This weekend I'll be inheriting a used air compressor from my uncle. He's in Massachusetts, I'm in Maryland, and we'll be meeting in New York. I'm using the MINI for the trip. That means that I'll have a fairly heavy item (about the size/weight of a small generator) resting on the folded rear seats for a five-hour drive. Has anybody damaged their seats during this kind of usage? Are there any preventative measures I should take, or packing techniques I should consider? The upholstery is leatherette.

Thanks for any input/experiences you can provide...

 

Just put an old blanket down on the seatbacks to prevent scratching. I've got a bit of wear on the leather of my seats where it wraps around to the seatback. I've hauled heavy stuff (like a big TV) with no negative effects.

 

You may want to put some heavy cardboard or thin plywood on the seats
so the feet of the compresor don't point load and put dents in the seat backs.
Make sure you tie it down,you don't want that load to shift.

 

Good ideas...I'll pick up some plywood and tiedowns when I'm in NY.

 

I was going to suggest the same (cardboard and/or plywood) :smile:

 

No other suggestions, just a coment on your sig pic...I had an 1972 BMW 2002 that I just loved, drove it for 5 years and got what I paid for it on a trade in.

Probably the most fun car I ever owned prior to getting my MINI

 

Yeah---that's what sold me on the MINI...it was the closest thing out there to driving the 2002, and I can do it year-round without worrying about the tinworm! 2002s are great cars and they hold up very well against more modern vehicles...sizable enthusiast community, too.

Thanks for noticing!

 

Cardboar or an old blanket between the seat proper and the folded down back will also prevent suffing of the leatherete surfaces.......

 

This is an excellent suggestion, PRO. I have leather, and on the first roadtrip, had the seats down for 6+ weeks, which put some dentage in a few spots... So, this year when I hit the road, I put a blanket on the back seats before folding them down. No more dentages!


Clo/Wanda

 

All good advice given. Of course, drive it like a typical sedan.

Not a time to test g forces.

Been there. Done that. Broke that.

Regards,
Red