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I installed the hitch today myself. Took a little over 3 hours. The main issue was removing the bumper bar support? It was heavily painted to the chassis and took quite a bit of trying to get it off and they were also holding water.
I did the 4 inch holes and I disagree with the measurements. I'd do the hole 1/4 further out and more distance to the passenger side. Even with the 4 inch I couldn't easily get the bolt in and my wrench. So I had to cut it wider and it isn't so pretty.
I did the 4 inch holes and I disagree with the measurements. I'd do the hole 1/4 further out and more distance to the passenger side. Even with the 4 inch I couldn't easily get the bolt in and my wrench. So I had to cut it wider and it isn't so pretty.
israndy
Supercharger Hunter
The guy who helped me install my hitch was FREAKED out by the water coming out of the body parts (the supports) when removed. We have been trying to figure out how the body is preserved. My Sprinter, in comparison, has no visible metal on the underbody, it's all sprayed with protectant coating, and even though it's 13 years old, not a crack in it, so NO rust. The Tesla paint appears to be sprayed in a downward direction. When I took the flange nuts off, after first rotation it was obviously painted on the top only.
The underside of the car also has no paint, or at least no red paint.
I suggested that the metal was untreated, but my friend said it would be silver it if was untreated, like that bolt.
Perhaps the cars are dipped in primer and that goes everywhere. Not sure how I got all that rust then:
TorkLift calls the goop inside the support epoxy, but what if the cars are dipped in primer? And what if that is what is all drained to the top of the photo, it pooled and dried at the bottom of the support above. Just like the support held water that had leaked in until the support was taken off.
There are now three of us who have taken off the crash bar supports installing the hitch. Has everyone seen this rust?
-Randy
The underside of the car also has no paint, or at least no red paint.
I suggested that the metal was untreated, but my friend said it would be silver it if was untreated, like that bolt.
Perhaps the cars are dipped in primer and that goes everywhere. Not sure how I got all that rust then:
TorkLift calls the goop inside the support epoxy, but what if the cars are dipped in primer? And what if that is what is all drained to the top of the photo, it pooled and dried at the bottom of the support above. Just like the support held water that had leaked in until the support was taken off.
There are now three of us who have taken off the crash bar supports installing the hitch. Has everyone seen this rust?
-Randy
Daniel in SD
(supervised)
Definitely looks primed. If it was untreated steel it would already have rust. The bumper support thing looks bad. Looks like they need to add a drain hole. Isn't the rear body structure made of aluminum? If it is that could accelerate the rust of the bumper support.
JCLeonard
Member
Looks like the nut situation has been remedied. Replacement flange nuts came preinstalled on the 6 lugs for attaching the crash bar to the hitch.
We opted for the 2" version, the bolt that affixes the removable receiver takes a 15/16" socket. Dang, this thing is beefy.
From what I can gather the rear body assembly of the Model 3 is steel so there is likely low worry of galvanic corrosion from the hitch, but they did include nylon washers to space the hitch off the frame...this seems a little meh so when we install we'll probably cut some sort of full coverage separation barrier.
Now I just need a car to bolt this thing to..
We opted for the 2" version, the bolt that affixes the removable receiver takes a 15/16" socket. Dang, this thing is beefy.
From what I can gather the rear body assembly of the Model 3 is steel so there is likely low worry of galvanic corrosion from the hitch, but they did include nylon washers to space the hitch off the frame...this seems a little meh so when we install we'll probably cut some sort of full coverage separation barrier.
Now I just need a car to bolt this thing to..
israndy
Supercharger Hunter
Let us know if you have water spilling out from your supports when you chip them out.
I went by the Corte Madera Service Center and reported the rust and water issue with the Crash Bar Supports. The service manager took my photos and was going to forward them to the Engineering Team for potential escalation. I also noticed tonight that the Motor Trend photos also show the rust I saw: Motor Trend article
-Randy
I went by the Corte Madera Service Center and reported the rust and water issue with the Crash Bar Supports. The service manager took my photos and was going to forward them to the Engineering Team for potential escalation. I also noticed tonight that the Motor Trend photos also show the rust I saw: Motor Trend article
-Randy
JCLeonard
Member
Anyone with the hitch installed have a moment to take this measurement?
(I am still waiting for a car to install the hitch on..)
Thanks!
israndy
Supercharger Hunter
Above. But perhaps the biggest reason it will drag is how far it is from the center of the rear axle. You can see my hitch is well worn.
-Randy
JCLeonard
Member
Thanks for measuring. Our Leaf has 10" clearance for a 1" receiver. We don't have a steep driveway by any means so we'll see how the shorty model 3 does.
israndy
Supercharger Hunter
Ok. I finally have my electric bike on my electric car. Color even worked out.
But then I tried to drive somewhere.
How do you shut off that alarm when backing up? It sees the bikes there and thinks you are about to hit them.
-Randy
But then I tried to drive somewhere.
How do you shut off that alarm when backing up? It sees the bikes there and thinks you are about to hit them.
-Randy
DR61
Member
Same problem on our 2017 Volvo; but there is a switch to turn off the alarm. But it resets on every start so with a bike rack it always sounds until I remember where the tiny button is to disable it.
ccutrer
Active Member
Lol! On the X, when you connect something electrical to the tow connector, it automatically turns them off. But since yours isn’t factory...
Daniel in SD
(supervised)
dgpcolorado
high altitude member
How about a bike rack? No electrical connection for that.
Until the post by @Randy Spencer I hadn't even thought about what would happen with the parking sensors and a bike rack. Just have to ignore the warning, I suppose. I've had a similar thing happen when the sensors get coated with snow.
ccutrer
Active Member
Yeah, I dunno. You can manually turn on tow mode for a trailer without lights (which disables the sensors, and autopilot!, in the name of supposedly enabling better sway and torque control or something). You can also manually _disable_ tow mode, when you connect say a hitch box with lights, or a (fancy!) bike rack with lights, so that you can still have autopilot, and don't need the different driving smarts (I'm pretty sure the rear sensors - beeping at least - remained disabled in this case, though). I'm trying to remember what happens when you put a bike rack with no lights on, as in your case. I _think_ I've done that once or twice, and I feel like the sensors beep for like 10 seconds, then they realize the obstruction isn't moving even though the vehicle is (or just timeout), and stop beeping. I'm almost certain there's not a button in the UI anywhere to just silence the rear parking sensors
israndy
Supercharger Hunter
Not so concerned to hear from Model X owners, if they have special tow modes. More interested in Model S owners who have added a 3P hitch. I suppose I could hook a switch to the sensors that I flip when I put something in the hitch. Once more into the breach...
-Randy
-Randy
skitown
Member
This will be annoyingly un-actionable, but I have an Ecohitch on my S, which has AP1 and parking sensors (obviously), and there is a way to turn off the audio alerts when backing up. I can't remember the specifics however. If you don't get an answer before then, I'll throw it on and do some testing this Wed for you.
Thomas Edison
Active Member
I'm wondering if the AWD will have the tow option now that's it's live, maybe they are waiting for SAS.
The audio alerts can be turned off by going into the settings for "Safety & Security" and then tapping the gear icon in the upper right to view more options. From here, you can disable the Park Assist Chimes. I've tested this with my bike rack + bike and it works.
