Hi, I have a 2010 Clubman without the roof rails and would like to carry 2 bikes without too much hassle. It seems the best option is to buy the Mini rack tower/bars and add a bike holder. That is expensive and the bars aren't quite as easy to install and remove as I would hope for. Does anyone have any setup they would recommend? I love hitch mounted racks but my car is a JCW with aero diverter under the bumper and don't think I can add a hitch. Thanks for your help.

 

I have the JCW aero kit on mine and my hitch mount is behind the license plate till I need it. I don’t think the diverter will be in the way. Mine is a Hidden Hitch brand

 

https://www.etrailer.com/hitch-2009_mini_Clubman.htm

 

Thanks for the response! That looks like a good option.

 

I bought the Curt 1.25" hitch that mounts behind the tag, It's in my shed awaiting return. I foolishly didn't even look at an install video before ordering, and when I did I realized I didn't want a bike rack where I have to remove the tag, reattach it by only the lower two screws so it hangs below the bumper, reach up under the bumper a good ways to blindly engage the hitch pin so I can secure the rack in the receiver, and do all these things every time I want to install or remove the rack. (I'm not one to drive around with it hanging off the car -- I remove everytime I'm not carrying a bike.)

I think it's a great idea for the more occasional user, but for somebody who installs and removes frequently, I didn't want to go that route.

I'm going with roof rack myself. (I have factory roof rails and have to add the crossbars and a single bike rack). It's a little pricier if you already own a hitch-mount bike rack for other vehicles (I do), but not too bad. $200 for aero rails (245 for OEM but MINI Mania wants $125 SHIPPING for the rails and a single bike rack!). I'm leaning towards these because they look good and I'd just leave them on the car most of the time.


Haven't landed on which bike rack to add to that, but the choices are pretty endless.

With MiniMania the crossbars and single rack come to $390, which I could (barely) stomach, but then the 125 shipping!!

 

Hi NoGaBiker, thanks for the response. I came to the same conclusion about the hitch rack and not wanting to deal with the license plate. I don't want to leave the roof rack on either and don't have rails. I may just have to use the bigger car I have for bike transport and keep the JCW focused on fun driving.

 

I installed the MiniDoMore hitch from OutMotoring and plan on installing a flip-up license plate holder so that I don't have to reposition it.

That being said, I haven't installed the flip up license yet but have used the hitch quite a bit for towing kayaks with a small trailer. I love it. To each his own, but it's not that big of a deal to reposition the license plate.

 

The mini do more hitch looks just like the Curt hidden hitch from Amazon for half the price

 

As I understand it, Curt stole the design from MiniDoMore and is much more cheaply made. I looked at what OutMotoring and WayMotorWorks were selling and opted for the original.

Regardless of which one you get, I do think that having a trailer hitch is awesome and prefer it over a roof mount system. Personal preference, I know, but that little hitch has really come in handy.