My Rivian's Gear Tunnel Powered a Hot Meal for My Father-in-Law in Recovery, I've Never Appreciated This Feature More

Let’s get something straight, cars, trucks, whatever you want to call these rapidly electrifying slabs of rolling architecture, they're full of fluff. Most of the time, the “features” automakers parade around at launch events feel like the result of a PowerPoint pitched by a guy who hasn’t even seen a dirt road, let alone driven on one. But every now and then, just now and then, a feature comes along that slips under the radar, not flashy, not focus-grouped to hell and back, just smart.

Enter the Rivian R1T’s gear tunnel: a weird, wonderful cavity that slices through the electric truck's midsection like a hot knife through butter and may just be the best thing since someone figured out what to do with a spare tire.

Rivian R1T Gear Tunnel

It’s not trying to be clever. It just is. The transverse tunnel between the cab and the bed, a typically unused space, becomes, in the hands of Rivian’s engineers, a canvas for everyday utility. About 65 inches wide, sealed, weatherproof, and fitted with its own 120V outlet.

Rivian R1T and Its Competition with Tesla Cybertruck:

• The Rivian R1T boasts impressive acceleration, achieving 0-60 mph in approximately 3.3 seconds. This is facilitated by its quad-motor setup, delivering robust power and torque to each wheel. In comparison, the Tesla Cybertruck's mid-level dual-motor variant reaches 0-60 mph in about 3.8 seconds, while the tri-motor "Beast" variant achieves it in 2.6 seconds. ​
• Both trucks offer substantial towing capabilities. The R1T is rated to tow up to 11,000 pounds, matching the Cybertruck's towing capacity. However, real-world towing can significantly impact the driving range for both vehicles. ​
• The R1T offers multiple battery pack options, with the largest providing an EPA-estimated range of up to 420 miles. In contrast, the Cybertruck's dual-motor variant offers an estimated range of 320 miles, while the tri-motor variant offers around 300 miles.

The brilliance of it lies in its humility. It doesn’t scream for attention like Lamborghini’s forged carbon or Tesla’s yoke steering; it simply sits there, ready to work. And it turns out it works in ways no one quite expected.

Take a recent post from the r/Rivian subreddit, titled simply: “Gear Tunnel = Favorite Feature.” The author, an R1T owner, didn’t post dyno numbers or hypermile data. Instead, they shared this:

“My father-in-law had a stroke and is in a recovery facility. I smoked some ribs (his favorite BBQ) yesterday and cut some up to take along to enjoy with him for lunch today.

Having the outlet in the gear tunnel for my cooler and crock pot to plug into has got to be my favorite feature of the R1T. Cheers, Rivian family! 🍻”

That’s the kind of story that transcends spec sheets. It’s not about peak torque, it’s about being there when someone needs you, really needs you. The gear tunnel became a bridge between a smoker and a hospital bedside. That’s not a gimmick. That’s a design feature doing what great design is supposed to do: quietly improving lives.

Real‑World Stories Behind the Rivian R1T

And the stories don’t stop there. Reddit user SavedStarDate_68415 described a road trip where their R1T served up pizza rolls cooked in the gear tunnel and later powered an angle grinder in a Harbor Freight parking lot to fix a bike rack on the fly. That’s the kind of ingenuity you usually only hear about from astronauts or moonshiners. And that’s what separates Rivian from the legacy crowd, they’re giving customers the kind of tools that inspire improvisation, exploration, and just plain doing.

Real‑World Stories Behind the Rivian R1T

• RJ Scaringe founded Rivian in 2009, initially focusing on developing a fuel-efficient sports car. Recognizing the broader impact potential, he pivoted the company's focus toward electric adventure vehicles, aiming to revolutionize sustainable transportation. ​
• Scaringe's vision for Rivian centers on promoting exploration and adventure without compromising environmental responsibility. This philosophy is embedded in the design and functionality of Rivian's vehicles, which are tailored for outdoor enthusiasts seeking sustainable mobility solutions.
• Scaringe has successfully secured significant investments and partnerships, including a notable investment from Amazon.

Another owner, imapseudonym_, summed it up with refreshing simplicity: 

“It’s one of the most underrated features that I didn’t think I would use but ended up using every day for something.” 

There’s no fluff in that sentence. No PR varnish. That’s a real person discovering real value from something most automakers would’ve killed in the first round of cost-cutting.

Rivian, despite being a startup, seems to understand something many century-old car companies have forgotten, people don’t buy trucks to impress their neighbors, they buy them to get stuff done.

Whether that’s hauling bikes, smoking ribs, or making a roadside pizza in the Utah desert, the gear tunnel proves Rivian isn’t just building an electric pickup, they’re building a platform for capability. And the best part? They did it without shouting about it.

The Rivian R1T’s Practical Design

In a world where cars are becoming more about algorithms than adventure, it’s nice to see something that feels mechanical in its usefulness. Something built not because a marketing team said it would 

“synergize with the lifestyle vertical,” 

But because a group of people probably just said, 

“Hey, this would be useful.” 

The gear tunnel is a victory for common sense in an industry that’s desperately short on it.

So the next time you spot an R1T, give it a second look. Beneath its sleek lines and electric drivetrain might be a crockpot full of ribs. Or an angle grinder waiting for a roadside rescue.

Image Sources: Rivian Media Center, r/Rivian subreddit. 

Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys covering the latest news in the automotive industry and conducting reviews on the latest cars. He has been in the automotive industry since 15 years old and has been featured in prominent automotive news sites. You can reach him on X and LinkedIn for tips and to follow his automotive coverage.