In one of the stranger twists of fate, as I live in England (the old one, in Yurp), I am a sorta resident engineer/designer on a US teardrop trailer forum (T&TTT) and a new teardrop trailer manufacturer, Mini Tears, has started up in Lakehead, CA offering a trailer for Minis:
Mini Tears
I don't know anythign more about them than this.
Andrew
Mini Tears
I don't know anythign more about them than this.
Andrew
Coordinator :: Cooper Owners of Rural Nebraska (CORN)
I love it. The more teardrop trailers behind MINI's the better.
This is ME
This is ME
Banned
We are getting a MINIFini hitch installed at MITM on our 08 Clubman S. Have started looking at teardrops, hope to get one soon.
Mark
Mark
2nd Gear
I just installed MiniDoMore's hitch in my 09 Clubman this past weekend -- with plans to pull this teardrop trailer: http://godskid.inGodsFamily.com/Teardrop Have pulled it with another vehicle and enjoyed the teardrop, but now I'm ready to pull it myself!!
1st Gear
That's cool, is there one that has a sleeping length of 6'8"? I'm 6'4" and would like to actually fit in the thing?
2nd Gear
You can buy them in most any size you like (tho the more they weigh, the tougher it would be for a MINI to pull them). And many people build their own. Here's a web forum with lots of plans, and many people to answer questions about planning, buying or building a "teardrop or teeny travel trailer":
http://www.mikenchell.com/
http://www.mikenchell.com/
Neutral
Zyamfier just gave me the heads up that you guys were checkin out MiniTears. As the thread indicates, my wife Shannon & I are just starting up a teardrop design/build biz. Our plan is to build high end trailers that are worthy of the great cars we drive. I've tried to pull out all the stops while keeping the weight (867 lbs) compatable with the car.
We use a Mini Do More hitch but the MiniFini hitch is a great hitch too, I've heard.
We use a Mini Do More hitch but the MiniFini hitch is a great hitch too, I've heard.
Neutral
Zyamfier just gave me the heads up that you guys were checkin out MiniTears. As the thread indicates, my wife Shannon & I are just starting up a teardrop design/build biz. Our plan is to build high end trailers that are worthy of the great cars we drive. I've tried to pull out all the stops while keeping the weight (867 lbs) compatable with the car.
We use a Mini Do More hitch but the MiniFini hitch is a great hitch too.
It's true, the matress is only 6'-0" (measured at the floor) in the prototype seen in the website. It sleeps great for Shannon (5'-4") & myself (5'-9") but friends have stayed in it that are well over 6'. The rounded front gives additional headspace and the top of the matress measures about 6'-2". The next trailer, MiniTears II will have an extended sleeping area of 6'-3", and unless you sleep straight as board, the cabin should be comfortable for most everyone.
It is also true that teardrops come in many widths & lenghts. I was very conscientious about the overall size of the trailer during design...I didn't want the "tail wagging the dog" if you know what I mean. The 4'x8'-6" retro shape really does fit well behind the Mini.
These are not cheap trailers. The prototype would sell for around $15k. There is close to $7k in materials & over 400 hours in labor. MiniTears II will be priced between $15k to $18K, depending on the above factors, but will have several improvements over the prototype.
Build a teardrop is a very satisfying way to go, but it is not for the beginner craftsman. To do it right you will need a well outfitted shop and a dedicated space.
We use a Mini Do More hitch but the MiniFini hitch is a great hitch too.
It's true, the matress is only 6'-0" (measured at the floor) in the prototype seen in the website. It sleeps great for Shannon (5'-4") & myself (5'-9") but friends have stayed in it that are well over 6'. The rounded front gives additional headspace and the top of the matress measures about 6'-2". The next trailer, MiniTears II will have an extended sleeping area of 6'-3", and unless you sleep straight as board, the cabin should be comfortable for most everyone.
It is also true that teardrops come in many widths & lenghts. I was very conscientious about the overall size of the trailer during design...I didn't want the "tail wagging the dog" if you know what I mean. The 4'x8'-6" retro shape really does fit well behind the Mini.
These are not cheap trailers. The prototype would sell for around $15k. There is close to $7k in materials & over 400 hours in labor. MiniTears II will be priced between $15k to $18K, depending on the above factors, but will have several improvements over the prototype.
Build a teardrop is a very satisfying way to go, but it is not for the beginner craftsman. To do it right you will need a well outfitted shop and a dedicated space.
Neutral
Sorry for the double reply...I'm new at this.
Thanks to all of your kind comments. Kurt Bowden
Thanks to all of your kind comments. Kurt Bowden