Carrying Skis on the Rivian R1T - Creative Solutions and What to Consider
Carrying skis on the Rivian R1T is a challenge. The crossbars are attached via fixed points on the rails of the bed, leaving only 14 inches from the center of the front crossbar to the roof fairing. This means that Thule XL cargo boxes won't fit over the bed, as they need roughly 24" of space from the front cross bar to the rear of the passenger compartment to fit.
The gear tunnel is also not long enough for skis, with only 73" diagonally. While this may be enough for a single pair of skis, multiple pairs will need to be staked on top of each other, making the bed into two relatively small right triangles of storage space. This may not be too much of a problem if the bed is open, but it seems less than ideal for winter driving.
One option is to try and fabricate something to attach to the front crossbar to offset the box 10" or so rearward. Alternatively, it may work facing to the rear; measuring the Thule can help determine this.
Overall, carrying skis on an R1T requires some creative solutions. It may be possible to fit a Thule or other box on the cross bars over the bed, but this depends on how much space is available and what kind of box is being used. Fitting skis in the bed diagonally is also an option, but this eats into covered storage space and may not be ideal for multiple skis. Ultimately, it's important to measure and consider all options before deciding which solution works best for you.
Can I use a Thule or other box to carry skis on the crossbars over the bed of the Rivian R1T?
Unfortunately, you will be out of luck with the Thule XL box over the bed. The cross bars are mounted in fixed positions and there is only 14 inches from the center of the front crossbar to the roof fairing. You may look into fabricating something to attach to the front crossbar to offset the box 10" or so rearward, or try facing it to the rear.
Is the gear tunnel long enough for my purposes?
Max is 188cm on a diagonal based on testing this summer. You can fit longer skis in diagonally, but that eats into storage space. With a single pair of skis, that may not be too much of a problem, but multiple pairs of skis will need to be staked on top of each other, making the bed into two relatively small right triangles of storage space.
Is it possible to free up interior space for luggage and gear needed for two dogs?
With a Thule or other box over the bed, you would have a decent amount of covered space in the bed (assuming Rivian works the bugs out of their tonneau cover) for your luggage, other ski gear and all the paraphernalia associated with traveling with two medium-sized dogs. You could also look into a roof rack system that would free up the bed for more storage.