Moderator comment - thread merged from "Model S rear mounted bike rack - any experience"
Hi all,
I have had my 2014 MS85 (body coloured roof so no roof bar option) for 3 years and have been using a suction-cup type 3-bike rack for that time. I have no problems with it apart from:
1. drag - three bikes on there at motorway speed really eats into range;
2. potential for scratches - either while lifting onto/off the roof, and also of the suction cups onto the roof, even with a good wipe clean under each cup before sticking
3. getting more than 3 bikes will be impossible;
4. the roof is very flexible and if the rear wheel is too far from the back edge it can push the roof in - not ideal.
What I'd really like to do is mount a proper towball mounted rack for 3-4 bikes, with lights and numberplate on, but as you may know Model S is not "type approved" for towing so there is no official towbar attachment. There are several 3rd party options though:
1. Rameder -
BOSSTOW towbar detachable - TESLA MODEL S year of make 09.12- | RAMEDER
2. Misterdotcom -
Anhängerkupplung Tesla Model S
3. Ebay (says it's the same misterdotcom towbar but confused why so cheap)
Towbar detachable for TESLA Model S Hatchback 12-16 + 13pin spec. electrical-kit | eBay
The Misterdotcom one has been tested to some EU standard, and apparently is fully legal to tow in Germany and Austria, and you can apply for certification in Switzerland, but outside those countries it is as I understand still illegal to tow (I don't want to tow anyway, but more on that later) The (very high) price is I understand for some individual certification to make this possible. The other two I don't think are approved in any way, other than perhaps being a standard design that hopefully has a CE mark.
What I am struggling to understand is the legal implications of fitting a towbar, if this is only to be used for fixing a bike rack. I understand that it's illegal to tow with a Model S, and I have no intention to do this, but it would be really nice to have the bikes on the back, for convenience of loading/unloading and also that I imagine the range penalty will be less than using the roof. I have two small children and so in a few years time I'd like to be able to pack off on holiday, potentially for long journeys with 4 bikes!
It seems bizarre to me that you can legally hook a rack on using the edge of the windscreen glass and the bottom of the bumper (or just using suction cups), but can't affix a bike rack using a purpose built piece of steel bolted to the chassis of the car, just in case you might decide to illegally hook a caravan on??
I can't seem to find a tow hitch which has some other type of "bike rack specific" hitch fixing which would make it impossible to fit a trailer to, and my main concern is turning up to a MOT with the receiver in place and the car failing due to the non-type-approved tow hitch. Equally insurance may be an issue.
Has anyone on here done it in the UK/Europe and how has this gone down with MOT/insurance?
Any thoughts appreciated (although the "sell your car and get a MX/M3" might not be of much use (MX too big/expensive, M3 too small))
Thanks,
Tom