--- title: "Rivian R1T Yanks 38,000-Pound Semi-Truck and Trailer Out of the Snow" description: "The Rivian R1T is only rated to tow 11,000 pounds but it was able to tow a 38,000 pound stuck semi truck out of the snow." date: "2023-02-28" modified: "2023-02-28" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/rivian-r1t-yanks-38000-pound-semi-truck-and-trailer-out-of-the-snow" categories: - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Rivian News" - "Trucks" tags: - "Electric Vehicle" --- # Rivian R1T Yanks 38,000-Pound Semi-Truck and Trailer Out of the Snow ![]() Electric pickups catch a lot of flak from truck guys who mock their range when towing heavy trailers. All that torque comes in handy in short spurts, though, and as it turns out, it's great for recovering huge vehicles that are stuck in the snow. Photographer Mylo Fowler learned this when he used his [Rivian R1T]() to rescue a [semi-truck]() driver whose rig had run off the side of the road into the slick stuff. It isn't exactly clear how the semi ended up on the side of the road, but it wasn't completely buried. Still, its drive wheels couldn't get any traction, making it even more difficult to pull or push the load up the embankment. A Ram truck came along earlier to rescue a Ford Taurus that slid off nearby, but they probably didn't think pulling the semi out was even possible. Thankfully, Fowler decided to give it an honest try. He hooked a Factor 55 recovery strap to the trailer's rear bumper and let the [Rivian's]() massive torque—up to 908 pound-feet depending on the model—do the rest. One wheel was in the dirt on their first attempt, but after waiting for traffic to clear and lining up the R1T on pavement, it hooked and started rolling. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The video isn't embeddable, but to watch the full sequence, just click the link [here](). The Rivian R1T is rated to tow 11,000 pounds, which is pretty respectable for a pickup its size. Obviously, this tractor-trailer combo weighed a lot more than that—38,000 pounds, according to Fowler. It wasn't exactly dead weight as the truck was still running, using its own torque to reverse out of the ditch when it finally got traction. Still, it's impressive that the Rivian got it moving in the first place. I'd be interested to know how much battery the R1T used during this stunt. It doesn't make any difference, really, as this isn't normal usage by any stretch. And however much energy this zapped from the high-powered electric truck, it earned itself a nice overnight charge whenever it got back home. *Got a tip? Send it in: tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()