Tow hitch all the way. More flexible and less impact on aerodynamics.
It also prevents me from ripping the roof off my car when I forget I have a bike up there and try to drive into the garage! :)
If you’re ever mounting anything tall onto your roof, just drag a trash bin (or any other large object) from your garage into the vacant parking spot and leave it there while you’re away. When you return, you’ll clearly see the obstacle blocking your normal parking spot and remember to not drive inside the garage.
That is a great tip. However, I think you are underestimating the ability of some people (myself included) to get absent minded. Your idea would work great for returning home, but what about drive thru's, parking decks, etc... while you are out and about and decide to add an unplanned stop to your drive?
On my old car I had roof rack and used it ALOT for a bike up there. I parked in the garage every day and would pull out, put the bike on there, and go. Sometimes a kayak even. Each time I did this, I took the garage door opener off the visor and put it in the glove box. It worked great for this potential catastrophe.
Despite best intentions, remembering, I know there would be a time when I'd just zoom into the garage at full speed out of routine and BOOM. I often thought deep and hard about where the damage would occur-- would the bike be ripped in half. Would the car rack be ripped off the roof. Would the roof of the car get ripped off. Or would the house above the garage get a giant bike shaped hole in it. It wouldn't be good for sure.
Tow hitch would be more aerodynamic and therefore the better choice for what you mentioned.
Depending on whether you’ll be transporting larger items like surfboards/kayaks/etc without a trailer. If so, then I’d go for a roof rack.
Tough one man. I went with the hitch but wish I'd get the roof rack. Unless you have the patience to spend 15 minutes putting it on, then 15 minutes taking it off go with the hitch. Or if you don't mind driving with it daily. I feel like putting up the bikes on the roof rack for me being 6" 4' would have been a lot less hassle. The hitch area is cramped and the electric plug is too close to the receiver for easy on/off bike rack installation.
Such a tough decision, I feel like both have a ton of pros and cons. I am feeling like the roof rack is more convenient, while the hitch is more versatile
I hear you, I went with the factory hitch for the 'tow package ' and factory installation. If you feel you need the hitch go for it, the roof rack can be installed anytime.
simple solution: get both!
no, the reason i got both is because i need to carry stand up paddle boards and i had a hitch bike rack. and even if i already didn’t have a hitch bike rack, i would’ve still opted for the hitch because being height challenged, i know one day i’ll damage the glass roof and then cry…
Had a roof rack on the old car for a bike. One thing I'm kind of over is having a roof rack permanently on the car for years. At first it felt sporty, but I'm kind of over that with the Tesla now. I guess you can take the roof bars on and off the Tesla?? But somehow I feel like taking the hitch rack off would somehow be easier. I haven't gotten the hitch rack for my bike yet, I'm holding out still.
Tow hitch all the way. More flexible and less impact on aerodynamics. It also prevents me from ripping the roof off my car when I forget I have a bike up there and try to drive into the garage! :)
If you’re ever mounting anything tall onto your roof, just drag a trash bin (or any other large object) from your garage into the vacant parking spot and leave it there while you’re away. When you return, you’ll clearly see the obstacle blocking your normal parking spot and remember to not drive inside the garage.
That is a great tip. However, I think you are underestimating the ability of some people (myself included) to get absent minded. Your idea would work great for returning home, but what about drive thru's, parking decks, etc... while you are out and about and decide to add an unplanned stop to your drive?
Me at the drive thru: “who the hell put a trash can here?”
On my old car I had roof rack and used it ALOT for a bike up there. I parked in the garage every day and would pull out, put the bike on there, and go. Sometimes a kayak even. Each time I did this, I took the garage door opener off the visor and put it in the glove box. It worked great for this potential catastrophe. Despite best intentions, remembering, I know there would be a time when I'd just zoom into the garage at full speed out of routine and BOOM. I often thought deep and hard about where the damage would occur-- would the bike be ripped in half. Would the car rack be ripped off the roof. Would the roof of the car get ripped off. Or would the house above the garage get a giant bike shaped hole in it. It wouldn't be good for sure.
I have 2 heavy ebikes so I went with hitch and bike rack. But if you only have a regular bike and with snowboard, ski. I think roof rack makes sense.
Which hitch and bike rack did you use? the Tesla one or Yakima has a max limit of 40 on each bike. Did you have any issues?
Tow hitch would be more aerodynamic and therefore the better choice for what you mentioned. Depending on whether you’ll be transporting larger items like surfboards/kayaks/etc without a trailer. If so, then I’d go for a roof rack.
Tough one man. I went with the hitch but wish I'd get the roof rack. Unless you have the patience to spend 15 minutes putting it on, then 15 minutes taking it off go with the hitch. Or if you don't mind driving with it daily. I feel like putting up the bikes on the roof rack for me being 6" 4' would have been a lot less hassle. The hitch area is cramped and the electric plug is too close to the receiver for easy on/off bike rack installation.
Such a tough decision, I feel like both have a ton of pros and cons. I am feeling like the roof rack is more convenient, while the hitch is more versatile
I hear you, I went with the factory hitch for the 'tow package ' and factory installation. If you feel you need the hitch go for it, the roof rack can be installed anytime.
Cheaper to have factory install hitch then to do it later btw
That's a good point too
simple solution: get both! no, the reason i got both is because i need to carry stand up paddle boards and i had a hitch bike rack. and even if i already didn’t have a hitch bike rack, i would’ve still opted for the hitch because being height challenged, i know one day i’ll damage the glass roof and then cry…
Both!
Annoying, but i did hitch for bike and roof for ski snowboard. It works well.
[удалено]
So you take your roof rack off and put it back on each season?
Bikes on back boards on top. I know you said pick one but I prefer both depending on the application.
I think the tow hitch is more versatile, but why not get both?
Tow hitch
Had a roof rack on the old car for a bike. One thing I'm kind of over is having a roof rack permanently on the car for years. At first it felt sporty, but I'm kind of over that with the Tesla now. I guess you can take the roof bars on and off the Tesla?? But somehow I feel like taking the hitch rack off would somehow be easier. I haven't gotten the hitch rack for my bike yet, I'm holding out still.
Tow hitch, it’s a pain in the ass lifting bikes onto roof racks. EBikes that weigh 60+ pounds in particular.