + capacitor.

And @RealWheelsEV, was the kit prototyped with one with two 12V batteries? or does it matter whether the wires are connected to a 12V or capacitor?

not sure of build date, my VIN was assigned May 2023 from the shop. The sticker on one of my batteries has a date of 3/28/23, that's probably pretty close. Approx vin in my signature below.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

No issues after a day and a couple of trips.


not sure of build date, my VIN was assigned May 2023 from the shop. The sticker on one of my batteries has a date of 3/28/23, that's probably pretty close. Approx vin in my signature below.

Vehicle build month/year is near upper right corner of the label on your driver's door jamb, under the QR code.

 

[RealWheelsEV]

Quick question, what is your build date? wondering if yours is one with a single 12V + capacitor.

And @RealWheelsEV, was the kit prototyped with one with two 12V batteries? or does it matter whether the wires are connected to a 12V or capacitor?

The horn upgrade is hooked directly up to the battery block, you don't want to connect it to a capacitor.

 

[Partagas]

Just picked up my R1S today and already looking to replace the laughable horn. Having looked at the forum, and maybe I’m missing something, but I fail to see why one would:

a) buy this airhorn set up from RealWheelsEV, which requires a relay and connection to the battery, potential problems in cold weather, a more complicated install, and at $175

when one can

b) buy a second horn and cables from Amazon, with no relay or battery connection required, no problems in cold weather, an arguably much simpler install and at $25?

 

[ndmiller]

Just picked up my R1S today and already looking to replace the laughable horn. Having looked at the forum, and maybe I’m missing something, but I fail to see why one would:

a) buy this airhorn set up from RealWheelsEV, which requires a relay and connection to the battery, potential problems in cold weather, a more complicated install, and at $175

when one can

b) buy a second horn and cables from Amazon, with no relay or battery connection required, no problems in cold weather, an arguably much simpler install and at $25?

Simple answer. A well tested and easy to install with instructions kit is worth the extra money. Very few owners of $80K+ vehicles want to DIY a solution that may cause problems/issues with install or after install.

Let's see your $25 solution and install and then you'll know for sure.

 

[Partagas]

Simple answer. A well tested and easy to install with instructions kit is worth the extra money. Very few owners of $80K+ vehicles want to DIY a solution that may cause problems/issues with install or after install.

Let's see your $25 solution and install and then you'll know for sure.

Isn’t every horn modification, regardless of whether you buy it from RealWheelsEV or Amazon, a DIY install? Don’t you still need to remove the frunk or wheel liner (my case)? Also, what problems may there be with a 2nd 500Hz horn installation? From what I can see it’s literally a 12v Deutsch splitter cable + a 500Hz horn. It seems to be much simpler and therefore less prone to problems/issues.

Thinking of the solution in the thread below but with a $10 500Hz slim horn and a Deutch splitter cable with a spade terminal at one of the two ends for $15.

https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/...pgrade-installed-pics-video-sound-clip.22096/

 

[iforbes]

Just picked up my R1S today and already looking to replace the laughable horn. Having looked at the forum, and maybe I’m missing something, but I fail to see why one would:

a) buy this airhorn set up from RealWheelsEV, which requires a relay and connection to the battery, potential problems in cold weather, a more complicated install, and at $175

when one can

b) buy a second horn and cables from Amazon, with no relay or battery connection required, no problems in cold weather, an arguably much simpler install and at $25?

Isn’t every horn modification, regardless of whether you buy it from RealWheelsEV or Amazon, a DIY install? Don’t you still need to remove the frunk or wheel liner (my case)? Also, what problems may there be with a 2nd 500Hz horn installation? From what I can see it’s literally a 12v Deutsch splitter cable + a 500Hz horn. It seems to be much simpler and therefore less prone to problems/issues.

Thinking of the solution in the thread below but with a $10 500Hz slim horn and a Deutch splitter cable with a spade terminal at one of the two ends for $15.

https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/...pgrade-installed-pics-video-sound-clip.22096/

I hear you. I thought about doing what you propose. I have heard some of the videos and, to me, it sounds like a 80’s Subaru. Frankly, your question is apples vs oranges. They are both fruits, yes, but that’s where the comparison ends.
This horn (RwalWheels) is a HORN. If someone told me it was too loud for them, I would understand. One fella said he has had issues with air horns in cold weather? I guess but then how are all these truckers in the north surviving.
To me, the price of this horn is well justified. You get a quality horN, a custom bracket, clear instructions and a company to back you up if things go wrong.
But we are our own people and get to make our own decisions. If a $25 horn upgrade works for you, do it! Enjoy, share the results.
I am beyond satisfied with this setup. I wanted a HORN, and this fit the bill for me.

 

[Partagas]

I hear you. I thought about doing what you propose. I have heard some of the videos and, to me, it sounds like a 80’s Subaru. Frankly, your question is apples vs oranges. They are both fruits, yes, but that’s where the comparison ends.
This horn (RwalWheels) is a HORN. If someone told me it was too loud for them, I would understand. One fella said he has had issues with air horns in cold weather? I guess but then how are all these truckers in the north surviving.
To me, the price of this horn is well justified. You get a quality horN, a custom bracket, clear instructions and a company to back you up if things go wrong.
But we are our own people and get to make our own decisions. If a $25 horn upgrade works for you, do it! Enjoy, share the results.
I am beyond satisfied with this setup. I wanted a HORN, and this fit the bill for me.

Well said OP. I installed my 500hz horn and splitter cable today. Yeah, the dual-tone horn is plenty loud for me. I guess a horn is a just a horn for me, not a HORN

 

[not_a_car_guy]

I installed my 500hz horn and splitter cable today.

Is there a thread that provides instructions on where to obtain the parts and how to best install them (500hz horn and splitter)?

 

[Partagas]

Is there a thread that provides instructions on where to obtain the parts and how to best install them (500hz horn and splitter)?

just sent you a DM

 

[Christopher]

Received today and installed. 45 minute job. The eyeloop terminal wasn't large enough in diameter to fit the 12v post so I had to drill it out. The tone of the horn makes it feel LOUD.

Not really any adjustment to the horn. It's touching the fender-well and the orange high voltage cables. Hopefully it doesn't wear those cables by touching it.

Sometimes when I press the horn it makes a strange high pitched noise so I have to release the horn button and press it again. Hopefully it figures itself out over time and just works 100% the first time.

 

[pangpang77]

When will the passenger side version be available?

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