Anyone have a bike rack installed on the Paceman yet?

I'm starting to look into it now for mine.

I actually met the CEO of MiniFini as I was picking mine up and he talked about working with me to design one for the Paceman. I thought that was cool, but after one email correspondence he must have changed his mind as he stopped responding after he asked to set up a day to get started. Now I'm not sure I want to go with them even though they are a local company.

So if anyone has found a great set up. Let me know.

 

I have mailed both MiniFini and CardID about their plans for a paceman hitch as I'd prefer to use the racks I own and know work for my bikes than try again, but so far no response, hoping they'll have something out soon.

 

Coopercrap replied to my email that their R60 hitch fits the bike rack prep of the Paceman also. They said the 1000lbs limit is due to the car tow load spec.

 

Looks like a good option and it seems it will work with my current rack which is a bonus.

 

Yeah but I still think it's a little goofy because it means putting the rack on is a longer process requiring 3 things be tightened down. The hitch piece into the mini's mounts are two bolts and then tighten the rack into the hitch itself. This will work but I'm hoping one of the other firms comes out with a real hitch that just works.

I was very disappointed when I found that despite the configurator clearly showing a hitch there is not one on the car.

 

Coopercraps name gives me a bit of a pause as well, but going to keep them in mind.

MiniFini is still an option but I would like to know why they stopped responding to my email.

CardID? What is the url for their site?

 

I ended up ordering the rear mount bike rack from the dealer. More expensive, but no installation and no doubts it will work and arrive on time. Also like how the bottom will hold the tires to prevent the tire and handle bars from scratching the car. CooperCrap was my second choice, but the factory option was too easy.

 

The card site seems to be selling curt manufacturing hitches so I've contacted them directly.

As for the factory rack, again I'm not stocked on the mounting mechanism and I've red a few folks having issues with wider mountain bike bars, plus it doesn't fold when not in use.

 

Well MiniFini has yet to reply to me via facebook or emails. I'm assuming they either went out of business or have poor customer service. Either way, I'm scratching them from my list.

 

curtmfg got back to me the next day, sorry forgot to post on it. They said they expected to have a hitch later this summer.

 

I'm leaning towards the coopercrap hitch. Mostly because it will work with my current thule rack and minifini has been totally unresponsive.

 

My thought is I've still got several weeks so I'm hoping someone will make on that will work. Failing that I'll be talking to local fabricators to see if I can't have a custom hitch made up.

If that fails the cooper crap one until someone fabs one will be my solution as well.

 

Well after finally hearing back from MiniFini and why I hadn't heard from them. I'm going with them. I went there today for a designing session. So there will be a new MINIFini hitch option coming for the Paceman. I'll post pictures once it has been installed.

 

Hip-Hip Hooray. Inexpensive Bike rack from Allen fits the Paceman. The Allen 103DB, 3 bike trunk mounted rack totally works.

Glad I didn't spend a boatload of $$ on the heavy/awkward bike platform.

FWIW...

 

Where do you attach the upper straps? I can't tell from the picture. Got another pic from more of a side angle?like you, I've got a problem spending 6 bills plus if I can get away with something like this for under a Ben Franklin.

 

Hi Ed,

The straps fit in the crack line of the hatch above the rear window. When you close the rear hatch, you adjust the tension in the strap to the bar. It fits in much the same on most SUV's or hatchbacks.

This item is a keeper, and offers great bang or the buck. I've been using it for about 10 days now and I love it. Don't be tempted to buy the more expensive model...the design doesn't work for the Paceman.

Chuck

 

Thanks for the info....

Do the straps not rub or press on the spoiler above the rear window? That piece just doesn't look very sturdy to me to hold the weight of a couple of bikes.

 

Hi Ed,

The straps don't press against the spoiler per se, but the hooks ARE attached to the plastic spoiler edges. I use 2 bikes (either a pair of mountain bikes or a pair of carbon fiber hybrids). This rack does indicate that the top hooks should be be attached to metal edges.

However, I don't get the sense that the weight of my bikes puts the integrity of the spoiler edges in jeopardy. The geometry and physics of the rack distributes weight well, from top to bottom. This rack has a weight capacity of 100 lbs. I may order additional straps and hooks to further secure the rack to the metal edges of the rear hatch door sides for an additional point of contact. But, so far so good.

My advice would be to try it. Amazon has a great return policy. If this rack doesn't work because you're concerned about the spoiler edge area, you'll only be able to use a roof rack or the Mini tow hook solution. Those solutions and the cost was a non-starter for me.

Good luck!!

 

Chuck, thanks to your suggestions, I tried out some cheaper options. Couldn't find the Allen racks locally, and I needed one in a hurry, so I took a shot on a Thule Passage 2. And it works. 6-point strap down and well thought-out bike mounts, and the near hour-long trip home from LL Bean was totally uneventful. With the rack set up higher on the hatch, the upper straps come out almost straight from the top edge of the hatch and don't appear to be putting any weight at all on the rear spoiler. I don't think I'd want to go cross-country with it, but for the short trips my wife and I will likely be taking, it should work out just fine. And a hell of a lot better than $673 from MINI. Here are a few pics of how it looks installed and loaded. Please don't mind my disgusting dirty MINI. Yeah, two bikes look a little wacky, but that's just how comfort bikes hang. They don't move once they're strapped in, so if it earns me a couple of odd stares, so be it.

 

Thanks Ed,
I really enjoy that we all contribute to the enjoyment if our Mini's.

Kudos for finding a solution that isn't intrusively expensive.!!

And, the fact that your rack carries the bikes with an unconventional appearance is...TOTALLY MINI!!

Enjoy!!

 

Update -- after the second day with the rack installed, I noticed the top straps starting to dent the rear spoiler. Not bad, but enough that I didn't like what I saw. When I took the rack off, the spoiler was fine with no sign of deformity. But that kind of made up my mind -- at this very moment we're having a Curt 2" receiver installed on my wife's Countryman, and I've ordered a Thule 916XTR T2 hitch-mounted platform rack ($343 from Amazon). The bikes will sit flat and secure, and there's no risk of damage to the car. It's a little more costly than the strap-down trunk rack (ok, a lot more costly), but the hitch and the rack are still cheaper than the MINI bike rack -- plus I have the added flexibility of a tow hitch, not to mention a little more peace of mind.

Pics to come...

 

That was one of my fears going with that kind of set up. I haven't gotten the mini fini hitch installed yet. I can tell you guys that it will have a 2 inch receiver and isn't as intrusive as the countryman hitch was.

 

Sorry to hear of this development Ed. How many bikes/lbs. were you carrying?

So far I'm fine with the Allen. Though I'm not carrying more than either 40 to 60 lbs with the carbon fiber pair or hybrids.

In any case, I hope the Thule works out for you.

I'll keep a look out for danger signs on the spoiler edges,. Perhaps I'll fabricate an aluminum edge piece as a barrier/brace to spread the pressure points in that area. A hitch set-up is out of the question for my idea of traveling light and lean with bikes on the Paceman...

 

@#!$%&^*?!!!! Why can nothing be simple.

The guys at the place installing my hitch told me when I ordered it that they could get a 1.25" or a 2" hitch, so I said give me the 2". Go to pick up the car today, it's 1.25". Fine, except that I had already ordered the Thule for a 2" receiver. And by the time I got home, it had shipped. So there's $343 tied up on my AmExp until it gets delivered and I can return it.

Sorry, has not much to do with the topic -- I just had to vent.

 

It probably would work, I just don't want to take any chances. I'm carrying two comfort bikes at about 32 lbs each. I feel better with the stability of a hitch-mounted rack, plus the platform type will keep the bikes straight and flat instead of all goofy like hanging every which way. I got no problem with quirky, but that really looked a little silly.