Rivian R1S Towing Capacity — Full Guide
The Rivian R1S is rated to tow up to 7,700 lb with towing hardware standard on every trim. Expect roughly 205 milesof real-world range on the Max pack when you're near the rating with a boxy trailer — about half the unladen 410 mi.
Verified May 2026.
Rivian R1S towing specs
Every R1S tows 7,700 lb— the rating doesn't change with the pack, so the 109 kWh Adventure and the 141 kWh Max pull the same load. What the bigger pack buys you is distance between charges, not capability. Figures below are for the Max unless noted.
- Max tow rating: 7,700 lb (hardware standard, no tow package)
- Recommended tongue weight: 770–1,155 lb at the rating (10–15% of loaded trailer weight)
- Hitch receiver:2″, Class IV territory at the full rating
- Battery (Max): 141 kWh — 410 mi EPA
- Battery (Adventure): 109 kWh — 270 mi EPA
- Energy use (unladen, Max): 49 kWh per 100 mi
- Peak DC fast charge: 220 kW (10–80% in about 41 minutes unladen)
The 7,700 lb rating puts the R1S at the top of the electric-SUV field — 2,700 lb above the Kia EV9 and Tesla Model X, and 1,700 lb above the Lucid Gravity. Only electric trucks, including Rivian's own R1T, go higher.
Rivian R1S range while towing
Towing range is set by the trailer's shape far more than its weight. Aerodynamic drag grows with the square of speed, so a tall, flat-fronted box costs you more than a heavier low trailer. The estimates below hold speed at 65 mph and vary only the trailer.
| Load | Weight | R1S Max (410 mi EPA) | R1S Adventure (270 mi EPA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teardrop camper | 1,500 lb | ~304 mi | ~200 mi |
| Boat + trailer | 3,500 lb | ~270 mi | ~178 mi |
| Open utility / car hauler | 5,000 lb | ~249 mi | ~164 mi |
| Travel trailer (box) | 7,000 lb | ~207 mi | ~136 mi |
| Tall box at max rating | 7,700 lb | ~192 mi | ~126 mi |
Estimates from EVMath's towing model (aerodynamic drag + trailer weight, calibrated against independent road tests) at a steady 65 mph in mild weather. Cold, hills, and headwinds lower every figure.
To model your own trailer weight, shape, and speed instead of these five presets, use the EV towing range calculator, which runs the same math with the R1S already in the vehicle list. The EV range calculator adds temperature and payload effects for unladen driving.
Rivian R1S vs. R1T and other electric SUVs
The R1S tops the electric-SUV field for tow rating and, thanks to the 141 kWh Max pack, also tows the farthest. Its own sibling, the R1T pickup, is the only Rivian that goes higher.
| Vehicle | Max tow | EPA range | Towing range* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rivian R1S Max | 7,700 lb | 410 mi | ~205 mi |
| Rivian R1S Adventure | 7,700 lb | 270 mi | ~135 mi |
| Rivian R1T Max | 11,000 lb | 410 mi | ~205 mi |
| Lucid Gravity Grand Touring | 6,000 lb | 450 mi | ~225 mi |
| Kia EV9 Land LR | 5,000 lb | 304 mi | ~152 mi |
| Tesla Model X LR | 5,000 lb | 348 mi | ~174 mi |
*Towing range is each model's EPA range reduced by a corroborated range-loss estimate near its rating (about 50% with a boxy trailer at highway speed). Lower loads cost less — see the load table above.
The Rivian R1T Max is rated to 11,000 lb — 3,300 lb more — on the same 141 kWh pack, so if your trailer is over 7,700 lb the truck is the answer. Below that, the R1S tows the same load just as far and adds a third row. The Kia EV9 and Tesla Model X stop at 5,000 lb, but cost far less (EV9) or go farther unladen (Model X).
Hitch, tongue weight, and trailer brakes
The R1S leaves the factory ready to tow: a 2″ receiver and the towing hardware are standard, not an option box. At the full 7,700 lbyou're in Class IV territory, so match the ball mount and hitch ball to the loaded trailer weight rather than to the receiver.
- Tongue weight: keep the vertical load at the ball at 10–15% of the loaded trailer — 770–1,155 lbat the rating. Under 10% invites sway; over 15% overloads the rear axle and eats into payload. Rivian publishes a maximum vertical hitch load in the owner's guide (the R1T's is 1,100 lb); confirm the figure for your model year.
- Trailer brakes: most trailers near 7,700 lbare well past the ~3,000 lb trailer-brake threshold most US states set. Unlike the EV9, the R1S includes an integrated trailer brake controller — verify the setup and gain adjustment in Rivian's documentation before the first trip.
- Payload counts too:tongue weight lands on the rear axle and comes out of the R1S's payload along with passengers and cargo. A full third row plus a heavy tongue can hit the payload limit before the tow rating.
- Charging with a trailer attached: plan pull-through stalls. At 7,700 lb the Max pack needs a stop roughly every 144 usable miles, so route around chargers you can reach without unhitching.
Frequently asked questions
How much can a Rivian R1S tow?+
The Rivian R1S is rated to tow up to 7,700 lb. Towing hardware is standard rather than an add-on package, and the rating is the same on every pack — the 109 kWh Adventure and the 141 kWh Max both pull 7,700 lb. That covers most travel trailers, boats, and car haulers, but not a heavy fifth-wheel.
What is the Rivian R1S range while towing?+
Plan on roughly 205 miles on the Max pack (410 mi EPA) with a boxy trailer near the rating at highway speed — about half the unladen figure. The standard-pack Adventure (270 mi EPA) drops to about 135 miles under the same conditions. A light, low trailer costs much less: a teardrop at 65 mph leaves the Max around 304 miles.
How far can a Rivian R1S tow on one charge?+
It depends far more on the trailer's shape than its weight. At 65 mph the Max pack estimates out to about 304 miles with a teardrop, 270 miles with a boat on a trailer, 207 miles with a box travel trailer, and 192 miles with a tall enclosed trailer at the 7,700 lb rating. Cold weather, hills, and headwinds push all of those lower.
What is the Rivian R1S tongue weight?+
Aim for 770–1,155 lb at the ball when you're at the 7,700 lb rating — the conventional 10–15% of loaded trailer weight. Too little tongue weight causes trailer sway; too much overloads the rear axle. Rivian publishes a maximum vertical hitch load in the owner's guide (the R1T's is 1,100 lb); check yours for your model year before loading to the top of the band.
Does the Rivian R1S have a hitch, or is it an option?+
Every R1S ships with a 2″ receiver and the towing hardware as standard equipment — there's no tow package to tick. A 7,700 lb load sits in Class IV territory, so use a ball mount and hitch ball rated at or above your loaded trailer weight. Rivian also includes an integrated trailer brake controller and a tow mode in the drive settings, which is worth confirming in your owner's documentation.
Is the Rivian R1S or R1T better for towing?+
The Rivian R1T Max tows 11,000 lb to the R1S's 7,700 lb — the truck's frame, bed, and longer wheelbase buy that extra 3,300 lb. Both share the same 141 kWh Max pack and land near 205 miles of towing range, so the choice is capacity and hauling versus a third row and enclosed cargo. Under 7,700 lb, the R1S gives up nothing meaningful.
Related calculators and guides
- EV towing range calculator — estimate the R1S's range for a specific trailer weight, shape, and speed.
- Best EVs for towing in 2026 — every EV that can tow, ranked.
- Kia EV9 towing capacity — the R1S's cheaper three-row rival, rated to 5,000 lb.
- Hummer EV towing capacity — the heavy end of EV towing.
- Rivian R1S full specs
- Rivian EV buyer guide
Tow ratings, range, and consumption figures from EVMath's shared model data (manufacturer and EPA sources, 2025–2026 model years). Real-world towing range is an estimate from EVMath's towing model, not a manufacturer figure. Tongue-weight, hitch-class, and trailer-brake guidance is general — verify against your trailer's ratings, Rivian's owner documentation, and your state's towing laws before hauling.