bike carriers: hitch or roof rack? |
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albuerne
MINI Motorer Joined: July/31/07 Location: kirkland, wa Status: Offline Points: 49 |
Topic: bike carriers: hitch or roof rack? Posted: July/16/08 at 2:17am |
Hey folks
Does anyone have any experience with using a tow hitch or a roof rack bike carrier? Stuffing the bike in the back is getting old fast. Has anyone worked with a local place to get a hidden tow hitch installed? Thanks! Alex |
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EAR2EAR
PSMINI Skilled Member PSMINI Member Joined: May/17/05 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 273 |
Posted: July/16/08 at 2:56am |
We have the Mini do More hitch and use a receiver bike carrier on our 05 MCS Convertible. It works well and gives you the option to pull a small trailer. I wanted a trailer hitch and the roof rack wasn't an option for us. Also if you don't plan to tow, you don't have to wire it for trailer lights. Coll
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MINI-Rolls
MINI Motorer Joined: August/12/04 Location: Olympia Status: Offline Points: 2386 |
Posted: July/16/08 at 3:03am |
I use the MINI Do More hitch also. Best option out there....
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MINIBUB
MINI Motorer Joined: August/16/07 Status: Offline Points: 205 |
Posted: July/16/08 at 4:19am |
We use a roof rack and love it! We have the Thule V2 fork mounts and they work great.
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'007 MC PW/B Checker'd mirrors AKA "MINIBUB". Auto with Premium pkg, Sport pkg, Cold weather pkg, chrome line int. and a couple other little things here & there. More to come? Wife's car, ask her:)
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onramp
PSMINI Expert Advisor PSMINI Member Joined: November/19/06 Location: Renton, WA Status: Offline Points: 2321 |
Posted: July/16/08 at 6:38am |
I can help you install the mdm receiver/mount. Got one on my car for the tire trailer. Pat
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2006 Hyper Blue JCW
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Escape Pod
MINI Motorer Joined: July/28/05 Location: Kirkland Status: Offline Points: 740 |
Posted: July/16/08 at 7:10am |
I've got the Sportlink option with bike rack, and love it! Plus it has the added benefit of making my car mysterious .... what are those extra silver things on the back end? (Roy tells them it's smoke screen and oil slick....)
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Roy & Beth Morey
Red/Blk JCW Roadster (His) Silver/Red JCW Coupe (Hers) |
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scoop
MINI Motorer Joined: July/28/07 Location: West Seattle Status: Offline Points: 1489 |
Posted: July/16/08 at 8:31am |
Does anyone know if this would fit on a bike rack on a MINI? I usually transport it in my old truck. but would be nice to have something more comfortable to drive it in.
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Sanderskog
MINI Motorer Joined: October/08/04 Location: Sammamish Status: Offline Points: 1960 |
Posted: July/16/08 at 11:52am |
Posted at 4:31pm even
Scoop - "posts after 7 p.m. are done under the influence of fermented grapes "
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2012 VW Golf Pirate Edition... Aarrr! - JACK
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scoop
MINI Motorer Joined: July/28/07 Location: West Seattle Status: Offline Points: 1489 |
Posted: July/18/08 at 2:44am |
Seriously, I have this bike and mean to stop by REI to ask.
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albuerne
MINI Motorer Joined: July/31/07 Location: kirkland, wa Status: Offline Points: 49 |
Posted: July/18/08 at 4:57am |
How long is that wheelbase scoop? It looks extra huge.
I've done some more research and there's a place on the eastside that will do custom hitches, its Mann's Hitch & Truck accessories. Has anyone worked with them? Alex |
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scoop
MINI Motorer Joined: July/28/07 Location: West Seattle Status: Offline Points: 1489 |
Posted: July/18/08 at 6:09am |
Not sure how long. It's a stretch cruiser. I think 6 feet. popular in SoCal. Not so much on Alki.
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Escape Pod
MINI Motorer Joined: July/28/05 Location: Kirkland Status: Offline Points: 740 |
Posted: July/19/08 at 2:24pm |
I have a sort of brace for my bike that I use when I put it on the rack. It runs between the handlebars and the seat, to provide a good horizontal bar to clamp in the rack - makes mounting a ladies' bike much easier. Maybe something like that would work, if it would reach? Mine telescopes, so it's adjustable, but it maxes out at about 30" from neck to seat mount. Mine's made by Yakima ... apparently the technical term is "tubetop"
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Roy & Beth Morey
Red/Blk JCW Roadster (His) Silver/Red JCW Coupe (Hers) |
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Hapa Haole
PSMINI Expert Advisor PSMINI Ambassador (past Events Officer) Joined: October/22/06 Location: Graham-Kapowsin Status: Offline Points: 3256 |
Posted: July/20/08 at 2:37pm |
I've considered getting a bike rack also for my MINI. I think I'd prefer to put it on the tail rather than overhead. Is there any specific drawbacks comparing one to the other? Also, are the costs about the same? I have the rear park distance control, so I suppose I'd hear the beep, beep, beep when I put my car in reverse? I have the rear fog light also. Edited by Hapa Haole - July/20/08 at 2:40pm |
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Brenda w/LUV2MTR plates- Aug '06 S, Hyper Blue, white top/sport stripes, chrome in/out, all pkgs, English leather, chrono pack, HK stereo, Jan tune, CAI, 15%, H&R coilovers, rear sway bar, control arm
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albuerne
MINI Motorer Joined: July/31/07 Location: kirkland, wa Status: Offline Points: 49 |
Posted: July/21/08 at 5:43am |
I've made the decision. I found a custom hitch installation place who has done a few Mini's before and they'll be able to install a completely hidden hitch. I'll post pics, probably early next week.
It's not cheap, $425 just for the hitch, but it could be the perfect solution. Here's the link: http://www.mannsh*tch.com/page2.cfm Alex |
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EAR2EAR
PSMINI Skilled Member PSMINI Member Joined: May/17/05 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 273 |
Posted: July/21/08 at 1:37pm |
The Minidomore is only $325 and is completely hidden from view when not in use. Installation was fairly easy. My $.02
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