Bicycle carrier for Mini Cooper

Therese1

I guess this query crosses between motoring and cycling threads!

Can anyone confirm whether a rear bike carrier (ie up over rear windscreen) can safely be used on a Mini Cooper?

Halfords hesitated through fear that the small plastic spoiler may be damaged or not hold the weight. When I enquired at the BMW dealer (just to confirm rear carrier ok) they would only suggest their own tow bar system -a snip at £800!!!!! :rotfl:

Any thoughts or advice most welcome please.

chunkychocky

Not sure but years ago we purchased a rear bike carrier and after we got it it had massive warnings about mustn't be used on a car with a plastic boot door. We laughed at the idea of a plastic boot door but looked into it anyway and discovered that hubby's Peugot 306 that he had at the time (I think, it may have been a Citroen ZX) had a plastic door. We didn't use the bike carrier because of seeing photos of what it had done to plastic doors. If Halfords were wary I would be too.

vikingaero

Check on the forums of https://www.mini2.com

forgotmyname

Get roofbars instead. Much safer and you dont need to get a towbar fitted and electrics because the bikes obscure your numberplate or lights.

Or get a towbar and carrier. I have a towbar mounted one. It takes 2 bikes and takes seconds to fit.

But you need a trailer board with lights and numberplate on.

Aretnap

forgotmyname wrote: »

Get roofbars instead. Much safer and you dont need to get a towbar fitted and electrics because the bikes obscure your numberplate or lights.

Plus you can get into the boot without having to take the bike off.

vikingaero

I had a MINI and from what I can remember some people used Saris Bones/Sentinel racks on the rear hatch. They used Saris Hatch Huggers to spread the load on a Cooper S.

The problem seems to be on the Cooper S spoiler and some people think that the straps may foul on the smaller Cooper spoliers.

Problem with towbars are that Cooper S's have centre exit exhausts which rules that out. Coopers can have towbars which is expensive. Just as expensive on R50 MINI's are drilling the roof to expose the roof rack mounts.

forgotmyname

So a non standard exhaust and a towbar.

Or time for another car maybe?

Seems everything will be a compromise and possible "I wish i had not done that" afterwards?

Therese1

Thanks for your responses and suggestions....

I am smiling at the roof bars idea...only because even with a Mini at barely 4ft 11" I would struggle despite my lightweight bike!!

Don't want to go to the expense of the towbar -and that doesnt sound like an option anyway....

So ....these Saris huggers....is that the dumbbell types trap that goes inside and the metal hatch takes the weight? Any idea if it really does prevent damage to the wee (tbh pointless!) plastic spoiler??


It's a company so just need to make "bike friendly" choice again in 3.5 yrs!!😃😃

vikingaero

Not sure what the huggers do exactly. I think they allow the straps to be diverted possibly. If you go to the Saris website:

http://www.saris.com/fits/

Select the following:

1. What type of rack: TRUNK RACK
2. Choose a make: MINI
3. Choose a model: HARDTOP
4. Choose a year : 2013 (If it is a 2013)

Then it lists the racks and has Fit Notes where a Hugger is required.

I'm 5ft8 and I use a step from Maplin to fit our bikes on the roof of our Mazda5: http://www.maplin.co.uk/folding-aluminium-step-stool-617710

facade

Cant you just take the wheels off and shove it in the boot?

Doesn't cost anything

Therese1

Thanks for that info Viking...

Ha Facade....that's what I'm doing atm but 2 reasons for reconsidering....takes up whole back area so fine for day but nothing more ....and I'm getting more envious of others being able to load/unload so quickly (and the quick release wheel isn't always quick for me!!)