This is what got us in a Rivian...
That series was a big part of the inspiration for us to make our pre-order.
It definitely was my intro to RIVIAN...
This series heavily influenced my decision to put in an early pre-order on a gen1 R1T...
Further investigation appears to have determined that (a) it was likely a 3-ton Arcan aluminum floor jack and (b) the latest similar jacks from Arcan (Model A20018) are now painted green. Surprisingly, if I've identified it accurately, it is not the most expensive 3-ton jack (~$261 on Amazon). (There's a red Snap-On 3-ton floor jack at almost ~$1K!)...Does anyone recognize the model and weight-capacity?* I can't match the color online...
You are right, I thought they were waiting for their chargers but they were waiting for some part needed on the bike to safely do level 1 charging, which given that it's a prototype and they are going through several countries with different levels 1 outlets could make sense.I dunno about that. I doubt they wanted to level 1 charge at that off grid location so they had to wait. The had to wait on Level 1 quite a bit and learned the hard way about charging and discharging batteries in very cold temperatures.
Their Harleys could only Level 1 or DC Fast Charge, no Level 2. I also doubt they liked hunting down generators as it is quite a bit of ass-pain.
They really spent a ton of time just waiting around on Level 1 charges. It was challenging to find charging even with the wall connectors they had installed as part of the route planning.
You might change your opinion if you rewatch.
Fun fact: I was born and raised in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. My parents and sister still live down thereAs long-time Rivian owners probably know (but those new-to-Rivian may not) in 2019 Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman, actors and friends, took a third long motorcycle trip together. As with two previous excursions (first; second), this latest adventure was filmed for an 11-part television documentary (televised in late 2020). They traveled from Tierra del Fuego, at the extreme southern tip of South America, to Los Angeles. Unlike the previous two trips, they chose this time to use electric vehicles, including two prototype support trucks from the, then, fledgling American company, Rivian.
For those fortunate to see the resulting documentary, “Long Way Up,”* much of the screen time is (appropriately) focused on (a) people (the two leads and the folks they encountered), (b) the (truly spectacular) scenery, and, truth be told, (c) the motorcycles. Nonetheless, there are numerous scenes with the support crew, Rivian employees, and the amazing vehicles that Rivian hastily assembled just for this incredible effort.
Here is a collection of screenshots of (mostly) the two electric trucks in action. (I wonder: Where are those trucks today? UPDATE: According to Google, they were finished/improved and are now part of the Rivian fleet.)
_____
* "Long Way Up" should still be available for viewing on Apple TV+ and perhaps other online sources (e.g., Sky One TV in Britain?).
Maps.
![]()
Map 1.![]()
Map 2.![]()
Map 3.![]()
Map 4.![]()
Map 5. Rivian-installed Level-2 charging stations.
Some Scenes from the Show (click to enlarge).
![]()
1. Prototype R1T at
Rivian factory in the USA.![]()
2. Preparing to start,
Tierra del Fuego.![]()
3. Punta Arenas, Chile (one
of many charging
stations installed
by Rivian).![]()
4. Chile.![]()
5. Chile.![]()
6. Chile.![]()
7. Argentina.![]()
8. (Back into)
Chile (again).![]()
9. Chile.![]()
10. Chile.![]()
11. Chile.![]()
12. Temporarily-jammed
rear brake
(Argentina again).![]()
13. Working on rear brake (with help from Rivian by phone).![]()
14. Argentina (again).![]()
15. Argentina.![]()
16. Opening credit shot
(Chile or Argentina).![]()
17. Opening credit shot.![]()
18. Opening credit shot.![]()
19. Argentina.![]()
20. At an Argentina-
Chile border.![]()
21. Bolivia.![]()
22. Approaching a town with ferry in Bolivia.![]()
23. Towards the ferry, Bolivia.![]()
24. Onto the ferry, Bolivia.![]()
25. Peru.![]()
26. Machu Picchu.![]()
27. Peru.![]()
28. Peru.![]()
29. Opening credit
shot (Peru?).![]()
30. Ecuador.![]()
31. Ecuador.![]()
32. Ecuador.![]()
33. Ecuador.![]()
34. Ecuador.![]()
35. Costa Rica.![]()
36. Costa Rica.![]()
37. Nicaragua![]()
38. Guatemala.![]()
39. Mexico.![]()
40. Mexico.![]()
41. Mexico.![]()
42. California.![]()
43. Los Angeles.![]()
44. Los Angeles..![]()
45. Los Angeles.![]()
46. Los Angeles.![]()
47. RJ welcomes the boys
back. (And breathes sigh
of relief?)![]()
48. Los Angeles.![]()
40. Final charge.![]()
50. Final ride.![]()
51. Final ride.![]()
52. Final ride.
These screenshots represent only the tip of the iceberg. There are tons more beautiful and informative scenes in the ~9 hours of the total show, including the most beautiful and awesome scenery.
Rivian Forums References
Threads with "Long Way Up" in the title, providing additional videos, photographs, and information.
- Rivian Presents: The original Rivian road trip (Long Way Up) - 01/17/24
- Long Way Up - 05/29/23
- Rivian V2V/bi-directional charging from Long Way Up - 11/16/22
- "Long Way Up" chargers still operational and accessible? - 09/06/21
- New Rivian Video Posted - Long Way Up Update - 01/11/21
- Fully Charged covers Long Way Up and Rivian & R1T - 09/17/20
- Car and Driver Article on Long Way Up - 08/09/20
- Video Feature: Long Way Up -- R1T's 13k mile all-electric journey from Patagonia to LA - 09/04/20
- ‘Long Way Up’ w/ Rivian R1Ts, Harley LiveWire to debut on Apple TV + - 07/12/20
Some Other Interesting Threads and Posts
- Patagonia to LA to Now | Electric Adventure Vehicles | Rivian Feature Video - 01/11/21 -- David Alexanian--producer, writer, and director of the three "Long Way" documentaries featuring Ewan McGregor and Charlie Borman--is invited by Rivian to check out the latest progress of the R1T a year after the "Long Way Up" ride (with prototype R1Ts) ended.
- First mention of "Ewan McGregor" on Rivian Forums by @jimcgov3 - 09/01/19
- First mention of "Long Way Up" on Rivian Forums? by @Godawgs - 09/01/19
- Preproduction Rivian R1T spotted testing at Tierra del Fuego! - 08/31/19 -- Amusing. Rivian Forums posters in 2019 were (of course) initially unaware of the precise reason why two Rivians were in Tierra del Fuego. (The totally natural assumption was that it was solely for field testing. [But that's a heck of a place to perform winter field testing, right?]) Nevertheless, thanks to smart-phones and the Internet eagle-eyed reviewers were checking out and sharing this sighting for features (because early Rivian fans/customers were so anxious to learn all they could about the yet-to-be-released cars), just as if the prototypes were parked in downtown Chicago . All attention was (appropriately) on the trucks and exterior/interior details. ("Movie stars? Who cares?") But the cat was soon out of the bag with articles appearing like this: "Rivian R1T y Harley LiveWire en Ushuaia: dos pick-ups y cuatro motos harán una travesía eléctrica por toda América." (08/31/19)
No, you are right. Spoiler: I have some additional screenshots (to be released at a later opportune time...) that show the center console controls (e.g., for controlling suspension height, parking brake, direction of movement, rocket launchers, etc.). There appears to be a central touch screen on the dashboard, but I don't think it was working. (Probably software not completed yet?)But were they really “complete vehicles”? The interior shots I remember seeing didn’t show the screens and controls of the final build but rather a center console with toggle switches and knobs, very prototypically pre production.