It’s Labor Day weekend, and we’re taking the Rivian R1T out for a group camping trip in Hemet, California. We’re meeting up with a big crew of friends who have their trailers all set up at the Golden Village Palms RV Resort.
Abby loves to take “half the house” when we go out, so the R1T’s storage was put to the test. We stuffed the frunk with backpacks and an extension cord (just in case we needed to tap into the truck’s power), and the bed was loaded with a scooter, table, containers, chairs, and a cooler.
Trip Logistics and Golden Village Palms
We started the trip at 84% state of charge (302 miles of range), which was more than enough for the trek to Hemet. By the time we arrived and unpacked, we were sitting at 70% SoC (253 miles).
The resort is a gated community with some impressive amenities. I took my scooter out for a tour to scout the area:
- Courts: They have volleyball, tennis, and multiple pickleball courts.
- Facilities: There’s a clubhouse, fitness center, library, and even a laundry room ($5 per wash, $5 per dry).
- The Pool: Huge pool area, though it was lacking shade—and in 100-degree Hemet heat, shade is a luxury!
Trailer Deep Dives: Keystone vs. Crossroads
We had a massive group—about 15 people in total—split between two main trailers. I got the technical specs from the owners:
1. The “Big Rig”: 2021 Keystone Hideout (Owned by Mel & Jamie)
- Specs: 30 feet long, 5,600 lbs dry, 7,800 lbs loaded.
- Capacity: Can fit 8–12 people thanks to two queen bunk beds and a convertible dining/couch area.
- Tow Vehicle: 2013 Infiniti QX56 (5.6L V8, 400 HP). Broel reinforced the rear suspension with stiffer springs and air bag helpers to manage the 700 lb tongue weight.
- Tech: Equipped with dual marine batteries and is solar-ready for off-grid camping.
2. The “Cozy Cruiser”: Crossroads Zinger 23ft (Owned by Pat & Joanna)
- Specs: 23 feet long, 3,600 lbs dry, 4,400 lbs loaded.
- Capacity: Fits 6–8 people with a convertible queen bed area and full-size bunk beds.
- Tow Vehicle: 2020 Volvo XC90 T6 (4-cylinder Turbo).
- The Heat Challenge: Their AC was struggling in the 100-degree weather, so we actually used the R1T to go pick up a portable AC unit to keep the cabin livable for the weekend.
Breakfast and Community
No SherwinM trip is complete without the food. We had a full Filipino-style spread: spam, eggs, dried fish (tuyo), chorizo fried rice, and eggplant. It was great to just hang out, watch the kids practice parallel parking with a toy Tesla Roadster, and enjoy the breeze.
Final Thoughts
While my friends are still rocking their ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) tow vehicles, I’m slowly trying to convince them to look at the Rivian. Joanna is waiting for the larger Volvo electric SUV, but the R1T is ready to pull those trailers now.
If you’re looking to join the Rivian family, here is my referral code.
https://rivian.com/configurations/list?reprCode=SHERWIN1705934
Watch the full Labor Day camping highlights here:
