Carrying 2 Electra Townie 7i Bikes on a 2008 Mini Cooper S Hardtop with Factory Roof Rack

Question:

Hi, Im about to get a couple of Electra townies a 7i mens and a 7i womens with balloon tires, and Id like to carry them on my 2008 Mini Cooper S. I have a hitch installed already Im guessing its a class 1. I used it to pull a small sailboat several hundred miles, so Im guessing it can support a couple of bikes. Anyway, I figured a hitch mount would be easier than a roof mount, but townies arent that heavy and I could do a roof mount, I suppose. I have factory installed cross bars. If its a hitch mount, Id prefer it would swing away instead of tilt away. What do you suggest?

asked by: Zurich A

Expert Reply:

The trailer hitch on your 2008 Mini Cooper S is indeed a Class I hitch. As such it cannot be fitted with a swinging bike rack because none of them are rated for Class I trailer hitches. If you need to have access to the rear hatch on the Mini then the best option is to load the bikes on the roof. But it is still possible that the hatch could hit the bikes since the Mini Cooper roof is short so use caution.

For a bike rack that will fit the factory roof rack crossbars you can use the Yakima FrontLoader # Y02103. This carrier holds the bike at the wheels. The front fenders on your Townie 7i bikes would not restrict the use of this carrier. But the tires can be up to 2-1/2 inches wide but no wider.

expert reply by: Michael H