hello - i have to tow my '65 mini countryman from new jersey to connecticut this october, to a classic mini body work specialist up there.
what are my options for the cheapest but also safe way to transport ?

Home depot truck rental?
Flatbed truck rental?
Put it INSIDE a UHaul?
Borrow a pickup truck, and rent a flat bed trailer? I have access to my Dad's Chevy 1500 pickup truck, tho it will be winterized by then so might be a bit of work on its own.

i am slightly mechanically inclined, tho i've never hooked up a tow vehicle before. any help is appreciated! Once i have the transportation method, i'll be trying to research proper hook ups and safely attaching the car.

 

Hello,

If you're wanting the cheapest route, that is to do it yourself rather than to pay someone else to transport it. They'll charge you for usage of their vehicle plus their time to drive back and forth.

If you can borrow a truck, that would help in the cost factor. But I'd make sure it's up for the task. A classic Mini isn't a heavy beast to haul, but by the time you add the weight of that and the trailer, you're working the truck more. Check all your fluids, make sure you have good brakes, etc. If it's an old hurtin' rig already, the extra pulling strain may wreak havoc on the engine, trans, and brakes for the most part. Breaking down in a vehicle on the road is one thing, but when you break down on the road while you're towing a trailer just adds to the headache if you need a tow to a shop or a fix on the road. Also, this option will add a big fuel cost. It doesn't take much extra weight to start chugging fuel. Just towing an empty trailer alone will make a noticeable difference.

As far as hooking up, depends what truck and trailer you are using. If the truck is new enough, it should usually have a hitch already attached, along with a electrical receiver for the trailer lights, hook points for the trailer chains to hook into, and check that the ball on the hitch is the appropriate size for the trailer. It has to lock in place. Make sure the trailer ball lock on top of the connection locks in place AND put a pin or nut and bolt to lock the locking handle down in place so it doesn't pop up and cause it to disconnect. Wouldn't hurt to YouTube a video on this to give you a visual.

The UHaul option is interesting. If the car runs and if you have ramps to load and unload it, that may be a good option. Although, not sure how many (if any) tie down points there are inside a UHaul truck to secure it. That'll be important. UHaul also rents car trailers to put cars onto so that you can tow that behind you personal vehicle. Most average cars will be able to tow that amount.

If truck and trailer towing are out for you, and you want a flat deck truck rental, you'll more than likely need a tilt deck option with a winch, and then secure it on the deck. This will be a costly option I would think. It may be close to or more than what you'd pay to hire someone to transport it for you. I would hazard a guess at these things not renting out for cheap. If you go for a non-tilt deck, you need long ramps to get the car on and off or a forklift (but then you'd chance ruining the underside of the car).

If you'd hire someone to haul it for you, they'd more than likely only need to use a pick up truck and trailer themselves. I'd at least look around and ask for a quote just to get an idea. They wouldn't need anything too substantial to haul that. So you won't have to pay for and hire a large rig to move it.

Other points to consider are turning radius when making turns. Trailers can jackknife into the back end of the truck towing it. Make gradual turns.

Extra braking distance is needed. So plan ahead. Adjust speed.

Gear selecting will help your transmission. If you have a trailer mode to set the truck in, that'll help. If you also have a newer truck with an auto trans, with a manual mode ability, selecting a gear to travel in when tackling hills or stop-and-go traffic will assist you trans from gear hunting and overworking. Then you can go back to auto mode for the rest.

Good luck

 

If you're going to rent a trailer, get a cargo trailer with fold down rear gate, instead of a car trailer. The car trailers that Uhaul rents are way too wide between the ramps. Just don't tell them that you are putting a car in a cargo trailer or they will turn you away. If Home Depot has landscaping trailers, those would work. Not sure how long your car is, but my Elf fits on a twelve foot trailer with room to spare.

 

Or just post a request on the MiniMania forum for Hugh Cannon. He hauls Minis all over the place.

 

Trailered my Porsche Boxster from the KC MO area to Hayward CA on an open car trailer. I rented the trailer along with the moving van when I moved from MO to CA. I made sure I could drive the car onto the trailer. The clerk showed me how to hitch the trailer -- although I had no plans on unhitching it -- and secure the car on the trailer. The trailer came with heavy canvas web hold downs which wrapped around the tires. And I used a safety chain which even if not required by law -- I think it was -- is a darn good idea.

The drive with the trailer behind the van from MO to CA was uneventful. As required by law I stopped at all open weigh stations. At every fuel stop I checked the trailer hitch, its safety chain, the car hold downs, its safety chain, trailer and van tires. Checked the van engine oil level. And just gave the van/trailer a walk around. Also, I did the same checks in the morning before leaving the hotel.

 

i use the uhaul drive up trailer all the time and my classic fits just fine