Tesla Bike Rack

[JavTPY]

Thoughts?

Has anyone bought the Tesl Bike Rack and is it any good? I know there are other companies that exclusively make bike racks and are likely better built (Thule, Yakima, etc), but the price is ok and it looks pretty decent. My needs are simple, a couple of road bikes on short trips, so I’m wondering if anyone has any feedback...

 

[JavTPY]

Sorry about the multiple pics, my phone wigged out!

 

[garrett5688]

Is this one of those mind games where we find which picture is different?

personally prefer tray style bike racks that secure the tires, but they do tend to be pricier

 

[glide]

It’s an overpriced Thule with a Tesla logo.

There are far better options out there for the money. Personally, I would get something with a tray design if I cared about my bikes.

 

[Frank N. Stein]

I'm partial to the 1Up bike racks. They're just so streamlined and simple. Agree with glide that you don't want to be hanging your bikes from the frame...

 

[glide]

I'm partial to the 1Up bike racks. They're just so streamlined and simple. Agree with glide that you don't want to be hanging your bikes from the frame...

I’ve got a 1up for my Y and it allows me to open the hatch even when in the up position. No material loss in range either.

Highly recommended.

 

[Mtb2020]

View attachment 614003 View attachment 614003 Thoughts?View attachment 614003 View attachment 614003 Has anyone bought the Tesl Bike Rack and is it any good? I know there are other companies that exclusively make bike racks and are likely better built (Thule, Yakima, etc), but the price is ok and it looks pretty decent. My needs are simple, a couple of road bikes on short trips, so I’m wondering if anyone has any feedback...

although I don’t have that specific model it looks very much like my Yakima system. It’s universal for me in that I can easily attach another rack for 4 pairs of skis. For mountain biking I don’t like it as much as the bikes tend to sway back and forth. I think for my MY I will buy the Kuat system. It’s more of a cradle as oppose to the hanging system. As far as cost they can all be expensive. You just need to go riding more to reduce the cost per ride.

 

[spokey]

It’s an overpriced Thule with a Tesla logo.

There are far better options out there for the money. Personally, I would get something with a tray design if I cared about my bikes.

disagree. It's an overpriced rebranded yakima

FullTilt

 

[Johnj2803]

I actually have a Rocky mounts 4 bike rack that I plan to use on my MY.

 

[spokey]

I have a Yakima Ridgeback that you hang the bike on. I've only had my 20 year comotion on it for about 5 years but there's only a small amount of scuffing where the straps hold it down. Can't see any yet on the Bilenky.

I do worry about the trunk whacking the rack if you inadvertently open it with rack up. Mine is sort of a cheaper model than the Tesla but roughly the same. Two handles at the top to respectively lower the arms or the whole vertical beam. No question the trunk will hit the rack if it is in the up position.

My question to the tray fans, especially the 1up that looks nice is whether the trunk clears the rack if you open it. I guess two questions. One with bikes on the rack and whether no bikes clears/doesn't clear.

 

[Gizmotoy]

I’ve got a 1up for my Y and it allows me to open the hatch even when in the up position. No material loss in range either.

Highly recommended.

Interesting. I also have a 1up and the trunk would definitely hit the rack when up. The 2" ball-to-end-of-receiver minimum makes it extremely close to the trunk when up. In fact, I'm positive it would damage the car if I drove it like that. I have to use the "extra space" setting with it angled slightly back.

Which one do you have? This is the Equip-D.

Otherwise I really like it. Very solid.

 

[glide]

Interesting. I also have a 1up and the trunk would definitely hit the rack when up. The 2" ball-to-end-of-receiver minimum makes it extremely close to the trunk when up. In fact, I'm positive it would damage the car if I drove it like that. I have to use the "extra space" setting with it angled slightly back.

Which one do you have? This is the Equip-D.

Otherwise I really like it. Very solid.

I also have an Equip-D (single tray).

Try backing the receiver out of the hitch a bit. It does not need to be stuffed all the way in. Then crank it down to engage the ball when you have enough trunk clearance.

 

[spokey]

I also have an Equip-D (single tray).

Try backing the receiver out of the hitch a bit. It does not need to be stuffed all the way in. Then crank it down to engage the ball when you have enough trunk clearance.

do you not put in a safety pin?

 

[glide]

do you not put in a safety pin?

You mean the locking pin? Yes that is also attached. You should have room to slide it forward on the hitch.

 

[jbr01]

That style of rack is trash. Get a 1UP rack that's made entirely of medal and holds the bike by its wheels.

 

[smcginnis]

Any hitch rack with a 2” stem will work. A Tesla rack is not anything special. BTW, I would select a tray rack - easier to load, less chance of damages to the car or the bike.and able to take different sizes of bike tires.

 

[Gizmotoy]

I also have an Equip-D (single tray).

Try backing the receiver out of the hitch a bit. It does not need to be stuffed all the way in. Then crank it down to engage the ball when you have enough trunk clearance.

No, this was with the rack installed at the minimum recommended depth. The instructions say there must be at least 2" from the start of the ball to the end of the hitch. This brings the rack extremely close to the trunk when in the "storage" position: it's practically touching.

The last time I installed it I went the complete opposite direction: instead of minimum depth I went maximum depth and inserted it absolutely all the way and used the "extra clearance" setting when no bikes were racked. This worked OK, but I still wish we had enough clearance to use the storage position. The folks at 1Up said an extension might help, but that installing any shallower was risky and not recommended.

You might want to measure yours to be sure. Maybe your hitch somehow sits further out than mine, but I'd be surprised. They were pretty unequivocal that I couldn't pull it out any more to get clearance.

 

[spokey]

@Gizmotoy your sig lists an MS with a MYP on order. Is that still right? Do you have a receiver on the S? Or did you get the MY and you're talking about the 1up and that?

 

[glide]

No, this was with the rack installed at the minimum recommended depth. The instructions say there must be at least 2" from the start of the ball to the end of the hitch. This brings the rack extremely close to the trunk when in the "storage" position: it's practically touching.

The last time I installed it I went the complete opposite direction: instead of minimum depth I went maximum depth and inserted it absolutely all the way and used the "extra clearance" setting when no bikes were racked. This worked OK, but I still wish we had enough clearance to use the storage position. The folks at 1Up said an extension might help, but that installing any shallower was risky and not recommended.

You might want to measure yours to be sure. Maybe your hitch somehow sits further out than mine, but I'd be surprised. They were pretty unequivocal that I couldn't pull it out any more to get clearance.

Mine is also practically touching the trunk/rear bumper. But the angle which the trunk opens still allows it to clear the rack in the storage position.

I’ll measure how deep the ball is inserted next time I’m out.

 

[Gizmotoy]

@Gizmotoy your sig lists an MS with a MYP on order. Is that still right? Do you have a receiver on the S? Or did you get the MY and you're talking about the 1up and that?

It's a Y. The S does not have a tow hitch.