Underbody Shield - Worth it ?

[BigE]

Seriously. I was thinking about dropping the shield to save weight but at 45 lbs, I'll probably keep it.

I’m thinking the same. If it’s mostly carbon fiber, it maybe adding some virginity and strength to the bottom of the pack. Watch the Monroe live, they’re looking at the under body.

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[Jac]

I’m thinking the same. If it’s mostly carbon fiber, it maybe adding some virginity and strength to the bottom of the pack. Watch the Monroe live, they’re looking at the under body.

Did you mean “rigidity?”

 

[Craigins]

Did you mean “rigidity?”

Lol wrong thread to read in the middle of a meeting.

 

[BigE]

Did you mean “rigidity?”

Lol…sorry, yes..to much multitasking today?

 

[atlastracer]

Lol…sorry, yes..to much multitasking today?

So definitely not "virginity" then..... I'll show myself out.

 

[camaroz1985]

Just took delivery of my LE without the off-road upgrade (looks like Rivian calls the underbody "On-Road" for my R1T) and according to the payload sticker my truck is 45 lbs. lighter without the extra protection. Payload limit is 1464 for me. I do have the spare 20" AT tire so not sure if that extra 80 lbs. is figured in. Pics of the door stickers attached.

I have the off-road package, 20" AT tires w/spare

Looks like it is actually 140 lbs.

 

[Mcdubjr]

I’m so torn about this… I don’t think I’d ever do something extreme enough to need it, but the “what if” keeps going through my mind. $2000 is not that much on top of the total price, but I’d still rather keep my money. Decisions, decisions…

 

[trez63]

My truck gets delivered this week. I wanted the underbody but they said it would be faster to get one without it so I opted out. But I would get it if you have the chance. Anything aftermarket is likely to cost you more and if you ever do any off-roading, the added peace of mind alone will be worth it.

 

[av8or]

For me it’s a no brainer. I spent $1700 on a full belly skid for my wrangler, and it’s been heavily used. Granted I’m not taking the Rivian over the rubicon, but when I’m near places like Moab or Sand Hallow I know me…….I’ll have to do something dumb.

 

[cohall]

I wanted the underbody but they said it would be faster to get one without it so I opted out.

Very interesting data point. Thanks for sharing.

Up until recently, I believed that the off-road package increased your likelihood of an earlier delivery. Seems that's not the case.

 

[jtshaw]

The bigger weight you are saving is in your wallet.

100%. I'll consider dropping it if it doesn't change my delivery timing. I'm not changing anything in my config until I speak with my guide.

 

[atlastracer]

Yeah - at this point I am actually more interested in whether it will impact delivery timing. I don't need it...but if it materially impacted (shortened) my delivery timing....I admit I would pay the premium to add it. For my R1S - Yes I am $2750 (CDN) impatient...I've been waiting since Dec 2018 ?

 

[SANZC02]

100%. I'll consider dropping it if it doesn't change my delivery timing. I'm not changing anything in my config until I speak with my guide.

If the R1S deliveries mimic the R1T then by the time you talk to your guide they will have a vehicle matching what you have so any change will be a delay.

I have a June/July R1S window, I made the change to drop the additional shielding yesterday. I would be surprised at this point if it will impact my delivery negatively.

My personal take is they made 2 changes to the off-road configuration that seems like it was to reduce the number of that option selected. Speculation is to simplify manufacturing to limit options but if that was the case, why would they make it optional when originally it was included.

 

[NorthernOak]

Up until recently, I believed that the off-road package increased your likelihood of an earlier delivery. Seems that's not the case.

I think it really was a case by case basis at the end of the month/quarter here. I had the package on my vehicle but when speaking to my guide I asked about removing it. I gather that pretty much the only reason I was assigned a guide so early was because they had a vehicle that matched my specs already on its way to Minneapolis. So I kept the package to get the truck sooner. If I had removed it I was told the potential wait would be May/June for me but who knows. Essentially YMMV. Get what you want and know that it can't be added after delivery. Will I ever use/need it, highly doubtful, but its there if I wanted and could make the vehicle more compelling to someone at resale

 

[ATL_R1S]

After watching the Munro video of the R1T underbody, I'm inclined to believe that the "carbon fiber" layer that is under the battery is not actually the carbon fiber that we're used to seeing on high end sports and race cars known for it's weight benefits, but instead a type of carbon thermoplastic aka "Tegris". This is still very strong but doesn't have nearly as much tendency to shatter and break when it is pushed past it's stress and flex limits. The whole point of it is that it's a lot more flexible and wear resistant than regular carbon fiber, due to being infused with plastic. I'm also not a materials scientist, I've just seen the two different products explained before, and from what I saw in the video, it looked similar to Tegris and similar carbon composite materials.

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