Model 3 Roof Bars

Model 3 Roof Bars

Author
Discussion

Dimebars

Original Poster:

927 posts

101 months

Tuesday 2nd March 2021
quotequote all
Are these a thing? Do they exist?

I know strapping anything to the roof will kill range, but I'd like to be able to transport bikes, and don't fancy the £1300 bill for a tow bar

sherman

13,834 posts

222 months

Tuesday 2nd March 2021
quotequote all
https://shop.tesla.com/product/model-3-roof-rack

Im sure thule will do one to fit too.

hairy v

1,300 posts

151 months

MOBB

3,812 posts

134 months

Tuesday 2nd March 2021
quotequote all
Be very careful, google model 3 roof cracking

It put me off lol

Maracus

4,476 posts

175 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
quotequote all
I bought some for my Model 3.

I've used them multiple times, including a 265 mile trip from Oxfordshire to Northumberland. The fitting instructions are excellent.

They are whisper quiet when no bike rack is installed.


Dimebars

Original Poster:

927 posts

101 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
quotequote all
Which did you buy? Are they Thule compatible?

I have an existing Thule set-up (feet, bars, bike racks) that I'd like to use as much as possible, but there don't appear to be suitable Thule feet available for the Model 3

Dimebars

Original Poster:

927 posts

101 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
quotequote all
sherman said:
https://shop.tesla.com/product/model-3-roof-rack

Im sure thule will do one to fit too.
Seems to be US only, and Thule don't list anything compatible

Maracus

4,476 posts

175 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
quotequote all
Dimebars said:
Which did you buy? Are they Thule compatible?

I have an existing Thule set-up (feet, bars, bike racks) that I'd like to use as much as possible, but there don't appear to be suitable Thule feet available for the Model 3
I bought them from the UK Tesla shop, pricey @ £400 or so, but I can sell on once my company lease runs out.

I'm using Thule 592 and 597 iirc. Any that fit aero bars will be ok.

I couldn't find anything that was Tesla compatible at the time, I did look at the Seasuckers, but preferred these roof bars.

Maracus

4,476 posts

175 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
quotequote all
CheesecakeRunner said:
Dimebars said:
sherman said:
https://shop.tesla.com/product/model-3-roof-rack

Im sure thule will do one to fit too.
Seems to be US only, and Thule don't list anything compatible
It's global, here's the UK shop link...

https://shop.tesla.com/en_gb/product/model-3-roof-...

And there really is no alternative. Thule don't do anything, nor do Yakima, although many believe the Tesla rack is made by Yakima.

They are fully compatible with Thule t-bar bike racks and the like. And perfectly safe to the roof if you're not a ham-fisted oaf when fitting using a torque wrench. They're actually a very clever design that engages with metal hooks underneath the glass roof, and sit on the metal part of the roof, rather than the glass. So the glass isn't weight bearing at all.
100% correct in what you say.

You don't have to over-torque them as when they are locked, it also locks the nut in position.

Dimebars

Original Poster:

927 posts

101 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
quotequote all
Thanks all. I'll revisit the Tesla shop. At least that way there is some value to be recovered in 4 years as opposed to sinking £1300 on a tow hitch that I won't see anything back for

Maracus

4,476 posts

175 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
quotequote all
Dimebars said:
Thanks all. I'll revisit the Tesla shop. At least that way there is some value to be recovered in 4 years as opposed to sinking £1300 on a tow hitch that I won't see anything back for
That was my thinking.

Keggers

102 posts

245 months

Wednesday 24th March 2021
quotequote all
How do the protective stickers look when the rack isn’t on?

I’ve got a rack on order but won’t keep it permanently on, but worried how the stickers will look.

Maracus

4,476 posts

175 months

Wednesday 24th March 2021
quotequote all
Keggers said:
How do the protective stickers look when the rack isn’t on?

I’ve got a rack on order but won’t keep it permanently on, but worried how the stickers will look.
I've just taken a photo for you of mine, they have been left on over the winter. You can just peel them off and reapply some new film, but I don't really notice them. Just make sure that when you first put them you have clean fingers!


Keggers

102 posts

245 months

Wednesday 24th March 2021
quotequote all
Thanks both. That’s not as bad as I worried it might look.

Keggers

102 posts

245 months

Wednesday 24th March 2021
quotequote all
Sorry, one more question. Does the black coating scratch easily where you attach on a bike rack or roof box?

Maracus

4,476 posts

175 months

Wednesday 24th March 2021
quotequote all
Keggers said:
Sorry, one more question. Does the black coating scratch easily where you attach on a bike rack or roof box?
It does a little, but then any bars I have previously used have as well.

foggy

1,171 posts

289 months

Monday 29th March 2021
quotequote all
MOBB said:
Be very careful, google model 3 roof cracking

It put me off lol
Ha, mine was delivered with a crack in the glass roof as a factory/distribution centre optional extra... It’ll be replaced one day I guess, but for the time being ‘track the crack’ is the new weekly game with our fleet man.

hab1966

1,104 posts

219 months

Sunday 26th September 2021
quotequote all
Sorry for the thread resurrection but ..

Can you get three mountain bikes on the Roof bars? (Weight of each bike is approx 12Kg)

Would the Thule ProRide bike rack fit on the roof bar?

What is the recommended torque tool to use when fitting the bars?

As the bar use will be few and far between, do people remove the bars when not in use or leave in place?

Maracus

4,476 posts

175 months

Monday 27th September 2021
quotequote all
hab1966 said:
Sorry for the thread resurrection but ..

Can you get three mountain bikes on the Roof bars? (Weight of each bike is approx 12Kg)

Would the Thule ProRide bike rack fit on the roof bar?

What is the recommended torque tool to use when fitting the bars?

As the bar use will be few and far between, do people remove the bars when not in use or leave in place?
I think the weight limit is 75Kg so yes.

I use Thule 591 carriers

The advice is to hand tighten using the shorted part of the supplied allen key in your hand, not the longer part. The locking mechanism means it won't loosen. I've driven 300 miles each way a number of times and never had an issue. My small torque tool seemed to want to tighten way more than I felt was necessary!

I remove my bars, they only take a couple of minutes to fit each foot position, although when on you can't hear them. It's the carrier that takes more time to fit for me.

If you're near me (Banbury, Oxon), then you're welcome to have a look at them, etc. Just PM me smile



hab1966

1,104 posts

219 months

Monday 27th September 2021
quotequote all
Thanks for the kind offer Maracus but im in the North West.

We have a bike rack that is towbar fixed, but i dont think it meets the tesla requirement when it comes to Centre of Gravity. Therefore i started to look at roof bars and carriers. I think if i put two bikes forward and one backwards on the roof bars then all should be well. The weight isn't an issue. Im just not sure about all the crap falling off the bikes onto the car roof.

Our other option is to put a towbar on the wifes car so we can still use the bike rack we have, which im beginning to prefer.

Just got to decide on the colour and place an order.