The rack was $606. Conceptually putting it on and taking it off is easy, but it's a little heavy and awkward in size for a petite woman. I don't want to leave it on, but not sure I have any friends willing to come over and help me put it on at 5am on a Saturday before a 7am bike ride! I have a 2 day ride in April that I'm getting ready to start training for, so may leave it on til after that. I usually don't want to see my bike again for a while after the ride is over.

 

A hefty bike rack with a hefty price tag. I think I will wait for a 2" hitch to be developed as I already have a hitch mount bike rack that holds 4 bikes and is easy to get on and off and is more visible when not loaded up so that I don't crush it. Anyone heard status on a hitch yet?

 

I sent an email to MiniFini last week and they said they are working on the link system. We are waiting for it so we can pull our dog trailer.

 

Does anyone know how long the crossbars are on the mini roof rack or what would fall in the acceptable range? I am trying to decide whether I can reuse my yakima stuff and just get the rail grabs (if they work)...but I am not sure if my current bars are even close to an appropriate length.

If I need to buy the grabbers and new bars I may as well just get the factory rack. Thanks!

 

I'm picking up my Countryman tomorrow afternoon. I will have the roof rack and will post the bar lengths.

 

It was a bit to icy outside to get full measurements, but the length on the underside of the rail between the towers it what limits the mountable length. The back is just under 32 inches and the front is just under 33 inches. The way the towers are designed to meet the actual bar ( I think for aerodynamics) takes up some length on the underside

 

Thank you!!!

 

your welcome, let us know if you find anything out about the rail grabs!

 

Thanks for the info, I've got some existing 48" yakima cross bars and they should work great if the Railgrabs fit the CM. I've seen a set of yak railgrabs for $143 and $180w/crossbars, still cheaper than the factory rack at $250 plus I can use all my existing yak stuff as I doubt any of my old yak stuff will fit the aerodynamic factory crossbars.

Yes please anybody let us know if the yak railgrab fits.

 

48" is exactly what my bars are as well....hoping they are not too long. I have not ordered my mini yet so I am at the mercy of internet information to find out what will work from Yakima but I will keep researching or calling sources. I am downsizing from a Wrangler Unlimited so I am even thinking about a roof box. I know reality will be harsh the first time I try and take a weekend trip and realize how much storage I lost.

 

Yup me too on space, I've got an old Yakima Space Booster that would work great with the CM. You can easily cut down yakima cross bars to size if needed, sawzall, hacksaw, drycut saw, etc.

I found this pic on the net, CM with cargo box:

 

Anyone still interested, there are a couple of pictures of the Mini Racks in my gallery. They come with a "T" handle torque wrench to tighten them down. It probably took 10 minutes from the opened box to install at the dealership by eyeball. Once home with a tape I made a few adjustments to fit the kayak like the Thule racks I had on Miniblue. Removal and reinstall would take about 5 minutes now I know where they go. Now I am considering not having bow and stern safety lines as there is no way short of the rails coming off that the cross bars will give way.

Bill

 

I specifically asked the local Yakima dealer if the "rail grab" feet would fit the Countryman and here is their response (liability is the issue) as to why they won't tell you that it will fit:

"We generally don't like to jump the gun on new fits...it puts us in a precarious position should the rack fail or damage the car. I'd be happy to do a test fit with the RailGrab for you, but if you choose to purchase it we'll need to have you assume any liability. We're technically not supposed to (as a Yakima dealer) sell any equipment that is not tested and approved by them"

 

There was an audi Q5 in front of my house, the flush rails are not exactly the same but very similiar. They sit up a bit higher, but the groove that that rails bars or towers grab look very similiar. The Yakima fit guide does say the railgrabs fit the Q5. I think there is a good chance the Yakima railgrabs will work on the countryman

 

I am going to go by there tomorrow after getting the car to see for sure and will leave with them if they do as the owner said I would just have to waive their liability. I will post what I find out.

 

When there is a bike on the rack, does it drop down or anything so that the back can be opened?

 

Picked up my CM yesterday and took it to Rack Attack in Portland. Tried the fit out on the Yakima Rail Grab and they don't fit securely. The rail grove on the CM is not very deep. I opted to get the factory rack until Thule or Yakima comes up with a better fit and then will sell the factory rack on Ebay. What I really need is a hitch option so that I can use my hitch mounted bike rack and the cargo box on the factory rack.

 

Bummer, thanks for the info.

 

that is a bummer, I will use the factory rack for now too

 

I see somebody posted a pic of a CM with a Cargo Box. Anybody know which cargo box would be a good fit? Leaning toward Thule unless anybody has a compelling reason not to. Oh, and it has to be black.

 

I have a yakima cargo box that I will put on my CM next week when my factory rack arrives. The way it attaches will pretty much fit any rack shape as it has 4 corner clamps that are engaged from inside the box by snap down levers...makes for really quick installation and removal as there isn't a need for any tools...just a strong back. I am pretty sure that Thule ones work the same.

 

Maynard got a cargo box...Yakima on the Mini OEM roof rack

 

Looks good, which box is that? I have a rocket box 15S

 

It's the Yakima Skybox 16s

 

Sweet! I'll be using my old Rocketbox 16 and it's darn long, may have to get a short antenna so the box doesn't overhang on the front too much. Wonder what that will do to reception if the box is on top of the antenna?