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An S owner near Phoenix AZ needs to take it to U-Haul at Mesa AZ and have them build a prototype. They *want* to do this, and you get one for free, mounted of course. Must leave car overnight in their factory. Please, or I'll have to tow mine all the way down there (once its delivered).
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NuclearPowered
Member
ChadS
Last tank of gas: March 2009
I'm taking my car in to Torklift Central later this week so they can design a hitch for the car. I'll pick it up on Saturday, and let you know what they say about general availability.
artsci
Sponsor
Thanks for doing this. When I first got my Chevy Volt I worked with Torklift and owners in the Seattle area to get a Volt to them for the same purpose. I would have volunteered my own Volt but it would have been a 3,000 plus mile drive.
I now have a Torklift hitch on my Volt. It's completely hidden. I'll be very interested to see what they design for the S.
I think you'll be in very good hands. If the installation on your Model S works well, many of us will be buying them for ours.
ChadS
Last tank of gas: March 2009
I picked up my car from Torklift Central today. They did a great job! They said there was plenty of room to build a hitch, and good stuff to connect it to so it's very strong. (I neglected to ask about towing capabilities, as I only plan to use it for a bike rack). Here is what the new 1.25" hitch looks like:
It's made of transparent aluminum, so you can't see it at all.
Actually it's built inside the bumper, so you can't see it until you attach this piece:
If you look up under the car, you can see where to attach it:
It just bolts in with a single 3/4" bolt. Once in, it looks like this:
Or from farther back:
And with a bike rack in (a light-weight collapsible model with aluminum arms that I bought for the Roadster), it looks like this:
From another angle:
And with a bike in the rack:
It weighs 29 pounds. Torklift hasn't finalized pricing, but they say the hitch alone will probably be around $350. Installation is expensive because there is a lot of stuff they have to take off and put back; it takes four hours (they sounded impressed with how Tesla had put the car together, though). So probably $380 for installation.
It's made of transparent aluminum, so you can't see it at all.
Actually it's built inside the bumper, so you can't see it until you attach this piece:
If you look up under the car, you can see where to attach it:
It just bolts in with a single 3/4" bolt. Once in, it looks like this:
Or from farther back:
And with a bike rack in (a light-weight collapsible model with aluminum arms that I bought for the Roadster), it looks like this:
From another angle:
And with a bike in the rack:
It weighs 29 pounds. Torklift hasn't finalized pricing, but they say the hitch alone will probably be around $350. Installation is expensive because there is a lot of stuff they have to take off and put back; it takes four hours (they sounded impressed with how Tesla had put the car together, though). So probably $380 for installation.
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ChadS
Last tank of gas: March 2009
Yes, they cut a piece out of the underbelly so you can attach the hitch. You don't have to get prone, but you do have to at least kneel and bend over. It's not hard to hold it with one hand and screw the bolt most of the way in with the other hand. Then you'll need a wrench just for a couple of turns to tighten it. I think he said it was the same design as the one you have on your Volt.
It seems a little low, so I wanted a removable one in case there are clearance problems. When the weather is nice I'll try it out on our driveway (it has a nasty rise just at the start). If clearance is fine, I may leave it on all the time.
It seems a little low, so I wanted a removable one in case there are clearance problems. When the weather is nice I'll try it out on our driveway (it has a nasty rise just at the start). If clearance is fine, I may leave it on all the time.
bonnie
I play a nice person on twitter.
sublimaze1
8Dec2012 / Leeroy Jenkins
+1 - If I am simply going to carry a bike or two, I would get a roof rack in the hardpoints. No use for me if I can't lug my daughters' stuff back and forth from college in the trailer.
As a die hard roof rack fan I generally would agree. But there will be a very significant range hit with bikes on the roof versus on a hitch rack.
I also plan on getting new towers for my Thule rack when my S gets here. But I don't know if I will ever install it. I certainly won't stay on my car like the one on my GTI does.
sublimaze1
8Dec2012 / Leeroy Jenkins
It's been proven many times in the Prius forum that a hitch mounted rack is far better than a roof rack for aerodynamics (as well as for preventing damage to the bicycles--far too many forget they are there and drive into the garage with unfortunate results). There is no reason to suspect the Model S would be any different.
Done it on many cycling trips. Roof racks with bikes are giant sails, and not the good kind.
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I would argue the opposite, if you aren't forgetful, getting rear ended is much more common that hitting a garage or other overhang. And I know someone who fell asleep and drove into a median with a hitch rack. All 4 bikes were totaled when they caught the ground. Not to mention I think bikes get many more minor scratches from hitch racks. Just my experience with them.
I've always been able to carry the bikes within the Prius, so I'm just going by the number of posts in the forums. I suspect it depends on the kind of car whether backing up is an issue or not.
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