# Rivian R1T Repair in Chino > OCRV Center repairs Rivian R1T electric trucks in Chino, from aluminum body panels and the bonded structure down to damage around the skateboard battery pack. All work is done in our 35,000 square foot Yorba Linda shop, with insurance billed direct. The Rivian R1T is built on a skateboard platform with the battery as a structural floor and an aluminum intensive body joined by rivets and adhesive rather than spot welds. That construction means a body shop has to think about the truck differently than a steel pickup. We repair the panels, the structure, and the finish while respecting how the R1T is actually put together. ## How the R1T is built and why it changes the repair The R1T carries its battery pack as a stressed member of the chassis, so the floor of the truck and the energy of a side or underbody impact travel through the same area that houses the cells. A clean looking rocker hit can still load the pack mounting and the surrounding structure, which is why we measure before we cut and document everything for the carrier. The aluminum body adds its own demands. Aluminum work has to stay isolated from steel tooling and dust, and panels that are bonded and riveted at the factory have to be separated and rejoined the same way, not welded over. On the body itself, the R1T uses a powered tonneau, a gear tunnel between the cab and bed, a powered frunk, and a multi piece tailgate, all of which have alignment relationships that a collision can throw off. We bring the bed, cab, and closures back to factory gaps so the powered panels still seal and cycle, then refinish so the repair disappears into Rivian's finish. - Aluminum bed side, cab, and door panel repair and replacement - Bonded and riveted joints separated and rejoined to factory method - Frunk, gear tunnel, and powered tonneau realignment after impact - Multi piece tailgate fit and seal restored - Damage near the skateboard battery measured and documented before work begins ## Refinishing and panel matching on the R1T Rivian finishes, including the matte and metallic options, are unforgiving when a blend is rushed. We refinish the affected panels and blend into adjacent ones so the color and texture read continuous across the bed, doors, and quarters. Because the R1T mixes aluminum exterior panels with composite components like the front fascia and lower cladding, we prep and coat each material on its own terms instead of treating the truck as one surface. - Color and texture matched refinish across aluminum and composite panels - Matte and metallic finishes handled without halos or blend lines - Lower cladding and fascia prepped as composite, not metal - Panel gaps and closure alignment verified after paint ## Frequently asked questions ### My R1T was hit near the rocker and floor. Do I need to worry about the battery? Possibly, and that is exactly why we measure first. The R1T battery pack is a structural part of the floor, so a rocker or underbody impact can load the pack mounting even when the visible damage looks minor. We assess the area, document it for your insurer, and repair the surrounding structure properly rather than just straightening the panel. ### Can the R1T aluminum body be repaired, or do panels have to be replaced? It depends on the panel and the damage. Aluminum can be repaired, but it does not behave like steel, and bonded and riveted panels often need to be separated and a new section rejoined the factory way. We repair what should be repaired and replace what should be replaced, then refinish so the bed, doors, and quarters match. ### Will the powered tailgate, tonneau, and frunk still work after the repair? That is part of the job. A collision can shift the bed, cab, and closure alignment enough that powered panels stop sealing or cycling. We bring the gaps back to factory so the tailgate, tonneau, gear tunnel, and frunk fit and operate the way they did before the hit. --- Source: https://oc-rv.com/vehicles/rivian-r1t-repair/ OCRV Center, 23281 La Palma Ave, Yorba Linda, CA 92887. Phone (949) 799-3387. In shop only; insurance billed direct.