Towbar on a Model S

[ColinA]

I am aware that some in Australia have installed and use the aftermarket add on I've linked to below - Tesla in Sydney told me about it. I'm keen to know your experiences. This tow bar sounds good in that it requires no drilling or modifications to the car itself. The one thing it does not provide though is the lights/indicator connection. How have those that have this implemented lights?

I have a trailer I need to tow that contains my radio controlled jets (a very obsessive hobby!). I don't need to tow it long distances, but I do need to tow it. A decision on this determines whether I still keep my BMW X3 primarily for towing after my Tesla arrives, or whether I can sell it and go "all in".

http://www.greencarreports.com/news...-tow-model-s-trailer-hitch-installation-video

Cheers,
Colin

 

[lennier]

I am aware that some in Australia have installed and use the aftermarket add on I've linked to below - Tesla in Sydney told me about it. I'm keen to know your experiences. This tow bar sounds good in that it requires no drilling or modifications to the car itself. The one thing it does not provide though is the lights/indicator connection. How have those that have this implemented lights?

I have a trailer I need to tow that contains my radio controlled jets (a very obsessive hobby!). I don't need to tow it long distances, but I do need to tow it. A decision on this determines whether I still keep my BMW X3 primarily for towing after my Tesla arrives, or whether I can sell it and go "all in".

http://www.greencarreports.com/news...-tow-model-s-trailer-hitch-installation-video

Cheers,
Colin

Be aware (in case you haven't watched that video all the way through) that it does require one significant modification - a large cutout in your rear bumper! So there's no (easy) going back

 

[ColinA]

Be aware (in case you haven't watched that video all the way through) that it does require one significant modification - a large cutout in your rear bumper! So there's no (easy) going back

I'm not so sure... it looks to me like it sits under the rear bumper from the photos I can see. I dont have my Tesla yet, so it is a little hard for me to be sure.

 

[Dborn]

Is the Torklift product available in Australia? You may be able to import it. Why not ask your question on the USA section?

 

[ColinA]

Is the Torklift product available in Australia? You may be able to import it. Why not ask your question on the USA section?

We can order it from the company in the USA. They have shipped a number of them to Australia, although I don't know how many. There are already US based discussions on this, I was looking for Australian experiences, local installers used etc

 

[ColinA]

I heard back from the ecohitch folks. They sent me the installation manual. Apparently you do have to cut a hole in the fascia. That is the only thing though. No drilling or additional mount points, it uses the bolts already there.

 

[Balus]

So Colin, did you go ahead and order it?

 

[ColinA]

No... decided in the end it was an all round bad idea. For now I'm just going to keep my X3 for when I need to tow.

 

[garyjac]

Wise decision indeed as I believe it would invalidate the warranty. Tesla say that the Model S is not designed for towing.

 

[TesAus]

Wise decision indeed as I believe it would invalidate the warranty. Tesla say that the Model S is not designed for towing.

I agree, but I wonder what the basis for Tesla's position is? The drivetrains are (to my knowledge) the same as a model X and that has a towing capacity of two tonnes I believe?

I can only assume it is therefore related to the chassis not being built to take the loads at the logical points of attachment?

Could it relate to the rear facing child seats in some markets (eg a trailer coming loose entering the trunk area?)

It seems odd that they can't offer an official Tesla towbar even if it were only rated for say one tonne (allowing a small box trailer, bike rack or similar to be used?)

 

[paulp]

I agree, but I wonder what the basis for Tesla's position is? The drivetrains are (to my knowledge) the same as a model X and that has a towing capacity of two tonnes I believe?

I can only assume it is therefore related to the chassis not being built to take the loads at the logical points of attachment?

Could it relate to the rear facing child seats in some markets (eg a trailer coming loose entering the trunk area?)

It seems odd that they can't offer an official Tesla towbar even if it were only rated for say one tonne (allowing a small box trailer, bike rack or similar to be used?)

Could also be the lack of a wiring harnass, and the difficulty of installing one?

 

[ColinA]

Interesting too that Model 3 will have a towbar option (according to one of Elon's tweets)

 

[paulp]

Interesting too that Model 3 will have a towbar option (according to one of Elon's tweets)

I read a while back that there will ulimately be 3 versions of the 3, one of which will be a crossover. So I guess resolving a towbar is important for that duplication.

 

[RichardMcN]

Wise decision indeed as I believe it would invalidate the warranty. Tesla say that the Model S is not designed for towing.

Are you sure it would invalidate the warranty? I asked about a tow bar for a bike rack and the reply was: "In regards to the rear bike rack, it doesn’t void the entire warranty of the car, just anything that is directly affected by the modification."

 

[garyjac]

"...anything directly affected..." could be the main chassis components...a very messy can of worms.

 

[Mark E]

"...anything directly affected..." could be the main chassis components...a very messy can of worms.

Indeed. Friends of mine had a proper tower fitted to a Maxima. The Maxima ended up starting to crack around its rear end - even with the bracing from the tower...

 

[Broas]

Has anyone installed Brink's Towbar for Model S?

 

[Broas]

New tow bars for VW Golf VII GTE, Passat and Tesla model S

 

[ColinA]

New tow bars for VW Golf VII GTE, Passat and Tesla model S

For a bike carrier only - I need to tow a trailer. I'll be keeping my BMW X3 for now - it's not the kind of third party mod I am comfortable having done to my Model S.

 

[Xenoilphobe]

I have tow hitches on both my Model S's no issues in over 100,000 miles.

The cutout is no big deal -url