We're in need of a trailer hitch for our 2014 CM ALL4 to tow our 4x8 trailer (pic below) for hauling a pair of 12' recreational kayaks. With kayaks and other gear loaded it only weighs 500-600 pounds and tows quite easily.

Key question: Curt or Mini Fini?

Any suggestions, experiences and/or opinions about either on a CM would be greatly appreciated.

Also, would love to hear recommendations/comments on any shops in Metro NY who are experienced in these installations - particularly in Westchester but Rockland/Orange, Putnam/Dutchess, Bergen or Fairfield would also be okay. I've read the Curt installation directions and am really hesitant to attempt this myself and would much prefer to hire a professional shop who've done a number of these already.

btw, we love our Countryman. So much so that the missus has now caught Mini fever and yesterday we ordered her a Cooper S Convertible (White Silver w/Satellite Gray interior, Automatic, Cold Weather Pkg, Auto A/C, Mini Connected w/Nav, etc.) and in 6-8 weeks we'll be an all-Mini household!

 

I fitted a oem (Westfalia) removable towbar to my CM that alrdy had the bike prep (13 pin electrics. Cost about £220 from here

Took 1/2 day on my own to install & i used a coarse rotary metal grinder attached to my drill to cut out the small hole in the lower part of the bumper. I temporary fitted the bumper & ground out the material slowly until i could fit the tow hitch.

Hardest part was unclipping the plastic bumper as it has some hidden clips that are very hard to get to. If you can follow a set of instructions & have a bit of dexterity you will be fine. The clips were the hardest part by far, so employ a young person for an hr

I don't use the tow ball very often, so being able to remove / fit it in 10 seconds is great.

Just added a pic of the underside where the tow hitch fits



Tab

 

Thanks for the reply - this looks to be a really nice unit with some typical German engineering; however, these don't appear to be available on this side of the pond.

 

for that low of weight, look at the crapindustries hitch, on off in minutes, no bumper removal



http://www.crapindustries.com/cooper...tch/index.html

 

Thanks, looks pretty darned good and I've already written to them with a couple of questions. The white would look really nice on my Ice White CMS.

 

Ordered the black version of the CRAP trailer hitch on Saturday and look forward to receiving it in the next couple of weeks (they only ship on Fridays). Very clever design and should be more than adequate for our needs as it's capable of handling a 200# tongue weight and towing up to 1,000#. I'll post pics of it installed once I've got it in hand. If it arrives before May 6th I'll try to bring it along to the monthly gathering of the Mini Performance Group in Albany.

Thanks again for the invaluable recommendations and advice from other NAM members.

 

According to FedEx it should arrive next Thursday (5/1). Just in time for me to install it before heading up to VT on 5/5, I'll need it to pull our kayak trailer out of my sister-in-law's barn where it's spent the Winter. Ordered it with the Curt wiring module - which looks to be much more complicated to install than the hitch. Pics to follow.

 

I will stay tuned. Be sure to post pics of install if you can!

 

Your pants are harder to install than this hitch. I got one for my bike rack and love it!

 

Just installed the mini fini hitch for the countryman looks good and is a permanent solution.
You can barley see it.

http://www.minifini.com

Even have a installation video.A+++++
Good quality welds.


After I installed it.


It's hidden in the area with the black plastic grill.