Hello friends,

I don't have any experience towing anything, but I'm stuck in a difficult position. I'm either going to buy a new F56 JCW or a Subaru Outback (gulp, yes I know). If I can't find a way to tow with the MINI my wife will make me buy the Outback.

SAVE ME!

I've seen hitches that say there's a 1,400 max tow capacity on these cars, and the lightest weight covered cargo trailers I'm finding are just under 700lbs.

Wondering if anyone out there has experience with maxing out the MINI's tow capacity or has experience with light weight trailers, or both.

Thanks (so much) for the help.

 

There's a place down the road from me that sells the Little Guy trailers. They're covered and weigh about that much, so you must be able to find something lighter than 700lbs.

What are you towing?

 

F56 'Justa' has a load capcity of around 700# ( occupants/luggage/etc.). The owners manual does not list any towing capacity for the car. The towing capacity of a hitch assembly only indicates how much stress that component can safely take before it fails. This does not reflect the cars ability to tow or how much. While owners have added hitches to their MINIs, it is usually for a very small utility trailer similar to the units towed behind motorcycles. Your big enemy with an enclosed cargo trailer is wind resistance/drag. It really takes a toll on your rigs performance and fuel economy. Most of the time when I see a MINI with a hitch, it is used to mount a bicycle carrier. And a final thought... overloading a small gas turbo engine produces excessive operating temperatures and premature wear on almost all of the drive train components. BYW... followed a 2015 Outback over Snoquamie Pass last weekend. He was pulling one of those small tear-drop camping trailers and could barley maintain 50 MPH with his CVT transmission screaming its guts out!


Maybe you need a MINI and a small SUV!

 

I just moved to Portland, Oregon from NYC and don't own a car yet. My last car was a 2008 R56 JCW which I loved. I'm keen to have another.

The trailer will see occasional use for materials for home improvement projects and occasionally we help stage homes for sale, which necessitates moving furniture too big to fit in a MINI. Most of the time the trailer will not be used, and when it is it will always be in suburban areas, probably no driving above 40mph, and usually not more than 5 miles one way (while full).

If we do go with an Outback, which I'm not keen to do since we only need the extra space about 20% of the time, we'll be going with the 6-cylinder, not the little four banger that comes standard on most.

Thanks for the feedback. I really appreciate it!

 

Have you considered just getting a used pickup truck and only driving it those rare times you need it?

 

Do not believe you can add a hitch to a F56 JCW.....the exhaust is different so normal mounts can NOT be used. Mini is also not offering the BIKE kit for the JCW that scews into the Mount holes on the Justa and S. Waiting to take delivery of my F56 JCW and have been searching with no luck yet . Mini SA also stated to me that they would not Support any towing on the JCW........good luck , will be interested what you find

 

The first result from a quick google shows this tow hitch:
http://new.minimania.com/part/G3NMX6...56-F55-Hardtop

 

Would be wise to confirm that the F56S hitch can be installed on a JCW.....they are different. Just sent a request to MINI Mania for testing and support on the F56 JCW....will let you know response I get ..........