I'm considering buying a trailer for additional cargo capacity for my cabrio. I have a MiniDoMore hitch and cargo platform and waterproof duffle which served us well at MOTD this year... But can foresee needing more cargo capacity next year.

Options I know of:
* The Miniature Trailers / Harbor Freight flatbed. I saw a Miata recently towing one with a car-top cargo carrier similar to this one. That seems to be a useful and cost effect (though not sexy) option. Cost in the $600-$1000 range.

* Teardrop trailer like Zyamfier's. Cost in the $6000-$10,000 range. Obvious advantage is that you can sleep in these!

* Adventure Sports SST trailer. Does anyone know if they've done one with MINI taillights yet? Looks like these are around $3000.

Anyone know of other good options?

Also - I heard a rumor that SOMEONE had a trailer at MOTD this year that looked like the back of a MINI... anyone see it or know what it is? Any pics?

 

I have done a little (really little) research on this because I want some sort of teardrop trailer.

There is someone who sells teardrop kits. It puts them more in the $2-3k range rather than $6-10k, although it depends on the size. Downside: you build it yourself.

Unless I hit the lotto, I will probably go this route...although I don't know for sure yet. I really just want something I can sleep comfortably in for things like MOTD and long road trips.

But anyway, do a Google search for "teardrop trailer kits". You'll find a ton of places that sell them, at a wide range of costs.

 

I saw a teardrop trailer towed by a MCS on I-44 just the other day. It really looked awesome. It was painted black like the Mini. I also noticed other drivers following almost too closely to take a long look at it.

 

Did you see this? I pulled this photo from Killboy's site and apparently this trailer was at MOTD. I would have loved to have seen it up close. Kinda makes me sad because it must have been made from a wrecked MINI. Looks pretty cool though.

 

Bee - THAT's the one I heard about! Yep - exactly what I heard - chopped rear off an MCS. And pulled by a cabrio, no less (go figure ).

I'd love to hear the story on this if anyone knows the owner...

I think this wins the "cool" award hands-down, but probably isn't as aerodynamic or easy to tow as a more purpose-built cargo trailer like the SST...

 

The MINI rear-end trailer was pretty cool We saw it as they came in. My favorite though is the Dragon Wagon (Zyamfier, right?)

 

Yep - the Dragon Wagon ROCKS. But I think I'm looking for more of a lightweight low profile cargo trailer... but may do a teardrop someday... but the teardrop doesn't help much with family of four in the cabrio (though I could toss in a tent for the kids...

 

That trailer would look pretty cool with a big Union Jack on the back though.

This company makes a trailer called the TravelMate for $3K:

http://www.golittleguy.com/travelmate.htm

That SST trailer is pretty cool if you can get the paint color matched and have matching tailights.

 

I haven't seen this in person and it isn't exactly cheap (at $1,800 +shipping from Costco.com), but I like that it's light weight and enclosed. (Click photo for more views)

 

If you are looking for camping-style trailers, I really like the A-liners:

http://www.aliner.com/showroom/showf...loorplan_id=22



Again, not cheap. But nice!

 

MINI Bee,
thanks for the link. I like the Rascal model -- and add the tailgater's package:
"the Tailgater Package consisting of an Exterior Beer Tap, Side Mount Propane Grill, and 2 Camp Chairs."
. . . and you're ready for MOTD 6.

 

I have the Harbor Freight trailer, if you want to get a trailer "on the cheap", it's the way to go! You are correct though, it's not quite as sexy as the MiniDoMore trailer, but it functions.

Add a $40 cargo box from walmart, some plywood for the deck, and $20 worth of paint and you can jazz it up quite a bit for not much $$$.

Jason

 

While those are pretty cool, THIS one takes the cake...



Country ingenuity! It's actually a wheelbarrow fabbed up by a few folks I met in WV - and it's strangely quite effective! Hats off to that...

 

I love this thread!

Keep 'em coming!

 

Trailers made from Minis.

How to make a trailer out of a Mini

And here are a couple of other pics

 

I also heard/read somewhere that MINI FINI is planning to make a trailer for the MINI that would have styling that "looks good".

 

The MINI trailer belongs to one of the Atlanta MINIs, Paul, and his MINI is Paris-here's the thread.
http://atlantaminis.proboards32.com/...ead=1171850623

Here's mine, I made it from one of the Harbor Freight kits. I painted it and added the sides and put on the checkerboard stripes. I had a local trailer shop put the grate in the bottom. All in all cost me about $250.00.



Annette

 

I have what at best can be called a "harbor freight" style trailer (but with a frame from the 70's) that has a wooden box around it... the idea being I can tow 4 tires and my tools to the track without trying to stuff all that into the car (along with the EZ-up, chairs, coolers, helmet bags, two 5-gal gas cans, clothes, food, spare parts...)
Its

 

I have what at best can be called a "harbor freight" style trailer (but with a frame from the 70's) that has a wooden box around it... the idea being I can tow 4 tires and my tools to the track without trying to stuff all that into the car (along with the EZ-up, chairs, coolers, helmet bags, two 5-gal gas cans, clothes, food, spare parts...)
Its very handy... I've used it a bunch of times on non-track events to haul bigger things (like winter tires to get new threads or trees/posts from the nursery)

 

Yeah, I'm thinking that doing a custom painted Harbor Freight trailer with diamondplate deck (like the MiniDoMore one), with the option of either putting on side "pickets" to haul open cargo, or put on a rooftop-style aero cargo box for traveling would be a good setup - relatively inexpensive and very flexible...

 

I like this one, you can sleep in it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...0266&rd=1&rd=1

 

Paid $5,200 for this One (Little Guy 4 Wide Platform):

 

This one would be popular and useful at gatherings, It was at MME '07 at Alcoa, TN.

 

When it's time for me to pick up a trailer to tow behind my Mini, there's only one that I'll consider. Bushtec

They're designed as a tow-behind m/c trailer, and they're very popular with the heavy touring bike crowd because of their construction and safety features. They're light, and extemely well made.

Air Ride suspension means that if/when one of the trailer's wheels hits a hole in the road, the trailer won't flip over on the rebound - somthing not all that uncommon on leaf spring trailers. And, should the worst happen and the trailer goes over, the receiver is designed to allow the trailer to rotate a full 360 degrees w/o putting any stress on the tow vehicle - perfect for hauling behind a bike, convenient if hauling behind a small car.

Worth checking out.. they'll hold a whole lotta stuff..

http://www.bushtec.com/models.html

Here's some pix of a Bushtec behind a small car..

 

Reading the Bushtec forum there's a twice used black Roadstar version for sale for $3,200. Doesn't sound bad at all.

Another trailer I was considering was the Lees-urlite tent trailer which cost a bit more than $5,000. It's more for camping though. Here's their link:

http://www.leesurelite.com/car.htm