Hi - I'm looking at buying this small travel trailer to pull behind my 2010 non-S 6 speed (supposedly rated in EU to tow 1440 lbs; 2000 lb Curt hitch and 4 pin wiring installed and ready to pull). I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions of towing this 1000 - 1200 lb travel trailer as this would be my first towing experience. We would stay mainly on the east coast and SE US - VA, WV, PA, MD, NC, GA, etc. CO and large mountains aren't likely.

What do you think?



Photos and Info

Thanks in advance!

 

Weight is up there once you add gear. The big thing with this unit is the amount of frontal area that then wind will be hitting. Making it act even heavier at speed. What's the tongue weight?

 

Teardrops, yes; this one, no.

 

http://www.minitears.com/
Or check out Zyamfier's teardrop on his gallery page at
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...y.php/cat/1138

I'll bet if you PM'd him he would talk you thru a few ideas.

 

Yetti - I don't know about the tongue weight but I believe 10% is the general rule, so probably 100-120 (upwards of 140 with gear which I can pack near the rear to lessen the tongue weight). If it sounds like it might work, I was planning to take a bath scale to measure that, and take it to Southern States to have them weigh it on their truck scale and verify the weight.

JAB - why, because of wind resistance, or another reason?

Brick - I wish I could get into teardrops - they're so cute but I really like being able to stand up and have more space inside. I'd love to rent one to try it out.

Besides - what about the towmini? http://towmini.com/

Check this video out...sure this is an S but it's also a larger trailer...

 

I don't want to even think about how SLOW you will be towing that with a non-S Cooper! Reminds me of an episode of Top Gear where they annoy countless other drivers by backing up traffic towing too much gear.

 

Now that is cool.

 

It's also a Clubman.

 

Besides weight, tongue and overall, short wheel base of tow vehicle vs. length of trailer can be a problem. It's easy to end up with the trailer switching ends with the TV. I know because I tow, but with a pickup.

 

I would definitely prefer for that to not happen.

 

I've been toying with the idea of towing my dirtbike with my MINI. My dirtbike is less than 250 lbs and I'm sure the trailer I get will be less then 350 lbs as well.

However, I know for sure that most of the places I'll be towing to include long mountain roads with some sustained inclines/climbing and I'm curious if this will become an issue?

I'm already a bit hesitant to tow the motorcycle, but I've read that many people even haul bigger trailers. However, I'm afraid how the inclines/climbing will treat it.

 

If you are going to be on the East coast in WVA, VA, PA, etc. then you are going to have mountains to drive over. I have towed a lot and you would need trailer brakes for the extra weight of stopping. I once towed a Corvair with another Corvair (same weight) and in an industrial park on a Sunday morning, a street light changed and I slammed on the brakes and slid thru the intersection before coming to a halt. Luckily no traffic but I learned my lesson. Wind resistance will be your biggest problem and seeing around the trailer with your mirrors will be limited without long side mirros.

 

I'ts not so much can i tow this trailer but can i stop safely. Towing a small utility trailer with a couple bags of bark mulch is one thing but a small camper towed by a MINI is not a good idea. I do plan on towing with my MINI, i am going to use a Home Depot utility trailer thats about 42in x42in and very light. Just need it for the occasional bag of bark mulch.

 

Speed aside, I'd think it a worse idea to tow a large, heavy trailer with a 2nd gen S than with a standard model. Towing + gas turbo = high exhaust temperatures.