Hello,

We are seriously thinking of purchasing our first Mini. We want to do some traveling pulling a small pop-up camper such as the light weight Aspen Classic designed to be pulled behind motorcycles. The trailer weights 300 lbs. empty, 600 lbs max weight, with a tongue weight of 20-25 lbs.
http://www.trailmasterinc.com/

There are web sites that sell hitches for a mini with a max towing of 1,400 lbs. and a max tongue weight of 200 lbs.
http://www.minidomore.com/mini_coope...iler_hitch.php

I am sure some of you mini owners have pulled or are pulling a small trailer behind a mini. I would like very much to hear from you on the pros and cons of this subject. Would the S model be necessary for towing? Would the manual transmission be necessary? I have talked to the dealer and they say the manufacturer does not recommend towing of any kind.

Dan@
Smoky Mountain Home

 

I agree with the manufacturer. Towing with a Mini is all bad. The transmission and the gears are simply not designed for it, AT ALL. With that in mind, if you really want to tow something, get a light truck or a small SUV. The Mini does not like to have something hanging from it's ***.

 

Are you looking to get a new MINI or a used first gen car? Lots of folks have towed items behind the first gen cars with a similiar size load with no problems. You will find that 99% of the front wheel drive car manuf. will state they don't approve of towing anything, but the reality is that if you don't overload the car it will be fine.

As for the car model, would suggest an S simply for the added HP and get the manual for some added insurance.
One other option for some hardware is the MINIFini system. It is actually approved by MINI for the first gen cars.

 

Well, yes, the manufacturers don't like towing of any kind, but that doesn't mean it's impossible, nor does it mean it's bad for the car as long as it's done with care. In Europe I have seen almost every single type, kind, and idea of vehicles towing UNBELIEVEABLE stuff!! Again, do it with care and it's not a problem for the car. I would advocate getting the MCS instead of the "justacooper" due to horsepower, though...

Try searching NAM threads for towing - quite a few folks have info on campers towed by MINIs.

 

Dan@, Somewhere on this site or perhaps in MotoringFile there is information about the UK factory tow option / kit for the Clubman. Besides a hitch and wireing the kit includes stronger rear springs. This may be a clue to the factory design that you may want to consider. Even though you can buy the hitch and wireing in NA, the stock rear springs may prove soft for the task. Perhaps a local exotic car shop, who is used to getting European parts, can help if you want the factory tow springs.

 

I agree get a truck! haha but hey im bias I sold my mini for a truck for towing reasons.

 

Did we help at all, Dan?

 

Pinky,

Thank you for your honest answer to my question. It may not be what I wanted to hear but is true. There must be good reason the manufacturer does not recommend towing of any kind. If the Mini had a safe towing capacity, BMW would be the first to let us know. So I guess I will have to get one just for "FUN" !!!!

Dan@
Smoky Mountain Home

 

There is a thread or two on NAM where folks talk about towing teardrop trailers. One guy ran the Dragon with one and said it was just fine. As I remember, these were the smaller variety of teardrop. There's even a trailer site out there that has a MINI in its ad.

Here is one site: http://www.mikenchell.com/forums/ but I know there are others. Use the search function on NAM to find the threads I talked about.

Here is one thread https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...light=teardrop

 

Towing that trailer would be like having 2 big people in the back seat, weight wise. You'll be fine. There's absolutely no need to get a truck to tow a few hundred pounds. I have to do *facepalm* whenever I see people with a Tahoe/Suburban/Escalade/Sequoia towing a jetski or something else tiny.

 

I tow a tear drop with my mini cooper S.. Never had an issue with it, don't notice any lag or anything.. She handles it like a champ. We have taken it from columbia SC to orlando..
There is a guy in florida who towed his tear drop from florida to the west coast.. i have no issues.. and even took my tear drop to the Dragon this year..

 

[quote=Pinky Demon;2488202]I agree with the manufacturer. Towing with a Mini is all bad. The transmission and the gears are simply not designed for it, AT ALL.

There is NOTHING "special" about the gears.

More likley (as with all Front wheel drive cars) toung weight is the issue.
OK ...and some have no power and small clutches.

The additional weight ( and if they said 50 lbs tounge weight ...someone would then push it to 75 then more ) next thing UNDERSTEER.

This becomes a liability issue ...especially in the USA

I am fortunate that my coilovers have heavier than std spring rate and are adjustable
I tow the race trailer with NO issues (ohhh and a 4 puck clutch)


a tounge weight of 25lbs....come on ...no problem !