Thanks to everyone who used my referral code — those points went straight toward the official Rivian cargo crossbars. I went with the black ones. Had a set since my R1T days but never got around to installing them. The R1S finally gave me a good reason.
Unboxing: Packaging Could Be Better
First thing I noticed: not great packaging. The box arrived half open, and the crossbars themselves had no plastic wrap at all. Just foam inserts around them. For an accessory at this price, I expected a little more protection — and sure enough, there were already some light scratches on them before I even touched a mounting point. I got this set about a year ago, so hopefully the current batch ships better. Worth checking when yours arrives.
One other thing: only one key included. My Tesla roof crossbars came with two. One for the house, one for the car — that’s the sensible move. I’m going to reach out to Rivian about getting a spare.
How They Compare to Tesla Crossbars
One design difference worth knowing: the Rivian crossbars are symmetrical. The cross-section is the same shape on both sides, so there’s no front, no rear, no left or right — install them in any orientation. The Tesla Model Y crossbars are asymmetric by design, tapered toward the rear for aerodynamics. Neither is wrong, just different approaches.
The R1S roof has three mounting points: above the first row, above the second row, and above the third-row window. The crossbars come in pairs, so you’re picking two of those three positions. If you wanted to use all three, you’d need two sets — and the rear mount sits slightly lower than the front two, so the surface isn’t perfectly level for something like an awning.
I ended up using the front and middle positions for the awning I have coming.
Installation
Straightforward once you understand the locking mechanism. There’s a small key cover on each end — lift it, push the bar in until it seats, lock it, close the cover. The bars are also adjustable width, so you’re not wrestling with a fixed size. Installation is definitely a two-person job if you want it easy; I did it solo, which I don’t recommend.
Height check: I’m 5’5” and could reach the keyhole to lock it without a step stool. That’s useful to know if you’re working in a tight space.
A Warning About Third-Party Crossbars
If you’re looking at aftermarket options to save money — stop, especially for the R1S. The issue is the glass roof. Third-party crossbars often have a wider base that can overlap onto the glass edge, and as you tighten them down, you risk cracking it. Temperature changes make it worse — rubber bases expand in heat, increasing the pressure. I had a close call with this on the R1T, which doesn’t have glass in that area, so it was fine. But on the R1S, I’d go first-party or nothing. The glass roof is not worth gambling on.
Garage Clearance
My garage has about 5 inches of clearance at standard ride height. The crossbars add roughly 4.25 inches of height. Tight but workable — and that math held up in practice. I almost gave myself a heart attack when I heard something scraping on the way out, then realized I’d left my step stool on the other side of the garage. Classic.
On low ride height the clearance improves further. I’m comfortable driving in and out on standard without switching modes.
Wind Noise Test
Mounted the microphone close to the headliner to pick up any additional noise, then ran the freeway. Here’s what I found:
- Around 40–45 mph: a faint sound, enough to notice if you’re listening for it
- 63–65 mph and above: audible wind noise, no question about it
It’s not loud enough to bother me, but if you’re sensitive to cabin noise this is worth knowing upfront. A hitch rack on the rear solves the problem entirely if you want zero wind noise — just less convenient for overhead loading.
Overall, Rivian did a solid job on these — better than their floor mats, honestly. Easy install, good fitment, no drama. The single key and packaging are the only complaints. If you’ve got referral points sitting around, this is a decent place to spend them.
The awning is next. Very excited for that one. The R1S is slowly turning into an actual adventure rig.
If you picked up these crossbars, let me know in the comments whether yours came with one key or two. Curious if that changed at some point.
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