I am getting ready to haul my 06 Mini to Fl on my open Trailer. I figured there would be some place under the car to hook too. I didn't find anything other then some suspension arms that would work, but don't want to throw the alignment off. Anybody ever hooked up ratchet straps to their Mini to haul and where did you hook the front and rear too??
All help would be handy for me . Thanks.

 

I am pretty sure it has to go under the suspension arms. Look in the owners manual there is something about towing in there. If all else fails call the stealership and check with them. BTW what part of Fl you coming to?

 

Well the Mini has no books with it so thats outs. Left the good guys in Atlanta a message and asked them also. I'm taking it to Bronson, Fl about 30 miles west of Gainesville . I have to many cars , but couldn't let this one get away. Only one the wife has really liked. lol Tnx for the reply.

 

tire bonnets

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...ct_12102_12102

glue the tires down with bonnets and let the suspension work.... When I shipped my Miata they clamped it down hard from factory tie down points and yes I needed an alignment after ... always worried something was bent but I kept the car for another 30,000 miles with no other ill effect.

 

Strap your tires much like a good tow truck would do that way your suspension can work. Even the tow point should be somewhat slacked to prevent down pull.

 

Well my trailer has alot of width between the floor boards and I've got some good small ratchet straps that can handle the weight. I think I will run the strap thru the wheel and ratchet it up to the steel cross pieces under the trailer. With it in park and the Emergency brake on it's not going anywhere and there will be no load on the suspension just straps across the 17" wheels. Not many places here in the corn fields of Ia to find tire bonnets at a moments notice. good Idea or not?????

 

double post

 

i purchased my 02 MCS last December and trailered it from VA to Upstate NY using a uHaul trailer that sinches down the front tire and allows the suspension to work. Absolutley no issues towing a MINI this way. My trip was totally uneventful and absolutely no damage to my MINI. I wouldn't sinch down the suspension because car trailers don't have that great of suspension and the road imperfections will be trasmitted into your car.

 

THE SAFEST way to tow any car is tire straps. I've towed everything from civics to Ferrari and for anything more then a few miles tire straps are the only things that will not damage the car. That being said, the straps need to be installed correctly.

 

Thanks everyone for the info. I will go out and see if I can find some tire straps that go over the tire mon, I'm sure around here I will find nothing. I have some heavy straps for the thru the tire rim and under the floor that will work if I can't find what I'm looking for. 1109 mile to fla. thanks agn.

 

I have seen cars hauled with the through the rim method. I bought a motorcycle in Virgina and transported it to Pennsylvania. I have an enclosed trailer. I did not want the rear of it moving around so I put a strap though the rear wheel. I was afraid it would mark the rim so I put a cotton towel between the rim and the strap. It still put a mark on the rim. I did not even tighten it up much. I would not recommend that method.

I don't know if this is a good method, but I think I saw this on a tv show about how they haul the Minis over. They use a tow hook screwed in to the back and front bumper, off of this they had rachet straps.