[d2create]

I heard the factory fork mount carrier is the same as or very similiar to the Thule carrier?
I also think i heard that some aftermarket ones are usable, but needs some modifications before they'll fit.
Details anyone?

[d2create]

Wow, the MINI crowd really is a very quiet bunch compared to other car makes.

[d2create]

ok, i ordered the factory fork mount carrier.
Thanks for the help! MINI2 rocks!


"hello Wall, how are you today?"

[Apial]

Please let us know how you get on. Few MINI owners have a roof rack let alone a bike carrier as well. My roof bars were fitted by my dealer this Jan and was the FIRST one that they had ever fitted!

I have a "carbon fibre" 460l roof box for holiday use that just about trebles the available luggage space.

[snid]

The lack of response is not because we're not helpful. There's just isn't a positive answer. I've been looking for a way to get a fork mount carrier on my roof rack for about a year now, and haven't been successful. The factory fork mount carrier wasn't available at my dealership last month, and there's no picture in the catalog. Let us know if it actually exists or is vapor-ware.

As far as modifying some other carrier... I think I've come up with a workable solution. I have a Yakima blockhead (just the skewer for the fork) which can be made to mount to the factory load bar, so the front fork will be held. Then, the problem becomes the back wheel. Those short trays that just go on the back bar won't work because the load bars are too close together. I tore apart my old fork mount, long tray carrier and was able to remove the fork attachement part from the tray. So, I think I can mount the tray next to the blockhead... Again, not ideal, and not something I'd recommend. Hence the non-reply.

It was much easier to adapt a non-MINI ski/snowboard carrier.

[headswami]

It does exist. The oem fork mount tray is exactly the same as the Thule V2. It includes locks and all necessary accesories to make it work with mini roof rack. It doesn't say Thule anywhere but it is a Thule rack. I highly recommend it. I will try to post pics.

[d2create]

Quote: Originally Posted by headswami

It does exist. The oem fork mount tray is exactly the same as the Thule V2. It includes locks and all necessary accesories to make it work with mini roof rack. It doesn't say Thule anywhere but it is a Thule rack. I highly recommend it. I will try to post pics.

Thanks.
It's at the dealer as I type this getting installed.

[d2create]

HERE IT IS!!!

http://www.cooperspeed.com/forums/showthread.php?t=345

[Smurfn]

Looks good, I'm glad you like it

I've been waiting for some pictures to see if this may be worth getting, Thanks

[ScottyB]

Wow.

That looks really pro actually. Look even better with a black roof

[d2create]

Quote: Originally Posted by ScottyB

Wow.

That looks really pro actually. Look even better with a black roof

Thanks. Ya, somebody (on NAM i think) had the silver bars powdercoated black so it really blended in with his black roof.

[snid]

I got my fork mount carrier today. It it pretty nice, and the only real option at this point. The only odd thing about it is the plate that is used to attach the tray to the rear load bar. The carrier is a re-labeled (or un-labeled) Thule Velo-Vise V2, which is widely regarded as one of the best bike carriers. There's a couple of MINI specific pieces of hardware to mount the thing to our load bars. The coolest thing is, the MINI one comes with a lock, while the Thule one doesn't. A quick check of my local roof rack supplier shows that the Thule V2 + 2 locks (the fewest you can buy) would have cost me more than I paid for the MINI factory one, delivered! And, another kudos to MINI of Peabody, they got the thing to me in one day via UPS.

And, here's a hint for those who have whistling roof racks. I cannot take credit for this, as I read it on one of the message boards something like a year ago. The whistle is caused (mostly) by the black rubber cover over the channel in the front load bar. The more of that black rubber strip is there, the worse the whistle is. If you put the bike carrier on, and cover the rest of the front load bar with the black rubber thing, it whistles like mad. Just pull the rubber strip off the front load bar, and the whistle mostly goes away. I almost forgot about this hint because pretty much the only times I've used my roof rack in the last 18 months (aka ever, except for the drive home from the dealership, and a couple of trips with the lousy factory snowboard carrier) has been with a really large snowboard Thule snowboard carrier that only left about 2 inches on each side of it - so not much rubber cover thing - so no whistling.

Removing the rubber strip is much cheaper and easier than trying to find a fairing that will work with our load bars. But, without the fairing, there's no room for stickers

I wonder if it's the ridges on the cover strip that cause the whistle, or the leading edge of it... If it was just the ridges, I'd bet you could "shave" the cover piece.

[d2create]

hmmmm.... i just yanked the rubber strips off. Only planned on using them if there was no bike carrier on there. I thought about cutting them to fit when the carrier was installed but decided against it.

Has anybody gotten a fairing to work? The biggest problem i see is that the rack is so far from the windshield on the MINI compared to other cars. But it would be nice to have for aerodynamic reasons. And for cool logos.