Rivian R1T, Bronco, FJ40, and Jeeps off-road through deep snow in Oregon backcountry (video)

[Electric Rivilution]

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[the long way downunder]

That's a fun day and well captured by the video folks.
As for the R1T, those factory Pirelli 20s don't impress.

I switched to Nokian LT3s.
Personally, I would have driven those trails with chains on the rear and snow socks on the front.

Still, impressive that the R1T made it through with no drama.

The good thing about going "up" into the mountains is coming back, the mi/kWh improves and most obstacles are downhill.

Did it have Snow Mode at that time or was that in Rock Crawl?

I find Rock Crawl is good at slower speeds and can access "highest" suspension, snow is better at 20 mph+ and I turn up regen to high and one-pedal it. With chains, no need to air down, so maybe an extra inch of clearance. The 7000lbs of the R1T makes "floatation" an ineffective technique (in my experience, anyway.)

If only Rivian offered the winch.

 

[moosehead]

Nice vid. I gotta throw a set of traction pads in the gear tunnel for ski season.

That FJ40 is old skool cool.

 

[Iwannarivian]

nice vid, until the DH cop stops you with an BS road block…

 

[MountainBikeDude]

Great video, I'll admit to wanting to be in the bronco out of all the vehicles. I was impressed and honestly a bit surprised the Rivian made it that far considering some of the more slippery obstacles given its weight.

I really need to get into the mountains before the snow is gone

 

[iokua]

That's a fun day and well captured by the video folks.
As for the R1T, those factory Pirelli 20s don't impress.

I switched to Nokian LT3s.
Personally, I would have driven those trails with chains on the rear and snow socks on the front.

Still, impressive that the R1T made it through with no drama.

The good thing about going "up" into the mountains is coming back, the mi/kWh improves and most obstacles are downhill.

Did it have Snow Mode at that time or was that in Rock Crawl?

I find Rock Crawl is good at slower speeds and can access "highest" suspension, snow is better at 20 mph+ and I turn up regen to high and one-pedal it. With chains, no need to air down, so maybe an extra inch of clearance. The 7000lbs of the R1T makes "floatation" an ineffective technique (in my experience, anyway.)

If only Rivian offered the winch.

I started with snow mode when the snow appeared on the pavement and switched to off road/rock crawl when the pavement ended and snow got deeper. Especially since there are lots of whoops on these roads and rock crawl helps take the jerkiness out of the pedal.

I did have a set of socks with me just in case but wanted to test the trucks ability without them. I’m also not sure how durable the socks will be in the deeper snow conditions.

I was pleasantly surprised how well Pirellis did despite the negative reviews and my low expectations. I waited as long as possible to air down to see how far I could go. I’m also now a full believer in maxtrax and will have my own set the next time we go.

 

[the long way downunder]

Nice vid. I gotta throw a set of traction pads in the gear tunnel for ski season.

That FJ40 is old skool cool.

That was the perfect scenario for maxtrax, but in general, they're pretty bloody useless. Maxtrax has done a thorough job of marketing their product, but unless you carry four (and they're not compact) you are in for a lot of work to move a foot or two at a time.
A winch is really the only self-recovery that can handle almost all situations.
Personally, after years of off-roading, mostly in sand, on beaches and in snow around ski resorts, I happened to buy a set of gotreads after seeing some comparison videos that impressed me. They're more compact and they are simpler to get under the tires and get the vehicle moving, plus when you're out, they fold up into a square bag and don't need much space.

 

[the long way downunder]

I started with snow mode when the snow appeared on the pavement and switched to off road/rock crawl when the pavement ended and snow got deeper. Especially since there are lots of whoops on these roads and rock crawl helps take the jerkiness out of the pedal.

I did have a set of socks with me just in case but wanted to test the trucks ability without them. I’m also not sure how durable the socks will be in the deeper snow conditions.

I was pleasantly surprised how well Pirellis did despite the negative reviews and my low expectations. I waited as long as possible to air down to see how far I could go. I’m also now a full believer in maxtrax and will have my own set the next time we go.

Excellent! Having the snow socks is game changer … somehow the textile is almost magnetic with snow. Side slip is controlled and steering control is great. I had them on the Pirellis before Snow Mode and I'm sure they saved my R1T and my pride more than once … : )

I think Rivian says 31 psi for snow. What did you go to?

There are plenty of videos of people using textiles in tough terrain and they hold up. Mine look fine, but I don't know that they would have helped where you were when you used the maxtrax. That was the perfect scenario for traction boards and whoever was helping you knew what they were doing.

Rivian sells the racks for them and you can carry them above the tonneau, so their size is not a problem. I would note the copycat "traction board" products are pretty much all rubbish. Better to pay for maxtrax. They will break and snap off the lugs, but they do put up with a lot. I haven't tried the Rhino boards. They make a good product in general, I used some of their gear and it's solid, so maybe their boards perform well and they have a lifetime warranty (and a USA product.)

 

[PowerBugs]

Nice and fun video. It’s always safer to hit the backroads with a group.
I could be wrong but most California forest roads are closed off in the winter.

 

[iokua]

Excellent! Having the snow socks is game changer … somehow the textile is almost magnetic with snow. Side slip is controlled and steering control is great. I had them on the Pirellis before Snow Mode and I'm sure they saved my R1T and my pride more than once … : )

I think Rivian says 31 psi for snow. What did you go to?

There are plenty of videos of people using textiles in tough terrain and they hold up. Mine look fine, but I don't know that they would have helped where you were when you used the maxtrax. That was the perfect scenario for traction boards and whoever was helping you knew what they were doing.

Rivian sells the racks for them and you can carry them above the tonneau, so their size is not a problem. I would note the copycat "traction board" products are pretty much all rubbish. Better to pay for maxtrax. They will break and snap off the lugs, but they do put up with a lot. I haven't tried the Rhino boards. They make a good product in general, I used some of their gear and it's solid, so maybe their boards perform well and they have a lifetime warranty (and a USA product.)

Haha! Nice. Good info about the snow socks.

There were multiple failed attempts with the maxtrax before I aired down. Went down to 20psi and that worked like a charm.

I do plan to get the rivian mounts for the maxtrax if I go that route; will definitely check out the gotreads though. Thanks for the recommendation.

There is a lot of experience and knowledge in that group-Mark said the same thing about the maxtrax vs the knockoffs.

 

[shrink]

I started with snow mode when the snow appeared on the pavement and switched to off road/rock crawl when the pavement ended and snow got deeper. Especially since there are lots of whoops on these roads and rock crawl helps take the jerkiness out of the pedal.

I did have a set of socks with me just in case but wanted to test the trucks ability without them. I’m also not sure how durable the socks will be in the deeper snow conditions.

I was pleasantly surprised how well Pirellis did despite the negative reviews and my low expectations. I waited as long as possible to air down to see how far I could go. I’m also now a full believer in maxtrax and will have my own set the next time we go.

Great video! Thanks for sharing and adventuring!

Looks like you got stuck at about 8:50 and 10:30? Did you air down and use the boards to get out at 10:30? If so, impressive you didn’t air down earlier.

Wish the video showed the Rivian air compressor in action at the end airing you back up as compared to the contraption your buddies were using.

Funny the officer asked if the Rivian was street legal

Great username BTW! You, Hawaiian, bruddah?

FWIW - from the manual.

 

[iokua]

Great video! Thanks for sharing and adventuring!

Looks like you got stuck at about 8:50 and 10:30? Did you air down and use the boards to get out at 10:30? If so, impressive you didn’t air down earlier.

Wish the video showed the Rivian air compressor in action at the end airing you back up as compared to the contraption your buddies were using.

Funny the officer asked if the Rivian was street legal

Great username BTW! You, Hawaiian, bruddah?

FWIW - from the manual.

I wasn’t aired down at 8:50; honestly I completely forgot since I normally would have been by then. Aired down to 20 at 1030.

Rivian compressor worked great. So simple to just pull out a hose and set the pressure. It did cut out a few times but restarted on its own so I will have to keep an eye on it.

I did come across that page from the manual, AFTER the snow wheeling trip of course.

I’m HAPA. My mom was born and raised in Honolulu. My wife and I just got back from a long weekend in Waikoloa. I have an aunty and uncle in Hawi and many more spread throughout the islands. You? You’re the first to notice my username

 

[Tucker74]

Love it, this is my play vehicle

 

[Calvin2518]

That was the perfect scenario for maxtrax, but in general, they're pretty bloody useless. Maxtrax has done a thorough job of marketing their product, but unless you carry four (and they're not compact) you are in for a lot of work to move a foot or two at a time.
A winch is really the only self-recovery that can handle almost all situations.
Personally, after years of off-roading, mostly in sand, on beaches and in snow around ski resorts, I happened to buy a set of gotreads after seeing some comparison videos that impressed me. They're more compact and they are simpler to get under the tires and get the vehicle moving, plus when you're out, they fold up into a square bag and don't need much space.

100% agree. A kinetic recovery rope and a friend are 100% better than maxtrax. We went snow wheeling a few years ago and got SUPER stuck. the maxtrax were almost no help. A shovel, a recovery rope, and a friend(s) are way more valuable to have on the trail.

 

[zefram47]

A winch is really the only self-recovery that can handle almost all situations.

Good luck above treeline unless you also carry a land anchor.

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