Whether you’re an avid cyclist, intense mountain biker or just enjoy a leisurely ride, having a reliable bike rack for your Tesla Model Y is essential for transporting your bicycles with ease. In our experts’ comprehensive buying guide, we’ll explore the top 6 hitch mounted bike racks specially designed for Tesla Model Y owners, ensuring you can embark on your cycling and mountain biking adventures hassle-free.
More features: foldable, integrated locks, allows hatch access when loaded, reflectoes
The Saris SuperClamp EX 2 is our Editor’s Choice among the best bike racks for the Tesla Model Y. It fits almost all bikes, including men’s, women’s, kids’, and even e-bikes. Due to its exceptional way of fastening with SuperClamp’s dual shepherd’s hooks, it doesn’t matter what frame your bike has, it will be securely fastened to its wheels. With a tilting function, you still have easy access to the hatch of your car with no need to unload the rack. Plus, it can be folded down when not in use. The hitch is compatible with universal receivers (1¼” and 2”). Its locking cable and hitch prevent thefts. It also comes with reflectors on wheel trays to make it visible to other vehicles at night.
The Saris SuperClamp EX 2 belongs to the Superclamp series, and just like its other family members, it’s built with incredible quality and intriguing versatility to handle whatever kind of bike you want to use it for. More so, it offers more improvements compared to the Saris Freedom 2-Bike, for it can handle up to 4″ tires folds when not in use, and features integrated locks.
More features: fits 20″–29″ wheels and up to 5″ tires; integrated cable locks; 12.5″ spacing between bikes; tilt-down design
The Thule T2 Pro Hitch Mount Bike Rack is perfect for Tesla Model Y owners who want an easy and convenient way to transport their bikes. This hitch mounted bike rack fits 20-29″ wheels and up to 5″ tires, making it adaptable to a variety of bike types. It also includes integrated wheels that make it easier to maneuver the rack when it’s not on the car. Plus, the adjustable side-to-side spacing (up to 12.5″) between bikes ensures a custom fit with ease of movement. The rack also comes with integrated cable locks that securely lock your bikes to the rack.
The Thule T2 Pro is no doubt a formidable bike rack, but while it comes with a lifetime warranty just like, it can only carry two bikes that are 60 lbs. each. However, what it lacks in terms of slightly lesser load capacity, it compensates for with high quality design, materials and ease of maneuverability.
More features: Foldable, adjustable front tire cradle system, fully integrated cable locks
One of the most versatile, easily installed and removed rack on the market is the Kuat Racks NV 2.0. It’s compatible with 1.25″ and 2″ hitches (2″ adapter included), so you can use it with any version of the Tesla Model Y. Moreover, since it doesn’t take up any trunk space, it’s the perfect way to transport your bikes without sacrificing storage space. The integrated cable locks keep your bikes secure, and the rear tire strap features a co-molded strap to protect your wheels.
The Kuat NV 2.0 stacks up well against the equally popular Kuat Sherpa, 2.0. They are both premium platform-style racks. However, the NV stands out with wheel cradles that can support fat tire bikes with tires as wide as 4.8 inches. It also has a higher weight capacity of 60 lbs per bike, compared to sherpa’s 40 lbs weight capacity. The two racks are similar when it comes to firm securing of the bikes and stability during travel. If you don’t have any fat tire bikes, go with the Sherpa rack because it is lighter and much cheaper.
More features: carries bikes with up to a 48″ wheelbase, up to 3″ tires, foldable, locking hitch pin, ratchet wheel holders
The Hollywood Racks Platform Hitch Mount Rack is the perfect solution for carrying up to 4 bikes on any vehicle. It’s made of durable alloy steel and has a load capacity of 140 lbs., so you can be sure your bikes are safe and secure. The hitch size is 2 inches and it comes with a lifetime warranty, so you can be confident in its quality. Plus, it’s easy to install and use, so you can hit the road and start exploring with your bikes as soon as possible.
Where some racks, like the Allen Sports and Tyger rack have a lot of compatibility for your bikes, this rack gives you compatibility for the vehicle. It’s much easier to fit onto cars that simply weren’t made with a bike rack or additional travel supplements in mind. It’s made to fit even small cars without making you leave your bikes behind or upgrade to a large vehicle.
Other features: fits 20″-29″ wheels and up to 5″ wide tires; adjustable tray; no-contact with frame; foldable and tilting design for easy hatch/liftgate access
RockyMounts Monorail 2 is versatile because it accommodates all styles of bikes. It attaches to the vehicle via a hitch hole and is secured by a bolt that locks on the opposite side.
The mount features a rear wheel strap and a load arm attachment that is positioned over the front wheel. This helps to eliminate frame contact.
When not in use, you can fold the mount upright or away from the vehicle to ease rear access to the vehicle. It comes with a cable lock with a metal ring on one end and a loop on the other end. The sturdy metal ring fits under the cylinder of the main pivot of the mount. There is also a lock pod to secure the mount once installed in a vehicle. The distance from the hitch pin is 32 inches when the mount is folded down and 19 inches when it is folded up
RockyMounts Monorail 2 is versatile because it accommodates all styles of bikes. It attaches to the vehicle via a hitch hole and is secured by a bolt that locks on the opposite side.
The mount features a rear wheel strap and a load arm attachment that is positioned over the front wheel. This helps to eliminate frame contact.
When not in use, you can fold the mount upright or away from the vehicle to ease rear access to the vehicle. It comes with a cable lock with a metal ring on one end and a loop on the other end. The sturdy metal ring fits under the cylinder of the main pivot of the mount. There is also a lock pod to secure the mount once installed in a vehicle. The distance from the hitch pin is 32 inches when the mount is folded down and 19 inches when it is folded up.
Assembling RockyMounts Monorail 2 takes only a few minutes.
You secure the hitch to the receiver with a bolt and the provided key lock. Ensure that the front wheel clamp is very close to the fork to secure the bike properly.
The bike mount includes an anti-wobble hitch pin and locking cable, and two locks for the cable and the hitch pin. The rack secures your bike without frame contact that could rub off the paint if there is vibration.
Other features: swing-away design; zero-hassle ZipStrips; fully padded arms; SKS locks included
The Yakima Fullswing hitch mounted bike rack is ideal for carrying multiple bikes conveniently and securely on a Tesla Model Y. In addition, it has a sturdy design that guarantees safety as you drive along.
This model is sturdy and offers a stable hitch mounted platform for positioning your bike on the rack. Its rack arms are padded, elevating grip and ensuring that your bike does not incur damage or scratches when in transport.
It has a security lock that for protection when one stops over for a break or shopping. Security has been boosted as the lock secures the rack to the vehicle. However, it locks only the frames leaving the wheels susceptible. As its name suggests, the model complexly swings away from the vehicle; this ensures easy loading of your bike on the rack and provides access to the car.
Yakima customized the rack with anti-sway cradles that eradicate bike-to-bike and bike-to-vehicle contact. It also offers a low mountain height which minimizes much lifting of your bike when placing it on the rack. Yakima FullSwing consumes less space and allows easy storage as the upper arms fold away when not in use.
Yakima even incorporated a bottle opener that is vital when enjoying a cold brew, especially after a long traveling journey. The rack does not have the conventional rubber straps that were hectic to get on and off.
Hitch mount racks are the most common choice for Tesla Model Y owners, and we completely understand why. When using a hitch bike rack, the Model Y typically has better range efficiency and aerodynamics, plus you’re less likely to strain your back because you don’t need to lift the bikes very high. Moreover, there are two styles of hitch mounted bike racks: hanging and platform. Hanging cradle-style racks are lightweight and affordable, but they are not really sturdy, and bikes can swing and wobble if not set correctly. Platform-style racks keep bikes in place more securely, preventing damage but they usually weigh more.
The Model Y HitchWe love the 2″ tow hitch receiver on the Model Y and expected to see most people running swing-away arm with a 2-to-4 bike hitch rack and be done. No more messing around with a roof rack. No more massive range, mileage and efficiency hits from two big bikes up top. No more lifting heavy bikes atop an SUV.
A roof rack is convenient – it does not interfere with the operation of the hatch at all. A hitch rack is efficient – it does not effect range as much as the roof rack, by a large amount. Meanwhile, a roof rack is inefficient – it incurs a 5-12% drain on range without any bikes at all, and up to a 50% reduction in range with two bikes up top. And a hitch rack is annoying – having the hitch permanently installed gets in the way of using the Model Y’s cargo space.
This report from Electrek.co for a Model Y shows a range hit with the bike racks, getting 339Wh/mi (estimated range of 240 miles – a 24% hit). This other report with a Model Y shows a range hit of 264 Wh/mi without bikes to 311Wh/mi with two bikes – 18%. This report shows an increase of 50-100 Kwh consumption with a 4 bike hitch setup.
This Tesla Motors Club report with a Model 3 finds a significant range hit – 280 Wh/mi without a rack and 391 Wh/mi with a rack – a 29% hit in range. But the Model 3 – as a sedan – will naturally have more of an impact from a hitch rack than the Model Y. The Model Y displaces more air from the car itself, so more of the hitch rack is in the draft area for the car.
25% seems like an appropriate hit for a loaded hitch mounted bike rack which is much better than roof mounted counterparts.
A roof rack rails alone incur a 5% range hit. Adding two bike racks increase that to 12%. This happens even without any bikes on the car -the hardware itself carries a reasonable cost.
This TMC post shows a 47% decrease in efficiency with two bikes on a roof rack (348Wh/mi on a Model 3). The same poster reported a ~40% reduction in efficiency with a 3 bike hitch setup (280 vs 391 Wh/mi on a Model 3).
This post shows a 33% loss of range with four bikes on the roof of a Model S.
Another post in that thread shows a 25-30% reduction in range with three mountain bikes (no front wheels).
Unlike a hitch rack, there’s not any reason to believe that the Model Y will have a different aerodynamic response than the Model 3 for a roof rack. So, expecting a 40-50% range reduction for two bikes mounted via a roof rack seems about right. Roof racks may cost slightly less, but you’re going to take a pretty big additional hit to your range and efficiency.
You can solve the ‘convenience’ bit for hitch racks using something like a Kuat Pivot or Rakattach Swing, but that adds 35-40lbs to the system, which may put you over the limit. Removing bike racks (or the roof rails entirely) is quite inconvenient, and the entire point is having a bike carrying system on the car at all times that is not inconvenient for other use of the car (such as getting groceries). The hitch itself costs $1000 from the factory, while the roof rack is $500. A nice bike carrier for the roof is $200-250, while a decent 2 bike hitch is $400-750, so the carriers end up costing nearly the same (depending on features).
The Model Y’s hitch is recessed into the car, which makes accessing the hitch a bit trickier than in other cars. It also means you may have less clearance between the rack and the car – so you need to adjust the hitch rack to open the hatch itself. I’m grading these racks on two deal breakers: How easy to tilt the rack? How easy to install on the car?
Once you’re on the “two systems” train, you want to consider keys. If you’re just running a hitch rack, this is easy – just use whatever keys come with the hitch! But if you’re running the roof rails and a roof rack, then you’ve got at least key for the rails, and those are Yakima’s SKS system. If you get RockyMounts Tomahawks for the roof and a Kuat NV 2.0 for the rear, that’s three sets of keys you’ll need for all the locks. No fun. Sticking with all Yakima stuff means you can have a single key and be fine. You may also choose not to worry about this at all, since cable locks are notoriously easy to cut.
Not only want your bikes securely fastened but also locked with keys so that no one could thieve them. That’s why we recommend you pay extra attention to whether a bike rack has not only straps and tightening knobs but also security cables, locks, and keys.
Of course, you want the installation of a bike rack to be a breeze. Look for bike racks with clear step-by-step instructions and all the necessary hardware or tools. You can also ask for help at your local bike shop if you want so.
Our Editor’s Choice is the Saris SuperClamp EX 2 which has a robust construction and can hold two bikes making it a nice bargain for couples. It fits most bikes and comes with a tilting mechanism for easy access. Its reflectors come in handy at night.
We awarded the Thule T2 Pro XT/XTR model with the Premium Pick nomination. Though it can hold only two bikes at once, it has an alloy steel construction and built-in wheels for off-car transport. There is 12″ spacing between the bikes to prevent bikes from scratching.
Lastly, we have the Yakima Highroad rack as an alternative to hitch racks. The Highroad is a roof mounted rack that can accommodate 4 bikes at once with 40 lbs. weight capacity each. It fits bikes with 26-29” wheels and up to 4” wide tires. You don’t have to remove the wheels to load the rack.
We hope you’ll find the best bike rack for your Tesla Model Y.
