[font=Arial]Is everyone still looking for a good Hitch? I have one designed and will build it shortly for myself. I worked through all the details for the S have not looked at the standard mini yet. I was not happy with the two prongs sticking out on the FINI hitch so I decided to make my own. The one that I designed is for a platform to carry my tires to track events, but other attachment can be made easily i.e. bike rack, trailer ball, storage case. If there is a demand for this I will push the development forward and get some pics of the process and the unit. [/font]

 

Yes...got drawings or a sketch?:smile:

 

yes i can scan and email them. If i email them i will know who to go after if my hitch ends up on the market before i make it. :smile: !

 

PM on it's way:smile: There was once a guy who made a hitch for the S that was mounted below and had a hoop that arched over the center exhaust tips which was removable. Have you seen that?

 

I'd like to see a sketch also. I've been planning on building one myself but havent had the time yet. How will the hitch mount and will it be easily removable? Will it work with the stock exhaust in place? I had planned on rerouting my exhaust tips and using the cutout in the rear valence for my hitch. By rerouting the exhaust I could remove the hitch before runs reinstall it at the end of the day.


What do you think you will charge for the hitch?

Joe

 

There is interest here in Atlanta. I know of 4 or 5 people, right off the top of my head, that would buy one if it looks good and the price is right. Loading and unloading the car at AutoX is getting tiresome in the heat down here. We would put a ball on it and haul a small trailer (like those from Northern Tools). Preference would be for a small receiver hitch.

Please include me in your emails.

 

Could ya send a sketch this way? I am looking for something to care the road bike on when I head out of town.....


'02 EB/W, 17" SSR-GT1, 100k

 

Ok here are some answers. Yes the hitch will be completely removable similar to the FINI but this one will be hidden behind the factory grills on the S. I still need to look at the bumper on the normal mini. I purchased some steel today and will be working out the details this weekend and during the week. The Install should be relatively straight forward. Drop your exhaust and heat shield make four holes(two on each side) for the supports tube bolts, nuts will be welded to the inside of the support. For the most part that is about it slide the stronger squared steel tube into the frame holes hidden behind the rear bumper grills, Bolt it in and you now will have the hitch support for either your trailer ball, tire rack, or bike rack. Cost … don’t know yet have to find out how much materials and time it will take. I am gathering between 250-350 for just the ball assembly. The tire rack should be more expensive since I am planning to build it out of aluminum. This will be stage two since I need a different welder for the aluminum application.
Also I am wondering how many people would mind drilling straigh through to the hatch. I see alot of you are looking to trailer heavier things which would need more support. We dont want any of these things flying down the road on there own. I am positive that this design will work for tires or a tire trailer. now if you want to tow your jetski .... um I am not so sure.

 

Let us know when you have em ready, I'll need 2 sets.


James

 

Would this possible work to carry tires in with your hitch design? The price is right at $69.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=92655

 

Junkman already has a hitch like this on the market PM him for price details. He lives in Washington state. It is a two piece unit. The reciever unbolts when not in use and on the S goes through the lower bumper grills. It is a bad idea to use a tire tail or platform on this style of hitch, there is far to much leverage on the brackets that mount it to the car. The platform and 4 tires would be about 150 lbs tounge weight. Throw in a few bad road bumps and imagine what it will do to your car. A trailer is the only way to go.

 

There are several available...

Karl Hacker, a nice hoop over the exhaust.
Junkman, similar to the above description
MiniFini, on backorder

I did something similar to the detailed description above.

If there are others you are aware of, PM me and I will add them to the list.

http://user.mc.net/~jdewey/MINI/Trai...r_Hitches.html


John

 

Has anyone tried to fit a Da'lan hitch for the MC onto the MCS? I plan on doing a custom exhaust anyway and am wondering if there is any obstruction other than the exhaust(ie. battery box etc.) that would get in the way of the da'lan style hitch.

Joe

 

I have it done!! It is perfect for tires since there will be two supports to hold up the platform. If anyone wants pics let me know

 

Yes, I would like to see pics.

John

 

I am very interested to see the photos, as well.

 

All of you who have asked to see the sketches/photos please check your junk mail box. I sent out photos and your email program may have filtered them out.

 

OK i uploaded the photos to the gallery! Check it out and please i need comments and concerns!


Thanks

 

Look at the logo for this company HAUL MASTER looks close to mini.
Anyway I am not sure due to the dimentions. If those were interior dimentions they would be near perfect. But i think it needs to be a little bigger to fit the tires.

 

Great Effort, certainly will bear far more wieght with out bending than the one I made.

I have three concerns.

1) in order to get the bars straight out the back, how far do you have to deflect the Mini bumper cover? I scratched mine while installing something similar, my "co owner" has not let me forget that.

2) Removing the grills to get to the pins would be annoying. Take a look at what Junkman and I did with bolts to secure the external hitch to the interior parts. You can weld a nut, or coupling nut in the tube, then use a bolt lengthwise through your tubes to hold them in place.

3) This is about the Mini, not your hitch. I also have a Tracker, and I have one of the external "shelfs" that goes on the rear hitch of that. When you get any significant weight out back, long before the car get tail heavy, even minor driving manuevers make it "wag its tail".

4 Tires on wheels will weigh over 160 pounds, that could really wag the tail!

The MINI rear axle is closer to the rear bumper than my Tracker, but I still worry how it will handle!

 

I will have to look at what you and junkman did, As far as the bar being straight back it didn’t require much flex to the bumper but i did scrape it but i was fitting and refitting so i knew it was coming. I was thinking some kind of material tape of some sort to stop this, kind of like bumper tape that protects your bumper when you load things in and out of the hatch. As far as the weight and sway. I don’t think that will be as big of a problem as with your tracker. The mini is much better balanced and suspension is much stiffer, also like you said the wheels are far back helping with this issue. I am more concerned with lack of traction up front.
My main focus was on strength over all and hidden, I don't mind the once or twice a month taking off the covers and sticking the pins in. If its a problem for some i think the supports can be extended out while mounting and a hole cut in the grills. Then have a cap like on the legs of a steel desk or table.

 

Check out the my gallery for the finished product.

 

So, How did the MINI handle with the 160 pounds hanging out there?

J. D.

 

Well, I had to raise up the Koni's just a bit and you can feel the weight but it really was not bad. Tomorrow i drive it to sebring, its about a 1hr 30min drive and the rack will be put to the test. I have been driving around with it for a few weeks with no problems. What did you think, Look OK?