Why The Rivian R1T Is The Truck To Beat When It Comes To Overlanding And Camping Vehicles

Going camping or off-roading can be quite a delicate experience. You need to make sure you have all the food, provisions, and equipment you need for your little escapade away from the comfort of the city. But most importantly, you need to pick the right vehicle, and when it comes to the EV market, it is hard to find a better fit than the Rivian R1T. Ever since bursting onto the scene back in 2021, the high-end electric truck has made quite a name for itself, with its suave design, cutting-edge technology, and potent powertrain.

Fast-forward a couple of years later, and the R1T still stands as one of the most efficient electric trucks in the industry, with specs to rival gas-powered sports cars. Instead of presenting it as “just another electric pickup truck” that is merely designed to lure consumers away from its ICE rivals, Rivian made sure to present the R1T as a uniquely capable and practical vehicle.

Being particularly suited for off-roading, and offering enough safety and comfort for camping (with features such as the Gear Tunnel) the futuristic-looking truck has quite a few tricks up its sleeve to back up its $73,000 starting price, and stand out from the competition.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from the official manufacturer websites, including Rivian, and other authoritative sources, including Electrek and Motor Trend.

The Rivian R1T Is Perfectly Suited For Thrilling Long Trips

Getting away from the city isn’t always about calmly strolling by remote villages, and quietly admiring the picturesque scenery. Sometimes, you just want to let loose and celebrate being away from the redundant traffic and speed limits of the city. Being one of the fastest electric pickup trucks in the industry today, the Rivian R1T has you covered in that regard.

Furthermore, the last thing you want if you’re on a long trip is to find yourself stranded with an empty battery pack, and no charging station available. Luckily, Rivian has made sure to minimize that risk, and starting from 2024, all Rivian vehicles will be compatible with Tesla’s NACS system. This means that you can show up to any of the 12,000 Superchargers in the country, replenish your R1T, and be on your merry way.

While long charging times can cause delays and shake up your travel plans, you won’t have to worry about that either, since the truck can add up to 140 miles in a mere 20 minutes. This figure again, is one of the best in the e-segment. The company is also planning to expand its Rivian Adventure Network by installing over 3,500 chargers at approximately 600 sites along popular routes and highways.

Rivian R1T Performance Specs

(Specs sourced from Rivian)

The R1T Offers Next-Level Performance

Naturally, if you plan on exploring wide and barren lands in your off-roader, it is partly so you can put it to the test and make the most out of what it has to offer. The Rivian R1T is perfectly suited for that mission. Whether you opt for the Dual-Motor, Dual Motor Performance, you’re sure to get enough bang for your buck in terms of thrill.

However, the Quad-Motor R1T is where it’s truly at. The latter accelerates faster than many gas-powered sports cars, with the ability to sprint from rest to 60 mph in a mere three seconds! The torque vectoring and all-wheel drive layout allow you to take over various terrains with perfect stability.

It’s One Of The Most Efficient Trucks In The Market Today

Depending on where you live, getting away from the city can require a long drive. Fortunately, the R1T is perfectly adapted to such purposes. The high-end e-truck is one of the most efficient offerings in the category, with a whopping 410 miles of range with the Max pack on the Dual Motor variants, exceeding the likes of the Ford F-150 Lightning and Tesla Cybertruck.

That high figure will notably come in handy if you’re going to remote areas with challenging weather. Extreme temperatures, and more particularly cold ones, are known to decrease the range of your EV, so you want that number to be as high as possible.

Electric Range: Rivian R1T VS Competition

(Figures sourced from the manufacturers)

To complement that, the Rivian R1T boasts an 11,000-pound towing capacity, which is one of the highest in the category, putting it on par with the Ford F-150 Lightning. Granted, the truck may lose a considerable amount of range dragging that weight around, but it’s still better than what most trucks in the EV realm have to offer.

Towing Capacity: Rivian R1T vs. Competition

(Figures sourced from the official websites)

The R1T Provides Safety And Peace Of Mind At The Campsite

Getting away from civilization can be quite challenging nowadays. Being a proper off-roader, the R1T can get you there, and make sure you stay nice and comfortable once you reach your destination.

A Watchful Guardian For Your Escapades

If, like yours truly, you happen to occasionally binge-watch horror stories on YouTube, then you’re probably very cautious about your outdoorsy adventures. Camping outside can be quite risky in some areas, and sitting ducks in your fancy-looking truck in an isolated can put you in a vulnerable spot.

Leaving the vehicle unattended at the campsite can also be nerve-wracking, especially if you’re leaving valuable stuff behind. Luckily, the Rivian R1T accounts for that too. The high-end truck is equipped with the “Gear Guard”, a security system designed to protect your belongings. These features notably include:

• Five cameras, embedded around the truck
• A braided steel cable to wrap your equipment in the bed
• An animated Gear Guard in the center display

If the system detects anything of concern, it immediately sends out a mobile notification while blaring the R1Ts security alarms. The system can detect any sudden movement within 1 foot of the truck, and begins recording as soon as it detects something. This effectively gives you the peace of mind needed to properly enjoy your camping experience, either inside or outside your vehicle.

In 2022, Rivian implemented the “Camp Mode” feature into R1T through a software update. The system can easily be accessed via the “More” icon on the Center Display. Camp Leveling makes use of the air suspension, as well as the multiple sensors included in the truck to evenly adjust the R1T, and make a level surface. The leveling process takes around 20 seconds, to a few minutes, depending on the terrain.

The R1T Was Tailor-Made To Take On The Beaten Paths

The Rivian R1T may look posh and sophisticated, but it is more than just a pretty face. The electric truck is perfectly capable of facing nature’s challenges, both inside and out. We’ve previously seen the American e-truck go toe-to-toe with the Jeep Gladiator in the tracks, and prove itself to be just as capable. The R1T particularly distinguishes itself with its high-ground clearances, which reach a maximum of 14.9 inches.

The figure is one of the highest in the e-segment, and translates into a better overlanding experience, as it allows you to take on the beaten paths without damaging the chassis. Furthermore, since the R1T is underpinned by a skateboard-like structure and unencumbered by clutter and whatnot, it further reduces the risk of damaging your car when driving around bumpy and uneven trails.

Ground Clearance: Rivian R1T VS Competition

(Figures sourced from manufacturers)

It Offers Different Drive Modes For Different Trails And Needs

The Rivian R1T offers a total of nine drive modes, four for the road, and five for the challenging paths. You can thus alternate between the following setups with the push of a button, depending on your needs:

• Sport
• Off-Road Drift
• All Purpose
• Off-Road Auto
• Off-Road Rock Crawl
• Off-Road Rally
• Conserve
• Towing

In 2022, Rivian added Sand-Mode via a software update. This latest addition allows you to generate and maintain momentum over sandy surfaces through an increased buildup of throttle at low speeds and a more powerful delivery at higher speeds. The company claims the mode “shines brightest in deep sand” which should allow you to broaden your travel destinations.

Rivian’s Suspension Is An In-House Developed Masterpiece

In terms of stability, the Rivian R1T is a distant relative of the McLaren 720S, as the American start-up includes a few McLaren engineers, who made sure to bring their valued expertise along with them. The company notably takes pride in its in-house developed hydraulic cross-linked suspension, which uses the same central valve sourced to McLaren via Tenneco.

The setup links the left and right dampers of each axle via a hydraulic line. If the suspension on one side compresses in a corner, the cross-link makes sure to compress the other side’s dampers to adapt to the terrain you’re driving in, and the drive mode you’re using. As for real-life scenarios, there’s no shortage of that either. The R1T is known to bravely tame steep hills, rocky paths, and muddy areas, and was notably put through the wringer across the Trans-America trail, where it once again solidified its status as a proper trailblazer.

Rivian R1T Dimensions

(Figures sourced from Rivian)

It Maximizes Convenience At The Campsite With Ample Hi-Tech And Storage Space

Roughing it up is not everyone’s idea of a good camping trip. Some, for instance, like to preserve the delights of everyday life. In that case, the Rivian R1T comes with the following standard features that should contribute to making your stay at the camping site more pleasant:

• Synthetic leather upholstery
• Power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats
• Heated rear seats
• Heated steering wheels
• Amazon Alexa
• Panoramic sunroof
• Six USB ports
• Wireless device charging
• Wi-Fi hotspot

The 16-inch touchscreen is also one of the biggest in the industry, and should definitely come in handy should you want to relax and watch something during your camping trip.

You’ll Get All The Room You Need For Your Equipment

On top of offering the comfort you might need in nature’s roughest parts, the R1T also provides 68 cubic feet of total storage inside and outside the cockpit. The latter is notably filled with bins and a pretty useful center console. The front trunk (frunk) provides 11 cubic feet of extra storage space, and is one of the biggest in the e-segment, with enough room to store a half-dozen full grocery bags or two full-sized coolers.

The R1T’s 4-foot-6-inch bed isn’t the biggest, but it can still be extended to a respectable six feet, with the gooseneck tailgate hinge system. The bed offers 22.6 cubic feet of cargo room and is equipped with anchors, tie-downs, and two 120-volt plugs. The innovative Gear Tunnel provides an additional 11.7 cubic feet of storage.

This quirky feature is used to serve as a tool to incorporate the Camp Kitchen Package for an extra $5,000. The latter was basically a sled that included a water tank, space for utensils, and two induction cooktops connected to the car’s battery. However, Rivian decided to temporarily halt the production of its Camp Kitchen in order to focus on manufacturing and delivering its vehicles at a faster rate.