I'll looking into getting a tire trailer so I can drive my STOCK class MINI to AutoX events. I'm having a tough time finding an inexpensive kit/pre made trailer. Anyone out there with one, or made one from cheep harbor freight trailers?

 

I made one from the harbor freight trailer.

 

Menards stocks a virtually identical trailer. The difference is it has 8 inch wheels not 12 inch.

I have had my trailer for many more years than my MINI. When I started using it to go to events regularly, I upgraded the tires to 12" so they would be turning a bit slower on extended highway trips. It probably isn't necesarry.

See my Gallery for a Photo.

I have seen many with a similar trailer, a tire rack, and a large storage box on the "naked frame"

John

 

Looks nice Jdewey. Is that the tow link from finimini or a DYI job?

 

"cheap link" a deffinite d i y. several people have improved on it since I made it nearly 2 years ago. In fact if you have a 2005 or 6 with the back up lights in the tail lights, you can hide the hitch behind the "blank" in the bumper.
Search around on this site for "trailer hitch" in the last 6 months or so.

Here is how I did it.

http://user.mc.net/~jdewey/MINI/Trai...r_Hitches.html

John

 

I put an extra set of wheels in my car every now and again, why not do that?

 

The problem is all of the loading and unloading, plus the wear and tear on
your interior. The other plus with a trailer is that you can put all of your
other "stuff" (jack, tools, cooler, etc.) on the trailer and you don't have
to load/unload/load/unload it too.

I was about to get the Harbor Freight trailer

(http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=90153)

myself but found a guy selling a 4x6 trailer from Pep Boys for a good price.
I bought it instead so I can use it for other hauling if I need to.

 

Whichever trailer or MINI you have...

Be sure to use a POWERED ISOLATING wiring adapter that takes power from the battery not the MINI light circiuts. They cost between $30 and $60 depending on brand and retailer.

John

 

Thanks for all the info guys. I might be stopping by Menards this weekend for the 12'' tired trailer. Now I just need to get my sportlink on and see what trick design I can come up with for the trailer. Of course all of this is necessary because I am looking at carring multiple sets of tires, track tools and supplies, and clothes for a month which would be trickier to get all in the MINI. Possible, yes, I'm just not THAT ambitious .

 

Cool looking Mini in you sig. Would make a great racing paint job

 

I'm in the middle of building a Harbor Frieght version as we speak. PM me for more details if needed.

 

Thanks. Haven't been able to afford to take it to the track yet, but it'll make it there someday, somehow.

 

Might you be able to elaborate on this powered isolated wiring adapter? Where to get one? Electrical never was my strongest point. Also, anyone have any other tips for hooking up the wiring harness?

In other news, the hitch is on the MINI and the trailer's built. I'm just working on designing a trick tire bar to go across the back half so the tires will be more securely attached and won't be resting on the trailer frame. Pictures will come when it's done, or you can just stop the Ft. Myers tour and take a look for yourself.

 

http://user.mc.net/~jdewey/MINI/Trai...olor_codes.htm

further details on making a neat connection are at the end of this file.

http://user.mc.net/~jdewey/MINI/Trai...r_Hitches.html

It references the photo directory, but here is a direct reference to two photos of wiring.

http://user.mc.net/~jdewey/MINI/Trai...on_adapter.jpg

http://user.mc.net/~jdewey/MINI/Trai...MINI_wires.jpg

Hope to see you at a local event, I don't run in SCCA but I attend Parking lot events with simlar rules in Chicago, and I attend track events with Midwest Council of Sports car clubs.

http://scscc.net/

http://www.mcscc.org/

John

 

Thanks for the info Jdewey. Not sure if I'll be able to get up to Chicago this season, but the MCSCC track events do look fun. I am thinking about the Autobahn Lotus event in June.

 

I took my time with this and think I have a what I wanted. After searching for the right set-up I decided to go with this. Crash Karl hitch and a Harbor Frieght trailer. Bought the trailer on-line and had it shipped to the house for under $250. Assembled it and paid close attention to the wiring as most problems with a trailer are wiring or bearings. After many hours measuring and plotting the size of the tires and tool box I came up with this configuration. I bought the tool box at Walmart for under $50 and a Hoppy Converter for the wiring at Pepboys for about $28. The tool box fit perfectly in the front of the trailer with about a half inch between it and the set of tires. I bought some dexion and bolted it to the middle frame for the aft cavity and tip tied two pieces of heavy duty PVC pipe for the tires to rest on. The wiring harness was installed and routed through the rear vent by the back latch assembly and routed between the aluminum bumper and down to the hitch. Driving behind the car is a breeze with with no problems up to 75 MPH.

 

That looks great Mark. And that toolbox looks like it could be used in an emergency as a cooler for those long SCMC runs.

 

The trailer is perfect to carry even your broken down Classic.

 

Nah...the rear wheels would have to be back on, at which point it's not proken down any more.

 

Mark, that trailer looks great.
I am trying to come up with something I can use to go camping with(2 tool boxes) but have the ability to put wheels on it. Do you think you could fit two of those tool boxes on there? Or should I look at a bigger trailer?