Redesigned Rivian R1T Powered Tonneau Cover Shows Improvements

Redesigned Rivian R1T Powered Tonneau Cover Shows Improvements

The retracting action is still slow, but it seems to withstand sand and grit a lot better.

The power tonneau cover for the Rivian R1T is back, and we get to see one in action. The newly re-engineered lid, which passed quality testing a few months ago, has finally reached production. So, did Rivian finally get it right?

A video posted on the Rivian Forums shows one customer’s R1T powered cover in action after it was installed at a Denver service center. The forum post reported that Rivian technicians ran it 20 times with no issues. It even passed a stress test, which involved pouring sand over the retractable cover, closing it, and opening it up.

However, there are still some issues, which may be minor or major depending on your perspective.

Video edited on Kapwing

Like the older designs, it still runs on only one motor. As such, its retracting action is still slow and sounds the same as before. The powered tonneau cover on the Tesla Cybertruck might be a smidge faster, and in a niche obsessed with Top Trumps, every advantage matters.

Other Rivian forum members observed that the brand also opted to keep the original version’s thick double-walled slats. Fortunately, the redesigned cover comes with an updated spring system to prevent misalignment for the tonneau panels, reinforced gearing, and an internal self-cleaning system.

One question that popped up was its ability to stave off water. Unfortunately, the original forum poster claimed that droplets could still enter the bay with the tonneau closed.

As you’d expect, the updated cover is free to those who had previously ordered one and have not made any changes to their builds. According to the Rivian website, the replacement will be free if the electric truck is still within the New Vehicle Limited Warranty period. This covers up to 5 years of 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. So unless you’ve been circumnavigating the globe, you should still be eligible.

Last but not least, it was also stated that Rivian’s rollout of the re-engineered power tonneau cover will be done slowly. The Denver service center, for instance, is targeting 400 installations. We don’t have the numbers for other service centers, but remember that the brand delivered 6,584 vehicles in the third quarter of 2022 alone. If even a quarter of those included the tonneau option, it may be a while before everyone is serviced.