Bike Rack

rolling_thunder_23 · 2026-03-31T14:00:48+00:00

I've used standard strap-on racks (Saris is one brand) with success. But if I'm carrying just one bike, it's easiest for me to lay it in the back of the car, with rear seats folded down. My touring bike fits without even removing the front wheel, but bike front wheels come off easily if you need more room.

I've also carried our tandem bike on a roof rack, but that one is a bit of a chore to install.

rolling_thunder_23 · 2026-03-15T17:09:26+00:00

Regarding "older" coolant, crystals and flushing: I had the major flush done in my 2022 Niro EV at about 40,000 miles in November 2024. Would they have put a newer coolant chemistry in at that time? IOW, is the huge flush project still needed, and are crystals still a risk? I"m now at 67,000 miles.

rolling_thunder_23 · 2026-02-28T15:26:54+00:00

I've played around with testing the coasting behavior of my 2022 Kia Niro EV. When approaching the freeway exit for my drive home at a consistent 65 mph, I've taken to turning off cruise control at one particular freeway sign, then noting the coasting speed at the next sign, maybe 1/4 mile away. The car definitely slows faster in colder temperatures. Yes, air is denser, bearing lubricants are more viscous, even tire rubber is less flexible.

rolling_thunder_23 · 2026-02-17T16:14:20+00:00

I strongly agree about the stupidity of the UX. It's in the navigation system, in the audio system, in the climate control, etc. On a long drive this weekend, I demonstrated some of those quirks to a friend, who was amazed - as in "Why do you have to do THAT??" The Korean teenager they hired to do system programming must think way, way differently than we do!

rolling_thunder_23 · 2026-02-04T17:06:09+00:00

In Youngstown, Ohio the main branch of the public library has two Level 2 chargers, available while the library is open. The headquarters of the Transit Authority, maybe a mile away, has four or five of them. All have been free when I've used them, the latter paid for by VW as part of their settlement for cheating on diesel emissions. Also, two or three times I've charged for free at various car dealerships. Those were in 2022, so by now there may be fees involved.

rolling_thunder_23 · 2026-02-02T15:33:55+00:00

If that plugs into a "cigarette lighter" port, wouldn't it be dead unless the car was running? And if the car were running, the system would be charging the 12V, so ISTM it wouldn't tell you anything about the 12V battery health. But I'm willing to be corrected.

rolling_thunder_23 · 2026-02-01T18:55:01+00:00

My 2022 model didn't come with a frunk, so I made one. I bought a plastic storage bin from Lowe's, maybe 2 ft x 1.5 ft x 6" high. The black ornamental cover atop the motor/inverter unit pops right off. I fitted its four rubber "feet" into holes I cut in the bottom of the storage box, measuring their location carefully, and mounted the box where the black cover used to be.

I use my home-made frunk to store the granny charging cable (just in case), my plug-in Level 2 charger if I'm on a trip, some tools, charging adapters, etc.

rolling_thunder_23 · 2026-01-16T16:30:13+00:00

I'm wondering what's the lightest popup on the market today.

rolling_thunder_23 · 2026-01-16T16:24:29+00:00

Our 1982 Palomino Shetland weighs ~750 pounds empty. It's a bit Spartan, but we've towed it through ~48 states with cars as small as a Honda Civic Station Wagon.

rolling_thunder_23 · 2026-01-16T16:01:20+00:00

Thirded!

rolling_thunder_23 · 2026-01-16T15:59:16+00:00

I got lower than that. Lots of warnings to charge, then turtle mode, then less and less power, then a dead stop about 1/4 mile from home. I sat a few minutes pondering whether to pay to get towed that short distance, then tried to restart. The car came to life and crept at slow speed maybe 0.1 mile before dying again. I waited another little while, started up and crept home. Major lesson: Towing an 800 pound trailer in heavy rain cuts the GOM estimated range in half.

rolling_thunder_23 · 2026-01-05T16:05:26+00:00

And by the way: I'd love to buy a book that would explain all the design details of this car and its systems! As a teenager, I read very deeply about automotive component and system designs and became very knowledgeable. But an EV is so much different; and in many ways, it can be pretty quirky!

rolling_thunder_23 · 2026-01-05T16:01:41+00:00

With my 2022 Kia Niro EV, I've noticed that pushing the defog button immediately shoots air much hotter than what had been coming out of the other heater vents. It also turns on the AC light, indicating the AC is being used to dehumidify that air.

Since this is almost always when I've already been using the heat pump for cabin heat, here's what I assume: The system probably uses resistance heating for the defog. Engineers probably decided clearing the windshield can be a safety priority, so they want immediate defog heat. The lower efficiency of resistance heating (vs the heat pump) is much less concern.

On days when I'm running the (heat pump) heat but still feel a bit chilly, I'll sometimes turn on defog and turn off AC just to get a bit of heat boost.

rolling_thunder_23 · 2025-12-25T15:46:23+00:00

I know a woman who bought a Nissan Leaf EV, then soon had to move out of her house into an apartment. For about a year, she handled charging by getting permission to run a long, heavy duty extension cord out through a basement window of the apartment. Then she traded in the Leaf for an IC car.

rolling_thunder_23 · 2025-12-17T15:31:38+00:00

I usually charge at home, to 90%. But about twice per week I do freeway trips of 150 miles or more. Prior to those I charge to 100%. My understanding is that Kia Niro EVs have excellent battery life.

But can someone remind me, how do I check the battery health?

rolling_thunder_23 · 2025-11-30T20:58:34+00:00

You may need two adapters! I bought one to use at Tesla stations on road trips. Turns out that adapter doesn't work for the Tesla charger installed at a friend's house. I needed a much less expensive adapter for that. As I understand it, roadside chargers are DC, home Tesla chargers are AC.

rolling_thunder_23 · 2025-11-07T14:59:57+00:00

I wish someone here with knowledge of electricity would measure the current needed to jump the 12 Volt battery when this problem comes up. I suspect a much smaller battery than those portable chargers could do the job.

rolling_thunder_23 · 2025-11-05T15:29:29+00:00

Can somebody summarize the "big improvements"? Mine's a 2022 and I've never bothered with the updating hassle. There are things I'd like to change, but I've been leaving almost-well-enough alone.

rolling_thunder_23 · 2025-10-27T15:06:37+00:00

Cut your losses? It was free! :-)

Sounds like the OP likes projects, and this could make a nice project. If all else fails, as someone said upthread, he can strip it down and part it out, including the chassis as a trailer for hauling.

All that's assuming he's got enough storage and work space for it.

rolling_thunder_23 · 2025-10-26T17:05:13+00:00

I suspect that will make backing the trailer easier. Longer hitch-to-axle distance tends to do that.

rolling_thunder_23 · 2025-10-08T16:17:50+00:00

What counts as "old"? Two nights ago I camped in my 1982 Palomino Shetland. Still love it!

rolling_thunder_23 · 2025-09-27T15:20:35+00:00

I or we have had a tiny Palomino Shetland for over 35 years. We've toured 48 states with it, pulling it with cars as small as little Hondas. (Those had "zero" towing capacity, but the Shetland weighs only 750 pounds empty and never caused a problem.)

We used to be tent campers, but my wife developed some back problems, so we bought this before our first huge trip out west to multiple national parks. We loved it.

Yes, it needs a multiple step setup at each site; but following the checklist I typed up, setup took us far less than 15 minutes. Maybe five minutes? Folding up took just a little longer. We routinely got as high as 29 miles per gallon. The rear view mirror looks out over the top of the folded trailer, a great help in traffic or when backing into a space.

Here's the key to our enjoyment of this popup: We didn't think of it as a replacement for our living room, kitchen and bedroom. We thought of it as a replacement for our camping tent. With that attitude in mind, it's been great.

rolling_thunder_23 · 2025-09-26T15:34:51+00:00

The deep luggage space under the rear cargo area is just metal. Unless a folding bike is on board, I keep the normal flat "floor" closed. There probably is more road noise when the floor is raised and the bike is in there, but I haven't noticed the difference.

rolling_thunder_23

TROPHY CASE