Recommended Hitch and Hitch Bike and Cargo Carriers for 2018 Mini Countryman  

Question:

Expert Reply:

There is a solution for safely transporting two bikes on your Mini Countryman without risk to the bikes or to the car and this consists of installing a hitch and using a hitch-type bike rack. I'll explain why.

There are trunk-mount bike racks that are confirmed to fit the 2018 Mini Countryman, and these appear on the page I linked for you. However, they are limited to a 2-bike capacity due to weight concerns. Among them is the Yakima FullBack 2 carrier # Y02634 that you referenced in your question.

Any 3-bike trunk rack would potentially put enough weight load on the car's sheet metal to dent it; figure an average bike weight of 30-lbs plus the weight of the rack itself and you're easily looking at 100-lbs total. Some 2-bike racks could also be too heavy, but this depends on the specific bikes you own moreso than on the selected rack.

The way to go is the Curt Class I hitch # C11522 which will let you use a 2-bike Class I bike carrier that will put no weight at all on the car's sheet metal. Instead the car's steel frame, its single strongest component part, will take care of handling the weight of the loaded rack. Another benefit of having a hitch on the Mini is that you're then also capable of using a hitch cargo carrier.

The bike rack I recommend is the Thule EasyFold # TH903202. This rack does not come cheap, but it is designed with so many useful features and is so flexible in use that it could well be the very last bike rack you ever buy. The EasyFold fits both 1-1/4-inch and 2-inch hitches; it includes a loading ramp that stores in the rack; it handles heavy bikes up to 65-lbs each in case e-bikes are in your future; it includes locks for the rack itself and for your bikes; it tilts easily with a simple press of your foot on the release and true to its name it folds up to a compact size and even has wheels to let you roll it around the garage instead of having to carry it. All in all it's a killer bike rack that is backed by the solid customer service for which Thule is world-renowned. Check out the linked photo and video.

For a cargo carrier you can use an item like Curt # C18110 which measures 19 x 47-inches. This will fit the Class I hitch on your Mini as well as the larger 2-inch size too. Cargo net # C18200 is a handy addition. We also have a water-resistant bag that fits the carrier, part # e98990.

Any hitch bike or cargo accessory should be supported with strap # 18050 to reduce random motion as you drive.

expert reply by: Adam R

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