Today’s post is a quick, technical deep dive triggered by a great question from a viewer. They were curious about a very specific logistical challenge: Can the Kuat Transfer V2 bike rack actually fit inside the trunk of a Tesla Model Y?
As many of you know, the Model Y is the ultimate utility vehicle in the Tesla lineup, but bike racks—especially heavy-duty ones like the Kuat Transfer—are notoriously awkward to store. Whether you want to prevent theft while you’re away from the car or you just don’t have garage space, knowing if this gear fits inside your EV is a game-changer.
The Challenge: Width and Length
I’ll be honest: when I first heard the question, I thought it would be a breeze. The Model Y has a deceptive amount of room, especially with the sub-trunk and the flat-folding seats. However, the Kuat Transfer V2 is built for stability and durability, which means it has a footprint that doesn’t always play nice with car interiors.
Here is what I found when trying to fit it into the standard trunk space:
- The Width Issue: You cannot lay the rack flat across the trunk. It is simply too wide.
- The Latch Obstruction: Even if you angle it, there’s a specific part of the rack (near the hitch assembly) that prevents the trunk from latching shut. You could technically remove a Torx screw to take that end-piece off, but that’s a lot of extra work every time you want to store it.
The Solution: Getting Creative with Seating
If you’re determined to keep your Kuat rack inside the Model Y, you’re going to have to play some “Cargo Tetris.” After experimenting with a few different configurations, I found the most efficient way to make it work.
1. Dropping the Passenger Side Seat
Initially, I tried lowering just the single passenger-side rear seat. No dice. The rack is still too long and hits the trunk lid before it can close.
2. The Winning Configuration
To successfully fit the rack and still be able to close the hatch, you need to:
- Lower the larger portion of the second-row seats (the driver-side and middle section).
- Flip the rack so the hitch assembly points toward the front passenger side.
- In this setup, you can still actually fit three people in the car (Driver, Front Passenger, and one rear passenger on the far right).
It is a very tight fit, and because the Kuat Transfer V2 is fairly heavy and made of rugged metal, you need to be extremely careful.
Critical Protection for Your Interior
If you are going to be hauling heavy hardware like this inside your Model Y, protection is not optional. I cannot stress this enough: if you don’t have all-weather mats or trunk liners, you will scratch up your plastic trim and tear your carpet. The metal edges on the Kuat rack are unforgiving. I always make sure I have my heavy-duty trunk mats installed before I even attempt to slide something like this in.
Can You Stand It Up?
I also tested the “vertical” method to see if we could save floor space. Short answer: No. The rack is too tall to stand vertically in the Model Y trunk, even if you remove the sub-trunk floor panels. The roofline tapers too much, making it a non-starter.
Tech Specs & Fitment Data
| Category | Fitment Status | Notes |
| Standard Trunk (Seats Up) | FAIL | Too wide and too long for the hatch to close. |
| Single Seat Down | FAIL | Still too long; hits the rear glass. |
| 60% Seat Folded | PASS | Must be angled correctly; hitch toward the front. |
| Vertical Storage | FAIL | Exceeds the interior height of the Model Y. |
| Weight Factor | Heavy | Requires 2 people or extreme care to avoid interior damage. |
So, does it fit?
Yes, but with caveats. You can’t just toss it in after a ride and expect to go pick up a full car of groceries. It requires folding down the majority of your rear seating and careful positioning to ensure the trunk motor doesn’t burn out trying to close on a piece of metal.
For those of you who frequently swap your rack on and off, this is a viable storage solution, but for most, the Kuat is better off staying on the hitch or in the garage!
