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Comment by chrischen | Hacker News Reader

If you want to see a Rivian being used you can watch Long Way Up on Netflix with Ewan Mcgregor.

I have to add that the “Long Way Up” team drove prototypes, which suffered from many problems. Hopefully they have solved many—if not all—of them.

I don't recall 'many problems'? The only significant thing I can remember is a brake locking up.

The only problem I remember was damage to the hydraulic suspension when the truck rolled backwards into a rock. I don't believe they ever explained if that was due to driver error or mechanical failure, but the absence of an explanation led me to believe it was probably the latter. They weren't shy about pointing out driver error in other situations.

A bigger issue for me was the fact that the trucks completely disappeared when they hit (IIRC) Central America. They loaded the bikes into a bus and drove them across Mexico (which didn't speak well of the Harleys either).

All that said I still reserved one.

> A bigger issue for me was the fact that the trucks completely disappeared when they hit (IIRC) Central America. They loaded the bikes into a bus and drove them across Mexico (which didn't speak well of the Harleys either)

Did we watch the same show?

They thoroughly explained how this was 100% about safety and the real risk of getting kidnapped in Mexico, even adviced by locals, when Ewan wanted to do the drive by himself.

Mexico isn’t exactly known to be a overly lawful society.

I remember the reasoning of using the bus through Central America was to not attract attention.

Well, they definitely weren't going to be driving them across the Darien Gap.

More recently MotorTrend drove 2 of them across the US on the Trans America Trail (off road the whole way). There's a great write-up on their site, and YouTube videos too.

It's obviously a bit promotional in nature, but it does show what the future is going to look like for Electric off roading / back roading

This was a good article and not too bad, given the clear "sponsorship" of the vehicles...

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