Carrying bikes on the back of a Model 3 Performance in the UK

[balalalala]

I have a M3P and sometimes carry up to three bikes (four soon). Tesla won't fit a Performance with a tow bar, and the permanent fixtures needed for a roof rack don't really appeal, so I use a Seasucker Bomber suction mount. This does the trick for three bikes but it's awkward putting them on without scratching the car and always terrifying driving off with it on the roof. It gives me the willies driving along the motorway, despite all the online evidence that it's fine.

What I'd like is a tow hitch, something like the Stealth Hitch, and a suitable rack. This looks to be US specific though - has anyone here had a successful install of similar in the UK?

 

[PianoAl]

the permanent fixtures needed for a roof rack don't really appeal,

I'd reconsider that. I leave my roof rack on, and it only affects range by 2%. I think the rack looks cool.

 

[Avendit]

P- here with tow bar. 4 on the back is really pushing the weight limits (fine with 2 adult and 2 kind bikes, but as we approached 4x MTBs it all starts adding up), so when we last got the next size up bike for one of the boys we moved that to the roof. Tesla bars (which don't touch the glass btw) and an atera bike holder.

Personal preference, but no way would I trust the sucker things with 4 bikes.

Roof mounting has a much nastier range impact than towball mounting btw, incase others are reading.

 

[MovingSouth]

We run a 3LR with the Tesla tow bar, a tow bar mounted rack and two lightweight road bikes and that already is close to the 'maximum towing capacity' (Tesla terminology) of the tow hitch, which is just 55 kg. (That's the maximum downward static load to put on the hitch, not the load the car can pull, which is 1000 kg.) That's the limit to consider on the tow hitch - not the maximum loading capacity of the car (which is low in any case).

 

[hairyanimal]

We run a 3LR with the Tesla tow bar, a tow bar mounted rack and two lightweight road bikes and that already is close to the 'maximum towing capacity' (Tesla terminology) of the tow hitch, which is just 55 kg. (That's the maximum downward static load to put on the hitch, not the load the car can pull, which is 1000 kg.) That's the limit to consider on the tow hitch - not the maximum loading capacity of the car (which is low in any case).

Which rack do you use as a matter of interest?

 

[Adopado]

(That's the maximum downward static load to put on the hitch, not the load the car can pull, which is 1000 kg.)

Some pedantry for clarification only: 1000kg is the load that the car is officially/legally/warranted rated for rather than the load the car can actually pull.

 

[Cardo]

Some pedantry for clarification only: 1000kg is the load that the car is officially/legally/warranted rated for rather than the load the car can actually pull.

Rather off topic, but I’d imagine due to the ridiculous amount of torque the 3 can put down, the safety margin over 1000kg will be immense.

 

[Adopado]

Rather off topic, but I’d imagine due to the ridiculous amount of torque the 3 can put down, the safety margin over 1000kg will be immense.

Remaining off-topic here's a Canadian M3 LR with bespoke towing hitch from towing specialists (factory tow not available in North America, at least when this was made). Worth watching the reactions of experienced towing guys later in video is quite amusing ... towing nearly 3 times the Europe rating.

 

[NewbieT]

Once you know what your doing the OEM roof bars take 5 minutes to fit and so don’t need to be considered ‘permanent’. I put mine on when I need them (the same as I have for any car / roof bars).

 

[debrooker]

The OEM bars are quick to fit, but they are not particularly wide so that needs to be taken into consideration. An old photo

 

[paulbt38]

I use a similar suction setup, TreeFrog. Admittedly only carrying one bike but have been all over Ireland and GB with absolutely no concerns about the bike. I did see some comment on a US forum that Seasucker recommended now placing the back wheel holder on the boot lid, as there were a couple of incidents of the glass roof cracking. Not sure if this just applied to US built cars etc but for safety I use the boot lid anyway. really very little impact on range.

 

[looseend]

I have a M3P and sometimes carry up to three bikes (four soon). Tesla won't fit a Performance with a tow bar, and the permanent fixtures needed for a roof rack don't really appeal, so I use a Seasucker Bomber suction mount. This does the trick for three bikes but it's awkward putting them on without scratching the car and always terrifying driving off with it on the roof. It gives me the willies driving along the motorway, despite all the online evidence that it's fine.

What I'd like is a tow hitch, something like the Stealth Hitch, and a suitable rack. This looks to be US specific though - has anyone here had a successful install of similar in the UK?

You will be able to get a third party tow bar fitted I was going to say look at Watling Towbars but they've ceased trading. So long as you don't tow with it and just use it for a bike rack it would be ok.

I looked into this when I was thinking about getting a used M3, but ended up getting a MY so didn't have to actually go down the route of fitting a third party one.

Pretty sure I've seen one fitted to a M3 Performance on the Facebook UK Owners group.

 

[balalalala]

Well, I gave up hunting and splurged on the Tesla roof bars and three Thule 598 carriers. Seem to do the trick and the whole lot comes on and off quite quickly.

Anyone who is braver than me and wants to buy a lightly used Seasucker Bomber, let me know!

 

[nunp]

I’ve been meaning to get some bike carriers for my roof bars so thanks for the top tip. Wasn’t sure which ones were compatible with the Tesla roof bars.

 

[groneil]

Two fork mounted mountain bikes on top of my M3 cost about 30% of range at highway speeds. Hitch is the way to go.

 

[wpwp]

I'm going to get roofbars for my M3P and occasionally carry bikes short distances.

 

[wpwp]

Sent half a post and can't edit with a free account!

I'm going to get roofbars for my M3P for cargo and occasionally carry bikes a short distance.

I'd like to avoid storing a long cycle carrier. You can get fork and rear wheel mountings for the bars' t-track, but I presume the bars are too close together to use these?

In which case, do you think a hard fork mount to the bars with a rear wheel sucker would be a decent combination?

I think I'd feel a bit more reassured than relying on a 100% sucker setup, plus I'd likely leave the bars unless doing a cargo-free long journey.

 

[WannabeOwner]

Sent half a post and can't edit with a free account!

Its your (small) number of posts. You'll be able to edit (for a short while) once your post count goes over some threshold