-
Want to remove ads? Register an account and login to see fewer ads, and become a Supporting Member to remove almost all ads.
juliusa
Active Member
When you drive into the garage with the bicycles on the roof, don't they pay? Who is at fault?
When you step on the gas instead of the brake and drive into a store, don't they pay? Who is at fault?
I'm pretty sure they pay for just about anything that is "accidental".
I am not an insurance guy, but I doubt they will investigate. Not enough money involved - probably around $10k. I'm sure some lawyers could make money representing the insurance company, the rack manufacturer, and Tesla. They would be the only ones that would come out ahead.
BTW, bicycles may be covered under homeowner's and not auto. Hopefully you have both auto and home (or renter) with the same company - they usually only make you pay one deductible.
Last edited:
You guys are right on the bike weight. The frames are 18lbs, but as they are they’re closer to 32lbs. It was definitely close or just over the 165 max - I hadn’t really considered that. I have 29k miles on the car and around 4K with toys on the roof rack, mostly at highway speeds. I struggle to think about the potential outcomes if this had happened on an interstate... coming off on a country road was definitely the luckiest place to happen.
The front driver and the read passenger stripped - leading me to believe that when I slowly went over a hump and scraped the bottom, the popping noise on top was when those two stripped. Both the bolt and the car mounting threads stripped. I had it threaded deeply in, so it would have to strip to come out like that.
As for insurance - it’s comprehensive insurance. They didn’t ask many questions, just got a quote and are sending it out when the parts come in and covering a rental car. They are not covering the bikes or rack - those are under home owners policies. In the end, I only need about $400 in bike parts and likely will get a hitch system - so I won’t file a claim on those.
For hitch systems, the 1up looks great. I’ve seen two around town today that had 4 mountain bikes each. How much should I worry about load on hitches? I definitely don’t want anything like this to happen again!
The front driver and the read passenger stripped - leading me to believe that when I slowly went over a hump and scraped the bottom, the popping noise on top was when those two stripped. Both the bolt and the car mounting threads stripped. I had it threaded deeply in, so it would have to strip to come out like that.
As for insurance - it’s comprehensive insurance. They didn’t ask many questions, just got a quote and are sending it out when the parts come in and covering a rental car. They are not covering the bikes or rack - those are under home owners policies. In the end, I only need about $400 in bike parts and likely will get a hitch system - so I won’t file a claim on those.
For hitch systems, the 1up looks great. I’ve seen two around town today that had 4 mountain bikes each. How much should I worry about load on hitches? I definitely don’t want anything like this to happen again!
juliusa
Active Member
Sounds like you are well on your way to recovery. Doesn't look like the rear window will leak, but you might consider putting some packing tape on the outside just to make sure.
Make sure the shop has everything before you bring the car in. Mine was in the shop 5 days, 10 days, and 2 days for various body repairs - because they had everything there before I dropped it off.
I don't have a hitch on my MS - but look at the recommended load limits carefully.
Make sure the shop has everything before you bring the car in. Mine was in the shop 5 days, 10 days, and 2 days for various body repairs - because they had everything there before I dropped it off.
I don't have a hitch on my MS - but look at the recommended load limits carefully.
docbrown
Member
I never suggested the insurance company wouldn’t pay. I was thinking of the possibility that if they determined that you had misused equipment and were at fault, that would affect if and how much they would raise your rates.
Leeclanual
Member
Comprehensive should cover the car damage but probably not the rack and bikes... rates will go up.
Watts_Up
Well-Known Member
I don't think that the weight of the bikes was really the issue but certainly the wind resistance which is at the origin of the metal fatigue.Upon inspection, two mounts on the roof of the car are stripped - that must’ve been the popping noise
I heard when the car flexed over the hump. Has anyone experienced anything similar?
When I carry something big on my roof rack, I always use some straps connected to the hood to compensate the wind pressure,
and also as a security measure incase something goes wrong.
I felt bad for the damage to your car, in particular the rear window.
Using a hitch carrier for the bicycles or a small trailer for the kayacks would be certainly a good idea.
I have not heard of a 75% rule for roof racks. Racks are engineered to handle the stresses of a load well over the stated max weight to allow for the increased forces applied to the rack and roof do to emergency swerving, braking and uneven roads (maybe 50-150% more force). Do the instructions for the rack say do not load the rack more than 75% of the max weight? If this is the case the manufacturer should be more straightforward and just lower the max load by 25%.
docbrown
Member
I agree, this 75% rule doesn't make sense. If anything, manufacturers will understate their max weight limit to protect themselves from lawsuits.
But in this case, now that the OP has stated he was giving frame weights, and not total bike weights, I can see those bikes being in the 35-40 pound range. Which means he was 20-30%+ over the max weight limit of the rack when carrying 4 bikes.
bsilva
Member
Very sorry to read this but very grateful it happened on a side road on not the freeway, as you said. That could have been bad, real bad.
I’ve been using the 1up racks for the past couple of years on my Audi Q5. Hitch mount is the way to go for peace of mind.
I am sitting right now in the customer waiting area at Torklift Central waiting for an Ecohitch to be installed on my Model 3.
I’ve been using the 1up racks for the past couple of years on my Audi Q5. Hitch mount is the way to go for peace of mind.
I am sitting right now in the customer waiting area at Torklift Central waiting for an Ecohitch to be installed on my Model 3.
Last edited:
Got any closeup pics of the bottom of the rack/rail mounting points as well as the mounting points on the car?
It's hard to imagine body flex of the Model S causing a lot of extra stress on the mounting hardware - the rack itself should be fairly flexible with the end of each bar able to move up/down fairly independently. The bike racks also shouldn't add enough stiffness to cause major issues.
The other thing that's confusing - where are the standoffs that go between the rails and car? They seem to be missing in the "aftermath" photos? I think I'm missing something here. (My reference is the whisper bar install instructions and video on Tesla's website.
Model S Roof Rack Installation Support
It's hard to imagine body flex of the Model S causing a lot of extra stress on the mounting hardware - the rack itself should be fairly flexible with the end of each bar able to move up/down fairly independently. The bike racks also shouldn't add enough stiffness to cause major issues.
The other thing that's confusing - where are the standoffs that go between the rails and car? They seem to be missing in the "aftermath" photos? I think I'm missing something here. (My reference is the whisper bar install instructions and video on Tesla's website.
Model S Roof Rack Installation Support
docbrown
Member
If the threaded rod and the mounting bracket are stripped as the OP described, then there would be nothing to hold those standoffs on the car. They're either still on the side rails, or they fell off somewhere when the rack ripped off the roof.
I'd love to hear what Tesla says about it, and understand more about what happened (did bolts strip out)? I literally just put my rack on for my bike and that does cause concern. Did bolts come out? Did mounts the bolts screw into remain? I'm using a Thule rack, but same mounting system with 4 bolts.
WVJohn
Member
Upon inspection, two mounts on the roof of the car are stripped - that must’ve been the pooping noise I heard when the car flexed over the hump. Has anyone experienced anything similar?
I’ll probably move on to a hitch system like 1up for the peace of mind. Y’all be careful out there![/QUOTE]
Most comments seem to be about the weight. I think the FLEX may well be the problem. You've got an S, I've got an X, but will mention what I note when pulling into a private driveway that was use periodically. There is quite a dip (essentially the drainage along the shoulder of the road) followed by a fairly steep incline. Drive that at an angle and there's a lot of twist applied to the chassis. I seem to hear some creaking noises throughout the car, particularly the doors and back hatch. Nothing's broken or seems out of sorts. As an aside, my F150 takes it all in stride without a peep.
I’ll probably move on to a hitch system like 1up for the peace of mind. Y’all be careful out there![/QUOTE]
Most comments seem to be about the weight. I think the FLEX may well be the problem. You've got an S, I've got an X, but will mention what I note when pulling into a private driveway that was use periodically. There is quite a dip (essentially the drainage along the shoulder of the road) followed by a fairly steep incline. Drive that at an angle and there's a lot of twist applied to the chassis. I seem to hear some creaking noises throughout the car, particularly the doors and back hatch. Nothing's broken or seems out of sorts. As an aside, my F150 takes it all in stride without a peep.
Ludalicious
Active Member
It's a general rule of thumb most people go by that I know. The same goes for towing as well. If your vehicle is rated for 7500 lbs towing capacity the rule of thumb is 75%. Really doesn't mean much but it just makes allot of difference and ensures that you are within the safe limits.
Similar threads
