Model 3 towbar

[3hans]

I'm looking at getting a towbar fitted to my M3 (mostly for the bike rack).

I contacted Tesla service [email protected] and they called back to say the Tesla towbar will be available as an accessory in NZ at some indeterminate time in the future. They are currently working on getting the towbar certified for AU & NZ. They mentioned a couple of other people have enquired about this.

So if you are interested in getting a towbar I suggest contacting service, if enough of us do then it might just move up their priority list a bit.

Also there are 3rd party towbars available ex USA and possibly AU at this stage I haven't looked at bringing one in by may have to do so if the Tesla one doesn't happen so. If anyone has fitted a towbar or is looking at getting one I'd be interested to hear how you are getting on.

cheers

 

[RobDickinson]

Im talking to towsafe in chc they are developing one for the 3

 

[ewoodrick]

We've been begging for it in the states for a few years and haven't gotten anywhere. Seems EU got it and they won't even let us have it yet.

 

[Matt_NZ]

Im talking to towsafe in chc they are developing one for the 3

I'm curious how that works. I know the Euro cars with the factory hitch get tow mode in the MCU. Is that option greyed out in your car currently? I'm wondering if it appears when it detects a trailer harness plugged in.

 

[RobDickinson]

Nope my car has tow mode available in the menu

 

[Boxxynz]

Interested in one too.

Imho the hardest thing is the wiring/smarts. There's a 3 pin plug in the back to plug into a module that then drives the trailer lights and tells the car it's got a trailer on. If someone can crack that... Take my money

 

[Matt_NZ]

Nope my car has tow mode available in the menu

So you can manually turn it on now without a trailer attached?

 

[RobDickinson]

I've not tried, just seen the option

 

[Boxxynz]

We've got towing mode in service which lets you tow the car but no tow mode in driving.

 

[3hans]

Im talking to towsafe in chc they are developing one for the 3

Thanks - can you keep us posted on progress.

 

[ecarfan]

I've not tried, just seen the option

Do you mean in the Service menu (which is for when your car is being towed) or somewhere else?

On my X in Controls > Driving there is a Trailer Mode, which is for when the car is towing something.

On the 3 there is no Trailer Mode in US cars, but there is in EU cars.

 

[J1.618]

Nope my car has tow mode available in the menu

Hi Rob. Any progress on your tow bar fit/research.?

Also interested if tow mode is the service tow of the M3 or an option for when using the tow bar.
Thanks.

 

[Kiwiadventure]

I checked with service earlier this week and M3 tow bar is still not available as well all other Tesla accessories not available. There is no time line as well for availability.

 

[3Vtastic]

You may know this already, but all the info for the tow bar on the model 3 is in the user manual for the EU models. You can just google the file and access the manual

 

[RobDickinson]

Hi Rob. Any progress on your tow bar fit/research.?

Also interested if tow mode is the service tow of the M3 or an option for when using the tow bar.
Thanks.

Towsafe decided not to offer a commercial product just now sadly :/

 

[Kiwiadventure]

Towsafe decided not to offer a commercial product just now sadly :/

Fit a non Tesla Tow Bar and you could kiss good by to your warranty as Tesla does say no warranty for an after market tow bar if installed.

 

[RobDickinson]

Only if the warranty claim is anything to do with that area.

 

[Kiwiadventure]

Only if the warranty claim is anything to do with that area.

Tesla's warranty wasn't that pacific when I read it.
If its like BMW I had to have all my BMW's reprogrammed for the towbar wiring, trailer braking and stop the rear alarm bumper sensors when is reverse.