I plan to frequently haul sea kayaks, a white water kayak, or a canoe on a MYLR with a tow hitch and Tesla roof racks. I will always use bow and stern lines. This post is seeking information to help me decide where and how I am going to attach my bow and stern lines to the MYLR. My EDD is this month, so I am trying to purchase those things I'll need almost immediately.
For stern lines, I personally hope to use my $1,000 tie-down point, the tow hitch. However, I have never actually seen the Model Y tow hitch. I've read complaints about the plastic cover. Would just leaving the cover off be reasonable? Any other gotchas or tricks to using the tow hitch? Any experience reports appreciated.
There are a number of options for bow lines, many of which would also work for stern lines.
Tow eye.
Bolt an attached hood loop somewhere under the hood.
Quick Hood Loop. Basically a loop of webbing that generally goes through some tubing which gets trapped when you close the hood.
Before posting this, I searched the forum. If these users are still around, I would appreciate them posting more details.
@smatthew would you expand upon your comment about the locking loop on the hood?
@Bill135 more details about your front and rear tie downs would be wonderful. Especially where do you attach the loop strap to the frunk?
@Jrzapata I could not tell from your picture how you were dealing with the wire connected to the front tow eye cover.
in thread Model 3 with 5 bikes
Thanks everyone! If I just waited until I took delivery, some of this might be clearer. However, I'm certain you can understand my impatience. Hopefully this thread will also be useful for others in the future.
For stern lines, I personally hope to use my $1,000 tie-down point, the tow hitch. However, I have never actually seen the Model Y tow hitch. I've read complaints about the plastic cover. Would just leaving the cover off be reasonable? Any other gotchas or tricks to using the tow hitch? Any experience reports appreciated.
There are a number of options for bow lines, many of which would also work for stern lines.
Tow eye.
- Positives:
- One comes with the car.
- It would certainly be more than strong enough.
- Downsides:
- The owner's manual notes: "The front tow eye cover is connected to the vehicle's black negative (-) terminal." Powering that wire releases the frunk latch if and only if the 12 volt battery is too dead to do the job. So need to deal with that wire somehow if using tow eye for a bow line.
- Having the tow eye installed somewhat defeats the purpose of having a bumper. The tow eye is attached firmly enough to tow the car. Bump something with the tow eye, and something is going to break.
- Questions:
- How do people who use the front tow eye deal with that wire, and the attached cover?
- Do you leave the tow eye installed all the time?
- Any experience reports welcome.
Bolt an attached hood loop somewhere under the hood.
- Examples:
- Positives:
- Cheap, Strong and Convenient
- Downsides:
- It would rub the edge of the hood, but would it damage the paint or hood?
- Questions:
- Does the frunk have any appropriate spots to bolt one?
- Any experience reports welcome.
Quick Hood Loop. Basically a loop of webbing that generally goes through some tubing which gets trapped when you close the hood.
- Examples:
- Positives:
- Cheap
- Downsides:
- Given Tesla's instructions about how to carefully close the hood with two hands, a bow quick loop might not be a great match.
- If you open the hood, the loop comes loose.
- Questions:
- Anyone use these with the hood or hatch?
- Any experience reports good or bad?
Before posting this, I searched the forum. If these users are still around, I would appreciate them posting more details.
@smatthew would you expand upon your comment about the locking loop on the hood?
in thread What are my best options to carry a kayak or surfboards on/with my Tesla Model 3, 2022? I did not yet buy the Tesla cross bars.Hood loop works great for trunk, not so great for frunk.
For the frunk, just put the strap through the locking loop on the hood.
@Bill135 more details about your front and rear tie downs would be wonderful. Especially where do you attach the loop strap to the frunk?
in thread Portaging Kayaks?Carry two kayaks. No big deal. Use one Malone cradle and pads on the other side to carry the other kayak flat. Tie the rear off to the tow hitch and the front off to a soft double loop strap attached the frunk. I use cut pool noodles to protect paint at the contact points. Carrying kayaks really impacts range, especially anything over 60, probably adds on the order of 100-150 watt/ mile. Photo doesn’t show rear and front tie downs.
@Jrzapata I could not tell from your picture how you were dealing with the wire connected to the front tow eye cover.
in thread Model 3 with 5 bikes
Thanks everyone! If I just waited until I took delivery, some of this might be clearer. However, I'm certain you can understand my impatience. Hopefully this thread will also be useful for others in the future.