R50/R53 :: Hatch Talk (2002-2006) Cooper (R50) and Cooper S (R53) hatchback discussion.

R50/53 Flat Towing 2002

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Old Oct 22, 2018 | 09:27 PM
  #1  
freddmc's Avatar
freddmc
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Flat Towing 2002

I currently tow my 2002 Mini(standard trans) on a tow dolly behind my motorhome but am looking to flat tow it by adding a tow hitch to the front of the Mini.I can buy one but being an avid DIY'er and a bit cheap I could also build one.

Anyone built their own..
Regards

Fred
 
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Old Oct 23, 2018 | 09:44 AM
  #2  
Tgriffithjr's Avatar
Tgriffithjr
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From: Texas
Why flat towing rather than dolly? Less wear and tear on the front end and probably safer. Without the lights the dolly should provide you will have to wire the tow vehicles lights up to the towed vehicle. Seems like a lot of trouble. You can purchase your own dolly if you plan on lots of towing. Designing and building something that would safely tow your vehicle would require good engineering and welding skills. In the 1950’s my father, who was in the Air Force at the time, I vented the tow bar that would attach directly to the vehicle being towed. He called it the Universal Tow Bar. Because he was a government employee the Air Force gave him credit for it with the gram sum of $25 and of course the idea became property of the Air Force. Just think how many are now using versions of that same device. Another one ferreting trivia fact is as a child my father new the person who invented the fifth wheel. We lived there Nashville at the time and it was around 1968. Anyway, good luck. There may already be something like that available.
 
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Old Oct 23, 2018 | 06:07 PM
  #3  
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freddmc
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I know there are commercial tow bar setups for the Mini.I just don't want to pay $500 when I can build my own.

As for the tow dolly being easier/better, etc. I already own a tow dolly that I have been using and here is the difference.

1.Flat towing.

Attach tow bar to brackets on Mini.
Drive Mini up behind motorhome and attach tow bar to motorhome.
Hook up safety chain.
Plug in Aux. wiring.
Total Time Approx. 3 minutes.

At Campsite
Unhook tow bar and disconnect it from Mini
Store tow bar

2.Tow Dolly
Get tow dolly out from storage area (requires 2 people to move it)
Attach tow dolly to motorhome.
Connect Electrical connection.
Get out dolly ramps to drive Mini onto tow dolly.
Strap down wheels of Mini on tow dolly
crawl under tow dolly to attach safety chain around suspension of Mini
Store ramps

Total time. 15-20 minutes

At Campsite
Get out ramps
Crawl in dirt to unhook safety chain
Unload Mini from tow dolly.
Store ramps
Find a spot to store the tow dolly(requires 2 people to move it)
 
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Old Oct 23, 2018 | 08:00 PM
  #4  
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pnwR53S
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From: soggy pnw
Thanks for the punch by punch list of steps. That was my thought too when seeing the question asked.

Coming Home
Found tow dolly absence at the spot last stored
Ponder how to get two vehicles home with only one very unhappy camper
Call wife at home to help
Wife said she need to get son to drive her to campsite
All done 3 persons were involved with two being unwilling campers
 
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