Hitch Cover DIY Mod. Ditch the screwdriver!

Morgan · 2024-12-22T17:10:59+00:00

Now that I've installed the SnapPlate front license plate holder, I finally filled out the EveryAmp review. Here it is. Hope it helps others: Shipped promptly, so the license plate holder arrived well before we picked up the car. Engineered and built VERY precisely to hold the plate very close to the front bumper without scraping. Installation instructions were clear, would have benefited from one more picture showing how to find the center slots in the grille. Grille Depth Adjustment instructions were also clear; with one half-turn adjustment of three screws, the license plate holder fit PERFECTLY in place. Check the EveryAmp web site for photographs of how much their product blocks the front camera image at every setting. After reviewing the photos, I chose the center setting. I find the camera interference at that setting is trivial for me. There's a lot of competition for the front-of-R1 real estate. My understanding is that Rivian's front plate holder requires drilling a hole in a perfectly good vehicle, and can also block a small part of the camera image. Tow hook mounts take a tow hook out of commission, and can block a sensor. EveryAmp's mount is designed to protect the grille by snapping off when attacked by a car-wash brush, so you have to dismount it (relatively easy to do) and remount it before washing. I'm still happy with the EveryAmp product, which we have installed in our R1S and now R1T. Very best wishes!

Rivian Mom

Member

Dec 10, 2024

While I don't tow everyday, it seems like I hitch something up to the R1S at least once a week. The cover is nice and I like to remove the hitch and replace the cover when I'm not towing. But it's a PIA to have to grab a screwdriver anytime it is removed and installed. That little screw thing is called a Quarter Turn Fastener. I went to McMaster-Carr and came up with a simple, cheap, thumb-turned quarter turn fastener fix.

Step 1. Go to McMaster-Carr and buy TWO of these. Not two of each...but two of either/or. The preferred part is 94188A210, it is the exact same length as the fastener you are replacing. 94188A220 is slightly longer and requires you to use a washer (see step 3). I listed both because availability could vary and both work perfectly.

Step 2. Discard the female part of the new fastener. All you need is the retainer clip and the male part. Cut the ears off the new fastener to the first line as indicated in the pics.

Step 3: If you bought part # 94188A210...you're done! Put it all back together reattach the cover.

IF YOU BOUGHT PART # 94188A220. Use BOTH the old plastic retainer/washer and the new one. One as a washer, and the other as retainer. The reason you need the old washer in addition to the new washer is that the shaft of the new fastener is very slightly longer than the old one. Without the additional washer on the outside to reduce the effective length, it won't hold as well.

Step 4. Done. Now you have a thumb(able) quarter turn fastener and you can ditch the screw driver.