[RITVT]

Skis won't fit!
Skis fit in my Chevy Bolt (and Tesla)! The diagonal length of the R1T is 188 cm, so some shorter skis will fit tightly, but not most of what I use. That's an adventure killer for me! I'd definietely buy this truck if skis fit in the bed and I could get a capper with a roof line matching the cab for hauling my long double kayak.

You can easily mount a box or rack with the crossbars, so not being able to load longer skis directly into your truck bed isn't necessarily going to kill any adventures. You could even throw skis into a travel bag, open the tonneau a bit and be fine with them sticking up a foot over the tailgate.

 

[RITVT]

The Atlis XT is a gigantic prototype "HD-type" truck concept targeted specifically toward work (not really in the same category as Rivian).
Atlis doesn't even put themselves into the same category as Rivian in their investor deck.
Any work truck is going to have a different bed configuration than Rivian's shorter and more compact bed.
I just wouldn't compare the beds, because I would never buy an Atlis, for a whole slew of reasons.
I don't even think you can actually "BUY" one in the traditional sense, since they have some whacky, all-in, lease-only subscription model. Def not what I am after anyway.

 

[RITVT]

Everything is a compromise. If you tow most of the time and need a humongous FRUNK and massive payload and care less about the refined drive quality that Rivian is delivering for BOTH on and off-road use (at least based on all the initial reviews), then go nuts on Atlis!

There will always be some work truck-oriented buyers for Rivian (despite Rivian being billed as an "adventure vehicle"), and there will always be some adventure-oriented buyers for EV work trucks out there. I'm guessing that 95% of Rivian pre-order holders are NOT in that first category.

I know that since I am in the more "adventure-oriented category" and will ALSO use the truck as a semi-daily driver (or daily driver if that ever becomes a thing again), that I can get bed with less cargo room in the trunk for things like hauling mulch, making dump runs, or towing a few times a year. If that were flipped, and my actual work or job depended on a real work truck (day in and day out), and I didn't want to worry about some dings and scratches after shelling out $80K, then I would probably go with a Ford Lightening before considering an Atlis - particularly since Ford would be the company standing behind it.

I'm not seeing anything particularly impressive about Atlis at all, except some of their battery tech claims, which I am dubious about.

 

[RITVT]

Exactly what you got. You're welcome. LOL

 

[RITVT]

Then pass. The bed will fit your kids dirt bike, but if you aren't willing to accept that (or see how how the tailgate hinge configuration and extension makes this possible) then you should get a long-bed EV when that is available. The wheelbase of the Rivian and shorter bed makes this a far more comfortable vehicle to drive for 95% of users. And if you are going off-road at all, you aren't going to be looking for a longer wheelbase and longer bed. If you think about the MAJORITY of the driving and MAJORITY of the use cases for an adventure vehicle, this was an extremely well thought-out design. I am stoked for the goose neck hinges and longer bed length with the tail gate down, and will see great utility from that.

 

[RITVT]

 

[RITVT]

Don't hold your breathe for an 8' bed in an EV at this stage. Keep an eye on the Scout in a couple of years though, as indications are that it may have a bigger bed than the R1T.

 

[RITVT]

Everything is a trade-off. I took the old rubber mat out of my last PU and cut it to size for the R1T. I only clean out the cracks in the bed a couple of times a year (use an electric leaf blower). Doesn't bother me to have a little shrapnel in the bed, as it is a pick up truck and nobody is riding in there anyway. The tarp trick is something I use all the time also - super handy for yard debris, clippings, leaves, etc. I generally us a big tarp and let half of it hang off the big of the truck, then burrito it closed so nothing flies out while driving. Lastly, having the hinges is no big deal and make the bed longer when the tail-gate is down. Once you use the truck a couple of times you understand that you need to load the bed a couple of inches back to where the plate aligns with the corners of the truck. Lastly, it is pretty awesome to have a full-sized spare INSIDE the bed, that is some good engineering.

 

[RITVT]

Again, everything is a trade-off. I live in the Northeast and spend a lot of time in the mountains and backcountry. Salt and corrosion under a truck can wreak havoc on spare tire systems, reduce clearance and become additional failure points in general. Not too mention add drag to a perfectly flat-bottomed EV truck. Odds of getting a flat and having to unload a bed of stuff to access the spare are low enough for me not to worry about it. Most days, my bed has minimal stuff in it, and when I am heavy, I am also usually local. What might be considered "dumb" engineering for some, is not dumb engineering for all.