R60 Rear bike rack, roof rack or hitch?
#26
Here are the images sorry for the delay and the image quality. I had to just find some time at night to get it done.
Space between bumper and hitch mount.
Hitch from the back
Side view without bike
Side view with Bike
I'd say the biggest draw back is the length it extends about 5-6 inches farther back than it would on any of my other cars with normal hitches.
I don't think it's a major issue but I think it's noticeable if you're used to it being a certain way before. You might not notice if you never had a bike rack like this previously.
I find that I can still fit in parking spots just fine. I don't notice it when I'm parking only when I'm looking at it
One of the things I was worried about when using a bike rack like this with the mini-fini hitch was access to be able to ratchet the anti-rattle bolt. I think someone else who has a mini-fini can speak to how easy/difficult it would be to do this but it is one of the reasons why I went with the cooper crap hitch since I had no basis for it.
Hope this helps!
Space between bumper and hitch mount.
Hitch from the back
Side view without bike
Side view with Bike
I'd say the biggest draw back is the length it extends about 5-6 inches farther back than it would on any of my other cars with normal hitches.
I don't think it's a major issue but I think it's noticeable if you're used to it being a certain way before. You might not notice if you never had a bike rack like this previously.
I find that I can still fit in parking spots just fine. I don't notice it when I'm parking only when I'm looking at it
One of the things I was worried about when using a bike rack like this with the mini-fini hitch was access to be able to ratchet the anti-rattle bolt. I think someone else who has a mini-fini can speak to how easy/difficult it would be to do this but it is one of the reasons why I went with the cooper crap hitch since I had no basis for it.
Hope this helps!
#27
Seasucker
My wife and I also do triathlons, and we like to travel with our bikes. We decided to go with a novel solution from Seasucker using a rack that employs vacuum cups to attach to glass or body surfaces rather than a roof or hitch rack. The Seasucker racks are extremely easy to install and uninstall -- it only takes a couple of minutes, and does not scratch the surface.
We just completed a 400-mile trip from the San Francisco Bay Area to the Oceanside 70.3 and back with the Seasucker Mini-Bomber rack, and it performed flawlessly. We attached it to the glass on the boot of the car, and it held it like a rock. Wheel attachments were on the bumper using small individual vacuum mounts. The only downside is that the hatch can't be opened, but we didn't find that much of a problem -- we used the rear doors to access the boot when needed.
We just completed a 400-mile trip from the San Francisco Bay Area to the Oceanside 70.3 and back with the Seasucker Mini-Bomber rack, and it performed flawlessly. We attached it to the glass on the boot of the car, and it held it like a rock. Wheel attachments were on the bumper using small individual vacuum mounts. The only downside is that the hatch can't be opened, but we didn't find that much of a problem -- we used the rear doors to access the boot when needed.
#28
I like the idea of the rack that secures to the back that mini sells, but it probably wouldnt be something we would leave on the car all the time, so we would have to constantly take it on and off. But its a little pricey and cant be used for anything but bikes.
I also like the idea of the racks on top for the bikes but this requires them to be lifted over the car which seems like a real pain in the *** plus my wife couldnt manage this on her own. the racks could be used for other things besides bikes though...
I also like the idea of the racks on top for the bikes but this requires them to be lifted over the car which seems like a real pain in the *** plus my wife couldnt manage this on her own. the racks could be used for other things besides bikes though...
#29
I ended up getting the roof bars and using some assisted lifting bike racks I forgot I had in storage from another car. Mini sells similar ones, you pull it down, attach the bike and it lifts the bike on top of the car for you. I decided to do it this way because it was the cheapest route since I already had the bike racks. The hitch rack is uber expensive, I dont think we bike enough to make it worth it.
One thing that annoys me a bit about the roof bars is they make a little whistle noise when on the freeway. We leave them on the car full time and its a little bothersome. I think the whistle comes from the rubber strip.
All you with roof bars, do you leave them on the car full time or do you take them off and on when you need them? I kinda like the way they look so I leave them on.
The roof bars manual recommends that you do not leave them on the car full time, I am a little worried about them getting weathered? How have yours weathered over a few years being on the car?
pic of my setup:
One thing that annoys me a bit about the roof bars is they make a little whistle noise when on the freeway. We leave them on the car full time and its a little bothersome. I think the whistle comes from the rubber strip.
All you with roof bars, do you leave them on the car full time or do you take them off and on when you need them? I kinda like the way they look so I leave them on.
The roof bars manual recommends that you do not leave them on the car full time, I am a little worried about them getting weathered? How have yours weathered over a few years being on the car?
pic of my setup:
#30
My wife leaves the cross bars on her CM on all the time. So far no visible issues around weathering. I took the cross bars off my CM S for the winter because I don't like the additional noise and drag (maybe just my perception) they introduce. I just put them back on this past weekend since cycling season is upon us.
#31
Mini towbar (factory) with a Thule 891 LED 4 3 bike rack with the 1 extra extension - for 4 mountain bikes.
Can't put them on the roof anymore after I drove down into our garage with the bikes on the top was too busy trying to make sure my son was alright (said he was sick hence picking the bike up) and totally forgot about it on the roof luckily with the old car not the Mini
Besides family of 4 with Mini Countryman - going on holidays with 4 bikes we need to use the roofbox to ensure we have enough storage
Hope you're happy with the solution you found
Can't put them on the roof anymore after I drove down into our garage with the bikes on the top was too busy trying to make sure my son was alright (said he was sick hence picking the bike up) and totally forgot about it on the roof luckily with the old car not the Mini
Besides family of 4 with Mini Countryman - going on holidays with 4 bikes we need to use the roofbox to ensure we have enough storage
Hope you're happy with the solution you found
#32
Mini towbar (factory) with a Thule 891 LED 4 3 bike rack with the 1 extra extension - for 4 mountain bikes.
Can't put them on the roof anymore after I drove down into our garage with the bikes on the top was too busy trying to make sure my son was alright (said he was sick hence picking the bike up) and totally forgot about it on the roof luckily with the old car not the Mini
Besides family of 4 with Mini Countryman - going on holidays with 4 bikes we need to use the roofbox to ensure we have enough storage
Hope you're happy with the solution you found
Can't put them on the roof anymore after I drove down into our garage with the bikes on the top was too busy trying to make sure my son was alright (said he was sick hence picking the bike up) and totally forgot about it on the roof luckily with the old car not the Mini
Besides family of 4 with Mini Countryman - going on holidays with 4 bikes we need to use the roofbox to ensure we have enough storage
Hope you're happy with the solution you found
#34
So 2 on top and 3 on the hatch , the rear rack was not released for the F56 in the US.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...questions.html
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...questions.html
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#36
We just bought our Countryman and immediately ordered the rear rack. My wife is rather short and there was no hope she could reach the roof rack. The rear rack is really neatly installed and we love that it folds away from the rear to open the hatch.
We'll be ordering the roof rack as well for a cargo box, but I may end up mounting one bike on the roof (mine) so that when we go on vacation we can take three bikes, one for our daughter.
Oh and it takes less than 5 minutes to take on and off, so we didn't have an issue doing that so we didn't have to drive around with it all the time.
#37
That looks really good.
Rear Rack - US Version 82722230147
https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/82722230147/
Rear Rack - US Version 82722230147
https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/82722230147/
__________________
MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
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