transporting a couch with the mini roof rack - Good Idea or horrible?
 

Ive gotta move a 2 person love seat leather couch next week. Dont have a van, dont have a truck, do have a mcs with roof/bike rack. The rack bolts into the roof so its fairly strong, i think it has a 200 pound weight limit or so. I'm thinking of putting a tarp around the couch, sticking it on top of the roof rack and using tie downs(the motorcycle ones that ratchet down). Gotta take it maybe 50 miles or so. How bad of an idea is this? Anyone ever use the roof rack for anything like this?

Do you have any friends with a van or truck? That would be the best first option. I just got my MINI 2 days ago, and I haven't seen this question asked very much on the boards...so I'm not sure if its okay to do or not.

So either:

1) Get a friend and his/her car to help you out.

2) Find out how much this couch weighs. Look in the manual about the roof weight limit. Maybe call your dealer about it. Wait for more experienced answers around here, and finally, if it looks like you can do it, congrats!

I think this answers your question, I'd say go to a rental place u-haul or even Home Depot (if you need to purchase anything else as part of the move) or Enterprise and get something that'll hold it better or go all windows down and have to boot cracked if its not too long (BUT MUST have all windows down and fan on to prevent CO issues). I'd say go for it if it were less than 15 miles and you never had to go over 35 MPH, but that doesn't sound like the case.

Around here you can rent a full-sized cargo van for a day for $20-30, which we do on occasion to haul big stuff. Much better idea than risking damage to your Mini.

While my sense of whimsy says, "GO FOR IT!", my sense of common says, "hmmm, can't you borrow a van or SUV?"

I've carried some eccentric loads in my MCS, like 24 Happy Meals or everything my daughter needed to start college (luckily she goes to a military school, so that was not as much as you'd think), and so the problem of couch transportation has a certain intrinsic allure for me. BUT it seems like it might be a bit over the top, no pun intended....

If you try this, wait for a sunny day with no wind, think about laying the couch on it's back on the rack, and definitely TAKE SOME PICTURES!

Good luck.

is it a couch or love seat? how much does it weigh? if it's under the 200lbs, which most love seats I've ever moved are, I'd go for it. Just make sure it's strapped down good. And flip if over when loading on the rack so the legs are up, as those are the part that will hurt your mini. But for $20-$30 just make it easy on yourself and rent a van.

Part of me would say yes....but without an accurate idea of weight, it would be quite a risk with your MINI. Yes a car is made for function, but my conscience would say rent a truck or place a craigslist ad for help offering $30 for help. Good luck! :thumbsup:

Rent something that could carry the thing... The MINI is for havin' fun in, not moving furniture. Just a thought.

^ +1

u-haul, or go to homedepot.

yeah its a loveseat not a full couch. Probably should have included that little tidbit of info.

It will be about 50 miles of driving, almost all freeway and at 65 or so mph.

A uhaul would be $80 or so and I dont have enough other stuff to move to really justify a uHaul.

Ive got some clothes, 2 very nice computers and a 24 inch flat panel computer monitor, the 3 of which I will be transporting VERY carefully.

I have a friend with a truck but he doesnt like driving it and would most likely want $60 or $80 bucks in gas money anyways.

Basically it comes down to: if the mini's capable of doing it, why not save some money and just do it?

Of course if its a horrible idea then i'd just spend some money and move it but I was curious.

Don't go to U-Haul. Many car rental places also rent full sized pickup trucks or full sized cargo (not box) vans for dirt cheap compared to what U-Haul charges. The per mile costs are also a lot less, or sometimes included. Just because you need a truck or van, doesn't mean you have to go to U-Haul or a similar moving truck company. Even a minivan could haul want you want if you took the seats out.

-Keith

I agree with the rental thing. Many of the Hertz local edition shops have ford pickups for $20 a day. The only way I would do it with the MINI would be to make sure that there was no undue stress on the rack where it meets the roof, and drive very slowly (around 35 mph) and not use an expressway.

Now I've fit everything I own into the back of my MCS, just not fully assembled, are you sure it wouldn't fit in back of the car (consider removing the rear seats for a few days) and then everything else you're moving up in the passenger seat?

Haha, you'll have to add the picture here: http://www.ezprezzo.com/crazypics/overloaded.html

I'd sell the couch before putting in on my MINI. Save yourself $80 for a Uhaul but you may end up paying that $500 (guessing) insurance deductable to fix any damage.

If you do it, take some pics. I'd love to see you make it.

This is one of those time you might really wish you had something to haul stuff.

How about selling the couch? Is it worth the cost of transportation?

I would never put that on the roof of a MINI. Just the chances of it scratching the paint are too much. If it shifted ... oh NASTY.

The thing might turn into a sail at 65 MPH, really bad idea.

Look in your local papers for people who "haul stuff". A couch should cost about $45 to haul away. Just pay a bit more for your distance:thumbsup:

Just don't do it, its a bad idea (esp at highway speeds). I think you can rent a pick-up from Home Depot or rental places for $20, look into it. You can even find discount coupons online for car rental places or via your credit card, or AAA to rent a truck or van - it'll be worth it if the couch isof any value to you. You might even come up with some other stuff you can do while you have the truck - I find there is a tiny percent of the time when we need something like a truck and you can get it all done in one day if you try :)

And if you choose to try putting it on the Mini anyway, promise to post pictures :grin:

Where do you live? Maybe some one on NAM is close and willing to offer a hand or a truck. Or they know some one that can help you.

Just my two cents worth:

If you have to ask: "How bad an idea is this?", you probably don't want to do it.:lol:

It will cost you more the repair the roof than the cost of a rental. Why take the chance?

Well, can you risk paying for a killed driver and a couch through another, or several cars? :wink:

-Cody

I wonder if this guy asked his fellow forum members if loading 30 sheets of plywood was a really bad idea?

http://thenehrings.com/funny/Car%20l...%20plywood.jpg

In a word... NO. Bad idea. Don't do it.

I agree with the others,,, rent a truck for a couple of hours from HomeDepot or Menards or get a 6-pack and ask a friend with a pick-up/minivan.

That's gotta hurt!!! :lol::lol::lol:

movin a couch with your M using the roof rack?

worst idea ever. :eek2: dont do it.