Hi,
I am looking for some one with the experince of strapping a 9' or any length longbord to the top of their mini. I'm tired of using the pickup to get to the beach.
thanks
marcasm

 

strap'em up! i pretty much surf longboards exclusively and have strapped on a few on my mini. i got the oem racks, which i think is the sturdiest, best-looking, and most functional, imo. no oem board holder though. i just use the wide flat luggage-strap-like straps to tie down my board, along with some foam padding on the racks themselves.

9 ft. LB will pretty much block out the sun from your mini, so it does provide some nice shade while driving on a hot summer day. but i do get a little paranoid about straining or losing my LB when driving on a windy day on the freeway.

luckily i still have my p/u. and personally, i do believe the p/u is still the easiest way to carry a surfboard, period. shorter boards, you can just toss them in the bed, and longer boards, just strap them down with one of those tailgate padding/tie-down gizmos. very sturdy and you don't hafta tip-toe to reach over the roof and grab the straps multiple times.

 

What dealer or independent in Los Angeles area, has the best price for installed oem racks. According to earlier posts these racks howl at speed. Has this defect been fixed?
Thanks
marcasm

 

true, mine did howl at highway speeds. but that was totally fixed after putting on the rack pads.

i heard that if you take out the rubber stip on top, that will solve the noise as well since there is no tunnel to

 

I would highly recommend the factory rack as it is rated to hold 165 pounds. It does require drilling into the roof and rather expensive labor for installation at the dealership if you have them do it.

a 9 foot surfboard should be no problem at all! I'd wrap the factory rack with foam and use webbing straps to attach board. It works for my 15+ foot kayak!

 

Hey,

Why is it that BRG/W MCS are usually the ones that have a kayak or longboard straped to the roof?

Maybe those who are close to nature and water sports like the earthy green color.

Maybe BRG is just sporty looking

 

hey yuccapatrol,

that setup looks like your mini is gonna take off the ground if you go fast enuff. especially with those front and rear attachments.

hit 88 mph, or whatever that magic # is in "back to the future", and watch out! lift off!

btw, i 've only got a 12 ft. kayak. not nearly as impressivee as your setup.

 

The kayak is surprisingly stable and secure up there. Even at highway speed, it is barely noticeable and quieter than the rack itself.

Of course, I am well aware that it looks somewhat silly to carry a boat that is longer than my car, but it sure is fun and does get a lot of looks

Not sure why BRG is so commonly burdened down with oversized sports gear? Maybe because it is the color that looks best with a few nice spashes of mud?

 

Sorry to hijak but it kinda deals with the topic


Do you guys know if a 6'8" surfboard will fit inside a MINI?

 

Perhaps if you could angle it up and out of the sunroof, but I imagine such a board would be a tight fit if it was even possible.

 

That looks awesome Yuccapatrol. I also have the oem rack and have used it for hauling lumber and my bike using the oem bike rack. I've only had 8' boards so far and though it was pretty funny but wow, yours takes the cake .

 

only to find out for sure is...try it. it possibly could if you get the right angle so the nose dips down into the front footwell.

haven't tried my 7'6 or 7'2 as it's fairly new and i didn't wanna risk getting any dings.

 

I have put a 9'6" on my yakima racks. They are spread wide. You can fit am 8' inside the car with the front seat laid back.