Vehicle
- 2022 Rivian R1T
- Compass Yellow
- Gen 1 quad-motor
How I set up the rig.
I learn more and more about what I need and don't need on every trip. The solution? Take as many trips as possible and refine, refine, refine.
I try and only solve real problems that I've encountered, not imaginary problems I dream up while sitting in a boring meeting. So this is a living document of the current setup and where I'm going next.
The vehicle itself
The setup starts with the truck and builds around the way I use it.
I focus on comfort, access, storage, capability, and the practical realities of electric travel.
Wheels and tires
- Black Rhino Voltaic
- Toyo Open Country A/T III EV
Racks and storage
- Prinsu Pro Top Rack
- Xtrusion Overland XTR1
- Electrified Overland gear tunnel slide
- Electrified Overland cab MOLLE panel system
Camp and utility
- RIGd UltraSwing
- iKamper Skycamp DLX Mini
- Kammok Crosswing Awning
- RIGd UltraTable
- Dometic CFX3 35 Powered Cooler
Why I set it up this way
I am still changing the setup. Each modification solves a problem I have run into while traveling, camping, or living with the truck every day.
I have kept the setup relatively simple, with enough capability to support the trips I take without turning the truck into a project for its own sake.
Rock-solid racks
The factory crossbars are great, but they have limited attachment points and they are curved. Anything mounted near the edge angles down, which doesn't work well for the Crosswing awning or a shower enclosure. The Prinsu Pro gives me a flat platform and more places to mount things, and it runs front to back without adding much height.
In the rear, the 14 inch Xtrusion Overland XTR1 bed rack raises the Skycamp DLX Mini high enough to clear the rear window while staying close to the roofline, although it blocks the bed camera.
The entire setup keeps everything under 7' so the vehicle is still garageable in most home and parking garages.
The things I use most stay ready
The five-foot Crosswing fits the R1T cab especially well, deploys in seconds, and gets used for shade at chargers, quick snacks, and rain. It stays mounted because it is useful too often to treat as trip-only gear.
The Skycamp DLX Mini stays on for the same reason. Once I accepted that this truck is set up for overland travel, taking the tent off between trips stopped making sense. I chose the DLX for the cork floor and integrated lighting because I wanted those comforts already handled, not another project to finish later.
Storage should save time
The gear tunnel is great for long items, but mine kept becoming a bin for everything else. The Electrified Overland slide gives smaller items a home: toilet and shower gear, mats, tent accessories, saws, and the rest. Its drawer opens fully from either side, so I do not have to choose which side gets access.
The RIGd UltraSwing moves the spare out of the bed and solves another access problem. Its UltraTable turns the rear of the truck into a better kitchen. Once the truck is level, the tailgate and table give me two stable work surfaces without carrying another table.
Protecting the lower body
I use Megawatt Performance Rock Sliders with steps. They protect the lower body when a careful line still puts the truck near rocks, and they make daily access and loading easier.
I have not tested every slider, but I have watched friends and club members put many options through sustained trail use. The Megawatts give me the protection and step I wanted. I would choose a lower-profile design if clearance mattered more than the step.
