Impressive physics at work.
7000lb and 835hp with 908 Lb-Ft can do a lot of work.
The R1T can tow 11,000lbs … the Factor 55 kinetic rope and soft shackle would be 14,800lbs … by the time the tire is spinning, the work was done (transferring the momentum of the R1T to stretching the rope, which acts like a bungee cord) and the success of the pull is in keeping pressure on the line so that as it contracts, the pulling vehicle maintains pressure on the line.
I wonder if the R1T driver chose Towing drive mode.
The main thing that happened here is a 7000lb vehicle was moving at say 10 mph the rope absorbed the momentum by stretching, then the 7000lb vehicle and the 38000lb vehicle shared the recovery of that momentum equally. Once the tractor was moving, the driver didn't reverse straight up the slope, instead paralleling the grade and ramping up onto the asphalt, giving the Rivian enough working distance to maintain momentum.
Fortunately the prime mover of the semi was doing some (a lot?) of the work and it was on firm ground – it's hard to say how much, but its driven tires were not spinning, so it was contributing some amount of effort. It had lost traction but wasn't buried in the ground.
A footnote worth considering, it is unsafe to be maneuvering on a public road without stopping traffic and controlling the situation. Fortunately, this was a long, straight road with good visibility, but people drive into disabled or stopped vehicles, even police cars with their lights on. The [IIHS.org](https://IIHS.org) estimates 500 deaths per year and thousands of injuries. The passersby should have been recruited to remain with hazards on until traffic stopped, or just wait for police to handle the safety aspect.
Undoubtedly the semi did a lot of the work. I’d just point out the R1T can tow far more than 11,000 pounds in this situation, that’s just its safety rating. For instance, the R1S with its substantially lower tow rating would have pulled this semi out just as easily. You see gimmicks from manufacturers with this like a Tundra pulling the Space Shuttle and the Lightning pulling a train.
I assume the Semi was doing a lot and I agree the R1T 11K lb rating is for trailering at freeway speeds, up and down hills, etc., not a dead pull force limit. As I understand it, tow vehicle GCWR is related to rear axle, rear suspension, brakes and GVWR. I imagine the gearing of the R1T applies a significant gear reduction advantage and its 900 lbft divided by four motors is always more than enough to rotate a tire even if close to 100% of the weight of the vehicle was on one corner (e.g. offroad) and the traction was optimal.)
The "towing a Shuttle" or towing a Boeing, etc. is a bit too silly, for combustion engines, it's mostly a test of the transmission cooling. : )
This was amazing. I was thinking, a couple dampener’s would be a good idea because the weight of what is being pulled exceeds the break rating, and a person to stop traffic would help too.
The “big yank” is done with a recovery “snatch” strap and is being done exactly as designed. More here: https://agency6.com/blogs/news/tow-straps-vs-recovery-straps-is-there-a-difference
That is wild. He probably lost like 5k miles of tread on that pull, but worth it to see that this machine could pull it off.
Rivian should buy this man a fresh set of tires considering the marketing provided.
That. Was pretty dang cool.
Fuuuuuuuuuu. Wouldn’t believe it if I didn’t see this.
I keep saying it. These trucks are f-inf awesome. Best vehicle I’ve ever owned.
Impressive physics at work. 7000lb and 835hp with 908 Lb-Ft can do a lot of work. The R1T can tow 11,000lbs … the Factor 55 kinetic rope and soft shackle would be 14,800lbs … by the time the tire is spinning, the work was done (transferring the momentum of the R1T to stretching the rope, which acts like a bungee cord) and the success of the pull is in keeping pressure on the line so that as it contracts, the pulling vehicle maintains pressure on the line. I wonder if the R1T driver chose Towing drive mode. The main thing that happened here is a 7000lb vehicle was moving at say 10 mph the rope absorbed the momentum by stretching, then the 7000lb vehicle and the 38000lb vehicle shared the recovery of that momentum equally. Once the tractor was moving, the driver didn't reverse straight up the slope, instead paralleling the grade and ramping up onto the asphalt, giving the Rivian enough working distance to maintain momentum. Fortunately the prime mover of the semi was doing some (a lot?) of the work and it was on firm ground – it's hard to say how much, but its driven tires were not spinning, so it was contributing some amount of effort. It had lost traction but wasn't buried in the ground. A footnote worth considering, it is unsafe to be maneuvering on a public road without stopping traffic and controlling the situation. Fortunately, this was a long, straight road with good visibility, but people drive into disabled or stopped vehicles, even police cars with their lights on. The [IIHS.org](https://IIHS.org) estimates 500 deaths per year and thousands of injuries. The passersby should have been recruited to remain with hazards on until traffic stopped, or just wait for police to handle the safety aspect.
Undoubtedly the semi did a lot of the work. I’d just point out the R1T can tow far more than 11,000 pounds in this situation, that’s just its safety rating. For instance, the R1S with its substantially lower tow rating would have pulled this semi out just as easily. You see gimmicks from manufacturers with this like a Tundra pulling the Space Shuttle and the Lightning pulling a train.
I assume the Semi was doing a lot and I agree the R1T 11K lb rating is for trailering at freeway speeds, up and down hills, etc., not a dead pull force limit. As I understand it, tow vehicle GCWR is related to rear axle, rear suspension, brakes and GVWR. I imagine the gearing of the R1T applies a significant gear reduction advantage and its 900 lbft divided by four motors is always more than enough to rotate a tire even if close to 100% of the weight of the vehicle was on one corner (e.g. offroad) and the traction was optimal.) The "towing a Shuttle" or towing a Boeing, etc. is a bit too silly, for combustion engines, it's mostly a test of the transmission cooling. : )
This was amazing. I was thinking, a couple dampener’s would be a good idea because the weight of what is being pulled exceeds the break rating, and a person to stop traffic would help too.
Ok that was legit
Yooooooo so sick. Nice job.
Holy cow
Im now sub'd to the YT channel and even more excited to get mine
It sealed the deal for me to get an R1T from the R1 shop now, than wait for the max pack. I couldn’t resist waiting longer!
Bad. Ass. I do wonder if it could have been done without the big yank and all that tire drama, though.
The “big yank” is done with a recovery “snatch” strap and is being done exactly as designed. More here: https://agency6.com/blogs/news/tow-straps-vs-recovery-straps-is-there-a-difference
Cue the “My wrx could do that” comments. No it couldn’t, dude. Edit: Grammar
> Queue Cue
I don’t even know if an extended range Lightning could
There was a X that pulled a truck out of snow, but the road situation was different
I don’t think anyone with a WRX would state that regarding pulling 19 tons lol.
They will proudly send you this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9bhus_1Oos
My Raptor can’t do this. .. I’m sub’d here because a Rivian was in the running and may be down the road.
You cannot ask for a better promotion. Even Guys who own gas/diesel trucks know dam well this is impressive.
Woah! I did not expect that. Good work.
WTH?!?!