General MINI Talk Shared experiences, motoring minutes, and other general MINI-related discussion that applies to all MINIs, regardless of model, year or trim.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Teardrop trailer for MINIs

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 16, 2009 | 03:03 PM
  #1  
Angib's Avatar
Angib
Thread Starter
|
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 560
Likes: 6
From: (Old) England
Teardrop trailer for MINIs

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
 
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2009 | 03:50 PM
  #2  
mini_racer's Avatar
mini_racer
5th Gear
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 756
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
Wicked cool.............
 
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2009 | 04:14 PM
  #3  
Zyamfier's Avatar
Zyamfier
Coordinator :: Cooper Owners of Rural Nebraska (CORN)
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 0
From: MIN-i-DEN, NE
I love it. The more teardrop trailers behind MINI's the better.
This is ME
 

Last edited by Zyamfier; Jul 17, 2009 at 04:55 PM.
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2009 | 05:22 PM
  #4  
slinger688's Avatar
slinger688
6th Gear
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,329
Likes: 12
That looks great.

What kind of hitch does it need?
 
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2009 | 09:38 AM
  #5  
bluemeanie357's Avatar
bluemeanie357
4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 491
Likes: 0
From: NJ
Beautiful work and design. I'd love to own one someday.
 
Reply
Old Jul 25, 2009 | 07:51 AM
  #6  
lotsie's Avatar
lotsie
Banned
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 15,382
Likes: 0
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
 
Reply
Old Aug 10, 2009 | 12:18 PM
  #7  
godskid's Avatar
godskid
2nd Gear
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 120
Likes: 2
From: HBG, PA outskirts
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!!
 
Reply
Old Aug 21, 2009 | 02:36 PM
  #8  
drewthat's Avatar
drewthat
1st Gear
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
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?
 
Reply
Old Aug 21, 2009 | 10:12 PM
  #9  
spinned's Avatar
spinned
4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
Cool! how much are they?
 
Reply
Old Aug 24, 2009 | 01:43 PM
  #10  
godskid's Avatar
godskid
2nd Gear
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 120
Likes: 2
From: HBG, PA outskirts
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/
 
Reply
Old Aug 24, 2009 | 11:05 PM
  #11  
MiniTears's Avatar
MiniTears
Neutral
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Thanks Andrew!

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.
 
Reply
Old Aug 24, 2009 | 11:24 PM
  #12  
MiniTears's Avatar
MiniTears
Neutral
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Thanks Andrew!

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.
 
Reply
Old Aug 24, 2009 | 11:26 PM
  #13  
MiniTears's Avatar
MiniTears
Neutral
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Thanks Andrew!

Sorry for the double reply...I'm new at this.
Thanks to all of your kind comments. Kurt Bowden
 
Reply
Old Aug 25, 2009 | 04:53 AM
  #14  
ngweibing's Avatar
ngweibing
6th Gear
iTrader: (11)
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,070
Likes: 1
From: pittsburgh( southside), PA
i liek it...
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
igzekyativ
MINIs & Minis for Sale
34
Jul 16, 2020 12:54 PM
ludedude
MINIs & Minis for Sale
0
Aug 10, 2015 07:16 PM
bc219
R50/R53 :: Hatch Talk (2002-2006)
13
Aug 10, 2015 11:22 AM
Dashdog
MINIs & Minis for Sale
0
Aug 10, 2015 06:17 AM
ECSTuning
Vendor Announcements
0
Aug 7, 2015 08:02 AM




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 08:37 PM.