Anyone seen one towed by a MINI?

 

Yeah, sure did!! Was not on an r56 but was about 2 years back I passed a lil black mini pulling a matched tear drop trailer. Obviously did'nt get a chance to talk to the people because we were headed in opposit directions between Houston and Austin. lol.. But it looked very cool.

 

I tow my sportbike behind my R56 all the time, I can't see why it wouldn't handle one of those little teardrops fine.

Hardest part is wiring up the lights. The brake lights are the same filiment as the running lights, just with more power applied to them.

 

You mean like this?

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...8/ppuser/19017

 

Look for more information here:
http://www.mikenchell.com/forums/

 

A member of our club has an R53 convertible that she uses to tow a teardrop.

 

http://www.golittleguy.com/cms/compo.../key,13/hit,1/

 

Just search for the dragon wagon

 

Don't mean to offend anyone.. But..

Why the heck would you use your CAR to tow something? I have never understood that. Thats what trucks were made for. I have seen Honda Civics towing jet ski's around and now Mini's towing trailers.. Why would you ever want to put that stress on your motor, tranny, frame, brakes??

Cars like the mini were never designed or made to tow anything. Sure people have made tow kits for other vehicles but should it be done?

 

Maybe because people are having some fun with their cars.

 

MINIs do a certain towing capacity, so why not use it

Our plan is to get a Clubman S, then I plan on getting a teardrop kit and building it myself.

We followed the Dragon Wagon while caravaning home from the Dragon last spring. He had no problems keeping up, even as we motored on US 129

Mark

 

That's cool! No reason to give up having a little trailer buddy just because you're a Mini dude. I miss my popup trailer sometimes, but a don't miss the Jeep GC that I towed it with a bit.

 

Having fun with the car is great. I agree. Like I said. I dont want to start an argument or anything. I have had 15 cars and trucks of all different types and I am only 31. I have always just thought that you should have the type of vehicle for the types of things you like to do. For instance, I found a place in Mexico to go camping that has hot springs. I had a 1996 Cadillac at the time and I wouldn't think of taking that camping. So I bought a Ford Bronco for my camping/towing/fun car. Now I have a Mini because I really missed having a fun street car. Still have the Bronco for camping/hauling and just having dirty fun with. I wouldn't even think of putting a trailer hitch on a Mini..

 

That would be ideal, wouldn't it? I like to drive on the track, so I'll get a Lotus Elise... then a class A motorhome for camping, a Lear Jet for private travel... Well, maybe finances would get in the way of all that.

I think that people ARE doing exactly what they like to do... namely, enjoy their MINI. If I like camping and I like driving my MINI, there are lots of opportunities to do both at the same time. I am not going to drive from Dallas to the Dragon with a small trailer behind a pick-up and then be stuck without the MINI near all of those beautiful roads. A truck would NOT be the right vehicle for this type of activity.

That said, I someday hope to get a little teardrop trailer to tow behind my MCS. I'd take it to MOTD, load it full of track tires for DEs/Auto-X and have even more fun in my fun little car.

 

If you do a search of the screen name "Zyamfier", you will see a stunning teardrop being pulled by a MINI. I used to see pictures over at the Teardrop and Tiny Travel Trailer forum.

I built a teardrop a few years ago and pulled it with a 90 hp VW Golf TDI (diesel). It had absolutely no problems at all pulling...althought, a diesel has high torque which helps. I would imagine that you would have no problem pulling a teardrop with a MINI...especially if it was an MCS.

Here are pics of my teardrop (can't resist the opportunity to share pictures...). If you are thinking about building one....DO IT! It's a great project and lots of fun camping. Pulling this little thing into a campground drew tons of attention each time I had it out.....If you towed it with a MINI, you would be like a Rock Star!

 

spoken like someone who's never left the country !
Pickup trucks are a (north) american oddity, everywhere else in the world you'll find trailer hitches on all sizes of cars. You don't need a v8 to haul your average trailer or even that large of brakes (assuming you drive responsibly).

I've even seen a geo metro hauling another geo on a flatbed trailer, maybe a bit more then it should, but by comparison, a lightweight utility/travel trailer behind a Mini with it's much more powerful engine & brakes can hardly be considered taxing.

Sure you can tow big things with a truck, but whey would you want to drive anything other then your Mini (or pay for a second vehicle).

 

I think the tear drop trailer looks great. Do what you want to do with your car. It is your car!!!

 

Very nice Fastlane Like others have said, do what you want with YOUR car.

Our plan, Clubman S, teardrop trailer, park the trailer in someones driveway at Fontana, then go hit the local roads HARD

Mark

 

Well....because everyone is talking about me here you go.

DRAGON 2006 1st year for the trailer




And if you have made it this far check out this video. Yes the trailer is behind me!
Feel free to PM me or post here with questions.
One thing I never have to think about finding a room at Fontana!

 

Yeah, that was a fun run on the Dragon

Mark

 

I had a Teardrop for two years, and pulled it 2 to 3 thousand miles behind my MCS 2007. Over half of that distance was on interstates. Mine was about 700 pounds empty. As for strain on the car, I just don't think it was significant. Stopping the combined vehicles from legal highway speeds was just not an issue. A fast directional change with the MINI and the trailer was something to be done with great care.

http://user.mc.net/~jdewey/MINI/tear...D_delivery.jpg

There are other photos, mostly copied from NAM in that same directory.

http://user.mc.net/~jdewey/MINI/teardroptrailers/

The most I ever hauled at Highway speeds is about 1,400 pounds.

http://user.mc.net/~jdewey/MINI/Trai...h_in_use_3.jpg

John

 

LOL! That's freakin awesome. Did you get the trailer up on one wheel at all during that run?

Great looking trailer .

 

I hope you're kidding... there is no reason to purchase an additional gas gulping vehicle in order to tow something that is well within your capabilities and design limits. It is marketing from the big 3 that has people convinced they need a truck or SUV to handle towing and snow.

If you go to Europe all vehicle can be equipped with hitches from the dealer and their towing limits are well above the USA standard.

Trust me, a 1,000 pound trailer puts no additional strain on your car when driven right.

I'm not saying you should tow a 3 axle boat trailer, but again the correct trailer will not bother the vehicle in the least.

 

Independent rear torsion axles are great for not tipping.
Or maybe it was the six cases of beer for the Brewswap that kept it planted.

 

Any one try to tow a Waverunner with a R56 cooper s?