Bike Racks?

[CaptDaveHowe]

Besides wanting a car with no exhaust, I like to ride my bike. I had a Mini with bike racks, a great way to bring my bike to various places to ride. Any ideas about bike racks for Model S? The racks Mini had designed for the Cooper looked great, being designed to match. It would be cool and really enhancing the "Green" concept of the Model S to have the same.

 

[wstuff]

I know the top of the S is designed for roof racks already ( there are inserts in the roof) so I would be pretty sure bikes are a main target.

 

[aaron.s]

Besides wanting a car with no exhaust, I like to ride my bike. I had a Mini with bike racks, a great way to bring my bike to various places to ride. Any ideas about bike racks for Model S? The racks Mini had designed for the Cooper looked great, being designed to match. It would be cool and really enhancing the "Green" concept of the Model S to have the same.

Check out my thread on the Torklift Central Eco Hitch for the Model S and my hitch bike rack.....

http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/13787-Torklift-Central-Eco-Hitch-Installed-Pictures?highlight=Eco+hitch

Aaron

 

[Andrew]

I know the top of the S is designed for roof racks already ( there are inserts in the roof).....

I heard that the roof rack sockets/inserts are only there if you get the Pano roof. (not sure if that's correct or not, but wanted to mention it just in case...)

 

[ChadS]

Correct that the roof rack mounts are only there on the piano roof. Also note that Tesla has not released a roof rack yet, and says that others won't fit. Although I seem to recall a thread where somebody said they found one that worked.

I have the same hitch as Aaron, but a different bike rack. My pics are in this thread: Model S - Hitch discussion - Page 9

 

[dbullard]

My bikes fit quite nicely inside when you fold the rear seats down.

Less room for other things, but you could probably fit two bikes in that way.

 

[ElSupreme]

The other thread is here: http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/6795-roof-rack?p=263784&viewfull=1#post263784

My post about Thule (make MB, Audi, and VW OEM racks) vs. Yakima.

Go to post 52 and I have a link to the Yakima builder, who at the time had a fit for the Tesla. It used the mount points if you have a pano roof, or had a clip fitment if you had a solid roof.

 

[CaptDaveHowe]

Thanks for the ideas and links. Thinking about it, the rear concept on a trailer type hitch seems like it is the way to go. The roof rake (like I had with the Mini) has it's drawbacks, the biggest being once up, you'll never take it off. I'll check out the units noted on the two links from Aaron and Chad.

 

[efxjim]

Ditto on the hitch. Good for attaching other things and can be removed. If hitch adapter is left on car it is much more susceptible to bottoming out. I give the suspension height adjusters a good workout.

 

[mckemie]

I've had my TorkLift hitch on for several days now; it doesn't look like ground clearance will be a problem if the receiver is left on all the time. I do plan to leave it on. I've used hitch bike racks for a while now, including on my Leaf, and I pleased with them. Before I install the TorkLift, we took a ~200 mile trip with two bicycles inside the Tesla. That worked ok but loading and unloading was more of a hassle than I wanted.

 

[rsusi]

I am interested in the Torklift for my Model S, I would like to do the installation myself. The video on installation only shows the install after the black plastic bumper has been removed. I sent an email to Torklift asking for further info on how to remove and reinstall the black plastic bumper. It has been several weeks and no reply. Do the instructions that come with the lift detail how to remove the exterior bumper?

 

[Leland]

I am interested in the Torklift for my Model S, I would like to do the installation myself. The video on installation only shows the install after the black plastic bumper has been removed. I sent an email to Torklift asking for further info on how to remove and reinstall the black plastic bumper. It has been several weeks and no reply. Do the instructions that come with the lift detail how to remove the exterior bumper?

The instructions that come with the tow package are pretty thorough PM me your email address, I'll email them over.

 

[rsusi]

Thanks, I got a set from Torklift via email. Looks like i can do it my self.
Will order the tow bar shortly.